Belkin Auto Charger for iPod (White) by Belkin Components
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Digital camera reviews of Belkin Auto Charger for iPod (White)
Digital camera Review: Amplify & Power up.
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I got this adapter, I was just using a cassette adapter and an FM transmitter in the car. In both cases the iPod was struggling to provide enough power output to provide clean undistorted sound, and still having to crank the volume control up all the way on both the car stereo and the iPod.This product solves that problem, and charges your iPod to boot. It uses the new line out capabilities through the docking connector. You then plug your adapter into a mini-plug jack located on the power adapter. Adjust the aplifier volume on the adapter as well. The built in amplifier provides enough power now so I don't have to crank the volume on the car stereo, making the sound to be fuller, richer, more accurate and eliminating all the hiss & noise caused by having to turn up the car stereo all the way.
The only things that might need to consider is the mini-plug output for the amplifier and volume controls are on the side of the cigarette plug. While this wasn't a problem for me, people with resessed power plugs in their cars might have difficulty with it if your cassette adapter/fm transmitter doesn't have a angled plug (I have a MB that has a power adapter in a recessed ashtray and it's challenging to use that plug because of space requirements, but does work after some adjustment). Belkin should have put these on opposite sides of the device, but should only be a minor inconvience. I don't envision anyone having to adjust the output volume very often, after you set it for the first time.
I highly reccomend this product to anyone wanting to listen to their iPod in the car.
Digital camera Review: Analog audio-output?
Summary: 2 Stars
I just bought this item because I need something to charge my ipod and I like the fact that it has the audio output jack so I plug my ipod into my car stereo Aux jack. I must said I'm very disappointed due to loud popping noise this thing generate even though I have the volume at minimum and not even plug in my ipod yet. I'm going to return it. I bought this before reading any review, I just noticed Amazon description said "The auto kit also provides an adjustable amplifier and .125-inch analog audio-output", can any one verify the output is actually in stereo?Digital camera Review: Apple should bundle this with their iPod
Summary: 5 Stars
This is such a great addition to the iPod that I think Apple should bundle it in order to make their iPod a complete package. Here is what this little adaptor offers:
1) Comparable style and quality as iPod itself. As if it was designed and made by Apple.
2) Power charger (of course).
3) Has an output within for direct sound (has higher quality than coming from the headphone jack) exactly as the line out from the docking station. For those who has the docking version, you know the sound quality difference between the docking station and the phone jack out. Major!
4) Volumn control for the direct sound. While the docking station doesn't have volumn control, this little device does have it. Nice thinking.
Conclusion, you gotta get one!
Digital camera Review: Best adapter (and I've used them all)
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite bemlar's assertions that all "hissing" is due to the user's faulty hookup or use of tape adapters and FM transmitters, many people have experienced a high-pitched hissing through their speakers with any audio accessory that uses the cigarette lighter adapter. This is not due to the user's faulty hookup, but due to poor factory electrical systems in the vehicle. It is usually more noticeable while driving (accelerating) and not so much when idling.
Like bemlar, I also have a direct line from my car's factory CD changer connector to my iPod, and can get crystal clear playback until plugging in the chargers from various accessories. The screeching is there through the speakers as long as the adapter is plugged in, even if the music is turned down or the iPod disconnected. Incidentally, this also used to happen with my old CD/MP3 player that I had wired up the same way. Apparently in some vehicles, the cigarette lighter's electrical is too closely associated with the audio system, and this inevitably happens when powering and playing at the same time.
I have owned the DLO Transpod and the SiK imp for my iPod. They both created this high frequency makes-your-dog-wince hissing only when plugged in to charge. Both worked very nicely and sounded great as long as I was not charging the iPod. The DLO Transpod even worked well in FM transmitter mode, but with the direct line I had no real use for that. What I have wanted is a permanent setup that requires me only to "pop" the iPod into a dock when I get in the car and go. The DLO was the closest, but the hiss and inelagance of it's tinker-toy appearance finally made mt try something else. I have also owned an iTrip which worked OK, but of course provided no way to charge the iPod.
The Belkin Auto Kit for iPod is the only one of the 3 powered adapters that does not create the "hiss" when charging, so finally I have a solution that works as I want. In combination with the Belkin TuneDok for iPod cup-holder mount, I can pop my iPod in and out of a secure, visible, and usable place, charging and playing beautifully without any annoying feedback/hissing. It seems the cigarette plug on the Belkin unit must be better shielded, and maybe it has something to do with the input control on the unit itself. I'm no electrical engineer, but clearly Belkin has done something that DLO and SiK have not for vehicles like my '98 New Beetle with this lighter-radio problem.
Keep in mind that for this unit, its strength is also its weakness. Probably precisely because of whatever it is electrically that makes the Belkin work without creating the "hiss," it does not function using its own line-out at all unless it is charging. When I was using the DLO Transpod or the imp, I resorted to never plugging in the charger, just using the iPod's batteries on the road, in order to avoid the hiss. When the iPod's battery got low, I'd just listen to the radio. The Belkin needs to be plugged in to work. This is not an issue for me really, since now that I have no hissing I have no reason to not plug it in. But for people who are making long trips and/or swapping out their cell phones or other accessories with their cigarette lighters, realize that the music will come to a crashing halt if you are using this unit's line-in to play your iPod. Of course when you unplug it you can simultaneously plug your (FM transmitter, tape adapter, line-in) into the iPod's headphone jack, but the idea of devices like this is to minimize cord swapping, right?
In summary, from a person who has owned an iTrip, a DLO Transpod, and a SiK imp, the Belkin Auto Kit + Belkin TuneDok combo is the closest thing you will get to a pop-in pop-out "dock" for your car that makes the iPod usable and sound great without the speaker-cigarette lighter interference hissing many have experienced. I just wish Belkin would combine the two into a cup-holder shaped powered dock with line out. Isn't that obvious?
Digital camera Review: Better audio than FM transmitter
Summary: 4 Stars
This device provides great audio. It does a much better job than an FM transmitter.
I use this kit with a SONY cassette adapter, for my 4th Gen. iPod, and it works great. A few comments on this kit:
* I get a full charge on my fully-drained iPod battery in about 1 hour.
* If you plan on using a cassette adapter, then connect it to the cassette adapter plug on the kit, rather than directly on your iPod. It is a convenient way of shortening cables, and routing less cables to your iPod.
* I experienced distorted music play-back when I set the kit's volume control on a high setting. I found that it's best to keep the kit volume control at a medium (or less) setting, with an iPod medium-high (or less) volume setting, and use the car's stereo for over-all volume control.