If I could sum up DLO's latest FM transmitter for your car with just a single word, "versatile" would be it. Sure, the TransDock Micro is also nicely compact, delivers a clear signal with just about the best audio quality you can squeeze out of an FM transmitter, but it's the versatility that sets this FM transmitter apart from the competition.

DLO TransDock Micro with iPod shuffle

Unlike most iPod-specific FM transmitters that lock you into one particular iPod model or connector type, the TransDock Micro can handle them all. Got an iPod shuffle? Just plug it into the top, the TransDock Micro was designed just for you. How about a dock connector iPod? Use the included (and matching) USB adapter cable. Is an old-school first or second-generation iPod still your mainstay? There's an auxilliary input on the bottom of the TransDock Micro, good for those original iPods or any other audio source (you'll need to bring your own male-male 3.5mm mini-jack cable, however).

The versatility doesn't stop there, either. Next to the auxiliary input on the bottom is a line-out connector designed for cassette adapters. It goes without saying that the TransDock Micro will charge your iPod shuffle or dock connector iPod whether you're playing the music through its FM transmitter or a cassette adapter.

It may sound like a small perk, but support for a cassette adapter is ideal for cars with tape decks, which can take advantage of the improved audio quality of the cassette adapter while still being able to charge your iPod. When you need the FM transmitter, say in a friend's car, the TransDock Micro is still your iPod's best friend.

TransDock Micro with iPod nano

While it was alluded to before, the audio quality deserves mention again. For those of you jaded by poor experiences with FM transmitters in the past (especially stand-alone ones that draw power from your iPod), the DLO TransDock Micro, like the recently reviewed Belkin TuneBase FM ($79.99, 4 stars) and Monster iCarPlay Wireless Plus ($79.95, 3 stars) come through clearly with virtually no distortion. The quality's still less than a cassette adapter or direct line-in connection, but if radio's your only route, these recent FM transmitters should keep you happy.

Four programable presets and the ability to adjust the angle of the TransDock Micro round out the standard features.

The Bottom Line

If you own multiple iPod models, think you might some day, or like the option of listening to your music through a cassette adapter when you can and still charge your iPod, the TransDock Micro is a no-brainer. This is one FM transmitter you can count on keeping your car company for a number of years.