Using an FM Transmitter with the Dension Unimount.

If you don’t want a fully integrated iPod car kit with steering wheel controls and text display, and your not interested in the Dension FM Modulator kit for increased sound quality and charging. Your next best option is the Griffin FM Transmitter range, either the iTrip FM transmitter or the Roadtrip FM Transmitter.

Both are now available with smart-scan mode, which is a device that automatically scans through available frequencies and picks three with the lease interference. This system allows you to pre-set three frequencies in your stereo, so switching between them is easy when or if you hit an area with a high signal in the frequency your using. Push the Next button and select the appropriate button the stereo and you’ll begin on the new channel.

Do People experience Problems with Audio Quality of FM Transmitters?

There is a general consensus that the quality of audio produced by the FM transmitters are poor, this is actually false in most cases. Obviously certain kits do perform worse than others, as the audio played through the stereo depends on the quality being broadcast from the kit and received by the stereo. If the kits broadcasts a poor strength signal or there is another signal with greater strength than the kit, the quality is going to be decreased. The key is to select a frequency with no or minimal other broadcasts and the transmitter will work well.

Previously charging iPod / iPhones from a FM transmitter was very difficult, it required an alternative device to connect in to the Cigarette lighter port which then connected into iPod, meaning the FM transmitter had to work on the AUX (head phones socket). The new griffin products come with the same connection however as its an all in one kit so the iPod / iPhone connects into the griffin via the docking cable.

FM Transmitter with the Dension Unimount.

The advantage of using the Unimount with a transmitter is it holds the device in a usable position when driving. Making selecting albums, artists and tracks much more simple and convenient as you are unable to cycle the tracks from the stereo or steering wheel controls.

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Your iPod Music - Perfect Entertainment for that long drive.

What did we do before the invention of the iPod? Its like Mobile phone, how did we communicate before we had these? Back in the dark ages (10 years ago) we had to play music on tape and had to be at home to make a phone call. Just like most things in these times, we want everything on demand. Instant Music, Instant TV, Instantly contactable. Well the good news is Music is now just that, even in your car with an FM Transmitter

Digital Media Vs Radio, which do you prefer? Your own choice of music, albums and play-lists available for you to browse through at any point or tuning in to a radio broadcast and listening to the DJ. Not always, but usually making an anecdote about a story that really isn't worth listening to, and playing a predetermined play-list dependant on weekly budgets rather than playing good music. Most people choose playing music from their iPod. Or at least have the choice to do so.

Your Music is available on your iPod when ever you want it, and presumably you like all the music tracks you have on there? Otherwise they wouldn't be there right! Well combine the music you love and with the iPod car kit and you have the perfect solution for the long and tedious drives when your usually either reduced to tears or subject to road-rage before the end of the journey. I'm not saying that these are a miracle cure for road-rage but they may help reduce stress a little?

When Wanting Music in your vehicle the most convenient and easiest way of doing so is usually an FM Transmitter. Its a simple process to get music playing, which usually entails taking it out the box, setting a frequency and pressing play on your iPod (The process couldn't be simpler). Music is played through the stereo via an FM frequency, providing the frequency isn't used often you'll receive a good quality audio signal through stereo and subsequently the speakers.

Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter – The Best on the market?

You either love or hate Fm Transmitters, but if you can put up with the occasional bit of interference you’ll find kit worth the investment. The idea behind them is excellent as they provide audio input into your stereo in the most simple form, a radio signal.

 The problem with iPod FM transmitters, is not usually a problem with all FM transmitters. Like most things in life, the poorer versions of something give the other versions a bad name. Its the poorer Fm Transmitters that gathered the reputation all FM transmitters currently have. Poor music playback, loads of interference, poor usability etc.

However the New and improved Griffin transmitters including the Griffin iTrip FM offer a better user interface and connectivity. Ipod charging is also provided in the New Second Gen Griffin by the way of a cigarette lighter connection and transformer to convert to 5V charging for New iPods and iPhones. Although the system is a little untidy when connected in the vehicle, it does provide a excellent option when an integrated system is not wanted or required.

Where does the Griffin Excel?

