Microsoft Zune Car Pack (second generation)
Starting at: $59.99
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: The Zune Car Pack FM transmitter and in-car charger offers a classy design, decent broadcast quality, a detachable interface, autoscan, and two station presets.
The bad: The Zune Car Pack only works with Zune MP3 players, and lacks advanced features such as line-out, line-in, mono mode, and a USB charge port for other peripherals.
The bottom line: The Zune Car Pack FM transmitter is an attractive, useful way to listen to your Zune in your car.
The Zune Car Pack ($79) is Microsoft's in-car FM transmitter made especially for its line of Zune MP3 players (including the first generation Zune). The Car Pack shares the same aesthetic as Microsoft's second-generation Zune players, offering design-conscious Zune users an elegant in-car listening solution.
The Zune Car Pack isn't the most feature-packed FM transmitter we've seen. Unlike other in-car supergadgets, such as the DLO TransDock Deluxe, the Zune Car Pack doesn't come with auxiliary AV inputs and outputs, USB charging ports, or audio adjustment settings. Fortunately, the Zune Car Pack delivers most of the ... Expand full review
The Zune Car Pack ($79) is Microsoft's in-car FM transmitter made especially for its line of Zune MP3 players (including the first generation Zune). The Car Pack shares the same aesthetic as Microsoft's second-generation Zune players, offering design-conscious Zune users an elegant in-car listening solution.
The Zune Car Pack isn't the most feature-packed FM transmitter we've seen. Unlike other in-car supergadgets, such as the DLO TransDock Deluxe, the Zune Car Pack doesn't come with auxiliary AV inputs and outputs, USB charging ports, or audio adjustment settings. Fortunately, the Zune Car Pack delivers most of the features people want. It looks classy enough to put in your car, works well, and is easy to operate.
Compare to other home entertainments
Compare selected Donald Bell is CNET's senior editor for tablets and portable media players. He's also a musician, a hardware hacker, and a collector of vintage audio gadgetry. He appears every week on CNET's Crave video podcast. His band, Aloha Screwdriver, plays regularly around the Bay Area.
User Reviews
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Showing 3 of 8 reviews
"Charges Zune (+) Radio Reception (-)" By ktfarrell95
Pros: Love the magnetic tuner and the two channel presets and the fact that it "talks" to the car's display screen with the artist and the title of what is being played.
Cons: The reception is not very good. I have used an iriver FM charger transmitter for my iriver clix and had no issues with reception. I also used a Phillips FM transmitter and the sound was smooth, not choppy at all.
Summary: At this moment it seems like the Zune Car pack charger is an overpriced Zune charger.
"HORRIBLE PRODUCT!" By donkeycrusher
Pros: Automatically shuts off zune when power is terminated and turns it back on when power is re-established.
Cons: Isn't worth a CRAP! Literally, I'd rather have a bag of poo than this miserable, aggrivating product.
Summary: It won't work on any stations below 100, if you can actually find a station above 100 that picks up the transmission it's filled with static and won't last more than a few minutes, the autosearch is worthless since it lands on stations with a full transmission ... Expand full review
Specifications
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- Product type: Digital player accessory kit
