Fm Transmitter Vs Aux-in Cable, Which would you recommend Options

[erobelin]

I recently bought a 2008 Tucson GLS which comes with an Aux-in port on the stereo. My girlfriend and I have been using a Monster iPhone FM Transmitter for about a year in our other car (2002 Corolla).

I'm wondering if any anyone has any opinions on what they prefer to use.

Basically I am wondering if I should dish out the 90-so-odd dollars for a second transmitter, or the less that $10 for the aux cable...I do rather enjoy the charging feature that comes with the transmitter.

(And I know someone is going to ask: the reason I don't just share the transmitter between both cars is that my GF drives 1hr to work every day and uses it, while I would also like to use it when I drive the 45 minutes it takes me)

This post has been edited by erobelin: Aug 19 2009, 02:00 PM

[brian119]

I recommend using the AUX for one main reason. Better sound quality. You can buy the AUX cable for not even 4 bucks at your local electronic store. You can buy a car ipod recharger with the money your save, then take out your gf for a nice dinner with the rest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
FM transmitters have low music quality anyways, you also intercept unwanted channels sometimes.

[erobelin]

Thanks for the input (no pun intended)...so AUX does have better sound quality.

An other option would be to purchase a head-unit with usb-in. Not that I have any idea what I'm really talking about: I only learned of the term 'head-unit' on this forum.

How do USB-ins work? Can you control the iphone/ipod from the head-unit? What about charging the MP3 player while you're listening to it?

[brian119]

My suggestion is that you shouldn't buy a new Header unless it is absolutely needed. They can get pricey and you have to rip out the current header installed in your car. And to do that, you would probably need to take it to a auto stereo store to get it installed.

Headers with USB-in is very convenient. It is like plugging your ipod into your computer. The header is programmed to recognize your ipod, so that you can view all your songs and playlists on your header. You don't need to scroll around your ipod to find songs. You can control everything on your header. All the songs are displayed on the header. Also usb-in headers charge your iPod when it is plugged in.

[ddix1026]

sorry for reviving an older thread.. i will just reiterate what Brian said.. if you have an Aux plug, USE IT.. FM trasmitters are for people who cant afford to put a new head unit in and dont have an Aux plug.. both my 06 Sonata and the wife's 07 Tucson came with OEM stereos that did not have an Aux plug, and I quickly replaced the head units in each car (well, i did a lot more stereo upgrading in my Sonata as well) to ones that had an Aux plug because both the wife and I have iPods to use in the car.... the sound is more like CD quality rather than radio quality of the FM transmitters...

no need to get a new HU with a USB port unless you really want one.. sound quality won't be any different