The griffin FM Transmitters do everything other fm transmitters offer, however its the performance if the griffin where you notice the difference. The consistency of the connectivity and quality of audio reaches a level most other FM kits we’ve tested can’t reach. We also noticed the interference received by the Griffin iTrip and Roadtrip was approximately half the level (across all frequencies) than every other transmitter other than the Dexim when tested in built up areas. Meaning you receive less crackling, buzzing and feedback when listening to your favourite tracks.

You should expect feedback when listening to a transmitter system however a quick change of frequency should resolve the problem. Of all the kits we tested the Griffin iTrip FM was our favourite purely for the value for money it offers.

Griffin are market leaders in the iPod FM Transmitter market, there kits offer a more advanced interface and improved operations over other kits. The Griffin iTrip FM Modulator is the most popular transmitter on the market today. Find out why here. 

Dension Bluetooth Vs Parrot Bluetooth Kits - Which is Better

After recent news that Dension are due to release a new product entitled the
"Gateway Five" we received our sample models and set about to get
testing just how good it is. Dension promised the item to have a much
better integration than a Parrot MKi 9200 (Parrots Flagship Bluetooth
and iPod car integration kit) and after working with Dension for a few
years - we believe them!

The main big advantage that the Dension
Gateway Five will have over the Parrot alternative is that the Dension
integrates into the stereo's display and controls (either from the
stereo itself, or from the steering controls). This in itself gives it
a better selling point compared to the Parrot but pair this with the
way that the Dension Gateway Five actually takes control of the iPod
and the Phone in comparison to the Parrot MKi 9200 and you really do
have something special. Could this be the product that knocks Parrot
from its perch?

Lets start off by providing  a comparison
chart, showing which kit has which features. After the chart we can
move onto discussing each feature or specification, one by one.

Features & Specifications	Parrot MKi 9200 Range	Dension Gateway Five Range
Full CD Quality Audio	No	Yes
Hard-Wired Digital Connection	No	Yes
Works through ALL speakers	No	Yes
Control Bluetooth from the stereo (Including Missed Calls, Received Calls & Phonebook)	No (but from external display)	Yes
Control iPod from the stereo	No (but from external display)	Yes
Requires External Display	Yes	No
Integrated through the Vehicles Display	No	Yes
Integrated Steering Wheel Controls	No	Yes
Phonebook Displayed on the Stereo/Cluster	No	Yes
Control iPod Playlists from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Artists from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Albums from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Tracks from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Podcasts/Genres etc from the Stereo	No	Yes
Compatible with most Mobile Phones	Yes	Yes
Charges the iPod/iPhone (Including 5v iPods)	Yes	Yes
Add-Ons (Like Video Outputs)	No	Yes
USB Input (For using USB Flash drives and Hard Drives)	No	Yes
Aux Input (3.5mm Jack)	Yes	Yes
Average Price (Including Vehicle Specific Wiring)	£220	£220

From
the above chart you can sort of get your head around why this product
is so exciting. We will now talk about our findings and go further in
depth for each feature listed above.


1. Full CD Quality Audio
Bluetooth
as a technology doesnt provide enough bandwidth for the music to be
sent to the stereo in perfect audio. Pair this with the fact that the
Parrot DOESN'T use the car stereos amplifier (it uses a pretty poor 15
watt internal amplifier) AND the fact that you can only get sound
through your front speakers (unless your lucky enough to be in the 2%
of people who have a vehicle which can handle a better wiring harness,
all be it for another £80!) mean that the Dension simply wipes the
floor with the Parrot kit here. The Dension kit fully hard-wires into
the car stereo via the CAN-Bus system so the entire connection is
optical digital, quality is just perfection. The only time you will
hear bad quality with the Gateway Five is if the MP3 file on the iPod
is poor quality.
Dension - 1
Parrot - 0

2. Hard Wired Digital Connection
We
have touched on this a little above so there isn't too much need to go
into detail but because the Parrot MKi-9200 transmits the iPods music
via Bluetooth, the quality isn't the best. Compare this with the
Dension's CAN-Bus connection and Dension take the spoils again!
Dension - 2
Parrot - 0

