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Review

Review - iTrip Auto

Griffin Technology seems to release a new iTrip every month these days. The latest member of this ever-expanding family is the iTrip Auto, the company's first FM transmitter to combine the convenience of a 12V car charger.

iTrip Auto
Griffin Technology iTrip Auto

The iTrip Auto features an indendent LCD and controls for dialing in an FM frequency, from 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz. Like other recent iTrips, the iTrip Auto can broadcast in LX (stereo) mode and a stronger DX (mono) mode, but unlike those other recent offerings the iTrip Auto does not feature support for international frequencies. This includes a lack of support for 87.9MHz, a virtually unused—and thus ideal—frequency in the U.S. that many car stereos are able to tune into.

While the iTrip Auto uses a dock connector to mate with iPods, unlike the recent iTrip with Dock Connector (2 out of 5), the iTrip Auto is strictly an automotive affair, requiring a 12V cigarette lighter socket to draw its needed power.

iTrip Auto
iTrip Auto compared to XtremeMac's AirPlay2

We found the audio quality from the iTrip Auto to be relatively good as far as most FM transmitters are concerned but it still pales in comparison to a cassette adapter or line-in solution. Of course, for cars with head units that lack either of those two connectivity options, FM is the easiest way to go.

The iTrip Auto is essentially a glorified version of Newer Technology's RoadTrip!+ (5 out of 5), allowing users to select almost any FM frequency, whereas the RoadTrip!+ is fixed at 87.9MHz (that ever-so-sweet frequency). But the iTrip Auto's svelte controller and LCD display come at a steep cost, with a suggested retail price of $69.99 compared to just $27.95 for the RoadTrip!+.

Bottom Line

Given the almost outlandish price discrepancy between the iTrip Auto and other competitive products, it's very difficult to recommend this FM transmitter. Even if your car stereo can't tap into the 87.9MHz frequency the RoadTrip!+ utilizes, putting the $70 the iTrip Auto commands into a better head unit for your car (one that supports line-in) seems a far more sensible solution than spending that much money on what essentially pipes music of mediocre quality to your car's speakers, even with the power charging perk.

Just The Facts

iTrip Auto from Griffin Technology

MSRP US$69.99

Pros: charges and transmits, attractive controller

Cons: expensive, can't hit 87.9MHz, expensive, can't function without 12V power, did we mention its price?

7 comments from the community.

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A guest said: (hide)

just received one for fathers day, found that i had to turn up the volume to my stereo way up and then then i braked to slow down i would get high pitched whining noise through my car speakers just from slowing down.

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Mark_42 said:

member since 04 Oct 2006 with 1 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

I just bought an iTrip Auto ($50 at Radio Shack) and I'm happy with it. I live in the New York metro area and find that I don't have to find a clear channel (not like there's such a thing around here, even 87.7 and 87.9 are in use) just one with a weak station on it. So far I've had almost no static, unlike the miserable iTrip Mini.

I also like that it tunes in 100 kHz steps instead of the 200 kHz that most FM transmitters use since it provides a bit of fine tuning.

BTW, it DOES allow use of 87.9, just put it in international mode and it will tune from 76.0 to 90.0 MHz.

Mark

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A guest said: (hide)

Just received my itrip purchased from Amazon and shipped from DigitalMediaOutlet. When I plugged it in, it was set to 87.9!!! Literature with the product says 88.1 to 107.9, but mine works at 87.9. Strange but true.

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A guest said: (hide)

I've had one for over a month now before realizing that the 'stereo' (LX) mode doesn't actually PRODUCE stereo sound. Agreed, charge it at home or find a cheap car charger and go with a line-in. Paying $70 for mono sound is 1980's. Don't do it.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mark_42 wrote:
I just bought an iTrip Auto ($50 at Radio Shack) and I'm happy with it. I live in the New York metro area and find that I don't have to find a clear channel (not like there's such a thing around here, even 87.7 and 87.9 are in use) just one with a weak station on it. So far I've had almost no static, unlike the miserable iTrip Mini.

I also like that it tunes in 100 kHz steps instead of the 200 kHz that most FM transmitters use since it provides a bit of fine tuning.

BTW, it DOES allow use of 87.9, just put it in international mode and it will tune from 76.0 to 90.0 MHz.

Mark

I bought it in the US but it seems it does not work in Italy. Should I set it on intl frequencies ? How ?

S

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A guest said: (hide)

I've had my iTrip auto for 5 months now, and it's worked great for me. I've never tried to hit 87.9, I found a sweet spot on the high end of the spectrum and I get great sound. However, after 5 months of daily use, I suddenly noticed this week that my iPod no longer charges when plugged in with the iTrip. I'm still getting the great sound, but my battery actually seems to drain faster than when I listen on headphones (after only 90 minutes of in the car today my battery went from completely charged to nearly gone).

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A guest said: (hide)

Wow, Great reviews guys, thank you so much for your feedback. I am trying 2 determine which iTrip is best to fit these conditions. I would like to pick the most convenient iTrip. "Griffin Technology seems to release a new iTrip every month these days." lol, this appears true and it's contributing to great difficulty in my quest. My primary concern is the car charger, it appears that you may not unplug it from the iTrip device. I would like to decide on buying the "iTrip Auto Universal +" but i need to figure that out first

Also, what is the difference between the '12V car charger' and the '12V cigarette lighter?' I am predicting that the '12V cigarette lighter' is obviously used to charge the ipod with the 'car cigarette lighter'? (what is the correct name for that?) but about the '12 car charger,' i cannot gather exactly what that is lol

again, my primary concern is the detachment of the charger

i do not expect this forum to be getting much attention so please contact my via my website <www.yuwie.com/boarderphil>

Yours//PhilThinkAlot...

THANK YOU SO MUCH

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