Customer Reviews

Macally BTCUP Full-Channel FM Transmitter with Built-in Bluetooth for iPod and iPhone (Black)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hi,

Summary
Design 5/5
Ease of USe 4/5
IPOD listening 5/5
Listening to Cell Call over Bluetooth Listening in the Car 4/5
Callers Sound Quality when talking over Bluetooth 3/5 (This is bad, rest is a recommendation to buy).
I happened to buy this because MAC magazine had this listed as the 100 best products to have. You might get more detailed information there but mine is completely a subjective and opinionated and personal feedback. Hope this helps read on....

Detailed Review

Design 5/5: Very compact, stays in the cupholder, beautiful execution, unobtrusive and ony 4 buttons so one does not get confused. One large button to recieve cell phone call, which is absolutely the right choice. Black looked great and will merge seamlessely with most car interiors.

Ease of Use 4/5: It probably takes around 4 steps to set this up and running, The worst was the flimsy packaging, It took me more time to get it out of the package than to set up the IPOD and power connection.

The Bluetooth setup took longer, but my cell phone is a PocketPC smartphone from HP IPAQ which is not the most commmon phone out in the market most phones have a relatively easier point and click Blutooth setup so most of you might not face the music as I. I had to first pair the connection take away the encryption, take away the authorization and then use the code it worked after that.

IPOD listening 5/5
This is a fantastic idea and design is wonderful, beautiful execution. The IPod wireless transmission works beautitul, better than my Tape Adaptor which produces scratchy noises and seems to get worse by the month. Most of you should hear the radio clearly, the packaging says full spectrum radio, not sure how this works but when I used the QS button to get a quite station it comes up with four of them 88.1 worked well for me.

Listening to Cell Call over Bluetooth Listening in the Car 4/5
The Bluetooth pairing took a little getting used to but this is no brian surgery so eventually you will be able to get that working, most of you will have a easier way to get it to work than me as I have an IPAQ Cell phone which has too many options. The voice quality of my listening in the car was AWESOME, this sounded almost as good as the BMW car built in Bluetooth. So this is very very good for me taking call hands free in my car. But think of the others who are on the other side of the call, what are they hearing? See my next note ... below..

Sound Quality for the people talking to you on your handsfree 3/5: (Not Good)

Lastly I had my daugther sit in my car and recieve my call from home, She could hear me clearly with radio turned all the way down as well as up, but the problem was on my side I could hear a lot of static, radio intereference as well as voice cutting off, I could understand the voice clearly but it had all this other background noises going on which will be an annoyance. I hope these guys put in additional circuitry to reduce the background static, I love this device.

Venkat Reddy

This product works great. It was easy to install in the car cup holder with its spring loaded base. I set my car radio to an unused FM frequency, plugged in my iPod, tuned the BTCUP to the same frequency and the music started playing from the car speakers, clear as day. The great thing is that this product works consistently while driving around town. I tried using a Belkin FM transmitter in the past, but my music would have static and pops depending on which direction I was facing or what part of town I was in. With the BTCUP, I hear some static once in a while, but no where nearly as much as before.

As for the bluetooth portion, it works great also. It was a breeze to pair with my iPhone. When a call comes in, I just press the 'phone' button and the caller comes over the radio speakers. I use my normal voice to talk into the mic and have had no complaints from people on the other end. The only problem I've had with the bluetooth is that my wife tried using my iPhone with its built-in speaker, but in the middle of the call, it switched over to the BTCUP speaker. I think it had something to do with the iPhone though and not the BTCUP.

The other complaint that I have is that the iPod connection is not made for the iPhone. It works and fits the cradle (although not as securely as my dedicated iPod), but it puts up a warning, wanting me to turn off the phone services to ensure clearer playback.

This is a great product with numerous positives.
I've used radio transmitters before with an mp3 player, where balancing the volume was an extreme issue. With this new btcup having the mp3 at any level projects the best sound ant any level.
The phone option works wonderfully as well. The person I'm speaking with can hear me fine, but me hearing that person in the car is somewhat unbalanced.
It projects in the car awkwardly, seemingly too loud, making vibration noises.
The loud sounds seem to be the only drawback, otherwise a perfect product!

Update: 2-5-09
I had had the original for just shy of a year. The Ipod dock didn't seem to be connecting properly with my Ipod. I would have to wiggle or adjust my ipod at each bump in the road. (to Make a Long story Short) I had kept my purchase and warranty info, and had it replaced. The new one works great!

Now I don't really use my Ipod much any more, but use my blackberry phone, which has bluetooth. I wasn't sure if the sound quality would be good over the bluetooth connection, But it sounds Great!! I just have to connect them, and start my music. i can change or modify what I'm listing to with now physical connection or wires! There is probably a better simpler bt transmitter that doesn't have the Ipod dock, but this works just as well!

I already own the Macally FM Transmitter Cup which is the ONLY one I've found (tried at least 6 or 7)that gets crystal clear reception with it's own 4 preset chanels. No randomly searching for a station that comes in clear (which it never lasts long anyway). However due to a long roadtrip I bought the cup with the bluetooth for safer driving.

While the cup transmitter is wonderful... the bluetooth is HORRIBLE I was so disappointing wanting this to work so badly. I was somewhat able tot hear the person on my end, but the caller wasn't able to hear me in the slightest. I was basically yelling and the still were unable to hear saying later it was all static and choppy.

The cup itself is well worth the $45 (or however much it cost) but the cup with the built in bluetooth is NOT worth the $85 paid... in process of returning item right now.

I've had several other Macally products before with no problems, but I think this one isn't properly described.

I bought this for my wife's iphone, and while the iphone will work for it(via bluetooth), it is not "iphone compatible"

I was looking for something specifically compatible with iphone so that it wouldn't have to go into airplane mode, and from the description it sounds like it is, but it isn't.

