Peripheral PXDP/PXHTY3 Toyota iPod Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this unit installed today in my 2004 Scion xB so I am not reviewing the long term functionality of the unit although so far it seems to meet expectations. I did have some issues that were resolved with installation. First, the unit has a DIP switch that needs to be set before installation, you have to visit their website to get the code for your car. The instruction manual is very generic, and contains no vehicle specific information.
When I removed my radio from the dash I was confused, as the "vehicle specific" cable supplied has 3 connectors on it but there was only one open connection on the radio. I looked around trying to figure out if the others went to something else but couldn't find anything. Then when I powered everything back up I found the unit was not functioning: the ipod was not charging and would not play back over the stereo.
I used the contact form on their website and explained my problem, thinking I would never hear from them. To my surprise I received an email back minutes later explaining the extra connectors (not used) and the tech asked me to cycle the position of the DIP switches and try again, which fixed my problem and now my ipod is charging and plays through the stereo.
I'm using this with my Touch and so far have verified that track change stereo controls change the song playing and that the player pauses when the car is turned off and resumes when turned on which is what I really wanted.
If you are new to installation you might want to ask a pro for help with this installation or find internet help beforehand to ensure you can get access to the back of the radio and get the cable routed.
For my installation once the issues were figured out only took about 20 minutes and only required a screwdriver.

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Plugs into the back of the radio- at the cd changer/satellite radio port.If equipped, factory cd changer and satellite radio has to be disconnected.NOT compatible with radios that have a built in 6 disc cd changer or navigation.This adapter is only compatible with single disc or cassette deck radios. Works With: Scion:tC 2003-2008xA 2003-2008xB 2003-2008Toyota: 4-Runner 1998-2008Avalon 1998-2008Camry 1998-2008Celica 1998-2008Corolla 1998-2008Echo 2000-2008Highlander 2001-2008 Landcruiser 1998-2008MR2 2000-2008 RAV4 1998-2008 Sequoia 2001-2008 Sienna 1998-2008 Solara 1999-2008Tacoma 1998-2008Tundra 2000-2008 Yaris 2005-2008

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XM Satellite Radio FM Direct Adapter For All XM Receivers Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this after frustrating attempts to get my XM receiver to work with my car. Right out of the box, the FM modulator was next to useless as I could not get a reliable dead channel for interruption free operation of my reciever. I didn't have a cassette player, so I couldn't use that method and the auxillary ports in my cars entertainment center, just had a high pitched squeal with only occured with the XM device hooked up into it.
I tried this device upon recommendation of a friend. After removing my stereo and attempting to install it, I found that the plugs do not fit a standard GM stereo (I have a 2005 Aztek). This prompted me to run to the local Best Buy and purchase some adapter plugs (they knew exactly what I was asking for) and that set me back another $25. Upon returning home and using the plugs, everything works fine. I've got my XM finally hooked up in the car and love it. Too bad they didn't include the adapters with the kit, otherwise I'd have given it a higher rating.

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AUDIOVOX XMFM1 XPRESS XM SATELLITE RADIO FM SWITCH BOXFOR USE WITH XPRESS XM SATELLITE RADIO; CONVERTS XPRESS RECEIVERS INTERNAL FM TRANSMITTER INTO A WIRED FM MODULATOR

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Audiovox FM Switching Module (SIR-SWB) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'll Keep this short - This device is worth the $ as there is no static when watching car dvd as sound is directly wired through unit. Love it !!!

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The Audiovox SIR-SWB FM Switching Box converts the SIRPNP3 and XR9 units' internal wireless FM transmitter into a wired FM modulator. For use in hard-wired vehicle kit installation where the best possible sound quality with fewest dropouts is desired. This accessory connects to Audiovox vehicle kits SIRCK3 and XC9 only. May require factory antenna adapter, available separately.

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Audiovox FM100A FM Modulator with IST2 Isolation Transformer (Grey) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have any other option besides an FM modulator to do what you need to do, do it. An FM modulator should be a last resort. That being said, I don't think I could be happier with this product, given the fact that I had no other options.
First, note that this is a WIRED modulator. Wireless modulators are worthless in the US because of the FCC mandated limitations of their broadcast range. Wired modulators like this one tap directly into the antenna in your car and send FM signals directly to your head unit. As such, you don't have interference from other FM transmissions--like radio stations.
As far as wired modulators go, in the same system I tried a Kenwood FM modulator and one from Metra. Both sounded horrible for anything but audio books. I added a ground loop isolator to the Kenwood setup, and it sounded better, but it was still too painful to listen to music through the modulator.
This Audiovox system comes with its own ground loop isolator, and together they sound far better than any other combination I had tried. Everything about this setup is a little smaller than other options I've used, so they fit behind the dash better.
All in all, if you're looking for the best FM modulator on the market, I believe you've found it. AudioVox makes a bad situation tolerable, and in fact, quite enjoyable.

