Griffin iTrip DualConnect FM Transmitter

Price: £39.99
Contact: www.griffintechnology.com

Think you need a new stereo to listen to your iPod in-car? Think again. Griffin’s £40 iTrip DualConnect FM Transmitter claims to do the job with a wire-free connection.

FM transmitters convert music from your MP3 player to radio waves, which you tune your stereo to pick up. But they need to be powerful to match a wired connection for sound quality. So does the DualConnect deliver?

We tuned it to 87.7FM. It found the signal and quality was strong, even on the go. But there’s no screen, so the only way to change frequency is to use the Griffin App – fine if you have the latest touchscreen Apple gadget, but not if your device is older.

Our car’s 12-volt socket was located high up, close to the driver – this puts the buttons on the end of the Griffin within easy reach. They let you skip or pause tracks, to save you touching the iPod on the move, while the 12V cable charges your device. Plus, an aux-in lead plugs into the 3.5mm input on modern car stereos.

Verdict

Rating: ★★★★
What is it?
A transmitter for your mp3 player which connects to the car via an empty radio station or the aux-in socket.
Problems?
No screen when using previous-generation iPods, reliant on location of 12V socket..
Why buy?
Great signal, benefit of additional aux-in cable, charges your iPhone too.