DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod (Black) by Digital Lifestyle Outfitters
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Digital camera reviews of DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod (Black)
Digital camera Review: Cheaply made for what you pay...Sounds terrible
Summary: 2 Stars
I was really excited about this product, it looked nice and seemed like it would solve my problem of how to get my ipod to play in the car. Well I was somewhat wrong. As soon as I got it out of the package and was bending the arm into position so it would fit into my car the rivet holding the arm in place broke off. That wasn't that big of a deal b/c superglue worked to hold it in place. I then proceeded to place it in my car...I drive a 98 Rav4 and to place it in the car it goes right over the cup holders, rendering them unusable when i use this...Now I live in Las Vegas and the sound quality wasn't that great so I was disappointed with that. I went back home to Missouri and decided to bring the Transpod with me to try in my brothers truck and parents car. I was still disappointed...in my brothers truck the stick shift got in the way and I felt uncomfortable with him hitting my ipod everytime he shifted gears. Then I tried it in my parents car...it didn't get in the way of anything but the sound quality was so bad that it was a pain to listen to. The only good solution I found to this was getting a cassette adapapter and hooking that into the unit while my ipod is sitting in it.
PROS:
Holds ipod...Haven't had it fall out yet.
Says it charges ipod
CONS:
Rivet broke off arm to hold it in your car...very CHEAP!
Sound quality is terrible
Have to constantly search for free FM to get it to play somewhat clear (still static in background...especially hip hop/rap music)
Overall I would not recommend this product...It cost me $90 and all I use it for is to hold my ipod in the car...I would highly recommend a cassette car adapter b/c that works tons better and only cost me $5!
Digital camera Review: Convenience vs Performance
Summary: 3 Stars
On the positive side, I found the Transpod to be very convenient to install and use. There are no wires to run and no need to modify your dashboard or stereo. It also conveniently charges the iPod without a cable. Just plug it into the lighter plug, tune your stereo, and it works. Also, it does a great job of overcoming most static and interference on the FM channel. The included arms allow you to position the iPod any way you like, and it can be easily moved from car to car.
On the negative side, the Transpod has a very low signal output level, and the stereo has to be cranked very high in order to get your music to a decent volume. If you forget to turn the volume down before switching back to a regular radio program on another station, your ears get blasted and your young child gets startled and cries. By its very nature as an FM transmitter, you cannot expect great sound quality out of this product. It is a trade-off between convenience and performance.
Overall, I think it is an adequate product if (a) you are not particular about sound quality, and (b) you need an easy solution to get your iPod working in just about any car.
By the way, the transpod has a built-in audio-out plug. So if you can get the audio signal directly into your stereo, you can get much better sound quality without using the FM transmitter.
Digital camera Review: Cost effective way to get auto iPod music
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this to be very easy to install & use, from a mechanical standpoint. I live in an area with crowded airwaves, so it took a week or so to locate a frequency that is pretty reliably empty. Even so, under some conditions I notice some of the interference mentioned in another review: with quieter songs (some of Brubeck's quieter piano jazz numbers like La Paloma Azul) there's noticeable static, and also with songs that are what I describe as bright and vivid (like The Who "Guitar and Pen"), when there's interference the sound is more flat. However: given the alternatives of either not having access to the iPod in my car at all (which is where I listen to it most), or having to do / pay for an overhaul of my car's audio system to install a direct connection, I find this to be a happy medium of cost & quality and am quite well satisfied with my purchase.Digital camera Review: DLO 009-3031 ipod FM transpod
Summary: 3 Stars
Does not work very well in my 05 Canyon, my radio picks up something on every frequency in the Chicagoland area, but...
it works part time in my 06 Pontiac and
it works very well in my 02 Dodge.
Digital camera Review: DLO Design Improvement Needed (BEWARE)
Summary: 3 Stars
I cannot compare this to other units, as this is my first. For our second car I did order the Belkin FM TuneBase, which has the flex neck which solves 70% of the cup holder complaints posted on this particular unit. I really don't know how good the quality is on other units as I have not tried other units yet, however I have three comments about this particular unit.
1. If you are using a first or second generation iPod Nano, the only thing holding your iPod in place is the "tiny" multi-connection connector, which it is NOT DESIGNED TO DO!! When buying this unit immediately go to the hardware store and purchase some soft felt one side sticky pads and INSERT two pads on this unit, (NOT YOUR iPOD),serving as spacers, which will prevent damage to your iPod when you apply pressure to the wheel to change settings. Without the spacer pads, ALL YOUR FINGER PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE SMALL CONNECTOR, AND AND CAN ASSURE YOU, YOU WILL DESTROY IT, BY CONTINUED USE. Using the spacer pads right under the DLO trademark on the unit will protect your iPod against certain damage from the pressure of changing settings. When you see the product, you will understand! It's not a hard design upgrade, but a very necessary one!
2. The unit is somewhat heavy and bulky. I'm surprised it stays in place, however the fit is very tight in the lighter, and once you set all the angles, mine worked fine. I have practically no open frequencies, but I did find one or two above the 105 FM mark.
3. As previously mentioned, I cannot compare the fidelity to any other FM transmitters, as I have the Belkin on order and have not received it yet, but I am very critical of a product's fidelity, and the DLO just seems to be FLAT on the high frequencies, and I find if I boost my high frequencies, it sounds very harsh. It's best, (at least in my case), to keep your iPod equalizer settings OFF, and just adjust your radio, or mine overdrives the radio, giving a very unpleasant sound. Strangely enough I can boost bass frequencies, however boosting the high frequencies overdrives my radio (Ford Expedition Factory Radio).
The most important information I can give buyers in regard to this product is: Use spacers, if your iPod is like mine a first or second generation Nano, as there is lots of space behind the iPod that MUST BE FILLED before any pressure is put on the iPod controls! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
LiteJazz53