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"Very dependent on your existing car stereo system" on by Outlier
Pros: Excellent fit, portability, and access to iPod controls which means safer driving
Cons: Sound quality not as good as earphones, reception dependent on your existing system
Summary: As with most items you purchase, I would strongly suggest you purchase any FM transmitter with a return policy. This is because I found out that this Belkin Tunebase for iPod Mini plays differently on both my cars. On my first car, the reception was extremely poor. I couldn’t drive 1 block without heavy static. I was considering to return it when I gave it a try with my other car which has a Bose system. The reception was surprisingly impressive considering that I live in Los Angeles, where almost every increment of 0.4 is taken on the FM dial. I can’t claim to be an audio expert so I don’t know exactly why it plays so differently on both systems. I am attributing it to the quality of the existing systems. Keep in mind, the Bose system always played with better quality than my first car (which has a Sony MP3/CD player which BestBuy installed for me). Anyway, because of this great reception on my second car, I am keeping it.
I was also considering to keep it even with the poor reception on my first car just because it makes for such an excellent “stand” to hold the iPod while driving. The metal is bendable to conform to any position yet it is still rigid. So using the controls on the iPod to change playlists or volume is now much easier and safer while driving. I was considering to keep it even with the poor reception because you can still listen to it on your earphones anyway (which I would personally prefer over the FM transmitter). Also, I didn’t have a car charger so it also made for a car charger for long trips. And if I do plan on going on a long trip (ie/ Los Angeles to Las Vegas), chances are the FM reception would be much better since any area would likely have more FM stations to tune into than Los Angeles does.
I don’t think any FM transmitter is as good as earphones, but if you’re in the market for an FM transmitter, the best advice would be to make sure there is a return policy because what works well in one car may not work as well in another.Updated
I just tried the Belkin Tunebase for iPod Mini again on my 1st car and it appears the reception was better. The reception was better because I had found and set 4 working FM frequencies using my 2nd car. I tried these frequencies on my 1st car and they do appear to be ok (although music quality was still significantly better with the Bose system). If you're in Los Angeles, I found 104.7 to be an adequate frequency. I was probably using a bad frequency the first time. Sometimes the signal faded, as if tuning into a moderate signal FM radio station but overall it was listenable.
To summarize: 1) your reception is dependent on your choice of FM frequency (which is dependent on your location), and 2) the music quality will only be as good as your existing stereo system. -
"First Impression...WOW!!" on by wcmack
Pros: Sleek design, all-in-one functionality, very good transmitted sound quality
Cons: None at the moment...
Summary: I picked up the Belkin TuneBase FM today, so this is very much a first impression review. In a word, fantastic! It was truly plug-and-play: out of the box, into the power outlet in the car, tuned the FM to the indicated default station and there were my iPod tunes, playing with surprising fidelity and clarity!
I like its compact form factor, design that blends well with the iPod Mini and it's "I do it all" functionality.
I cannot give the TuneBase a "10" precisely because this is a first impression review, and so issues like durability, sturdiness and reliability will have to await further use.
But I am very glad that I found this product and very impressed with its initial performance. It is just as high in quality and design as the iPod itself. -
"Waste of Money in Big City" on by dkpettengill
Pros: Very cool looking, and very well built unit; inexpensive; presets for 4 stations
Cons: If you live in a big City or the suburbs, good luck finding an unused frequency, the hiss never goes away
Summary: I tried to use the unit in a mid-size suburd of Dallas, and had no luck getting rid of the hiss. Although 1 frequency did work well with the sound coming in clearly, the frequency "hiss" never went away. First, listening to music, the unit works well, but again the sound quality is below average. Secondly, podcasts were muffled and inteligible. For the record, my radio antenae is built into the back window of an '06 Acura TL, so regular antenae may work better. Bottom Line: Because there are so few "empty" radio frequencies in bigger cities, and because of this the bleed-over from the less-powerful stations, I would not reccomend this unit. There has got to be a better way to integrate the IPod into your car stereo!
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"Just what I needed" on by jrob0t
Pros: Crystal Clear Sound, Decent Price
Cons: Reception varies with car
Summary: I got this for my ipod ( which i got for free ala www.freeconga.net ) and it rocks. I'm able to transmit to my cars stero, which makes long drivers easier. I also tried this on my stereo at home and it works fine. I'd suggest getting this model if you're looking for one as it has served me well.
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"Dissappointed" on by nuhmizer
Pros: Nice ipod holder, good charger.
Cons: Bad reception.
Summary: Very dissappointed in this accessory. If your parked and not moving, you can get good reception out of it, but as soon as you drive around radio stations tend to bleed into the reception resulting in static. It's impossible to get it to function without static. The really odd thing is when I drive under an overpass or by tall buildings the reception completely goes away! It's good for a charger and holder for your ipod but that's about it.
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