Customer Reviews

Griffin SmartDeck Intelligent Cassette Adapter with Dock Connector for iPod (White)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

I really, really wanted to like this product, but it was not to be. I bought it for use with my '05 Toyota Sienna. Here is a structured list of comments, marked + or -:

(+) Compatibility: the cassette drive accepted the product without spitting it back out. So far, so good.

(-) Appearance: white looks good in the package, but a bad, bad choice in the car. That white cable is pretty ugly hanging down from the cassette drive and I think it advertises to potential thieves that there might be an iPod in the car.

(+) Auto-play: the adaptor is supposed to start the iPod when the cassette starts. This worked fine.

(+) Auto-stop: the adaptor is supposed to stop the iPod when the cassette stops. This worked fine.

(-) Auto-forward: the adaptor is supposed to skip the iPod forward a track when the cassette fast-forwards. This didn't work.

(-) Auto-reverse: the adaptor is supposed to skip the iPod backward a track when the cassette rewinds. This didn't work.

(-) Reliability: the day after I bought it started emitting very loud static that made the music almost inaudible. I returned it for a replacement.

(-) Sound quality: very, very poor. This is really the deal breaker. Low-level static afflicted both the original unit and the replacement. This really shocked me. My generic cassette adaptor was much better than this. And so, the smartdeck went into the trash and I've resumed using the generic adaptor.

(-) Conclusion. I would strongly recommend against buying this product. I can't imagine how Griffin can justify selling it. It will be a long time before I consider buying anything more from them.

I've read many of the reviews of the sorely disappointed, and I understand their complaints since I've also experienced many of the same problems. There are, however, some workarounds that might help some of the stuckees...

Regarding too-high-gain leading to static, I've learned through trial and error that the not-so-SmartDeck volume is fairly random due to variations in mechanical position of its head relative to the tape deck head. If the volume is set too high (or low), try plugging the SmartDeck in and out a few times, or reach your finger in and see if you can jiggle its position. Picking an especially loud song while you do this will help you to know when you have successfully adjusted to a good volume. Unfortunately, this workaround doesn't work for all iPods... although I can always successfully find a good position with my 4th generation 40GB iPod, I've noticed that the output from the iPod mini is significantly louder, and therefore, much harder to adjust this way. For it, I taped several small pieces of scotch tape over the head to create a small gap between the heads of the tape deck and the adapter. Start with 3 layers, then keep adding additional layers until the desired attenuation is achieved.

Regarding the tapedeck-spits-out-SmartDeck problem, I've noticed that I only get this problem when the SmartDeck is cold, usually first thing in the morning (clearly, this is the tape deck thinking the SmartDeck is a jammed tape). Try warming the SmartDeck by blowing warm breath into the hole where the fake "tape" is, then put it back in. In cold weather, the deck itself is also going to be cold, so you may have to do this several times until the entire car warms up.

Unfortunately, I don't have a workaround for the intermittent track-skip/FF problem. I have seen that once or twice, though in general, that feature tends to work for me (both track skip, and track FF/Rewind). I have a suspicion that this is another cold weather problem and a side effect of the spits-out-tape problem, but now that I have a workaround for the latter problem, I think I haven't seen this problem in the past 6 months.

Ironically, if you manage to avoid all these warts, the SmartDeck is the best-sounding adapter I've ever heard. Plus, the auto-on/off feature is much more valuable than you might think (and no one seems to complain that this feature is broken). With the four other adapters I've tried -- two cassette, and two FM transmitter -- I cannot tell you how many times I forgot to turn my iPod off when I exited the car, then came back to a dead iPod. Nevertheless, the warts are pretty obnoxious, therefore I must deduct 3 stars from this otherwise 5-star product.

P.S. After about a year of use, I discovered that the spits-out-tape problem becomes progressively worse with age. Even warmed up, the cassette would often spit out, completely ruining my mood and listening experience. One day while playing my daily game of "tape in / tape out", I warned the adapter that I only had sufficient patience for 6 rounds. When the adapter popped out the sixth time, I tossed the adapter out the sun roof. Hey, he had no one to blame but himself ;-) Still one of the best decisions I've ever made.
P.P.S. I eventually found a Kensington FM transmitter that is inexpensive and works really well. Check my other reviews if you need a pointer to it.

Firstly, let me say I have the SmartDeck with the docking connector (rather than the usb or the headphone jack connection) and I use it for my 5th generation video ipod.

This acually functions great in my car (99 Mazda 626 with factory radio). The sound is near CD quality, and the forward feature using the cassette controls worked like a charm. YES it does take longer than using the iPod itself but I like being able to just hit a button while driving rather than grabbing the iPod.

