Customer Reviews

DHF8V7058APLBLK APL Auto Kit for iPod

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you're in need of an FM transmitter, I'd recommend the Kensington DIGITAL FM transmitter (a great transmitter / charger combo)

If you have an AUX-IN or a cassette adapter, IMO this Belkin is absolutely the way to go.

Here are some of its benefits:

NOISE
I've found far less noise using the Belkin than I have using other chargers. In fact in the MANY cars where I've used the Belkin I've had no noise at all, vs. a great deal of noise with my other chargers (due to ground loops, engine noise, and mismatched impedance or volume). Isolation provided by the built in amp is a contributor to noise reduction and the volume control eliminates noise problems related to mismatched impedance and mismatched volume requirements. The noise mentioned by some other posters is most likely due to a ground loop problem originating with the car's own wiring. It really is a fairly common problem with any music player used along with a car charger.

VOLUME LEVEL MATCHING
With the Belkin's volume level control I've been able to get a perfect match on the iPods volume and the radio volume, as well as a perfect volume setting for any aux-in or cassette adapter. Note that with most units providing line out you can't adjust the line-out volume via either the ipod or the unit. This makes a nice difference when switching back and forth between radio and iPod. (With other units, in some cars, you'll be blown out by the volume each time you make that switch) You can set the volume once on the Belkin's base and its perfectly matched thereafter, unaffected by the ipods own volume settings, (which you're always changing when using headphones.)

AUTO POWER OFF
The Belkin pauses the iPod when the charger power is shut off, which means that if your car's power outlet is turned off when your engine is turned off (most cars do this), the iPod will (within a few seconds) automatically turn off whenever you shut down your engine. That's a big plus IMO, and means you'll never leave your car with the ipod running, and return to find a dead ipod. (Just when you were planning to take your ipod to the park) Thats the way car audio is supposed to work, but few chargers do that.

CLEANER INSTALL and QUICKER CONNECT/DISCONNECT
JUST one wire to the ipod supplying both power in and audio out, means you'll have a very clean look and a very quick setup when you take your ipod to or from your car.

Pete

This adapter has been full of very nice surprises. Because I purchased it on the recommendation of a friend, I didn't really spend much time reviewing the details of the product. Basically, it did what I needed it to do. However after I received it and started using it, I realized how good it really was. The people who designed it clearly thought through the normal problems associated with using an iPod in the car.

First problem: volume. When you have to use an iPod with the standard tape adapter, you constantly have to figure out the right match of iPod volume for car volume. Not surprisingly, this is a distraction from the whole driving the car thing. Since the adapter uses the iPod's dock connector and has it's own volume control, you can set it once and then simply control it from the car's stereo. Brilliant!

Second problem: battery. If you're using the iPod in the car, you constantly have to worry about whether or not the battery is charged and how long it's going to last. There's also the problem about forgetting to turn off the iPod when you turn off the car (which eventually kills the battery). Since the adapter leverages the dock connector, it provides charge while the car is running, and it stops playing when you turn the car off.

So until your favorite car manufacturer gets it together to have full iPod support, this is an excellent option. I highly recommend it.

If your car stereo has an auxiliary input, this works well to power and connect an iPod. Just insert the Belkin into a 12V receptacle, plug its cord into the base of the iPod and run a jumper cord (not included) from the Belkin's 1/8" audio output jack to the car's input. Output level is adjustable to help match the iPod with other sources like FM and CD. My '07 Mazda 3 has a 12V receptacle and an input jack inside the center console, making installation easy and neat. There is some low-level RFI when the engine is running, but that's a Mazda problem, not a Belkin problem.

I needed a car charger for my iPod and I wanted to plug the iPod in to the aux port in my Honda. Using this device I am able to run both cords from the bottom, making it easier to run the iPod in the center console of the car. WIth the built in volume control I am able to set the volume just right for piping it through the car stereo at about the same relative volume as the radio. It works great.

We have a car that has an AUX port. I wanted to be able to hook up our iPod through that instead of the FM stereo for less static. This Belkin kit does the job great!

Pros: The Belkin Auto kit charges the iPod while it's in the car. I bought the Cables Unlimited Zip-Linq Male/Male Retractable 3.5mm Stereo Cable to go with it. This little cable hooks up to the Belkin car charger with just a little cable (that retracts!) There is a sound adjustment on the actual charger part so you can control the volume that way too! No static, great buy.

Cons: None so far.

This was just what I had been looking for to play my iPod in my car. Basically I was looking for: a) cigarette lighter charger, b) dock connector, c) auxiliary *line* out, not the headphone jack out which its output can get distorted or accidentally changes volume when your finger moves the scroll wheel instead of 'next' or 'previous'. Another nice thing is that when I turn off my car the iPod pauses automatically, so I won't have to fumble or even forget to pause it before leaving my car, and that way I can even leave it hidden in a compartment if I don't need to take it with me. And it''ll work with future iPods too should I decide to upgrade from my Mini.

From the iPod dock connector directly to the 3.5mm (headphone mini jack) audio in (under the armrest of new BMW models, perhaps others). The sound quality and convenience are far better than FM-transmitter or cassette-adapter solutions. Highly recommended if your car has the 3.5mm input.

My 2008 Mazda3 has a audio jack in the center console with a 12v cigarette lighter for charging. I wanted something with one cable that would charge my iPod and carry the audio to my stereo so I could easily place the iPod back in the center console when parked.

I did notice a slight buzzing noise at first... but then I turned the volume all the way up on the Belkin auto kit and the buzzing was far less noticeable (only when there was no music, like when switching tracks).

Want to fix the buzzing? Turn volume on the Belkin device all the way UP and use your car stereo's volume to control how loud the music is.

Doesn't matter where the volume is set on the iPod it doesn't affect the sound level.

One last feature is that it will automatically shut off the iPod when the car is turned off (assuming the 12V cigarette lighter loses power when the car is turned off).

If your car has a 12V accessory outlet and an audio aux-in near each other (like on the Prius where they are in the compartment between the front seats) this Belkin adapter is ideal for connecting your iPod to your car audio system. Even has a volume control built in so that you can equalize the volume with playing your CDs and radio. When the car power goes off the iPod automatically pauses then switches off so its battery does not drain. The only thing it does not do is start again automatically when the car power comes back on. Short of a full integration system which is dramatically more expensive, this auto-kit from Belkin is the answer.

This item arrive in good condition, but out of the box it failed to work in my car.

Belkin wouldn't handle replacing it, and I ended up just tossing the item rather than going through the hassle of refunding through Amazon. Belkin makes a lot of iPod accessories, and it's clear that they spend more on packaging than the products. Finally, I have to ask why Belkin insists on the blister packaging they use? I know it helps reduce theft in stores, but couldn't they use a different packaging for Amazon and other major online retailers, so that returns aren't an ordeal?