I plugged mine directly into the amp, bypassing the head unit for best
results. But, overall I was disappointed with the iPod. Mine constantly
needed a reboot and didn't sound all that good. Not that it sounded bad, but
my iriver sounds MUCH better with the same files. I wound up returning the
iPod and buying a Nomad Zen. It sounds only marginally better, but it works
much better. You also get more space for your money. The 20 gig Zen costs
as much as the fifteen gig iPod and the 60 (!) gig Zen is only $400. The
headphone amp is more powerful - 50 milliwatts per channel as opposed to the
iPod's 30 per channel. And, you can get a (so far vaporware) combination
remote and FM radio to go with it. The interface is also easier to use in
the car - there are dedicated volume and track navigation buttons. The iPod
interface constantly frustrated me unless I was sitting or standing still
maybe its my fat fingers, I don't know. The only downside so far is that it
won't fit comfortably in my pocket like the iPod did. That, and I prefer the
ease of use that the firewire provided - speedy transfer and charging in one
cable. The Zen says it will charge off of USB, but I have not had success
using that as yet.

The main benefit to me is no more annoying lock-ups and subsequent manual
reboots when driving. I have not tried it with the cassette adapter and I
never use the FM modulators because of their inherently inferior sound
quality (I forget the bottom, but it isn't 20 Hz, and the top is only 15
khz).

It sounds like your modulator and radio got out of synch somehow. Double
check that they are both on the same frequency.

"rondell meeks" wrote in message
m...
hello everyone. i know nothing about car stereos and even less about
sound. this is the first time i have ever posted a message to this
group. that said, i'd like to put this question to any of the experts
in this group.

i recently bought a new 30gig ipod. i loaded it up with about 5 gigs
worth of music at a bit rate of 192. everything sounds great on my
computer stereo system.

one of the main reasons i purchased an ipod was so that i could bring
a ton of music along with me when i travel by car (i drive a 2 year
old toyota 4runner)

i have tried the fm transmitter (i live in NYC) and there's simply too
much static. so i bought a Sony cassette tape adapter.

this weekend i was away for 4 days. the ipod sounded great on the way
up. truly. i was very pleased.

but on the way back i noticed that everything i played sounded bad. it
almost sounded like feedback or like static.

i turned on the CD player and the system sounded fine.

so i disconnected the power adapter to see iof it would make a
difference. it didn't.

i pulled over and turned off the engine so that i could hear the sound
system more clearly and indeed the problem did exist. even with the
engine off.

i finally opted to listen to the cd player.

has anyone else encountered this problem? any idea what i should do or
try? is this symptomatic of cassette adapters? is this symptomatic of
ipods? or is this just some strange accident?

i am a bit upset that i can't seem to duplicate the nice sound i get
at home (when playing the same MP3s) on my ipod in the car!

rondell