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Allows sound from the video source to be played through the vehicle's speakers. Connects to car Radio antenna. Includes an isolation transformer (IST2).

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Metra 44FMMOD02 FM Stereo Modulator Review

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(More customer reviews)Product was bought used and came fast opened but in mint condition. Great Deal

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Wired FM Transmitter
FCC Approved
Input Voltage 12 Volts DC
2 Frequency Choices 88.5 or 88.9
Remote On/Off Switch
Male Stereo RCA Adapter cable

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Griffin TuneFlex AUX Mount and Charger with SmartClick Remote for iPod and iPhone (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)My Griffin TuneFlex AUX with SmartClick replaces a Kensington Liquid AUX Deluxe unit, which my wife accidentally broke while driving my car. I think this sort of accident is much less likely with the Griffin.
The big disadvantage of the Kensington (and the cause of its ultimate demise) were the adjustable arms that clamped on the iPod/iPhone; while it allowed adapting to any model, the clamp and release mechanism were "temperamental". The ratchet mechanism was hard to adjust "just right", and if too tight would rattle loudly as the car moved. It needed to be re-adjusted frequently, as it worked loose gradually. The Griffin in contrast comes with a whole array of plastic "heads" designed to perfectly fit and support various models with no slack or vibration. The heads are unlabeled; you just need to try your iPod or iPhone in each one that vaguely looks like it might fit until you get the right one. If you switch often between various models you'd want to carry the appropriate adapters, and need to switch them out... and the next new model probably won't be covered. (Luckily, I rarely use anything but my iPhone 3G in the car, and it turns out that my daughter's 3rd gen iPod nano can fit the iPhone sleeve. This may however be an issue if, for example, I upgrade to a "next gen iPhone" when such a thing is released, but we'll have to wait and see.)
Like the Kensington, the Griffin has a wireless remote that can velcro onto the steering wheel. I thought this was silly on the Kensington, but found that it quickly became a necessity. The convenience of being able to play, pause, and skip tracks without moving my eyes or taking a hand off the wheel is great. The reliability of the Kensington remote was "inconsistent", however. The Griffin seems to work consistently, but has a very "firm" touch and doesn't always respond when buttons are pressed casually. I do like the button to manually activate the backlight, when it's gone out. The Griffin remote is detachable from a magnetic base, which I find pointless: I see no need to remove it, and several times it's been knocked off accidentally and I need to search for it on the floor.
The flexible neck is stiff and stable, but reasonably easily adjustable; it's longer than the Kensington's neck, and that makes the iPhone more visible and accessible. The AUX cable has jacks on both ends so it can be replaced (unlike the Kensington's). It's much longer than the Kensington's, which might be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your car. (Way more cord than I really need.)
Some glitch in the Kensington occasionally caused my iPhone 3G to complain that the charger wasn't compatible. It still played through the AUX, and charged, but the remote was apparently disabled. Sometimes removing and re-inserting would resolve the problem, and sometimes it wouldn't. I haven't (at least yet) seen that issue with the Griffin, which is a "plus".
Advantages: long stiff neck, easy to adjust; custom fit "heads" for iPod/iPhone models; wireless remote
Disadvantages: custom fit "heads" may mean carrying more than one, and might be a problem for new models down the road; heads aren't labeled so it can be tedious to find the right one; remote is too easily detachable

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TuneFlex AUX is the perfect in-car solution, with a flexible steel stem for your iPod and a steering-wheel-mounted remote control. Position the mount on the steering wheel near your fingers for convenient control that never makes you take your eyes off the road. The remote is held on the mount magnetically, and can be removed for handheld use by anyone in the car. TuneFlex plugs securely into the auto accessory port or cigarette lighter to charge and power your iPod or iPhone. The lighted ring at the base of TuneFlex¿s stem shows charging status at a glance. An included 1/8¿(3.5mm) stereo mini cable connects TuneFlex to AUX-input-equipped stereos for clean, interference-free sound. The package includes a set of snap-on adapters to ensure a secure mount for full-size iPod and iPod nano models. Included cable strap prevents tangles.

