You got an iPod because you wanted to have your music with you everywhere you went. But if you want to play your iPod through your car stereo, you need some kind of iPod car adapter.
There are a multitude of products that will pipe your iPod’s music into your car stereo, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses. When you choose an iPod car adapter, you are choosing between three basic products types: iPod wireless car adapters, built-in jacks, and iPod cassette adapters.
Wireless Car Adapters
These devices connect through the iPod dock connector and broadcast the iPod’s music to the car stereo on a user-selected FM radio channel (Read reviews of iPod wireless car adapters).
Strengths
- No wire to mess with
- High-quality sound
Weaknesses
- More expensive than iPod cassette adapters
- Prone to interference from other FM signals
Built-In iPod Jacks
These jacks come pre-installed in some new cars, and can be added as after-market items, too. With them, you just plug a cable into the jack and into your iPod to run the music into the stereo. (See a list of car makers offering built-in iPod jacks.)
Strengths
- Highest-quality sound
- No wires to worry about
Weaknesses
- Not available on all cars
- Expensive – devices costs hundreds and then you have to pay for installation
iPod Cassette Adapter, Specific
These iPod car radio adapters just like standard cassette adapters that plug into the iPod and are inserted into the car stereo tape deck.
Strengths
- Designed specifically for iPod
- iPod styling
- iPod-specific features
Weaknesses
- Acceptable audio quality
- More expensive than generic adapters
iPod Cassette Adapter, Generic
Strengths
- Low price
- Disposable
Weaknesses
- Acceptable audio quality
- Disposable
