Need adivce: easy hookup, good quality

[stupidgirlsays]

I was reading over some of the threads and most of them deal with installing a head unit in your car and directly connecting your ipod to the car. I just want a simple way to connect. I like the idea of the cassette adapters, but I am not sure that will give me the quality that I want. I have a first generation ipod mini.

Thanks for the help!

[farva]

cassette adapters have great sound quality. and they are cheap

[Sintec]

Originally posted by farva
cassette adapters have great sound quality. and they are cheap

Just from about 15 minutes browsing this forum and the internet, I think that is very untrue. From what I have read, they have the worst sound quality of them all.

[stupidgirlsays]

Yeah that is what I concluded also. I do not think a tape will bring decent sound. Is there anyone out there with a good suggestion for me?

[Sintec]

Well depending on the make and model of your car, you can get the Dension Ice Link, iCruze, or an iPod2Car to get CD quality music. Sadly my Mitsubishi Eclipse is not compatible with any of those, so the only thing I can use are the FM Transmitters. From looking at those, I think the 2 best are either the iCarPlay by Monster or the DLO Transmitter. Anyone know much about these two?

[stupidgirlsays]

I already have an iTrip so I do not need anything wireless. The real question I guess I should have been asking, is there anything that can connect to the dock connector (bottom of ipod) and go to the type player? I would doubt there is such thing, but just wondering.

Well depending on the make and model of your car, you can get the Dension Ice Link, iCruze, or an iPod2Car to get CD quality music.

I checked out the compatibilty for all of those and none of them are compatable. I have a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe(dont get me wrong, I hate the thing)

Does this mean I will not be able to connect anything straigh to my car, just through radio & cassette etc...

[Sintec]

Exactly, you and I have the same problem, our cars are not compatable with any of the newer car add-ons for the ipod. Sadly, fm transmitters and cassete players are our only option. Of course, you can upgrade to an aftermarket deck and then add an add-on for that to play your ipod through.

[GavinD]

Originally posted by farva
cassette adapters have great sound quality. and they are cheap

I know a place online selling them dirt cheap - I got one for my mom lol. www.ipodcarkits.com <-- they have some good info and reviews...

[stupidgirlsays]

Do you think using the SiK imp and a cassette will work? I know it will not be the most asthetically pleasing, but it seems like it should work. The concern I have is will there be static when I am charging it and playing it through cassette at the same time. If you guys think that will work, that is what I will get.

Thanks again.

[JohnnyRoaster]

It sort of depends on how long you plan on owning the car. I use a cassette adapter and a belkin auto kit. We have four cars in the family and they all have tape decks. It is a quick and easy solution that sounds better than anything short of an aux input. I am trading in the car I drive most pretty soon. Once I get my next car I plan on doing a proper instal for my iPod. I think the SiK and the cassette adapter will be the best solution. If you think you will own the car for a long time buy a new HU with an auxillary input and connect through the dock connector. You can buy a new headunit for pretty cheap these days.

[stupidgirlsays]

Yeah I am probably going to get a new car next year, so I will go with the SiK and cassette for now.

Thanks for helping me out

[jngrossmann]

I'm not sure, but I do know that the Apple dock has a line out function, and if you pair that with a casette adapter, the sound quality that you'll get will be very respectable for the price. The only problem would be to figure out how to make sure that the unit stays in place.

[K1W1]

Originally posted by Sintec
Just from about 15 minutes browsing this forum and the internet, I think that is very untrue. From what I have read, they have the worst sound quality of them all.

WRONG, WRONG and WRONG!

This quote is taken from none other than the 2005 iPodlounge buyers guide which you obviously did not bother to look at during your 15 minutes of surfing.


If your car has a cassette tape deck, you're in luck:iPod audio through a good cassette adapter sounds better than FM transmission and costs less. You'll still want a way to charge and mount your iPod, and you might also want a remote control.

A decent quality cassette adapter and a Belkin Auto kit fulfils the "simple way to connect" requirement, provides very good sound (dependant of course on the quality of your car speakers) and is inexpensive and portable.

[jngrossmann]

With the dock, though, you get even better sound - line-out that is untampered with (extremely important for iPods that are newer than the 2nd Generation)

[stupidgirlsays]

Originally posted by jngrossmann
With the dock, though, you get even better sound - line-out that is untampered with (extremely important for iPods that are newer than the 2nd Generation)

Is that not how the SiK imp works. It looks like it has a line out from the iPod and it has the headphone jack for the cassette.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the SiK imp is $15 cheaper and seems like it does the exact same thing.

[JohnnyRoaster]

That is exactly what the SiK imp does. I didn't even know about it until you mentioned it in this forum. I have been thinking about hacking my Belkin Auto kit but haven't gotten around to it. I would have gotten the SiK if I had know about it.