Is iTrip really that bad?

[Raptordude]

I've been conteplating a FM Transmitter for my iPod and car for the longest time, and I finally came to a conclusion that I should buy one. I've been eyeing the iTrip because it seems like one of the more convenient options.

Reading reviews and so forth I get a lot of mixed things. First off, I hear it flat out sucks. Is this true? Is it a waste of money? Others tell me that there are a few magical settings you can do to make it sound great, including the iLounge review.

Is it really as bad as people say? It seems like a very convenient solution, but I would be quite upset if I were to waste 50 bucks on this product!

[Anachronism]

It depends on your car and where you live, FM transmitters work better in some cars and some big citys have to much background noise for any FM transmitter to work well. I use mine in Boston (in my work truck) and there are only a few areas I can't get a clear signal. Even if it works as good as it can sound quality is still only fair, about as good as a good FM station. If you want high quality sound you need a hard wired connection, of course this is more trouble.

The iTrip can't be beat for covienence though, bring your iPod into any car or set it next to any radio and listen to your iPod, no need for wires, power cables or batteries.

If you have the older (4G) iPod with the port in the top for the remote the iTrip is dirt cheap now, I have seen the 'new' iTrip LCDs for less than $20. I would suggest buying it locally from a store with a good return policy and try it for yourself, if you don't like it just bring it back.

[davidosus]

A local store in my area was clearing out their stock of iTrips - old white models for $10 and the new iTrip LCD for $25. I bought both (what the hell).

On the way home I tried the iTrip LCD and reception was awfull - but I attributed this to a crowded radio dial.

Once home I found an unused frequency on my home stereo and gave both models a whirl.

The clear winner for me was the old iTrip - I stood in a particular spot in my home and tried both. The old model has much better reception - it was a case of static versus no static.

Dispite the iTip LCD's ease of use reception is far more important - I'm staying with the old model.

I already have a buyer for the iTip LCD and will make money, enough even to pay for the older model.

[Raptordude]

A local store in my area was clearing out their stock of iTrips - old white models for $10 and the new iTrip LCD for $25. I bought both (what the hell).

On the way home I tried the iTrip LCD and reception was awfull - but I attributed this to a crowded radio dial.

Once home I found an unused frequency on my home stereo and gave both models a whirl.

The clear winner for me was the old iTrip - I stood in a particular spot in my home and tried both. The old model has much better reception - it was a case of static versus no static.

Dispite the iTip LCD's ease of use reception is far more important - I'm staying with the old model.

I already have a buyer for the iTip LCD and will make money, enough even to pay for the older model.

Thanks for your feedback, but I am particularily looking at the iTrip with the bottom dock connection. (For 5G iPods)

[davidosus]

You're welcome.

You may be looking for a bottom mounting iTrip but perhaps you can learn from my experience.

Find a good retailer that has a good return policy - you might be surprised at the results; I was.

iLounge reviews stated the iTrip LCD to be better than its predecessor but I found this to be, in my case, wrong.

Good luck and let us know how you make out - if I upgrade my iPod I would like to know what works best.

[lebkin]

The convience of the iTrip is great. The ability to go anywhere with it is nice. I have the dock connector with 5G and I really like it. I use it in the car, at work, and when I visit friends (I have a iHome Clock Radio for playing at home). For a reasonable price, (~$30 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BREQN4/sr=8-3/qid=1148567933/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-0844563-6373434?%5Fencoding=UTF8)) you can have your iPod music anywhere you go.

The sound quality is good enough for me, though I am not a huge audiophile. Jostling the iPod can cause momentary static, and you will get different results by moving the iPod around. It is best to find a stable place to put the iPod when it is playing.

I would check out what open frequencies you have in your area. A good website is Radio-Locator (http://www.radio-locator.com/). Look for areas with a several station gap between them. Those are the best to use. If there aren't any, then the iTrip (or any FM transmitter) wouldn't be good for you.

Also, a good way to boost reception is to plug the iTrip into a powersource. This grounds the iTrip, giving it a better signal. You need a mini-USB cord (common with digital cameras) and then any normal iPod USB power adapter (be it a wall plug or a cigarette lighter plug). I have a clear signal at work 15 feet away from the radio with a wall between us. As a plus, it also charges your iPod.

That is something to keep in mind as well. The iTrip uses the iPod's battery as a powersource if it is not plugged into an outlet. Thus it decreases how long you can go without charging. On the plus side, you never need to change any batteries in the iTrip.

If you need any more information, just ask.

[pyroboy145]

You may want to check out the Scosche FM Transmitter. I have one and I love it.