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Review

Review - Griffin iTrip: Everyone's Go-To iPod accessory

Friday, July 15th, 2005 at 3:25 PM - by

This Griffin Technology product has become everyone's go-to iPod accessory. The iTrip lets you play songs over any FM radio, on any frequency. This gadget makes it possible to pipe iPod music through just about any stereo, without using an auxiliary input.

Many such devices exist, but the iTrip is my favorite. It doesn't use a battery (it runs off the iPod's), and you change the station by playing iTrip songs right in your iPod. The little guy is rugged, too: I sent mine through the washing machine once, and after a few days of drying out, it worked fine.

Unfortunately, as with all FM transmitters, the iTrip broadcasts in less-than-great fidelity, and wimps out when passing by a radio tower, or when trying to transmit on an occupied channel. Still, for sheer convenience and slickness of design, the iTrip is a solid performer for the money.

Just The Facts

iTrip from Griffin Technology

MSRP $39.99 / Street Price: $21.84.

Pros: Light, small, and rugged; no batteries required.

Cons: Limited fidelity and range (as with all FM transmitters).

10 comments from the community.

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:30 pm

The iTrip has several fatal flaws:

1. Its power and range is awful - a battery-powered FM transmitter beats it hands down.

2. Its user interface is poor - you change stations by playing "songs" on the iPod - harder than just pressing buttons, especially while driving! Also, if you foolishly press "shuffle songs" then the iTrip may randomly change frequency! You have to create a separate playlist that doesn't contain the iTrip songs, and shuffle that playlist. ;-(

3. It covers up the hold button.

In general, XTremeMac's AirPlay is superior in nearly every way; and even a cheap, battery-powered transmitter like the iRock has much better power and range.

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:31 pm

The iTrip has several fatal flaws:

1. Its power and range is awful - a battery-powered FM transmitter beats it hands down.

2. Its user interface is poor - you change stations by playing "songs" on the iPod - harder than just pressing buttons, especially while driving! Also, if you foolishly press "shuffle songs" then the iTrip may randomly change frequency! You have to create a separate playlist that doesn't contain the iTrip songs, and shuffle that playlist. ;-(

3. It covers up the hold button.

In general, XTremeMac's AirPlay is superior in nearly every way; and even a cheap, battery-powered transmitter like the iRock has much better power and range.

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mshoaf said:

member since 02 Dec 2002 with 112 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:50 pm

My experience has shown that reception makes all the difference in the world what car you are in.

In my wife's 2004 Ford Explorer (factory radio) = excellent

In my 2001 Pontiac Grand Am (factory radio) = barely useable

In my wife's former car, a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage (factory radio)= almost useable

In my 52 Chevy Sedan (aftermarket Kenwood radio) = don't even try

The Explorer, the Mits, and the Chevy have all made trips from Texas to North Carolina and back numerous times, and the only trouble I had with reception in the Explorer was in the Birmingham, AL area. Even in Dallas, Atlanta, and Charlotte the iTrip was better than any of the "real" FM stations we were picking up!

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:27 pm

Not usable with Benz 230slk in Honolulu.

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A guest said: (hide)

Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:07 am

Thanks for this review.

Maybe its worth to note, that European readers of this site will not benefit from devices like the iTrip, because in most European countries, these "private" FM transmitters are illegal. You may own them, but you are not allowed to operate them. Ironically, but that's how it is.

As long as these laws are in place, you have to fiddle around with cassette adapters and cables.

I apologize for my English.

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A guest said: (hide)

Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:21 pm

When will car makers create a dashboard stereo system with an "aux-in" socket that one can just plug your generic jack into? Then, they can make a male-male jack that attaches to the iPod (or CD-ROM player or cassette player or whatever new technology that comes down the line) and to the dashboard. The only extra would be a power source for the device, but the car makers need not make that...

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:24 am

it doesnt work on my bmw 323 neither in my dodge durango both with factory radio

the ipod needs to be less than an inch close to the stereo so u can hear it and it sounds awful

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A guest said: (hide)

Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:26 pm

Was looking to buy 1 of these. maybe I just wont now. Thanks again

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:14 pm

I first received the itrip without the cables. It would never power up. We returned it and got the one with the jack. It will not power up either. It's going back, too.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:22 pm

Guest wrote:
it doesnt work on my bmw 323 neither in my dodge durango both with factory radio

the ipod needs to be less than an inch close to the stereo so u can hear it and it sounds awful

Is that you mom? SInce it's a FM transmitter, you should should and put it closer to the FM RECEIVER in the car, which would be the ANTENNA and not the lcd display of your stereo...

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