04-28-2005, 05:00 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Digital Wireless Broadcasting: the Digiana Audia-x FM Transmitter v2
The concept is pretty simple: a small FM broadcasting unit, with enough power to reach a few feet, connected to any sort of media player with a mini jack on it. You tune the FM broadcasting unit to the same radio station as the one your car it set on, and you're listening to whatever is on your media player. I've tried two units like this before, and never bothered to keep them for one reason: it's notoriously hard to get the dials on the broadcasting unit set perfectly to match the car radio station. Modern cars have digital radio tuners, but the transmitters I tried were analog. Until the Audia-x v2, sent to me by Merconnet.
I tested this unit with a Creative Labs Zen Micro, Dell Axim X50v, and an Orange C500 Smartphone - it worked well with all of them. The range on the Audia-x is two meters on paper, and while I never moved the unit beyond four feet, it maintained the signal perfectly - which is more than I can say for the other units. The thing that makes this unit really stand out though is the digital tuner - by having a digital tuner on both the transmitter and the car radio, it allowed for a fast and painless signal lock. Audio quality is about what you'd expect - it's FM radio, so while it sounds passable, it pales in comparison to a CD. But that's not a surprise, and the Audia-x does the best it can within the limitations of FM quality.
The unit retails for $39.99 USD, and includes an auto adaptor for power and a battery, which is a nice touch - it has everything you need. The audio cable is attached to the unit so there's no danger of missing a piece when you most need it. If you're looking for an FM transmitter solution for your audio device, I can highly recommend the Digiana Audia-x FM Transmitter v2 as a solid solution.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 06:27 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 35
|
|
Does anyone know how the sound quality compares to the iTrip? I was going to buy one for my iPod mini but I haven't heard good things about it - lots of static interference. I'm not sure if it has a digital tuner or not though since it's controlled by the iPod.
I like the versatility of this FM transmitter and will probably order one - thanks a lot! 
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 06:30 PM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 899
|
|
Just ordered one and may order more later (I referenced this site in the order page).
I'm also looking for other solutions. For example, cars with a cassette player can also use a cassette line-in adapter, but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 06:36 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 53
|
|
How does the sound quality of an FM transmitter compare to a cassette adapter?
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 06:41 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by emmfan
How does the sound quality of an FM transmitter compare to a cassette adapter?
|
I haven't used a cassette adapter in about a decade - so I honestly can't remember. :-) The FM transmitter is more prone to interference because it's wireless, and I think the audio quality off the cassette will be better. But the downside is that it will have a wire, and it will only work in cars that have a cassette deck, which neither car in my family has.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 06:42 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by bitequator
... but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??
|
If you're asking whether or not there are car CD decks that have minijack inputs, yes, they're out there - I had one a few years back, but they're pretty rare. Your best bet would be to go down to your local car audio store and see what they have.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 07:02 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 53
|
|
Yeah, having wires trailing all over the place with a cassette adapter isn't as clean a solution. But then you have to trade-off audio quality with an FM transmitter.
I guess Bluetooth might be a nice solution, if any of my cars actually had it (but considering they still have cassette players, that kind of indicates that they don't!)  ops:
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 07:42 PM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 899
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by bitequator
... but can anyone tell me if there's also an equivalent for a car CD player??
|
If you're asking whether or not there are car CD decks that have minijack inputs, yes, they're out there - I had one a few years back, but they're pretty rare. Your best bet would be to go down to your local car audio store and see what they have. |
Hehe I was actually asking whether there's a CD disc adapter equivalent to a cassette adapter mentioned earlier, but I don't see how that's possible physically (I wanted to ask anyway though).
Replacing my in-dash CD changer with a model having a line-in jack is a bigger task, perhaps in the future...
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 07:45 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by bitequator
Replacing my in-dash CD changer with a model having a line-in jack is a bigger task, perhaps in the future...
|
You're asking if there's a way to attach a cable to a spinning disc? 8O Next question... :wink:
|
| |
|
|
|
04-28-2005, 07:51 PM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 899
|
|
^ Hahaha you're right
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