3. Works through ALL speakers
Another
simple response needed. The Dension works through every speaker and
utilises the cars amplification (be it from within the stereo itself or
from any upgrade like a Bose system). Because the Parrot MKI kits use
older SOT lead technology, only the front two speakers work.
Dension - 3
Parrot - 0

4. Control Bluetooth from the stereo (Including Missed Calls, Received Calls & Phonebook)
Obviously
the Parrot comes with an external display which can control the phone
functions. Its not a terrible display but its nowhere near as good as
using the vehicles display. It looks out of place in most vehicles and
just doesnt look "OEM". However, you can search by missed calls and
received calls etc. The Dension does exactly the same thing but through
the cars display and cars controls (steering wheel controls and stereo
controls) instead of fiddling with a little external screen.
Dension - 4
Parrot - 0

5. Control the iPod from the Stereo
Now
this is obviously where Dension excell, they have been at the forefront
of iPod integration since the iPod was first made. Anyone who wishes to
integrate iPod in a car always use Dension systems as the standard but
they can never achieve what Dension have achieved because everytime
anyone gets close, Dension raise the bar. The Dension Gateway Five can
control the iPod fully from the stereo, this includes searching for
artists, albums, track, playlists, podcasts, genres - all using the
stereo controls and the steering wheel controls (control can also be
reverted back to the iPod if needed anyway). The Parrots iPod interface
is pretty simple but not impossible to use. Obviously the control has
to be done from the external display again.
Dension - 5
Parrot - 0

6. Requires external display
Some
like external displays, others think there are numberous issues with
using an external display. One of the main concerns is that theifs know
that there is an aftermarket Bluetooth kit fitted into the vehicle -
making it a target. Other issues are that the displays look fairly ugly
(the ones which dont look too bad tend to be too small to use
accurately). Instead of using an external display, the Dension Gateway
Five uses the vehicles display to tell you everything you need to know.
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

7. Integrated through the vehicles display
The
same as above really, obviously the Parrot needs the display to be
operated where-as the Dension uses the vehicles displays. This point
isn't a win or a loss for either Dension or Parrot so the scores stay
the same!
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

8. Integrates though the vehicles display
Again, as above. No conclusion can be drawn from this point other than give the facts.
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

9. Phonebook displayed on the stereo/cluster
Well another point for Dension here. The Dension Gateway Five allows the phones contacts to be viewed from the cars display.
Dension - 7
Parrot - 0

10. Control iPod Playlists from the stereo
The Dension can, the Parrot cant. Simple.
Dension - 8
Parrot - 0

11. Control iPod Artists from the stereo
As above.
Dension - 9
Parrot - 0

12. Control iPod Albums from the stereo
As above, again.
Dension - 10
Parrot - 0

13. Control iPod Tracks from the stereo
As above, again, again!
Dension - 11
Parrot - 0

14. Control iPod Podcasts/Genres etc from the stereo
And again...
Dension - 12
Parrot - 0

15. Compatible with most mobile phones
Neither
a winner or a loser on this one so both get a point. Both kits work
with nearly every phone around today. The Dension utilises the new Blue
Core Chip which is considedered the new standard in bluetooth
technology. The Parrot uses its original chip - which is by no means
far behind!
Dension - 13
Parrot - 1

16. Charges the iPod/iPhone, including 5v charging iPods
The Dension certainly does do this. The Parrot's NEWER models does this.
Dension - 14
Parrot - 2

17. Add-ons (Like Video Output from the iPod into the stereo/nacigation)
Another
point for the Dension. Because it utilises the CAN-Bus system, there is
a possibility of sending so much more information through the system.
Dension - 15
Parrot - 2

18. USB Input for flash drives and hard drives
Yet another point for Dension... They are really destroying the Parrot kits here!
Dension - 16
Parrot - 2

19. Aux Input
Both get a point here.
Dension - 17
Parrot - 3

20. Pricing
Both
are on par. However, its important to remind you that the Parrot kits
DO need an additional part to connect it to the vehicle, the Dension
doesnt. Another point for Dension.
Dension - 18
Parrot - 3