Having relied on its tried-and-true iTrip design for about three years, Griffin Technology has recently taken a 180, announcing three new iTrips in just as many months. The iTrip with LCD brought a much needed refresh to the product, and shortly afterwards Griffin announces an iTrip that attaches to your iPod through its dock connector. Later this month, an iTrip designed specifically for the iPod nano will start shipping.

Griffin Technology iTrip with Dock Connector

The new dock connector iTrip is the most compatible mode to date, capable of being used with 3G, 4G, and 5G iPods, as well as iPod minis and nanos. This iTrip is also flatter and thinner than its predecessors, while still maintaining an attractive iPod's-width design, accented with a chrome stripe. A low-profile toggle switch on the side replaces the control knob found on the iTrip with LCD, a change that we were happy to see since it accommodated a thinner iTrip design.

Feature-wise, the iTrip with Dock Connector is virtually identical to the iTrip with LCD, sporting stereo LX and mono DX (for a stronger signal) broadcast modes and support for international frequencies. Gone is the automatic volume adjustment the iTrip LCD sports�the iPod's volume control is disabled when a peripheral is connected to the dock�but added is a mini USB port capable of charging the iPod. The mini USB port is common on other MP3 players but most iPod accessories don't offer it as a connecting option at this time.

iTrips with Dock Connector and LCD

As far as performance goes, the iTrip with Dock Connector is only mediocre, much like its LCD brother. This iTrip is also not able to tune into 87.9MHz, the virtually unused frequency that's ideal for FM transmitters and that Newer Technology's RoadTrip!+ uses (5 stars, October 2005). Audio quality is no where near that of a standard cassette adapter�true of all FM transmitters we've tested to date�and to compound the problem, being positioned on the bottom of the iPod is not the best place for an FM transmitter. Further, in testing we found that any bumping of the iTrip would send crackling sounds to our car's speakers.

The iTrip with Dock Connector deserves some praise for its attractive design and wide compatibility, but its steep price tag and questionable quality severely limits its appeal. If you plan on mostly using an FM transmitter to play your iPod through your car's stereo, go with the RoadTrip!+. If you need the portability of an iTrip, we suggest saving your money and looking elsewhere. (Stay tuned for more reviews of FM transmitters.)

Correction: In International mode the iTrip can dial in from 76.0MHz to 90.0MHz, including 87.9MHz. While this raises the appeal of the iTrip for users in crowded cities, it doesn't negate the mediocre sound quality and thus our rating remains unchanged.