just wondering if it’s possible to hook up your Ipod to your car stereo? i know that if you have a cassette player you can buy the cassette thingy…but i only have CD player. so is there some sort of device out that that allows you to connect your IPod to you CD player..?
or is it not possible yet?
ps - didn’t really know where this thread would fit, so mods please feel free to move it wherever it fits best.. 
Re: IPods
You have three options.
Use an FM transmitter. Its wireless, completely uncomplicated, pretty cheap (between $10-40). Sound quality is not too great.
Connect the iPod to your car stereo through an AUX In. This assumes your car stereo has an AUX In. Some car stereos have external input socket, which will make for extremely uncomplicated hookup. Most cars don't, in which case you may have to hard wire it. Can be pricey, but sound quality is as good as it gets..
Retrofit your car for iPod. Priciest option, but the convenience, that your iPod will get charged while its playing. Sound quality is as good as it gets.
Re: IPods
sami - thanks..although we don't have a target where i live, i'll try and see if any stores have it here...
faisal - what's retrofit mean?
...and i think i might go with the FM trasmitter idea. i don't hook up my IPod that often, but there are some days when i need to use it, and can't..
any ideas where i could pick one up?
Re: IPods
faisal - what's retrofit mean? ...and i think i might go with the FM trasmitter idea. i don't hook up my IPod that often, but there are some days when i need to use it, and can't.. any ideas where i could pick one up?
i think they sell those at walmart also..u can always buy it from the net too
Re: IPods
Some new cars come with iPod adapters already built-in. If your car is not one of them, then you can still get it retrofitted with iPod adapter. What it means is you take your car to a shop where they place wires inside and leave a cradle/plug somewhere near the driver's seat that you can use to attach your iPod. Its wired inside so when you plug in your iPod, it will get recharged and the sound comes from your car's stereo speakers. Its usually pricey, but there is a lot of convenience and sound quality is good.
Re: FM transmitter, just be careful of one thing. Some FM transmitters use their own battery. They are cheap and just hook up to the headphone jack of your iPod. You just have to be aware that using them you will be changing their batteries every now and then as well. Some iPod specific FM tranmitters attach on top of the iPod and draw their power from the iPod. This will put some extra drain on your iPod battery, but as long as you keep your iPod attached to the car charger you should be ok. Sound quality from an FM tranmitter is patchy. Try to get it from a place that has good Return policy, in case you are dissatisfied with the performance of the FM transmitter.
Re: IPods
Do NOT get a FM transmitter. I spent $30 bucks on one and was very disappointed. You cant find a vacant FM frequency and the ones you do arent supported by the FM transmitter. The frequencies most FM transmitters support are already taken over by popular radio stations and it is hard to override their powerful signals with a teeny AAA battery operated transmitter.
The easiest and most hassle free way (though a bit pricey) is to replace your car cd player with a stereo system (might as well make it mp3 system) that has an AUX IN jack in it.
Re: IPods
hmm...so the FM transmitter doesn't seem like that great an idea, but i really don't wanna be spending that much money to put in a new stereo system..just so that i can listen to my IPod..
faisal - have you ever used one..or currently have one?
cheegum - how much would it cost to replace my cd player with a stereo system...?
Re: IPods
I agree with Cheegum, getting the right mp3/CD player is the best bet, specially if it has an AUX port. But depending on where you are (specially the major metropolitan area) FM transmitters aren't a bad choice. The voice qualit suffers (but if ur at 128 kb enoding u've already lost it anyway) but its doable.
Re: IPods
I had an FM transmitter on my iPod. Am not using it now, since I don’t use iPod anymore, but while I had it, it was ok. Sound quality was not great, and there were ocassional spots of bad interference. But from a price stand point, FM transmitters are probably a cheaper option compared to anything else.
I had the FM transmitter from **XtremeMac **](http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/wireless/airplay.php)which was convenient from the standpoint of having no separate batteries to worry about, but unfortunaltey would drain iPod battery. It worked fine as long as I have my iPod attached to a car charger.
Re: IPods
^ which means that i would have to spend another $50 or so on buying a car charger for my IPod.
hmm..maybe i'll buy an FM transmitter, but get it from a place that takes returns like you said.
alrighty..thanks for the help guys! i'll let you know what i end up doing :)