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I just obtained the Griffin Technologies iTrip FM modulator that allows a MP3 player to transmit it songs to any FM radio. Although there are many FM modulaters on the market for MP3 players, the unique thing about the Griffin Technologies is it looks to be an extension of the iPod line and looks as if it could have been made by Apple itself. It even comes packaged simularly like the iPod. As well the iTrip does not require external power and draws power from the iPod. The iTrip allows you to select from over 100 stations on which to broadcast, these stations are loaded as a play list into the iPod. The tuner is a digital tuner and not analog like so many others. Maximum range is said to be about 30 feet.
Here is the wrapped package
Contents are iTrip module, software CD and instruction manual.
Front of iTrip, this module is for the older iPod. The lug on the left serves no purpose other than to aid mounting of the iTrip by stablizing it in the firewire port. If charging or external power is required via the firewire port, the iTrip can be mounted slightly off set, with the lug out of the iPod's firewire port.
Back side
Sides have a grippy rubber
After installation of the software all that is required is a syncronization with Music Match Jukebox and your ready to go.
Here it is transmitting, note the very cool blue LED during transmission
Set up of the iTrip is very easy. First the included CD must be installed onto your PC/Mac. After that a syncronization is all that is required to load the tuning frequencies in to the iPod. The default freq. is 87.9 however it can be easily changed to any of the more than 100 channels through the iPods menu playlist.
So how does it sound??? Well, it's not reference material and is very dependant on the MP3 source and quality of your FM tuner or broadcast. While I found some MP3's sounded terrible compared to the head phones, others were surprizingly clean for a FM transmission. I think due to the nature of an already reduced audio quality of a 128-192kbs MP3, compounded with the added limitation of a FM signal, really makes this more for background music rather than critical listening.
I tested the unit in my car stereo and while I was sitting in a quiet garage with the car parked, I was slightly disapointed in the audio quality overall. However when I took the car on the road, it was not as bad and actually sounded decent at times. There seems to be distorsion at the higher and lower ends of the freq. spectrum on a lot of my MP3's, which aren't there when I listen to them on my earphones, or when played through anything other than FM modulation. I think an actual line-in input is the real ticket over this.
I plug my iPod into my PC's Klipsch MP3/Line-in and it sounds near CD quality, however the FM modulation is audibly inferiour..... The iTrip does work in a pinch though. I found it sounded slightly better overall with Bass Reduction EQ enabled on the iPod. Also a balance has to be set between the iPods volume level to match the FM tuner. 40% to 80% is the recommened range. Over all it a worthwhile purchase, however expectations do have to be lowered
:5: Build Quality
:5: Packaging
:45: Instructions
:5: Ease of installation
:25: to :3: Sound Quality, dependant on MP3 and many other factors (encoding, material...etc)
Price $35.00
Specifications
• Compact Size: 2.4" x .84"
• Built-in antenna
• Power Requirement: None (it's powered by the iPod)
• Modulation: FM Stereo
• Frequencies: 87.7 - 107.9 MHz
• High stability crystal oscillator, phase-lock loop control
• Stereo separation: greater than 45 dB
• Signal distortion: less than .5%
• Frequency response: 50 Hz to 15 kHz
• Operating range: 10-30 feet, depending on the quality of the FM radio receiver (limited by FCC regulations)
• FCC compliant
• International frequencies software selectable
Bing
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