For Fathers day my wife let me go to best buy and spend some money. I had read that many on the forums had tried different FM modulators, hard wired solutions and I know there is an ongoing thread to see if we can get a hard wired aux interface into the head unit so that we can play MP3s etc. To the point I picked up a monster FM Modulator, monster also makes a specific fm modulator customized for the Ipod. I have an archos so I went with the universal, anyway I brought it home scanned through the lower channels to find an FM Channel that was not in the same broadcast range as any local radio stations, plugged in my archos and low and behold, beautiful, clear reception through the stereo it sounds just as good as a CD, plus it is all red leds which match the interior lights. Just wanted to pass this on as a legitimate option for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy way to play there MP3s without having to tear the dash apart or modify the tape/head unit etc.

I am happy with this option, it sounds great to me, maybe it will work for you.

Here is the link for the Universal FM Modulator
http://www.monstercable.com/productPage.asp?pin=2436

Here is the link for the Ipod FM Modulator
http://www.monstercable.com/computer...r.asp?pin=2084

 

I've used that one before on my 8 (icarplay), and have tried out just about every other popular one:

belkin tunecast, tunecast II, irock 400fm, griffin itrip, arkon soundfeeder sf100, sf121, etc.

I would say some of them are better than others, but all of them were an unexceptable alternate input solution to a wired FM modulator that connects directly to the antenna of the headunit.


just for your curiousity, the WORST one was the arkon SF100, then 121, then tunecast/tunecastII, then icarplay, then roady fm modulator. irock was the best of them, but was still very statically on all channels I tried.

I live/work/commute daily between the the LA/OC areas. Perhaps where you are, the signals aren't as overpowering.. here in LA, there are absolutely no blank channels in the 8x.x range, at least not tuneable by the RX-8's digital tuner.

 

True Squidward, I am on the outskirts of the city so that probably helps quite a bit, if you live in a big city it may or may not work for you, It sure would have been a lot easier if all car manufacturers including Mazda would put an auxillary with an interface in there vehicles.

 

wow what an idea..

my friends 92 stealth had it!!! why cant they have this in newer cars..