Belkin Tunecast II or iTrip

[whatapileofmick]

Hi,

Am just wondering if anyone can advise me on which to get, an iTrip or a Belkin tunecast 2. I am not to worried about looks etc but want something easy to use and that gives good sound quality.

Thanks

[solemn1]

Read the differences between them here: http://www.ipodlounge.com/reviews.php

Scroll down to the heading FM Transmitters and read the reviews there.

Otherwise, if there's an electronics store where you live with a generous return policy (like we have here in the States, usually 7-30 days depending on the store) go buy them both, test them out, and see which one you like best.

[TheDoctor]

Summary

Value

But at a MSRP of $49.99,** the TuneCast II doesn't offer anything significant for iPod users that Griffin isn't already offering with the $35.00 iTrip, which has the advantages of smaller size, no external power requirement, and full incorporation into the iPod's user interface. Because FM transmitters are so susceptible to interference, which appears in the form of static that becomes more noticeable as the volume is turned up, the TuneCast II sounds similar to the iTrip. The audio quality, a step below the clarity of a perfect digital FM radio station, will be adequate for some users but generally not as good as, say, a Sony CPA-9C cassette adapter - though neither Belkin's nor Griffin's FM audio outperforms C Crane's bulkier and not-iPod-specific $69.95 FM Transmitter.

[jdank]

quick question on the tunecast ii...
what really is the difference between the white tunecast ii and the black/grey tunecast ii? i may be stupid or something, but i can't tell if there's anything (apart from color obviously) not the same.

thoughts?

[mtnagel]

I bought the Belkin Tunecase II because I can use it with the Showcase instead of having to remove it everytime. And the Apple store has it for $40 so the price difference isn't much.

[jdank]

i ordered a tunecast II and thanks to a shipping foul-up, i was accidentally sent a tunecast I... the place i bought it said i might as well keep the I (i think the actual suggestion was "use it as a doorstop or something"). well we tried it out on a road trip the past couple of days and it really worked! no one was more shocked than i was. i mean it was nothing to write home about, just the same sound quality as a radio station, and i had to keep it in the little storage slot in the dash just below the radio (where i would have put it anyway). but really i was expecting it to be totally useless, so it was a nice surprise. i could even get clear transmissions in cities (DC, Richmond VA, Norfolk VA). only some background hiss once in a while, and a few times i had to switch to one of the other (four) stations.

of course i'm not actually recommending everyone run out and buy the old version tunecast, that would be crazy talk. but i was so surprised by its performance that i had to share! i can only imagine that the tunecast II will be all the more better.

i guess the moral of the story is, the lower your expectations, the less it takes to excite you.

[Chevy]

Originally posted by jdank
quick question on the tunecast ii...
what really is the difference between the white tunecast ii and the black/grey tunecast ii? i may be stupid or something, but i can't tell if there's anything (apart from color obviously) not the same.

thoughts?

They're the same, it's just that the black one looks better on the U2 edition iPod than the white one.

[CHLOROFORMED]

I like the tunecast b/c it doesn't run off your iPod battery and it's easier to change the station. That's just me though. If you want aesthetics... get the iTrip by all means though.

[TGSK85]

Also check out the icarplay by monster cables. Mine sounds great and it sends out a digital stereo signal, where as other FM tuners send out a mono signal. Also remember that although a FM transmitter works in one car, it may not work well in another. For instance my icarplay didn't work well in my car (till I fooled around a bit with the antenna), but it worked perfect on other cars in my family. So take that into consideration.

[natemc]

iTrip, hands down, get an iTrip 2 if you can with the digital readout for frequency.

Target has iTrips for something like $25-30

[CA_Steve]

Ah - they all suck unless you live in a rural environment where fm stations are few and far between.