[dolcevita]

Hi from Sydney down under.. my dream-mobile has built in dash sat nav, cd stacker in center console. I was told due to this combination I could not have built in ipod connector (in glove box). Any comments?? Given the choice I would have skipped the cd stacker & gone for the ipod connector but this was not an option. I was thinking a digital transmitter for the ipod but audio may be compromised this way??

Thanks

 

[smoggypaul]

I was thinking a digital transmitter for the ipod but audio may be compromised this way??

Thanks

I use an iPod with FM transmitter [the Eos hasn't arrived yet!!!!!!!!!] in my current car, and while not 100% perfect, it's not a bad option - about 85% I'd say. If that's your only option, I'd do it as it works fine

Cheers

Paul

 

[sauluk]

I used an iTrip with my old hifi and i think you lose quite a bit of sound quality, i wasn't a fan.

 

[EOSmage]

I used an iTrip with my old hifi and i think you lose quite a bit of sound quality, i wasn't a fan.

I'll second this one. I tried an FM transmitter in my past car and found it to be horrible.

Music sounded like it was coming out of a tin can, and it was really hard to get the volume to something normal, because turning up high ended up with massive distortion.

 

[smoggypaul]

Wow! I use a Griffin FM transmitter and while I admit its not 100%, it's nothing like as bad as others experiences - one thing I did find was that it sounds worse when just running off the iPod - however I use a flexible arm plugged into the auxiliary power socket to power it up [2 hour commute each way exhausts the iPod Nano battery!] and the reception is noticeably [and I mean noticeably] better when it is in this configuration. My Eos is due 'any day now' [was delayed with this shipping backlog alluded to in various posts!] and I will compare the quality as I will have the direct hookup. Currently its running through a Bose upgrade Audio set up and I can have it as loud as I want without distortion. So problems 'may' be down to the power/transmitter/radio match and set up.

Having said all that, direct connection HAS to be the best way!! Hope this helps

Paul

 

[Jim]

ITrip works well if used correctly.

Wow! I use a Griffin FM transmitter and while I admit its not 100%, it's nothing like as bad as others experiences - one thing I did find was that it sounds worse when just running off the iPod - however I use a flexible arm plugged into the auxiliary power socket to power it up [2 hour commute each way exhausts the iPod Nano battery!] and the reception is noticeably [and I mean noticeably] better when it is in this configuration. My Eos is due 'any day now' [was delayed with this shipping backlog alluded to in various posts!] and I will compare the quality as I will have the direct hookup. Currently its running through a Bose upgrade Audio set up and I can have it as loud as I want without distortion. So problems 'may' be down to the power/transmitter/radio match and set up.

Having said all that, direct connection HAS to be the best way!! Hope this helps

Paul

I agree with you Paul.
I've used an ITrip for over 2 years with no problems of distortion. What you must not do is have the volume on the IPOD above 75%. If you do the signal is distorted. With it set to about 70% I wind up the stereo volume as high as i want with no problems.
Griffin tell you in the instructions not to have the volume too high in the instructions.
I also agree with the power. ITrip seems to drain the battery quicker, so I always connect to the power socket.
Dealer told me that my EOS should arrive in about 10 days, about 2 weeks early. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Jim.

 

[smoggypaul]

My Eos arrived today and now I have a comparison there is no doubt that the iPod sounds a lot, lot better with the direct hookup. I just wish VW had made the display and controls a little more i-ntuitive! I knew it would only play using the Playlists, but hadn't realised you were limited to 5 [there are 6 selections available but No. 6 plays all songs on your iPod]. For me this means a lot of iTunes action to make sure I manage the iPod infrastructure. Especially annoying for me as I actually listen to a lot of Podcasts in the car and now I have to put them into a Playlist and take pot luck as to what is coming up next! Or maybe that is a benefit?? I don't think the instructions in the manual are as clear as they could be - after frustratedly plugging the iPod in and selecting CD - nothing! Except the CD's playing!! I have the Dynaudio system which comes with an in-dash CD multichanger - after much consideration I realised that if the iPod was being treated by the system as if it were an external CD Stack system, maybe filling up the fitted CD stack system was confusing it. And it was - after ejecting all 6 discs, suddenly it all worked perfectly. But it is more of a fiddle than I thought!

Sorry to ramble on a bit, new car, new toys, it has been heaven! But rest assured it is all worth it, and hopefully the foregoing makes some sense to potential owners!!

Paul

 

[conaxpor]

I'll second this one. I tried an car mp3 player FM transmitter in my past car and found it to be horrible.

Music sounded like it was coming out of a tin can, and it was really hard to get the volume to something normal, because turning up high ended up with massive distortion.

Yeah, My car occur the same situation, so boring.

 

[RaVolvor]

iPod/Playlists/HD

We have the ipod option which came with the car... given its poor display on the built in Sat Nav and the limitations with the playlists I wouldn't have been happy had I bought it, seriously not value for money!

One trick that my wife worked out was to select a play list on the ipod and then hook it up, it carries on playing in the car. Shuffle is turned off but the "Mix" option on the main unit seems to take over that function.

We have Sat Nav with built in hard drive, wondering if its worth copying files over to the the HD and if that will give the track details etc when playing? Anyone bothered with this?

All in all the sound is good but the implementation is weak from ipod/playlist feature, still loads better than a glove box full of CD's like our old car!

 

[Rybky]

Hello fellow Sydneysider!

Definitely do not go with the FM transmitter option in Sydney. I tried it a few years ago in a different car and it was hopeless. The main issue was that it is extremely hard to find a clear FM frequency, there are so many small radio stations around the city that more often than not as you drive around a previously clear frequency suddenly starts to get interferance from some local community radio.

Your best option is to get an aftermarket unit if your stock headunit cannot provide iPod support. Doesn't it even have basic AUX-IN? Would mean controlling via the iPod itself rather than on screen but better than nothing.

I didn't have the sat-nav in my car when I bought it, just the basic single CD unit. I immediately swapped it out for an Alpine 7" touchscreen unit and just used a Connects2 dash conversion kit to get it to fit. Recently I swapped that for one of the unbranded cheap Chinese all-in-one units which is quirky at times but works pretty well and is a very good fit in the car (no dash convertors or harness adaptors needed).

HTH

Adam

 

[Rybky]

Doh! Just realised how old this thread is!! Who pulled this out the back of the sofa???!

Adam