iPod Accessories
I’ve had an iPod since earning one for free with freeiPods.com in December 2004. I’m currently trying to get a free iPod Nano. If you want to help me out, click here!
Since December 2004, I have explored various iPod accessories and I figured it would make a good post here on my website. Let’s start with the iTrip.
The iTrip is an FM transmitter. That means you can plug an iTrip into your iPod and listen to your music on a radio as if you were listening to a radio station. The primary usage for these is in vehicles. The iTrip is now available in a few flavors. For the 20GB and larger iPods, there are two choices: the original iTrip and the iTrip with an LCD. Pretty soon the original iTrip may disappear, but for now the two exist like siblings.
Do not get an iTrip if you can plug your iPod into your car stereo in any way. You will get better sound quality with a tape adapter or with a direct line in to your stereo. The iTrip is for those poor people who have a CD car stereo with no tape player. Unless there’s a significant price difference, you should buy the new iTrip LCD. The iTrip LCD does not have better sound quality, in my opinion, so you could get by using the original iTrip. The problem with the original iTrip is that it is impossible to change frequencies. So, forget about changing the frequency while driving. You’ll get killed. To change the station you need to play sound bytes that you need to install on your iPod. This means if you shuffle your songs, these sound bytes will come up and they’ll change the frequency on you. With the iTrip LCD, you don’t need these sound bytes, and changing frequencies is much easier. The best frequency to use is 87.9, because no US radio station broadcasts at it (that I know of). The only interference you will get will probably be from fellow iTrippers passing by. If that happens, pause your iPod and listen to their music. Then, if you like the song and don’t know what it is, roll down your window.
To be able to broadcast on 87.9 with the iTrip LCD there’s an extra step, however. 87.9 is not available out-of-the-box. The default station for the iTrip LCD is 88.1. Click here for instructions on how to get 87.9 with the iTrip LCD. Since most iTrip users keep their iTrips tuned to 87.9, you could probably get by using the original iTrip.
What else do you need? Well you could get by with just your iPod and your iTrip. But what if you run out of battery? That’s why I bought a Belkin Auto Kit. I also didn’t want my iPod floating around somewhere, so I bought a Belkin TuneDok Car Holder. You will also notice that my iPod is not naked. I use an iSkin eVo2, and I took off the belt clip so I could put it in my TuneDok. I used to use a Speck 4G Skin Tight but it got dirty after a couple months. I imagine my iSkin eVo2 will also get dirty, but oh well… The iPod socks are also popular. I might get one of those if my eVo2 turns yellow!
What about headphones? Ditch the Apple earphones. They suck, seriously. Now, accept the fact that different types of headphones are better in different situations. Ok, good. For casual listening, I would recommend the Bose TriPort Headphones. If you work in an office environment (with humming computers or servers) or you fly frequently, you should get the Bose QuietComfort 2 Headphones because they have excellent noise canceling. If you absolutely must have earbud headphones, then get the Sony MDR-EX71SL‘s. If you want superior sound quality out of your earbud headphones (and you have some money), then go for the Shure E2C Sound Isolating Earphones. For exercising and running, I don’t think anyone has invented a headphone style better than the neckband design. Get the Philips HS500 Behind-the-Head Sport Headphones with Neckband.
That’s all of my advice. Please comment and share what’s worked for you (and what hasn’t)!
No Comments Yet