You are looking at the coolest iPod accessory in the world. The iTrip FM transmitter for the iPod can play your music through any FM radio in your car, at a party, wherever the mood strikes you - and you have a radio.It's clear that the iTrip is made specifically for the iPod. This gives iTrip advantages over similar devices. For example, with the iTrip, you can have the cleanest possible signal - because you can choose any radio station on the dial to tune for the best performance possible. You do this by 'playing' special station codes directly from the iPod itself. Simple.Another advantage of the iTrip is that it needs no batteries - it receives its tiny amount of power from the iPod. The Original iTrip can even rotate out of the way to charge the iPod while still in use. No more batteries ever again. There's not even a power switch - just plug it in and go. It shuts off automatically after 60 seconds of silence - just like the iPod. The iTrip is the ultimate accessory for the iPod because it allows you to share the music and share the fun beyond your headphones. Don't leave home without it.The New iTrip is intended for the new iPods.For a complete compatibility list please refer to the original manufacturer's web site.
The iPod has helped revolutionize the way people store and listen to music, but it's not particularly car friendly. Unless your car stereo includes a cassette deck (increasingly rare) or an auxiliary input (more common among newer stereos) combined with the appropriate adapter, you simply haven't had the means to play your extensive iPod library through your car speakers. Several companies, however, have sought to fill this void by releasing a product called an FM transmitter, which broadcasts iPod tunes through FM airwaves. Griffin Technology is among the category leaders with its iTrip, a discreet little device that fits unobtrusively on top of any iPod model with a dock connector, including the iPod mini. The iTrip isn't confined to car stereos--it plays on almost any FM radio--but because most home stereos and boomboxes have auxiliary inputs, it's most popular as a car accessory.
The iTrip is designed to broadcast to any empty FM frequency on the dial of any radio, at home or in your car.
Design and Setup The iPod is loaded with impressive features, but it's also an Apple product, which means that looks matter. A lot. And Griffin clearly recognizes this, because the company has released several iTrips designed to match specific iPod models, and each is among the sleekest FM transmitters on the market. The white version is customized to look like a cylindrical extension of the special-edition white iPod (the U2 model), though it also fits traditional white iPods. Plus, the device measures less than an inch tall and exactly as wide as the iPod it sits on, so it takes up almost no extra space--an important feature to people who value the iPod's portability. Owners of first- and second-generation FireWire iPods, third- and fourth-generation white iPods with dock connectors, or iPod minis can buy alternate iTrips designed with their players in mind (in the same color or dimensions, or in the case of the FireWire iPod, with a different input on top).
The iTrip is designed to broadcast to any empty FM frequency on your dial--depending on where you receive the best reception--but it's only configured to play at 87.9 MHz right out of the box. That means a little setup is required using the included CD-ROM and iTunes. Fortunately, the installation is painless and takes only a few minutes. The installer adds a playlist to your iPod (through iTunes) called iTrip Stations, which consists of a series of short audio files that correspond with all available FM frequencies.
Features and Performance The iTrip performs best when tuned to an FM frequency that plays nothing but static, with no audible words or music. Finding a good frequency is fairly easy, but it requires your full attention, so it's best to do so while parked. We tested the iTrip on three separate frequencies in a midsize market with varying success. The sound was generally good in two of the frequencies, less so in the third. This remained true whether the iPod sat next to the radio, in the backseat, or under a stack of newspapers. While driving through bad FM reception areas, the iTrip received a bit of static, but it usually passed in a couple of seconds.
The iTrip is designed more for convenience than elite audio performance, so listeners shouldn't expect CD-quality sound. When tuned to a clear frequency, it's about on par with the average FM station. If the volume is turned high, users might notice a slight hiss through the speakers, but engine hum and road noise will generally cover that up. However, listeners who value top-quality sound--especially people with expensive speaker systems that pick up every minor flaw--might instead want to add an auxiliary input to their car stereos to get the most from their iPods.
The main drawbacks to the iTrip are fairly minor, but will bother some users. First, the iTrip Stations playlist is stored as part of your overall music library, meaning the individual audio files can emerge during shuffle play--and the sound isn't pleasant. Listeners can remedy this by creating a new playlist with their entire music libraries minus the iTrip Stations files. Second, the iTrip draws its power from the iPod battery. This is both a plus and a minus, because it means you don't need to keep buying new AAA batteries every week, but you also won't receive as much power from each iPod charge. If this bothers you, consider purchasing an auto charger, which powers your iPod or iPod mini through the cigarette lighter adapter while you drive. Third, the iTrip isn't great for long road trips through crowded regions, because the available FM frequencies might change every 40 or so miles (or less), making it necessary to frequently retune the iTrip. On the flip side, it's great for long drives through the country.
Ultimately, the iTrip is a good value. The convenience will please iPod fans who have been clamoring for a way to play their music in the car. Audiophiles might want to look elsewhere, but most other listeners should be satisfied. --Rivers Janssen
Pros
Makes iPod music library accessible to anyone with an FM radio
Simple, easy-to-follow controls using iPod click wheel
Sound quality is solid, though not terrific
Cons
Sometimes requires frequent retuning to find best FM frequency
Hard to find good frequency in crowded urban areas
iTrip audio files emit unpleasant noise when chosen for shuffle play, though problem is fixable
What's in the Box The iTrip white FM transmitter, an installation CD-ROM, and a user's manual.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.0 / 5.0
Solid, Inexpensive Mobile Solution:
First, it always amazes me to read comments/reviews panning a product because the purchaser did not do their due diligence to find out if it is compatible with their particular iPod. How the manufacturer is blamed for this is hard to understand, particularly as Griffin in explicit about which model iTrip supports which model iPod. This is a fine, inexpensive solution to getting my old U2 G4 playing through my car. It attaches quickly and interfaces very well with the iPod itself. The quality is more... more info
Convenient AND reliable:
Seeing the variety of other ipod transmitter products out there, i chose this one because it was cheap, and there were no extra fancy digital displays with extra wires hanging, etc. It's just a simple plug-in unit. The compact design also makes it easy to just keep the iTrip plugged into your ipod without it getting in the way.
Another reason i decided to write this review is that this product is pretty reliable. My 2 year old son found this on my night stand and somehow it ended up in my laundry. It... more info
I trip:
Does not work, and am working with the seller to see what else I need to make it work.
Is not compatible with latest model of the Ipod Shuffle:
I bought this to go w/my husband's Ipod Shuffle. He has the latest version of the Shuffle, the one w/the click wheel. I was under the impression, based on the description of this product, that it would be compatible. Unfortunately it is not. Wish I had known before I went and ordered it.
