Question about MP3 Player

[cube_rat]

I noticed there's a lot of technical members here, so I'll throw this question out there. Is there some sort of plugin thingy that I could buy to plug my portable (Rio)MP3 player into my car radio? I'm sick of burning CD's only to have them scratched up a month later. TIA

 

[laurence]

Do you have a tape player?

 

[JB]

If you have a cassette tape player in the car:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855996201

If you have an FM radio:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855996204

These are just examples. I haven't used either product. Shop around and read some reviews. If you have a cassette deck the dongle is a no-brainer. That's what I use.

 

[cube_rat]

Nope, I just have a radio/CD player. Thanks for the links!!

 

[ronin]

The FM transmitter doesn't work well in a big city as it is impossible to find unused bandwidth that doesn't have some bleed over (and it always seems to be banda/ranchero around here ), and my experience is that it loses some of the output signal strength so you have to crank the volume.  The cassette adapter works well in one vehicle, but seems to have a problem with the head lining up in the other.  Craps out a lot.  I'm looking for a model with an adjustable fit.  Puts out better sound, when it works, than the FM unit.  Actually, I probably will look for a replacement car stereo with a line-in jack on the face plate and avoid all the hassle.

 

[cube_rat]

Oh nuts! I was hoping to hear good news about the FM transmitter.

 

[yakers]

I had this issue when I wanted to connect my ipod to my car. I tried a couple FM transmitters and one worked OK but not great. My wife's car had a casette tape and I used the plug in adaptor for that and it was OK. But I really solved my whole problem for not a lot of money when I got a JVC KD AR 560 from Crutchfield and installed it myself. If I can do it probably anyone can. It was $200 and better than the original stereo in my 2005 Ford Focus which had a decent unit in it.
This unit is one of only two I found with the 1/4 " imput plug ON THE FRONT where they all should be. There are various sound adjustment profiles which will work with different imput signals like from a cassette, ipod, MP3, or I can even hook up my laptop to play into it. I suppose my old Nomad MP3 player would work but after getting the ipod I don't bother with it. CD quality sound and it will work with Sony mini disk players or anything that comes next on the market. Now it is not as snazzy as those units which control the ipod from the head unit but so what I can pick up the ipod (or the cassette player I use and look at it right in my hand.

A fair number of car stereos have various plugs in the rear of the unit but that requires an adaptor cable and there were other problems I encountered with that approach.