[maceye]

I went out and bought an iTrip to connect to my 2nd gen iPod (with the cover over the FW port), and the thing is horrible! The sound quality is poor (sounds like it's only reproducing a very limited range of frequencies), if I place the iPod down on my dash or the passenger seat the iTrip creates a lot of static, and the FW door keeps on pushing the iTrip out of the headphone jack on my iPod. Is this product supposed to sound so poor? I can live with the FW door pushing the iTrip off (I can just tape it on), but the sound quality is awful. I tried comparing the quality to a CD (by playing the same song with the CD player, and then with the iPod, and the iPod clearly made the song sound shallow. Is my iTrip broken, or are others having this problem?

[itai195]

Were you expecting a compressed audio file transmitted via FM to your radio to sound anywhere near as good as playing a CD?

Other than the occasional static, I'm pleased enough with the way my iTrip sounds. It's better than most normal radio stations, and not a whole lot worse than listening to the iPod with headphones. Clearly CDs sound nicer, but I don't have a CD changer and even if I did I would be limited to 6 or 10 at a time.

[maceye]

Originally posted by itai195:
Were you expecting a compressed audio file transmitted via FM to your radio to sound anywhere near as good as playing a CD?

Considering that the CD was made from the compressed audio file, I was not expecting much difference between the two...

[Weezer]

Originally posted by maceye:
Considering that the CD was made from the compressed audio file, I was not expecting much difference between the two...

Mildy naive...how fantastic do you think the radio sounds in general? I don't own an itrip, but to think just because they are both dealing with compressed audio and therfore they should sound the same is silly.

[maceye]

Originally posted by Weezer:
Mildy naive...how fantastic do you think the radio sounds in general? I don't own an itrip, but to think just because they are both dealing with compressed audio and therfore they should sound the same is silly.

Ok, I only listen to NPR on the radio (talk only), so I don't know what the radio is 'supposed' to sound like, but I would assume that radio waves support at least some bass; the songs sound very tinny on the iTrip. I think I'll try to compare it to a normal radio station...

Edit: I compared the iTrip to a normal radio station, and it does sound better. I also noticed that someone had changed the mid adjustment level to +5 for my fm2 band (where the iTrip station is), but that my mid on fm1 (where my other stations are) was at 0. I think that this may have, uh, contributed to the iTrip sounding bad.

[slider]

I get really good sound out of the iTrip and static comes when I get interference from other stations transmitting off their frequency. No tramsmitter is going to sound better than a CD or a direct line into your car radio, the direct line is the way to go if you have that option.

One thing I can suggest is one you have set your station, turn the volume down some on the iPod, mid-level works for me. For some reason, don't know why, the sound can sound very distorted when the iPod volume is high, as if the speakers are going even though your car radio volume is normal. Adjust the desired level on your car radio from that point on. Hope that helps, it worked wonders for me. And of course the clearest station you can find also helps with the static.

Another tip that might help is if at all possible use one of the higher frequencies if you're getting a whinning noise, again don't know why, but it seems as if you get clearer sound there. Thank god you can select from 100 stations, eh?

[maceye]

Originally posted by slider:

One thing I can suggest is one you have set your station, turn the volume down some on the iPod, mid-level works for me. For some reason, don't know why, the sound can sound very distorted when the iPod volume is high, as if the speakers are going even though your car radio volume is normal.

Yeah, I was really pissed when I first plugged in the iTrip becuase my iPod was set to max volume (there was a bit of distortion, to say the least).

Originally posted by slider:
Another tip that might help is if at all possible use one of the higher frequencies if you're getting a whinning noise, again don't know why, but it seems as if you get clearer sound there. Thank god you can select from 100 stations, eh?

Sounds like a good idea, and I'll try it if I can find any more empty spots on my dial (there are a lot of radio stations where I live). Maybe I can eliminate that whine afterall.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Sure are a lot of threads on how crappy the iTrip sounds, I think you talked me out of getting one.

[JB72]

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Sure are a lot of threads on how crappy the iTrip sounds, I think you talked me out of getting one.

Good idea. Maybe they work better in rural, radio-free areas. But in LA the iTrip is useless for me.

[iBorg]

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Sure are a lot of threads on how crappy the iTrip sounds, I think you talked me out of getting one.

I bought 2 of them - one for me, one for my wife, and they both work great. Sound quality is less than CD, but still very, very good, certainly better than FM radio reception, and letting me carry 2,000 songs along, rather than the 6 CD's worth of music that my CD changer would allow.

The suggestions that others have made are good to try:

1. turn iPod volume down to mid-level

2. if you get poor reception, try another frequency, and another, and another, until you get good sound. You need to use a frequency not used by a nearby station, but sometimes one frequency getting some crossover noise actually transmits better than a totally silent frequency. Doesn't make sense, but sometimes it works.

3. Your iPod is transmitting its signal to your car's antennae, NOT to the radio. Thus, best line-of-sight is best, e.g. sometimes having the iPod in your shirt pocket works better than in the cup-holder.

4. You can pop the firewire port cover off, or just bend it way over - it can be popped back in again.

I really love the iTrip. Except for hard-wiring it into your radio, it's the best solution out there. Having unlimited radio frequencies is far superior to the others leaving you with 4 frequency choices, and since my car doesn't have a cassette deck (CD changer only), those units aren't an option.



iBorg

[Mastrap]

I use mine around the house rather than for the car. I collect old FM valve radios and the iTrip is great for actuall using them to listen to my music. I find the quality to be excellent for radio.

Oh, one more thing: If the firewire cover is pushing your itrip out of the headphone socket, just pull the cover off. It is designed for that purpose. You can always push it back in later.

[jmatero]

I too hate the iTrip on my 2nd gen iPod..... the firewire cover... no matter HOW FAR YOU BEND IT OVER.... pops the itrip off. I'm really unclear as to how you can remove it completely and reuse it as it is attached via a rubber strap.

[mikellanes]

just pull it out, you can pop it back in later.

[hardcat1970]

my colleague just got one this morning, and we tried it out.

Itrip doesn't sound good, We think irock sounds much better and it is very hard to get a stable frequency, we are in new york city.

It only works within 5 feets.

it does not work well with the 2g ipod unless you remove the firewire port cover.

it looks cheap and $35 seems expensive to us.

the good things we like about itrip is that it is portable and it uses ipod's battery.

so you might want to consider these facts before you buy one.

[SMacTech]

My 4th iTrip finally would transmit across the room. Haven't tried it in my car, where I think I am going to have some problems.
The iTrip sounds good only when you turn the audio output level down, or it will distort and bleed into other channels.
This 4th one, however doesn't set the frequency correctly. I set it to 105.9 and it outputs on 106.5, go figure.
The signal is also very broad and can be heard on several adjacent channels, so ensure you have :
1) the volume about 50%
2) a clear channel
3) the correct center frequency tuned in.

It actually sounds good.