Macally
FM Cup for iPod – Review
By Chuck Brown, Assoc. Editor
May 2, 2006
Not everyone is fortunate enough to own a nifty new BMW or a high
priced specialty car stereo with a built-in iPod support. A lot car
owners are particularly happy with the very nice sounding stereo that
their vehicle came with. But finding an easy way to listen to your
special programming on your iPod is not so easy.
If you still have a car stereo with a cassette deck (who still has
these?), the best solution is the wired cassette adapter. But that
ugly wire hanging from the deck to your iPod doesn’t contrast
well with the beautiful simulated wood grain dashboard and Corinthian
leather upholstery in your “ride”.
We’ve tried so many of the copy-cat AA battery powered “FM
Receivers” that plug into your iPod’s headphone outputs,
but provide questionable audio quality mixed with adjacent frequency
static. Besides, still more ugly hanging exposed cables all over the
place and it doesn’t power or recharge your iPod either. You
also still need to find a convenient place to put your iPod too.
Macally’s
better idea –
Long time Apple accessory “wise-guys” over at Macally had
a better idea in their rather robust line of iPod goodies. Wrap up
all the missing features for an iPod FM radio transmitter into one
convenient to use package.
Also available in black, as well as a iPod white
Available in both white and black, the Macally “FM Cup” offers
an FM transmitter to radio that covers a selectable 88.1 to 107.9 MHz
range, an iPod cradle for all models from the last two years with a
dock connector, it charges your iPod while using it and it has a 1/8-inch
(3.5mm) auxiliary input for non-iPod audio devices like that 15 year
old CD Walkman you still have.
All this fits nicely in your car or trucks coffee cup holder with a
spring loaded variable circumference grip base. The only thing you
need to plug in is the cigarette lighter power adapter, which you won’t
be using for that nasty habit anyway.
The Macally FM Cup comes with all you need. The DC power plug, a standard
1/8-inch (3.5mm) Stereo accessory cable for other audio devices, three
different sized interchangeable iPod cradle inserts and the FM Cup
itself
All the controls for
selecting the FM frequency you’ll
use are up front and easy to access, the FM Cup will store the frequencies
you most use and it has a “quick change frequency” button
should you drive into an area where a channel change is needed because
of interference.
We found that the FM Cup’s hold on a frequency is the best we seen
of all the “FM” devices we tested yet. The fidelity is excellent
even in a moderately metropolitan area like suburban Los Angeles or Orange
County California, where we have a radio station on every couple frequency
stops, including the Bean Mariachi flame-thrower pirate stations from
down in Tijuana! Another form on illegal immigration, this time frequency “bleed” obnoxious
noise.
Recommended
for: iPod® nano, iPod® with Video, iPod® Photo,
iPod® with
color display, iPod® 3G, iPod® 4G, and iPod® Mini
•
Dock and charge iPod® devices simultaneously with 30-pin dock connector
•
Fits cup holder securely in most of cars
•
Powered through the car cigarette lighter adaptor
•
Works with MP3 players, CD players and other audio devices with a 3.5mm
headphone jack *
• Full FM spectrum 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz
•
Easy-to-reach power on/off switch, frequency up and down buttons, and
quick channel switch button
•
Automatic last used frequency memory
•
Tilted backlit LCD display, easy to read
•
Designed to accept Apple dock insert shipped with iPod® nano and
new iPod®
•
Three docking inserts included
Specifications:
•
9oz
•
1 year warranty
Part Numbers:
•
FMCUP (White)
•
FMCUPB (Black)
MSRP:
•
US 59.99
The Bottom Line –
This is pretty simple, the Macally FM Cup is the best of the FM transmitter
connectivity options we’re tested and you can buy. It looks good
in either white or black to match your iPod or cars interior, and it
sounds the best too.
No batteries to go dead right in the middle of a
long drive and only one power cord to live with. It’s sturdy and
your beloved iPod won’t fall out as long as you’re using
the right cradle size. The Macally FM Cup gets out 2006 Editors’ Choice
Award and a 5 Stars rating.
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