Griffin Technology - iTrip Review

Overall 4.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

mew
Las Vegas, NV

The iTrip is the best in the field but that field sure dose suck

mac user, a techie, an early adopter, gadget geek, iPod user, always on the go, music lover, Modifier

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Pros

Fun to modify, low profile, alternitive dock

Cons

Felony to modify

AUG

2008

If you absolutely NEED to listen to you iPod over the oldest electronic media distribution standard then this is what you'll want. With very simple plug-n-play connection through the docking port the iTrip only increases the profile of the iPod by half of an inch (while draining little power). Also you can use the iTrip as an alternative ipod dock with the mini-USB connection on the bottom of Itrip itself. Sound quality (on a good day) is better than most tape adapters but not quite near commercial radio. The station selection interface is rather confusing at first, but when demonstrated in person it becomes rather intuitive (although rather clunky for driving).

But make no mistake about it, RADIO TRANSMITTERS WILL NOT WORK VERY WELL. Simply moving the iTrip will often cause static to run amok, and driving through town you'll always experience an interference hot spot. The problem with consumer radio transmitters is that they're very very neutered by the FCC. The FCC doesn't want the average joe to disrupt corporate owned broadcasts (rather reasonable) but in the end impose such tight restrictions that it's surprising any of these devices can work at all. Now using the internet you could find instructions on how to change the broadcast range from 10 feet (on a good day) to over 40 feet. But by doing so you preform various felonies (as in multiple).

So If you need to listen to your iPod on your daily drive, you'll be better off installing a new sound system as the interference WILL happen, even in the deadest of radio space. If you want to demonstrate a new song without having to burn a CD then the iTrip is a good choice.