i've been messing around with AM/FM transmitters for awhile and i can't seem to find one that fits into the power source and doesn't take up a lot of space / do the job right.

is it better to just get a new stereo with aux-in?

 

oh ya get a new stereo. FM modulaters suck hardcore in most cars. everyonce in a while, they will work in a random car, but not very often.

Most stereos now have ipod capabilities that allow you to control the ipod with the stereo, and you don;t have to play with the ipod at all. I particullarly like the Alpine Ipod setup. Go get a CDA-9883 or 9885 and get the ipod cable with it. the 9883 retails at $200 and the 9885 at $300 and the ipod is $30, the difference is yhat the 9885 has a 2 line display as opposed toa 1 line display on the 9883, so the 9885 will be easier to use the ipod with, also it comes with a remote. most brands make a ipod connector for their radios so jut go find one you like and if you got a brand preference, then just go with it and the ipod cable.

 

yeah i have a cda 9857 and its pretty cool and not to hard to learn how to control through the stereo. some people prefer to control through ipod in which case you would want to buy an deck with solely an aux source, (i personally would have preferred one of these because say your friend has a Zune or a different mp3 player, this would work better).

its all up to you there are a TON of head units out there now that support this feature.

 

there are wired fm modulators, they are designed for overhead moniters, and the work good with any stereo. they install like a rf cd changer

 

Yeah I hate those FM transmitters.There's always some type of static. Luckily I have a tape player in my '99 civic so I use those tape things for my ipod. But yeah if you can afford it definately get an aftermarket stereo that has ipod capability, it'll be well worth it. Or at least has an aux port.

 

I have a pioneer unit and it has both ipod control and the headphone jack input so any mp3 player works in my car and i paid like 150ish for my head unit.

i forget the modoel number off hand though but most of there decent radios can do both nowadays.

EDIT:
Ok mines a 4800mp heres a pic:

http://obi1kanobi.com/Images/Car/Car...7_14%20015.jpg

 

no what im walking about is a WIRED fm modulator, crystyal clear quality.

 

i think he understood that, but he wass replying to the first post and not yours.

but yes the wired ones do sound good. they give you the signal quality of the best radio stations. the direct aux and ipod hook ups give you "cd" quality sound, but italso depends on the quality of the mp3 that is on the ipod. But for most people, cd and the best radio stations don't sound much different. but I personally do hear a difference because i'm around stereos all day every day.