iPimpMyRide: Rocking MP3 players in your automobile

Nowadays, CD’s are too much of a hassle, and the radio plays too many ads. This is where your MP3 player can come in handy while on the go. There are several inexpensive devices you can purchase with little modification to your factory or existing stereo. None of the examples are specific to a certain MP3 player unless noted. Each option is rated by five different categories and includes a “recommended product search term” to help you find similar products on sites like Amazon.com or Google.com.

Cassette Adapter
This solution has been around forever and works pretty well if you have a tape deck in your car. Cassette Adapters first came out for CD players in the ’90s and they haven’t changed since. Basically, you stick the tape in your tape deck, hook it up to your MP3 player, and adjust the volume to 3/4. If you have an iPod and want to buy the pretty one that looks like your iPod (no difference in quality), that is also an option; however, the original version will work for any MP3 player.
Quality: Medium
Price: $21 - $30
Setup: Easy
Installation Requirements: A Tape Deck
Recommended product search term: “cassette adapter”
Look at options at BestBuy.com ($20.99) or GriffinTechnology.com ($29.99).

FM Transmitter
The FM transmitter works by broadcasting an FM signal from your MP3 player. The transmitter hooks into the headphone jack of your MP3 player and then sends the signal to the radio frequency you select. The signal that the transmitter sends out is not as strong as a typical radio station, but it works within the normal range of a car. Usually the adapter comes with recommended frequencies to use for your adapter that don’t normally have consumer radio stations on them. For example, in Tempe you wouldn’t want to set your FM transmitter to send out a signal on 101.5 because that is 101.5 JAMZ and it wouldn’t sound very good. Normally you should use frequencies that are at the beginning and the end of the dial, 87.9, for example.
Quality: Medium
Price: $5-$50
Setup: Easy
Installation Requirements: Available car power adapter and regular FM capabilities
Recommended product search term: “FM transmitter”
Look at options at Vendio.com ($4.99) or an iPod-only option at Amazon.com ($28.86)

Car Stereo with Audio Input Jack
This solution is a bit more expensive and takes quite a bit more work, unless you have a friend or professional — from Audio Express, Best Buy, or any other store that installs car stereos — install it. With this solution you need to buy a whole new car stereo deck. This includes taking the dash apart and buying the necessary parts to hook up your newly purchased stereo; typically, a wiring harness and dash kit to make it fit your existing dash. This solution is a good choice if you would like more control over your stereo and more features. With a new stereo you can go as basic as a CD player to a touch screen DVD player. There are so many different brands and models out now, all with several different features and levels of quality. When you buy the deck you need to make sure, on the front, it has an audio output, which usually looks like the headphone jack on your MP3 player. The deck should come with a cord that connects your MP3 player to the stereo, or you can buy one yourself (usually under $10).
Quality: High
Price: $150 - $1500
Setup: Difficult
Installation Requirements: Wiring harness, dash kit, and knowing how to take your dash apart.
Recommended product search term: “car stereo”
Look at options at BestBuy.com ($159.99) and CircuitCity.com ($849.99).

Aftermarket Deck Adapters
If you already have an aftermarket deck (Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, etc.) installed, you can most likely just get an adapter to hook up to your deck. Most major brands now make an adapter for this purpose. The connection is in the back of the deck and plugs in where you’d normally plug in a CD changer.
Quality: High
Price: $22 - $150
Setup: Difficult
Installation Requirements: An existing aftermarket deck with a compatible adapter.
Recommended product search term: “[BRAND NAME] MP3 adapter”
Look at options at DiscountCarStereo.com ($22.98).

— Nick Hammond