We’ve had the chance to review quite a few versions of Griffin’s popular iTrip line over the last few years. Recently, we tested one of the newest models, and arguably one of the most universal ones—the iTrip Auto. Although its $70 price tag might turn some off from the beginning, it’s not your average iTrip.
For those not familiar with the iTrip, it is an FM transmitter, allowing audio from the iPod to be broadcast to a radio (essentially creating a miniature radio station with an FCC-limited 30 feet range). Besides not following the snap-on-some-end-of-your-iPod design of its siblings, the iTrip Auto also features a cigarette lighter connector on one end and a Dock Connector on the other. About halfway down the 3-foot cable is a little box with familiar iTrip controls.
iTrip Auto
iTrip Auto + iPod
iTrip Auto (Close Up of Controls)
This iTrip is designed to do one thing and one thing well—work in car. Rather than deal with a separate car charger or car cradle, the iTrip Auto can be used with any case that allows access to the Dock Connector. It charges your iPod and pulls audio from the Dock Connector, meaning that it is compatible with every iPod that has such a connector.
Tuning this iTrip is just like the other LCD-equipped versions, but with slightly moved controls—an +/- switch lets you select a frequency, and “select” button locks it in. Holding down this button lets you choose between LX and DX mode and US or international mode.
What sets the iTrips apart from other transmitters are the choices for additional settings. DX mode offers monaural sound, with little noise, and LX mode provides stereo sound with noise comparable to tape adapters. If you hold the button down longer, you can pick between US and INTL (international) modes. With the combined modes, the iTrip can tune between 76.0 to 90.0 and 88.1 to 107.9 MHz in .1 increments.
The iTrip doesn’t have a preset button, which many of its competitors have, but it does remember the last frequency used, which helps quite a bit. It also pauses your iPod when you turn off your car—a nice touch. With the overall design being quite good, we can overlook the lack of presets.
The one downside to this iTrip is that it must be used in a car (or any other place that has a 12V cigarette lighter-style outlet). Since it does not drain power from the iPod, it must get it from somewhere. Since most people use transmitters in vehicles, this is not that bad of an idea, but if you are looking for a transmitter to use in other places, other iTrips might be better for you.
I used the iTrip auto in a few different cars on a few different trips and it seemed to perform better than standalone models in the car. Since some of the markets were crowded, I stuck with the lower frequencies.
Another feature worth noting is that the iTrip has an auto volume control to avoid distortion. This, combined with a fairly good transmitter provides a good dynamic range with acceptable highs and great lows.
Despite the relatively high price, you must remember that this essentially gives you a car charger and FM transmitter in one compact package. Once you add up the costs and look around for a slightly-cheaper-than-list price, the iTrip Auto is an attractive product for those who cannot use tape adapters in their cars.
The One-Sentence Verdict™
The iTrip Auto is a complete package for using your iPod in the car, but still allows you to use your favorite case.
Pros: Well-integrated with the iPod, allows use of most iPod cases, easier tuning, LX/DX modes, black color doesn’t draw attention in car
Cons: Somewhat impossible to use in a larger radio market
The Facts
Product: iTrip Auto
Company: Griffin Technology
Platform: iPod (3 4 5 M N)
Price: $69.99
Review Disclosure: You can read more about our product review policy and relationship with vendors.
8 Responses to “Review: Griffin iTrip Auto”
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01/09/2007 at 9:55 am
I just bought the iTrip auto and it works as described, but the selection of US / INT Tunings isnt possible no matter how long I hold the buttons down. Any hints? Besides that, it works great!
06/10/2007 at 10:14 am
It works as described, but i’m getting a little flat sound and the Ipod volume control doesn’t have any relevance, the volume can be controlled only from the car stereo. Is that normal with the Itrip auto?
08/20/2007 at 2:06 pm
just talked to griffin. apparently the FCC told them to stop allowing manual switching to international mode & to stick with 88.1-107.9. too bad b/c i live in a major market and have trouble finding open stations (or ones without signals bleeding over.)
03/18/2008 at 2:31 am
If you switch to DX mode you can choose 87.9 in US mode, KW. Just so you know :)
08/17/2008 at 3:19 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have a great love for music, and especially music in the car while I am driving. I love my iPod (I am on my third one…), and have been through several car chargers/transmitters. I had the original DLO TransPod for some time, and it worked great – transmitting in the lower 87.1 rage. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of leaving the transmitter in a loaner car while my car (a German car, with a radio that tunes down into the 87.1 range…but old enough to be without a built-in MP3 port…) was in the service garage. So, when I asked to check back to find the TransPod, it was gone. Not too much of a surprise, really. Anyway, the TransPod allowed transmitting in the 87.1 to 87.9 range. In the overly-crowded radio market of Los Angeles, these “unused” frequencies were the only ones available that were not constantly static-saturated, or simply unusable most of the time. There are, quite simply, almost no unused frequencies in the LA area. So, I was very disappointed when this Griffin iTrip Auto indicated it could broadcast on the lower frequencies, but for the longest time I could not find out how to switch it from US to INTL mode. Griffin’s own manual (the minimally informative cardboard backing for the packaging) nor their own web site give much advice. I was resigning myself to looking for an over-seas seller of an iPod transmitter, or going back listening to CDs in the car. That was until I read your article and the comments following. I was able to get this model (purchased in June 2008) to switch over the INTL mode, while still in the LX stereo mode. I did this by holding down the preset button until the LX/DX indicator flashed, then holding it longer until the US/INTL indicator flashed, then using the +/- button to toggle back and forth between selections. This has made driving with my iPod a pleasure again – free of static in the lower, non-US, frequencies. Thank you!
09/26/2008 at 2:32 pm
It has its flaws, but this thing is worth the $25 I dropped for it. I live in the North Atlantic corridor, halfway between Baltimore and Philly. 87.9 is an untouched frequency, as promised. And if I ever get truly sick of that static hiss, I just switch it to DX for a while. It beats burning mixed CD’s or a cassette adapter. I’ve had bad experiences with both. Kudos to Griffin for a good product.
11/02/2008 at 10:47 pm
i love it.i actully took apart my itrip. i have the one with out the ciggaret lighter. i attatched a attena to my itrip. i can go 20 feet from a radio in New york
11/15/2008 at 11:23 am
Bought the Griffon ITrip auto adapter several years ago which broke. Tried to buy another, but the frquency only goes down to 88.1, not 87.9. I travel the country each week and the new one just doesn’t work at 88.1. Does any one know where I can buy one that goes down to 87.9???? That worked perfectly through out the US.