Griffin iTrip Auto FM Transmitter and Auto Charger for iPod (Black)
by Griffin Technologies
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List Price: Our Price: $44.31 You Save: $25.68 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Griffin iTrip Auto FM Transmitter and Auto Charger for iPod (Black)
Customer Review: Awesome!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well I bought this because my friend had a newer model iTrip and I was impressed with the good quality it offered. I have a 2004 Audi A6, and the radio in it doesn't have a AUX input and I wanted to be able to listen to my ipod in my car, but I didn't want to crack open the radio to plug into the satellite port...I was searching through Amazon and came across this and figured what the hell, it's $15. Not a super huge deal if it isn't good, I wouldn't expect a radio transmitter to emit great quality audio anyways. Well I got it in the mail after about a week and didn't hesitate to try it out.
The sound quality is actually very good! I tweaked the settings to work well with my car.
I set it to International Mode (INTL) instead of USA, so I could use the frequency 87.7hz. It gives me a better signal-to-noise ratio, or a lower hiss that you hear from the radio.
For a while, I just played it with those settings and it was nice, but not much bass...needless to say I was a little saddened that I couldn't really feel what I was listening to. Then, I remembered EQ! and set my iPod to bass booster and my car bass all the way up.
I didn't really need the iPod Bass boost, but hey why not, ya know?
Now, it sounds very very good! I enjoy it, I can't tell the difference on some songs whether it was from CD or the iTrip. I also like the charger feature. Sometimes I forget to charge iPod and this helps, and it won't eat down the iPod battery because it pulls from the car battery.
Overall, this was a super awesome buy! No problems with it and no regrets whatsoever.
I recommend this to everyone.
well...actually I take that back.
I tried this in a Lexus ML350, and it wasn't so great. It would have a lot of static noise sometimes, and just didn't sound as good.
If you listen to a song with a lot of 'S' syllables, it would get fuzzy at those parts and sound horrible. I guess I got lucky with my car. Anyways, I love it! 5/5 :D
Customer Review: It works fine
Summary: 4 Stars
I use the iTRIP in two different vehicles with similar results. Setting the preset to 87.+ is the way to go (see other reviews on how to do this). The iTRIP works fine with some limitations, there is always a slight background noise, not unlike a cassette tape, only bothersome for quiet tracks but once a song starts to rock its fine. In my F150 pick up, the volume is limited at a certain point, that may be more a factor of the truck than the iTRIP. In the Volvo, volume is not a problem. Sound quality is acceptable, similar to the radio, not great but not unexpected. Signal wise, there are times when, even at the "unused" 87.+, there is interference to the point of being unlistenable (this may account for some folks reviews saying they never get a clear signal). I'll be driving along and the static will set in and last for a time and then suddenly disappear, not the device but the conditions. I've reduced the rating mainly for the fact that the iTRIP doesn't stay on a preset after its been powered down, so each time you turn stuff on, you have to hit the preset button, not a huge pain, but if you don't turn down the volume, etc.. and then turn your car on you get that blast of static.
Overall, I think it's a decent product for what it is, how it works and the price. I haven't used any other FM transmitters. Purchasers can't expect audiofile sound quality or constant crystal clear signal with a transmitter for $30 or maybe ANY transmitter for that matter.
I look at it this way, I can fumble around with a dozen or so CDs or I can buy a new car(s) that has iPOD connectivity built or I can use the iTRIP and listen to endless tunes with no commercials and the same experience I would have with radio. Let's see $40,000.00 for iPOD connection in car vs. $30 for iTRIP .... hhhmmmm... I guess its the iTRIP for awhile.
Customer Review: The Griffin 9501 is a great little product
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally ordered and tried to use a Griffin product that held my iPod and plugged into the cigaretter lighter in my car. The product did not fit well in the space around the lighter and I had great difficulty making adjustments (such as changing the FM station when driving from one region to another).
