Monster A-IP-FM-CH-PS Wireless FM Transmitter
by Monster Cable
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List Price: Our Price: $57.58 You Save: $22.41 (28%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $45.59 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Monster A-IP-FM-CH-PS Wireless FM Transmitter
Customer Review: Don't bother with it unless you really have to.
Summary: 2 Stars
My biggest gripe with this product is the connector that goes to the Ipod. The release mechanism for the little clips that keep it plugged in doesn't work well. About 75% of the times I try to remove it, I need to take a key and press the little side buttons while working it back and forth so I can pull the plug out rather than just squeeze them with my fingers to release the connector the way its designed. This alone causes me to avoid using it most of the time because I don't want to spend five minutes or more wrestling with it when I'm ready to take it out of my car and strap it on my arm for a run.
While its plugged in and working, I'd say the performance is fair. On the best frequency, I have to up the volume on my car radio and tolerate a noticeable amount of noise. For audio books no big deal, but music takes a big hit.
If you keep your Ipod in any kind of case forget it. The problems with the release mechanism are compounded even more because the plug is fat and won't fit well thru the opening in most cases.
Overall, it has a cheap feel to it. If the only problem were the quality of audio thru the FM radio, I'd give it 4 stars and say its still well worth the money. As it is, I wouldn't recomend it if there is another alternative available. It is simply too inconvenient to try plugging and unplugging this to your Ipod because it gets stuck so often.
Customer Review: It's really great
Summary: 4 Stars
I really wanted to get one of these ipod-car things, but there are SO many different brands and items to choose from! Maybe like a lot of you, I spent like a week just looking through these customer reviews for all kinds of ipod car players, trying to find the best product. Finally, I narrowed it down to this one and the Giffin RoadTrip. Lots of the RoadTrip reviews were pretty positive, it sounded like the RoadTrip was basically reliable and sturdy and all, but it was just really bulky. And I read the negative reviews too, and it seemed like there were also a lot of problems with the RoadTrip. So I went with this one, these reviews were also pretty good, lots of people said it was poorly made and kind of delicate, but it seemed to me this was the better choice. So I've had it for about a month now, and it hasn't fallen apart, which is a good sign, and it really does have great sound quality. In my van, I can just keep it on the 1st set station, and the quailty it just fantastic. But in my other car, I sometimes get some static on the 1st station, but it's bearable, and it's only when I stop basically. The static also might have to do with the fact that I don't have an antenna, or at least I don't have one that I can see. And sometimes the little station changer part gets hot, but it hasn't been a problem (yet?). Overall, I really like this product, I'm pretty sure this is actually the best choice!Customer Review: Works Great!
Summary: 5 Stars
Before buying the iCarPlay I read a lot of reviews of it and similar products to broadcast your iPod over your car FM radio. So many of the reviews had cautions about reception and sound quality that I almost expected the iCarPlay to not be worth the money. Thankfully, my experience with the iCarPlay has been fantastic.
I chose this product over some of the other (cheaper) options for one major reason: the output to the radio broadcasting device does NOT go through the headphone jack. Theoretically, at least, this should allow for a cleaner signal. I haven't tested against other units, but I can verify that the signal from the iCarPlay is very clean most of the time. I would say the general quality is good FM.
The secret to getting good sound seems to be making sure the frequency you use is truly empty. Listen carefully as you go across the dial trying to find an empty spot. A truly empty frequency sounds very different from one that is marginal.
I have used the iCarPlay in several major metropolitan areas (Houston, San Antonio, in and around New York City) and have had very good results. I've also used it in several different vehicles (radio and antenna setups should, theoretically, have an effect on performance) with very good results.
I can't recommend this enough. It's really made a difference on our long drives, and my kids love it!
Customer Review: Worked well 1st few months then not
Summary: 3 Stars
The one great thing about this particular FM transmitter/charger was that you were not limited to preprogramed stations, you can program the stations that work best in your area. Which is what prompted me to purchase this product. It has a nice long cord and it charges your ipod as well, which were all what I was looking for. But, as a few months past the transmitter started to act strange. When the ipod was plugged in and it was transmitting through my car stereo, the passenger side speakers would not have any sound coming through them. I would have to play with the cord or lay the ipod a particular way to get sound through the passenger side speakers. Now, forget any of the above methods of trying to get this thing to play right. It fades in and out constantly and makes me feel dizzy. I am assuming there is some sort of short in the wires. Now that it doesnt work properly and I have looked closer at the transmitter, it is very poorly made. Let me say one thing. I did NOT mistreat this product nor was I rough with it. I take care of my toys. I have tried to contact monster to inquire about the warranty. The only live person you get is the operator, then you have to leave a message decribing your problem and wait for someone to return your call. I have tried to call them twice now and nothing. I will never buy another monster product again. Poor craftsmanship and poor customer service dont balance.Customer Review: Great product with minor shortcomings
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been using this unit for a few months now, and I'm glad I have it. Where I live, I don't need to worry much about finding an empty frequency. Here are my favorite features:
- It charges my iPod, which other models don't always do.
- It's small enough that you can stash it anywhere.
- It's possible to set the frequency to pretty much anything, giving you a lot of flexibility - even for locations with crowded frequencies.
- The sound quality is good (though not quite CD quality).
The few shortcomings buyers should know about are:
- On the few occasions where I have driven through a populated area with few empty frequencies, it was a bit difficult to locate unused frequencies while driving. The interface requires a lot of your attention, and it's just plain dangerous to try and tinker with the thing zipping through freeway traffic. The best method I could find was to scan for unused frequencies using my car radio, then set the transmitter to one of those frequencies. Changing the transmitter to a custom frequency is not hard, but it's not as easy as I'd like.
- The LED indicating the frequency is nowhere near bright enough. It could just be a fault in my particular transmitter, but it's very difficult to see what frequency it's broadcasting at in full-sun conditions.
Overall, this is a good product and I recommend it.