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Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3G Review

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(More customer reviews)I really wanted to like this product. I actually bought both the LiquidAUX kit and the Deluxe kit. One to use in my car and one on my motorcycle with my iPhone.
I think they worked once or twice with some adjustments. I know people don't like one star reviews and usually mark them as 'not helpful'. Often times they are right because people rate them with one star because the weren't shipped fast enough or some complaint not related to the product. Or they got the one unit that happened to be DOA.
Not the case here. Here's the problems:
When the iPhone firmware was updated recently, it caused problems with the remote operating and the message that the product was not iPhone compatible. Okay, I checked the manufacturer's website and found their workaround. The message did indeed go away, but the remotes still didn't work.
I decided to try my iPod to see if the problem could be caused by the iPhone, but the remotes didn't work with it either. Called Kensington tech support and they told me (in IndiaEnglish) to try replacing the batteries in remote. This after providing them with the serial number (written in illegible microscopic print inside the remote).
To their credit, they told me they would send me two new remotes (or complete units. I really don't understand IndiaEnglish very well). I should have them in 10 to 12 business days. I didn't have to return the old ones, just trash them. This makes me think they probably have had a lot of problems with these products.
My next gripes have to do with the different models:
The standard LiquidAUX kit:
They must be poorly assembled since the first time I used it it would cut out intermittently. If I just touched the wires going into the power plug they would crackle and pop and had to be delicately positioned to work. The extension cable (which you need unless your cigarette lighter is right next to your mini plug socket) has the same problem, but not as bad.
The Deluxe LiquidAUX kit:
This unit relies on a tight fit in your lighter socket, or you won't be able to keep the thing upright. The clamps holding your phone are not very sturdy and difficult to unlatch to get your iPxxxx out. After a short time most of the physical connections loosen up and you need to prop the business end of the adapter against something to keep it from falling.
I bought both units in Lightning Deals so the price wasn't as bad as it could be. But I'd rather pay more and have something that actually works properly. If I was within the 30 day window, I would have returned them buth.
I am not happy with this purchase.


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The Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe delivers pure sound through your vehicle's stereo system while your iPhone and iPod charges. Simply plug your iPhone or iPod into the car kit using a 3.5-mm audio cable, and then insert the kit into your in-dash auxiliary port. Within seconds, digital-quality sound will be pumping through your car's audio system.


Fingertip Control The steering wheel-mounted remote control is designed to be mounted with the controls on the interior of your steering wheel. The remote conveniently lets you play, pause, and skip music files with just your thumb, allowing you to keep your hands on the wheel.

Convenience The dock adjusts to fit the iPhone and most iPod models without removing them from the case, and a smart audio sensor controls the kit's power automatically. Kensington's LiquidAUX Deluxe Auxiliary Car Kit is compatible with the iPhone (1G and 3G); iPod nano (1G, 2G, and 3G); all iPods (1G through 6G); and iPod touch. Note: An auxiliary port in your car is required for the LiquidAUX Deluxe.

Support Backed by Kensington's two-year warranty, the LiquidAUX also comes with free technical support.

Important Note: Sound Effects When using an auxiliary device in the car, you might hear a slight buzzing sound, engine noise, or high-pitched whine. That is because your car model has a grounding issue between the audio system and the power socket, which causes a whining or buzzing sound when you drive. This sound is not caused by your Kensington product; however, Kensington has an easy solution. Simply purchase an automotive ground loop isolator for your car that is compatible with a 3.5-mm jack. This simple tool will enable you to use your music in a safe, hands-free environment.

Kensington can provide you with a ground loop isolator free of charge by calling Kensington's Technical Support team at 1-800-535-4242. Please provide the serial number of your LiquidAUX product when you call Technical Support, and the company will arrange to ship you the ground loop isolator.What's in the Box Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe Auxiliary Car Kit, remote control, and 4-foot audio extension cable.

