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In-Depth Review

iDea Travel Kit for iPod

The iDea Travel Kit for iPod/PSP is a five-piece kit designed primarily for automotive applications. Included in the package is a USB car charger that features one USB Type A plug, a USB iPod cable and USB PSP cable, an FM transmitter, and a surprisingly handsome leather case to keep all the parts together when not in use.


iDea Travel Kit
iDea Travel Kit


iDea's approach to a travel kit is unique in its use of a versatile USB car charger. Unlike most car adapters, which feature one part that serves to both charge your iPod and broadcast an FM signal, the iDea Travel Kit can be both more convenient or more cumbersome, depending on your needs.

The FM transmitter, for example, can be powered either through the USB car charger, or with batteries. The latter is required if you wish to both charge your iPod and broadcast its music to your car's radio, since only one USB device can be plugged in at a time—not exactly ideal for iPod applications.

At the same time, the USB car charger means you're not limited to just using the Travel Kit with your iPod. A USB cable is also included for charging a Sony PlayStation Portable, for example, and the powered USB port can be used to charge any other USB-powered devices in your car, like your iPod shuffle or cell phone, provided you bring the right cable with you.


iDea Travel Kit

The USB cable for iPod and PSP are nicely retractable to keep cable clutter down, a design touch we wish other companies would employ. The USB cable for the FM transmitter is curiously not, however. In addition, the FM transmitter suffers from the same limitations inherent to all battery-powered stand-alone FM transmitters: poor audio quality. In our test of the unit in an Infinti car located around Philadelphia, we were never able to achieve a clear audio signal, even on unoccupied radio stations. Static was always audible, and while the degree of the static varied, it was impossible to ignore the lackluster sound quality, especially compared to using a tape deck adapter.

Other FM transmitter units that are integrated into a car charger consistently produce better audio quality, primarily due to the increased power they can take advantage of as well as a more robust antenna. Portable FM transmitters do have the advantage of being able to be used outside of the car, but with the quality being what it is, you would be better off investing in a stereo patch cable to connect the iPod to a stereo.

The Bottom Line

It's difficult to recommend the iDea Travel Kit to iPod owners other than those who could benefit from either the included PSP charging capabilities or USB car charger. At nearly $60, there are superior solutions on the market for charging and transmitting your music in the car, most notably Newer Technology's TrafficJamz or any number of all-in-one devices from Belkin or Griffin.

Just The Facts

Pros:universal USB car charger, retractable iPod and PSP cables, nice leather pouch

Cons:poor FM transmitter, expensive

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