So I opted for simplicity. The 9501 consists of a lighter plug-in, a small control box and an iPod adapter on a three foot cord. First, the FM signal feature generally functions well. Expect periodic problems in areas with high FM channel density. But this occurs with any unit using FM to link into your car's sound system.
What is really neat is the little control box with a channel preset feature. Driving along I can quickly and safely change from one FM channel to another using the preset button. It holds five channels I believe. Searching for non-programmed channel is also easy using the toggle button. Since the box is on a wire I can hold it in front of me to change the channel without taking my eyes off the road.
Having the iPod attached to a cord also provides a significant safety advantage. Again, I can hold the iPod in front of me to change play lists without taking my eyes off the road. And when I'm not using the iPod the entire unit can be wrapped up and put in the glove compartment.
Before going too "hi tech" I would highly recommend giving this little device a try. Again, realize that using FM transmission for access to your car's sound system will always result in moments of distortion. If you are real stickler for sound quality then pay the money and hard wire your iPod into the sound system. But if you an occasional user like me with an average "ear" take a look at the 9501.
Customer Review: Does not work with iTouch despite advertising
Summary: 1 Stars
This model doesn't work with the ipod touch. Since it did not work as advertised, I would rate it a zero if I could. If you have an ipod touch, don't buy this iTrip. You can find a newer FM broadcast device that will charge and broadcast your ipod touch.
One other tip - if you buy this for an older ipod, it may work for you. I gave this unit to my wife, and it works for her old ipod. Be prepared to do some homework online to change the settings to a channel that you can use (e.g., 87.9), because the directions that come with the unit do not even indicate that this is possible. It is possible, but it takes some research as well as trial and error. I found the instructions below from various reviews (especially the review by Eric William):
US radio does not broadcast at 87.9, so make sure your car radio can be set to 87.9 frequency or lower. Plug in the iTrip. You will see two buttons:
1) a larger +/- button
2) a smaller button that will either have "Select" or "Preset" written on it.
Hold down the smaller button for 10-15 sec. At first the display will flash "2" or some other number. Ignore it and keep waiting. Then the display will flash "DX" or "LX". Ignore it and keep holding the button. The display will change to "US".
Use the +/- to change to INTL mode.
Press the smaller button to save your selection.
You can now set the iTrip to 87.9, which will not receive interference from other radio stations.
Some people prefer to use the same steps and select "LX" mode to put the unit in mono.
Some iTrip units have varying combinations of the same process. However, none seems to be documented in the iTrip instructions.
Customer Review: Affordable - charges iPod Touch - great sound!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this for my 1st Gen iPod Touch to use in a car that I bought on ebay and drove back home - 1200 miles. The car is an Acura RL - no aux input on the radio. The radio is very high end with bose speakers so I did not want to switch any OEM equipment out just to play my iPod. The advice from Eric Williams to change the adapter to work in international mode is very useful advice. Do that first and you will love this little unit. I have tried several other FM modulators and they all have weaknesses, but this one charges my iPod as it's plugged in, and the sound quality is almost perfect. At 87.9 it is working great. You will have some cross talk at times where a station may leak into your sound if a station is strong enough to interfere, but take a moment to set a few other presets and it works just fine. Trust me, I had 16 hours of driving with this thing, there are virtually no radio stations in Northern TX, OK, MO and IL that I drove through and this saved my sanity for sure. I was tempted to buy a "hard wired" FM modulator and have it installed, but I have read that many of those knock out your AM band, and cause interference with your other FM radio stations and in some cases disables the remote CD player - none of those options sounded good to me. So I have a totally stock set up with this and it sounds awesome! Note: everytime you turn off the car if your cig lighter shuts off, this unit will power down, your ipod will pause, this unit will need you to press the preset button to set the station when you power it up again. It does retain all your presets. It becomes routine, but at first it was frustating to me because I thought I had lost all my settings, but it did not.