What’s The Best Way To Connect An iPod To A Car?
What’s the best way to connect an iPod to a car? I’ve been searching the net trying to find the best way to play my iPod through a car stereo. For the last 4 years I’ve been using FM transmitters to play my iPod on my car system, originally with an iTrip and currently with a Kensington FM transmitter.
However, FM transmitters can be frustrating to use when it’s hard to find a clear FM frequency and also sometimes the quality of the iPod playback leaves a lot to be desired. Also, until recently FM transmitters were also illegal in the UK. So, I’ve decided that in my next car I’m going to try and do things properly and look into connecting my iPod directly to the stereo.
I haven’t had much joy and the only products I’ve managed to locate are from Dension, who produce a range of products that allow various MP3 players, including iPods, to be connected directly to a car stereo i.e. with no loss in audio quality. Yes, you may say that MP3s aren’t as good as CDs, but I haven’t played a CD for a very long time, so I’m used to this (I am however reimporting my favourite CDs in a lossless format). The Dension Gateway 500 even displays track and playlist details on the car stereo display and allows the iPod to be controlled from the normal stereo controls.
The Dension Gateway 500 looks perfect, apart from the price, £280, with fitting costing extra. Does anyone know of any alternatives?
Bookmark & Share
Related Posts
- Dension Gateway 500 iPod Integration Review
- DLO TransDock Deluxe: Steering Wheel Control For Your iPod
- New iPod Announcement Coming Today
- The King Of Car GPS Units: TomTom GO 720
- How To Remove Personal Information From iTunes DRM-free Songs
- TomTom Launch New GO 730 And GO 930 GPS Devices
- 'Fastest' DVD To iPod Converter
Comment by Everton on 27 February 2008:
@rfctabs
Yes I got the Dension 500 fitted. It’s excellent and works well with my 5G 60GB ipod. Only issue I have and it’s not the Dension’s fault, is that my car’s display doesn’t display the song/artist details so I’m restricted to playing playlists only (not too bad to be honest) as I can’t navigate by artist/album/genre etc. If I’d known this in advance I probably would have upgraded my car’s head unit to the one that supported this.
Lesson - check compatability before ordering!
Comment by rfctabs on 27 February 2008:
Hi Everton,
Did you get thte Dension 500 fitted? Is / was it good? I’m looking at one for my car to use with a Creative Zen Vision M 60Gb and also a 250Gb portable USB hard drive. I’m struggling to find a local fitter (S/E Birmingham) and am just wondering if it’s worth it. I like the idea that all of the music will come up on the iDrive and I REALLY don’t like iPods…
Cheers,
Peter
Pingback by New iPod Announcement Coming Today | Connected Internet on 5 September 2007:
[...] need a new iPod because one is going to be permanently in my new car as part of my Dension Gateway 500 installation instead of a CD changer. So, what I need is either more storage for the car new 6G car [...]