Listening in the car

What's the best way to listen to your MP3 player while you drive? Well, it depends on your car's stereo, your budget, and the level of convenience and sound quality you want. You can choose a basic, inexpensive solution, or a high-end option that delivers optimal sound quality and lets you control your player using your car's radio.

Use the digital drive-thru® tool at crutchfield.com to find an adapter for your specific MP3 player, vehicle, and stereo system.

Whatever option you choose, make sure you have an accessory that lets you secure your MP3 player in the car. Whether it's a universal mount that attaches to the car's interior, or a vehicle-specific mount that bolts onto the dash, one of these simple gadgets can keep your player from flying around your car at a sudden stop.

Now, let's take a look at what's available for getting music from your MP3 player to your car's radio.

Budget-friendly accessories

• Cassette adapter — This gadget has been around for a while, and it's still as easy to use as ever. Just plug it into your player's headphone jack, and place the adapter in your cassette player. The resulting sound quality is on par with a standard cassette tape.
• Wireless FM transmitter — Like the cassette adapter, this device plugs into the player's headphone jack. But instead of using your car's cassette deck, it turns the music from your iPod into an FM signal, which it transmits to your car's radio. These devices can be powered by "AAA" batteries or your car's cigarette lighter. This option is simple and easy to install, but in some locations, interference and static can be a problem.

Getting better sound quality in your car

• Wired FM modulator — Much like a wireless FM transmitter, this device sends a signal to your car's FM radio. But unlike the wireless solution, the wired FM modulator transmits directly to the radio's antenna input, so the signal is much stronger. The FM modulator is still susceptible to interference from surrounding stations, however.
• Car receiver — Some car receivers — also known as head units — are equipped with an auxiliary input jack, which allows you to connect your iPod directly to your car's radio using a minijack-to-RCA cable. While some head units have an aux input conveniently located on the front panel, many place the aux input in back, requiring you to run the cable under the dash.
• Bluetooth adapter — If you want to connect your player to your car's radio wirelessly, consider the Bluetooth options. These newer adapters consist of a transmitter, which plugs into the player's headphone jack, and a receiver, which plugs into your head unit's auxiliary input. Sound quality is just as good as a wired connection, but without wires running to and from your dash.