Cassette Adapter or iTrip?

[jakeskates]

I need to buy either a Cassette Tape Car Adapter or an iTrip for my car. I was wondering which one do you think is best. Also, maybe you don't like either of these and you have another favorite? If so, please tell. Any help would be great!

[Pete_L_P]

A decent cassette adapter is usually much better than an FM modulator like the iTrip. FM modulators often get interference from nearby stations and are best used as a last resort. Any cheap cassette adapter will often do a very good job, and I've generally had success with Sony cassette adapters.

The best iPod, in-car sound comes from a direct aux input. Some cars have them right now, and others can be fitted with an aux interface adapter that would hook into your car radio's CD port. Some allow you to switch between your CD player and the iPod.

Most people (in most cars) find that a cassette adapter can be very decent.

Pete

[rob7897]

Cassette adaptor. You may get some noise, but the sound quality will far surpass that of an FM transmitter.

[kishan]

I think it really depends on which car you drive. I have a 1997 Acura 1.6el, which has an internal antenna, and my iTrip Nano sounds great! Especially with my mini USB plugged into the car charger. Its a good option for people who don't have a cassette deck, and for those who want less wires and the option to transmit to their home radios as well.

IMO the sound quality is really quite good with the new iTrip nano, but apparently they really upped the quality from previous models

[whenders0n]

Kishan I assume if he's asking which to buy, he has a cassette deck, and if you get even a decent cassette adapter, its ALWAYS better sound quality. Even if you had no interference at all, FM sound quality just isn't as good. Plus, cassette adapters are way cheaper. Go for the sony CPA-9C. Coconuts.com, target.com have it for about $10.

[Kyanbi]

Is cassette the way to go nowadays? I would love the thought of a portable FM transmitter (not a package car deal) so I could listen to music through the wired sound system at the school gym..

I have a roadtrip coming up, so I need to find an answer soon. I will be sitting in the back as my parents drive, and I'm not fond of the idea of a cable stretching all the way to the cassette player upfront.

I've been looking at the Monster Cable iCarPlay Plus, but that cost's an arm and a leg.

Just to let you know where I am coming from, I THINK that my best option is to go with a portable FM transmitter and then get a car charger. This will allow me to use the FM transmitter with my clock radio in my bedroom, at the gym, and in the car. Also, I can use the car charger seperately as I need it. If I want to listen to music my by lonesome, I can charge it that way.

This is my my idea.. not sure if it the BEST option, thus I'm waiting to hear from you all :)

[alasta]

As others have pointed out, cassette adaptors may seem a bit rudimentary, but they're likely to produce much better results than an FM transmitter. Unfortunately, the Griffin Smartdeck that I've just purchased doesn't work in my car and cassette decks in cars seem to be going the way of the ark anyway, so I'm going to get it swapped for an iTrip Auto next week.

The iTrip Auto draws power from your car's cigarette lighter, charging your iPod at the same time, and iLounge's reviews suggest that it works much better than the ordinary portable iTrip. Unfortunately, the iTrip Auto won't be a feasible option if you want a transmitter that will work in situations beyond your car, so you should think carefully about what your requirements are.

Also, if you're expecting to be able to sit in the back of the car with a portable FM transmitter while controlling your iPod, then you may be disappointed. FM transmitters are typically quite weak, and may only acheive good results if within half a metre of your audio head unit or aerial.

[Kyanbi]

Alasta, I'd like to contrast your last statement. I have seen my coach use his iPod with iTrip from about 30 feet away from the radio reciever in our gym. The stereo system picked up the signal and the quality was decent...

[whenders0n]

one more note: there's nothing, NOTHING, like aux-in =)

[GadgetGuru72]

In addition to sound quality, you also need to consider ease of use. With a cassette adapter, you just plug it in and go. With an FM transmitter, you have to find a dead station to transmit to. During your travels, if that dead station doesn't stay dead, you'll need to find another dead station.

For example, I used a certain station near my house. That same station worked pretty well for my commute to my office. However, whenever my wife and I would travel to her mother's house, that station would stop working about half way through the trip. So, we'd have to search for another dead station and change it during our trip.

Another thing to consider is how easy it would be for you to find a dead station at all. If you live in Los Angeles (like we do), it will be VERY hard because almost all stations are either live or pick up substantial interference from nearby stations. If you live in an area without many stations, perhaps an FM transmitter would be perfect.

In short, for us, the iTrip was a huge pain. We ditched our iTrip and picked up a cassette adapter. While the cassette adapter isn't perfect, in our case it was better and much easier than the iTrip.

[q4444]

Ok, I have played with just about every FM Mod thing and basically, they all stink. And because it's not 1997 anymore, I REFUSE to use a cassette adapter. So, I finally followed the advice of some here and got a direct connection via the CD changer input adapter. I ordered from a link posted here, and went to Circuit City to simply ask them to pop out my Kenwood head unit and they did it, I hooked up the rest, and the sound is great.

[Kyanbi]

How would I go about finding a station while travelling? I live in a very rural area so transmissions are not going to be difficult. I will also be travelling through rural areas cross-state, so again transmissions of signals should not be a problem.

I also don't like the fact of a cassette player becaues it is so 90s.

[whenders0n]

Best way is trial and error Kyanbi.

[whenders0n]

or reading the sticky... =)

[Kyanbi]

I have read that, but it would be very tedious and annoying to search for a station signal for every state I cross through - it's just not practical.

And, yes - I have read the sticky. I think I'm just going to go with the Sony CPA-9C. iLounge says it is the best and I have heard numerous user reviews, all of which were 5 out of 5 stars.

Also, I figured I would just buy a solo car charger. I figure that I can listen to my music in the backseat as my parents drive while my iPod is charging up, but I can also extend the cord to the front where I can plug it into the tape deck. This sounds like a decent medium for me... However, I really cannot find a decent car-charger. Most units come with other things as a package deal, but I don't need them. I scoured iLounge's reviews, but that did not prove any success either.

I'm leaving next week for this big trip, and I would appreciate it if you could give me some direction as for a car-charger in my situation. Thanks!!

[whenders0n]

Just one warning: my Sony CPA-9C made grinding noises after more than an hour of continuous use. Mb from heating up? I dunnu. I returned it and got another and it did the same. Wasn't the cassette player because swapping another in would immediately fix it. Others?

[Kyanbi]

Well that is EXTREMELY odd and I think you just got to faulty products in a row. It shouldn't do that...

[whenders0n]

So I got two extremely odd (in the same way) products in a row? Man, my luck...

[shaggy_x]

Im finding the opposite to what most are saying in this thread. I bought a Sony cassette adaptor on the basis of a very good review on this site a couple of months ago.

It was very good. Excellent sound and I couldnt fault it (although it was a bit expensive at

[whenders0n]

Clean your tape head mb? Sounds like a problem with your cassette deck...