I also tested this in my sisters 2000 Hyuandi Sonata factory stero and it also worked like a dream!!

I tested this in my boyfriends 2005 Infinity FX with Bose system and it SUCKED!!!! The tape kept clacking and trying to go to the other side. It would play the music but the clacking of the tape was LOUDER than the music even with the volume turned up.

My take on it.....works better with older non-complicated stereos. The biggest downside is that with the dock connection I can't charge AND play my iPod in my car.

I have always trusted Griffin technology in the past. They have never let me down. Their radio adaptors for the iPod are the best around. This product, on the other hand, is complete junk. From the moment you open the package, you can feel the flimsiness of the product. After inserting it into my tape deck, it sounded as if the tape was constantly being fast forwarded. The sound was absolutely horrible. I have been using a tape adaptor from the early nineties that sounded much better (made by sony.) The sound was completely distorted. No controls worked to do anything to the music (FF / RW) I feel that this product has tarnished Griffin's reputation in my eyes, and I am not sure if I will purchase a product from them again. Its like they did not care at all, but rather just wanted my money.

This thing is so smart that it doesn't work because it's so busy looking and feeling like a nice product. It's very disheartening because this is such a smart idea. I've tried it on the factory cassette player on an Acura MDX 2005, VW Passat Sedan 2004, and VW Passat Wagon 2002 using my iPod nano 4GB and my wife's iPod-4G 20GB. I get the same result everywhere, the SmartDeck just confuses the heck out of the cassette player and gets automatically ejected. Griffin ought to be ashamed of themselves after releasing years of quality products. I officially flunk this product and demand that it be sent back to school for remedial product design (for dummies).

For me, the mechanics of this device work perfectly. I was able to stop/start, track fwd and backward without one glitch.

The sound quality overall is excellent BUT it is TOO LOUD. If I have the radio on and switch to the ipod I practically blow my ear drums. Obviously I can turn it down and being loud, means the signal to noise ratio will be better...but I think it goes a step too far.

Those that are experiencing distortion may be getting it because their tape unit cannot cope with the high output volume of the smartdeck.

Those with mechanical eject tape decks rather than automatic ones will probably experience better compatibility.

Overall, lets remember that this design is a very clever kludge with a fatal flaw; It depends on all tape decks behaving in a certain way.

As long as I remember to turn the volume down first, the smartdeck gives me the best sound of any tape adaptor I have tried (including Sony) and gives me control over the ipod successfully. I do knock 1* off though for the overly loud volume output.

Why? Because it doesn't work.
After trying another product, the FM adapter, (doesn't work either: bad reception and too much static)I was so happy to find something that would play my iPod in my car. Although this product is not the solution. It spits out the tape after just seconds of putting it in. I must admit I'm wondering what all the rage is about the iPod, they're making money hand over fist yet none of the accessories (that I've tried) seem to work.
Do some research before you buy or I'll see you in the return line...Good Luck!!

When I first tested the SmartDeck (using my iPod mini and stock cassette deck), it worked well because a song immediately began playing over my car speaker system. But that was the only thing that worked. I was unable to control my iPod using the buttons on my cassette deck (as advertised). When I pressed Fast-Forward (which is supposed to move to the next song) or Rewind (go back one song) the iPod did not respond. Sometimes, if I pressed the button really fast, it would move up a few songs, but that only worked 1 out of every 5 attempts. After fooling around with this piece of junk for an hour, I finally gave up. I also tested this on my friend's car and his cassette deck just spit out the SmartDeck every time. I would strongly recommend avoiding this product.

To say that I've wanted to throw this *smartdeck* out of my car window countless times may be a strong indication of how poorly it works.

Never have I encountered a product that works so poorly. Don't even CONSIDER owning this accessory if you live in an area of the country that dips below 60 degrees; it seems the product works even worse in the cold!

Upon pluggin my iPod into the smartdeck, the adapter makes my iPod jump, from song to song, playing the first 1/2 a second of each. It's rare that I'm able to get the adapter to play the iPod normally.

I will no doubt be shopping around the competition for a stronger, more reliable piece of equipment for my iPod

Honda CRV - Griffin Smart Deck doesn't work. Creates several "on the go" lists, goes clickety clickety click then ejects the tape.

The most disappointing thing is that Griffin didn't bother to let people know what decks it doesn't work with (or at least which ones it does) The web site says we tried, if it doen't work for you, tough, have a nice day.

Feel free to gamble your money on something that may not work.