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Peripheral / PAC IS77 Universal iPod Dock and 3.5mm Input for FM Radios Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This unit lets me connect my iPod to my factory stereo that does not have an available AUX input. It comes with a cable to connect AND CHARGE your iPod as well as another cable to connect a standard 3.5mm plug. However, you can only connect one cable or the other to the single set of RCA connectors on the unit itself. Choosing one or the other will probably be fine for most people. But I wanted the option of using BOTH the iPod connector and the universal 3.5mm port. I overcame this by connecting two short RCA Y-cables (splitters) between the FM transmitter box and each of the cables that go to the iPod connector and the 3.5mm port. The Y-cables are inexpensive and easy to simply plug in. By doing this, I can take advantage of the capability of the iPod connector to charge my iPod (a huge plus for me) and also allow people with non-iPod devices (basically, anything with a heaphone jack) to connect to my factory stereo.
My only gripe is that since the sound is being transmitted via an FM modulator, even though it's hard-wired there is still a small amount of sound degradation even if you're connecting via the iPod connector. I quickly got used to it though. I liken it to listening to satellite radio versus a CD. The difference is about the same using this FM modulator.
I bought this at Best Buy for $90. I wish I had bought it from Amazon at the $55 price I see available now. If you're using this w/an iPod or any other device, please note that you control the music through the iPod itself or whatever other device you're connecting, not the stereo you're connecting it to. Personally I prefer controlling the music through the iPod itself since the controls are so intuitive and visual.
Installation of the wiring was pretty straight forward. I connected the power lead to the cigarette lighter.
Also, if you're installing this yourself, I recommend using it for a little while before you permanently mount the power switch and AUX port just in case you change your mind about the mounting location.
I would buy this again and also recommend it to other people. However, if your factory stereo has an unused AUX port on the back of it, I would recommend getting one of iSimple's other products that connect directly to the AUX port on the back of your stereo instead. (Mine is filled by the factory 6-CD changer.) You may lose the flexibility that I have since you'll have to choose between the iPod connector OR a 3.5mm port, but your audio signal shouldn't degrade since you're connecting through an unused AUX connector on the back of your stereo instead of going through an FM channel. I haven't actually compared the sound of the two, I'm just theorizing. You'll also get to control your iPod through the factory stereo which could be a plus for some people.

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Universal iPod Dock & 3.5mm Input for FM Radios

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Scosche FM-MOD02 Universal Audio Input FM Modulator for iPod, Satellite Radio or Portable Music Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Works pretty much as advertised: far better than wireless FM, not as good as an auxiliary port.
Basically, if your car's head unit (radio/CD player) doesn't come with a built-in external auxiliary port, you have four options to connect your MP3 player: (1) FM wireless, (2) FM wired, (3) aux port (if available), or, (4) a new radio.
Option (1) is useless; as to option (2), the Scosche FM modulator is probably the cheapest one you can find. There are some better FM modulators (eg, with 8 programmable freqs), but they are quite a bit more expensive. Options (3) or (4), which are also more expensive, offer much better quality. If sound quality is important to you and you're willing to spend the extra cash, look into hooking up through the aux port (if your car has it) or replacing the HU (these days, fairly decent radio/CD/MP3 players are not very expensive).
If you go for this FM modulator, there are a few things you should be aware of.
First, the device consists of the modulator itself and a (very) cheap plastic switch housing, containing the switch which turns the device on and a 3.5 mm female jack for audio input. The housing connects to the modulator via a Molex connector (for the switch) and two RCA jacks (for the audio input). The wires connecting the switch housing to the modulator are insulated, but unsightly and you definitely do not want them exposed. (You connect the MP3 player via the provided 3.5 mm male-to-male cable.) If you listen to the radio, you will likely need access to the switch, because reception of AM and some FM stations can be severely degraded with the modulator on.
Second, mine came with absolutely no instructions or diagrams, and Scosche provides no support on their web site. If you want to do the installation yourself, you're on your own. It's not too difficult -- if you know what you're doing. Basically, you take out the head unit, splice the red wire into an available +12V line (eg, cig lighter), and the black wire into a good ground. Connect the modulator's antenna jacks in-between the antenna and the car radio (here, depending on your car, you might require an antenna jack adaptor). Find a good location for the switch housing, attach the modulator securely, connect the switch and the RCA jacks, choose one of the two FM freqs available, put everything back, and you're good to go.
Third, the switch housing is poorly designed and made out of very cheap plastic. Its back is open (picture it as a cube with one side missing), and the housing itself is too short relative to the depth of the switch and connectors. That severely limits the choice of location for mounting the switch housing, if you don't want to have exposed cables. The housing is mounted by means of a piece of double-sided adhesive tape (provided).
Overall, installation is not too difficult, and, if you can do it yourself, it's worth it. If you have to pay for the installation, consider first an aux port or a new radio/CD player, which provide better sound quality.
Some reviewers complain of humming and/or background noise. I'd be inclined to blame that on a bad installation -- if installed with a good solid ground, this shouldn't be a problem.
Another complaint is that sound volume is too low. In a sense, that's not really the modulator's fault -- it's a basic mismatch between the electrical characteristics of the modulator's audio input and an MP3 player's output; and that's because the latter is designed to drive headphones, not to provide a line-level audio signal, while the former expects a line-level signal. (Test the modulator with any device, such as CD or DVD player, which provides line-level output, and you'll find that the volume level is within normal limits.) You'll have the same problem (volume too low) with any device not designed specifically to handle a headphone signal as audio input.


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plug your source into the FM-MOD02's auxiliary input or RCA inputs, then tune your FM radio to the selected frequency. You can switch between two different modulation frequencies, 87.9 MHz or 88.3 MHz, for the best possible reception in your area.

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