Ipod mini/car audio

Question

Does anyone know how I can connect my ipod mini to my car cd player's aux port? Is there a cable I can buy for it? Or am I better off getting a FM transmitter? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

b Various Methods to Connect to a Car Stereo System, or Listen to Your iPod in the Vehicle
There are several ways to connect any iPod (or MP3 player) to a car audio system. There are also many opinions on which works better than others. Here is my synopsis:
b Best Way:
Direct connection via the dock connector or headphone jack of the iPod, to the mini-jack input (or AUX RCA jacks) of your car stereo. Not many low/moderate-end cars have this feature yet, but it is becoming more popular. Some aftermarket auto stereo units have this feature. There are also some after-market, moderate to fairly expensive adaptors that hook into your existing car stereo that will provide a direct connection. Pretty slick, but can be pricey ($80-$300). If money is no object, a clean way to go. Not very portable from car to car – if at all.
http://logjamelectronics.com/ipodproducts.html
http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/blitzsafe/blitzsafe-m-link-ipod-interface .html
http://www.theistore.com/ipod2car.html
http://www.mp3yourcar.com/
b Better:
Connect your iPod to a cassette adaptor and play your tunes through your car's cassette player. In my opinion (via testing in my car using the accessories I have), it has better fidelity than FM transmitters. Some new cars no longer come with a cassette player, so it may not be an option. It will provide even better audio quality if you can run the audio feed out of the dock connector (see the SendStation link below). Can be portable between cars that have a cassette player and also be used in your home cassette system.
b Good:
Attach one of the many FM transmitter devices to your iPod and play the tunes through an unused FM station. Some noticeable degradation and distortion may be heard - depending on the quality of the transmitter, the sensitivity of your ears and the airwave congestion in your area. Portable between cars, and may be used in a home system (an iTrip or other self-powered unit). FM transmitters that need to be plugged into a DC auto jack may not work in a home environment (without some sort of adaptor).
b Marginal:
Attach an external speaker system to the iPod and play it in the car. Workable, but not too good - unless you spring for a $300+ Bose (or similar) system. But why? Only if your vehicle has no Stereo system, perhaps.
b Brave Techno-Geek:
This site gives some direction on adapting your own car stereo by yourself: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/ . Too risky for my blood -- but it has been successfully done by one on these Discussions: Seanski, "silent track" #2, 11:59pm Jul 15, 2005 CDT
Whichever you choose, power the iPod through a DC adapter running from the car (separate, or as part of the audio adaptor). See the reviews for all the various accessories mentioned above and more, at the iLounge
You will also get a better audio output if one uses the dock connection plug, rather than the headphone jack. See this site for a novel adaptor: https://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pd_lousb.html. Others types are also available via this site.
I have read both positive and negative reviews of each method, and within method, there are great variations in performance of different manufacture's systems – and peoples’ opinions of their performance. Some cassette adaptors work poorly, some better. I got lucky with my choices and have not had any big problems, yet...
BTW - I have a Belkin cassette adaptor and an iTrip Mini FM transmitter (as well as a Newer Technology RoadTrip!+). Using the same song in the same car, I found that the cassette adaptor worked significantly better for me than the FM transmitters.
I am now waiting for two (one for each car) Blitzsafe direct connection cables to arrive in the mail.