When I got the package, it states on the box that it is for "iPod & Bluetooth equipped cellphones," which I suppose, technically covers iphone, but in my mind that does not make it iPhone compatible.

Further testing isn't really feasible, as shortly after using this, the iPhone suffered a battery failure, no clue if it is related or not. Phone is a year and half old 2G, so it could just have failed.

Biggest gripe is the description, that says iPhone compatible, and the box that says otherwise.

I've got a 4th gen iPod that I'm going to try to use it on, so we'll see how that goes.

UPDATE:

Works with 4th Gen iPod, not the strongest FM transmitter I've used, better than the small mount on the iPod type, not as good as the larger full mount iPod dock/FM transmitters, but a better form factor than either.

The bluetooth didn't really like my cheapy Sony Ericsson phone.

Fits perfectly in cup holder and broadcast clearly through radio. Works well with Iphone- BOTH regular and G3. Only issue I have is when traveling between cell towers (i.e in the more rural areas), you get some brief static, otherwise no problems. One of the most convenient and easy to use FM transmitters I've owned. When your phone rings, there is a large center button on the transmitter that is easy to push and you immediately hear your caller. All callers I speak with state that they cannot hear ANY car noise. Would highly recommend this product.
NOTE to IPHONE users: When you first place the Iphone into the unit, you receive a message that the iphone is not compatible with this product. Just select the "no" option that the phone gives you with the message and everything on the phone will work (including your iphone "ipod" function.)

Within 15 minutes of receiving this product, I was listening to my iPod and made a phone call on my Bluetooth enabled cell phone. Talk about working right out of the box! The car is a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with factory 6-changer stereo/GPS. I was able pair the default FM channel 88.1 with a classic video iPod, and a Treo 650. Given the reviews of similar FM transmitters, I was surprised with the sound quality while listening to the iPod. If I were pressed for a complaint, the highs were a little subdued ... had to punch up the treble a bit.

The reason for not giving the final fifth star was the cup holder design ... it didn't fit too well in the Highlander's center console cup holder.

Worth $75!?...not really but it was my only option. I didn't want the $25 one I see all over the internet and can't afford the Parrot.

I assume the reason the company does not advertise it works with the iPhone is because when docked and a call comes in you will hear the signal interference through the speakers.
For example, I am listening to music from my iPhone -I get a call, I have to move my iPhone to the other cup holder (next to the one with the BTcup) and there is no issue.

Sound quality:
Purchased music from iTunes -great
LimeWire Music - average, but for the price expected.
Phone calls - Come in loud and clear, people say thy can hear me fie.
Charges the phone great.
Very easy to use.

Set Up:
iPhone 1st Gen
Ford Taurus
San Diego

The BTCUP is the best FM transmitter I have ever used for the iPod or iPhone. It works very well for my iPhone 3G, iPod Touch 1st-gen, iPod Nano 2nd-gen, and iPod Classic. The signal it gives is strong and I have not encountered any disturbance or feedback like I do with other FM transmitters.

A note with the iPhone 3G - your iPhone may warn you that the device is not compatible with the iPhone when you dock it with the BTCUP, and asks you if you want to operate in Airplane Mode. Don't worry about this though. Just say "no" and you will be fine.

Receiving calls via Bluetooth also works fairly well. Just keep in mind that the BTCUP is emitting your call on the same FM signal as your music, so somebody with an FM radio could potentially listen in on your call very easily. Macally provides an earbud with the BTCUP so you can speak privately, but it is uncomfortable, wired, and not a very practical solution. If you care about privacy, you are better off pairing your iPhone with a headset rather than the BTCUP. Your iPhone will still stop playing music when you receive or make a call and your call will not be broadcast via FM.

For anyone wondering, this gadget DOES work with the iPhone (1st gen at least, don't have a 3G), although that is not "officially" listed on the manufacturer's packaging. You get the usual warning upon plugging in that the device was not made to work with iPhone, and suggestion that you go into Airplane mode, which you are free to ignore.

As far as how it works, for sound quality it's the 2nd best FM transmitter I've used with the iPhone (the best being a $10 Scosche 1/8" minijack dongle from WalMart unfortunately powered by AA batteries). This MacAlly unit can't quite get a lock on a station in suburban Houston, but that has also been the case (way worse actually) of the expensive Griffin and Belkin versions I've tried and returned. There's always a little static and drift no matter what station I choose. I think the Scosche worked best because it allowed tuning down into the 87s, and the lowest these others go is 88.1.

The bluetooth pairing is a no-brainer, and works as advertised, switching the iPhone from music-playing into phone-talking seamlessly. The directional mic picks up my voice even with the gadget perched low in my center console cup holder. Caller's voice comes over the car speakers. Much better than the separate visor-mounted (and battery powered) bluetooth speakerphone I've been using.

In my '08 Prius there is especially grating GSM noise when not in Airplane mode. It's worst when first docking the iPhone in the BTCup then seems fairly random, I can sometimes go for miles without any, and other times it's every few minutes. When it occurs it is louder and more obnoxious than I've ever had in the car or any other device before, and could be a deal-breaker for some.

Overall I'm pleased with it and willing to deal with a little FM static/drift and occasional REALLY annoying GSM noise for the amazing convenience gained by this all-in-one device. Cup holder dock for quick and secure iPhone in & out, play music, hands-free phone, and all powered with one cord to the cigarette lighter. Beats my previous setup of headphone FM-transmitter dongle with batteries, iPhone power cord, mounting bracket, and separate bluetooth visor-speaker with batteries. Half the time I didn't even feel like using the iPhone in the car because there were so many things to hook up and flip on/off every time I got in or out of the car. Now I just dock and go.