Tunelink Auto Transmitter

keithclancy

Yet another FM Transmitter however I've found it to be the best one so far, mainly due to the fact you don't need to go plugging in stuff every time you get in the car.

Purchased this for 59.99 off Amazon.de 3 weeks ago:
http://www.newpotatotech.com/TUNELINK_AUTO/tunelink_auto.html

The iPhone version works with both Android and the iPhone app.
The Android version works with Android or any non Apple A2DP compatible device (Mainly due to apple requiring certified devices for use with Apple stuff)

You can use the FM Transmission function or a Direct Line in.
The FM Transmission function works great for me, although they leave out on the Website that if you plug in a USB Cable it uses this as an Antenna and it greatly improves the signal.

I've driven from Duesseldorf (City) to Eindhoven and Amsterdam over the last 3 weeks and haven't had to mess with the Frequency once.

If you get into the Car just have to turn on Bluetooth on your phone and your away, if you leave Bluetooth switched on it will just resume from the last song you had on.

It also displays the Artist and Track name using RDS on the Radio which is good.

The USB Port is High power so no issues with having to wait until the device has enough power to turn on.

The Dongle plugs into any 12V socket in your car, so stick it in the boot if you like or indeed into the Front socket, mine does double duty charging the TomTom/ Wifes iPhone and my own Android phone.

Anyways, after going through (All compared to this thing absolute sh*te)
1. A cheapo FM Battery powered thing
2. An iTrip
3. A Belkin FM Transmitter
4. A Gomadic FM Transmitter and combo charger. (This one wasnt so bad but eventually broke due to stray wires hanging around the car)

This is definitely the best and I'm delighted with it, yes it was 60 euros but the Audio over bluetooth is definitely worth it.

My 2 cents anyway, I use it every day on my 1 hour 15 min drive home and haven't had to mess with it once, plus to my ears the sound quality is excellent.

Owen

Just be aware that FM Transmission samples audio at 22 KHz, and CD quality audio is sampled at 44.1 Khz, so that's why anything that uses FM will be nasally and without depth like listening to the Radio - only half the quality of a CD. It's no substitute for a proper line in/mp3 interface.

keithclancy

Owen wrote: »

Just be aware that FM Transmission samples audio at 22 KHz, and CD quality audio is sampled at 44.1 Khz, so that's why anything that uses FM will be nasally and without depth like listening to the Radio - only half the quality of a CD. It's no substitute for a proper line in/mp3 interface.

Without getting to much into it a CD to me sounds tinny when compared to a Vinyl.



As I said though it supports both, so you can use it with an Aux in, however that is not an option for some people

dr.fuzzenstein

keithclancy wrote: »

Without getting to much into it a CD to me sounds tinny when compared to a Vinyl.



As I said though it supports both, so you can use it with an Aux in, however that is not an option for some people

I sample vinyl to CD and mp3 and you'd be amazed at the crappy signal to noise ratio of vinyl.
The "warm" sound you get of some older recordings is due to tape bias on the original analog reel to reel tape players and the valves used the amps.
So if you took the original master tape and sampled it properly and turned it into a CD you would get amazing soundquality, better than a poor medium like vinyl could ever achieve.
Likewise, you could record a brand new album all digital, cut a vinyl and it would still sound sterile.
I have plenty of 30+ year old vinyl and some of it I also bought on some of the better remastered editions and the CD will sound un-fcuking-believable, whilst the vinyl will sound desperate.
Hiss, crackle, no bass, no treble, really just bad resolution, muffled sound.
Digital only sounded bad in the 80's because all the bands threw out all their lovely old equipment and bought cheap, plastic trash to record with.
In fact, I believe that digital restoration has brought back a lot of old stuff (both audio and video) in quality far superior than ever possible before.
Remember, it will sound good if the original source is right. If it's not, no matter what you do, it will be crap.

Sorry, back on topic:
FM transmitters? Wouldn't go near that sh*te, same as those cassette adapters.
Nothing beats a proper AUX line in.

keithclancy

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I sample vinyl to CD and mp3 and you'd be amazed at the crappy signal to noise ratio of vinyl.
The "warm" sound you get of some older recordings is due to tape bias on the original analog reel to reel tape players and the valves used the amps.
So if you took the original master tape and sampled it properly and turned it into a CD you would get amazing soundquality, better than a poor medium like vinyl could ever achieve.
Likewise, you could record a brand new album all digital, cut a vinyl and it would still sound sterile.
I have plenty of 30+ year old vinyl and some of it I also bought on some of the better remastered editions and the CD will sound un-fcuking-believable, whilst the vinyl will sound desperate.
Hiss, crackle, no bass, no treble, really just bad resolution, muffled sound.
Digital only sounded bad in the 80's because all the bands threw out all their lovely old equipment and bought cheap, plastic trash to record with.
In fact, I believe that digital restoration has brought back a lot of old stuff (both audio and video) in quality far superior than ever possible before.
Remember, it will sound good if the original source is right. If it's not, no matter what you do, it will be crap.

Sorry, back on topic:
FM transmitters? Wouldn't go near that sh*te, same as those cassette adapters.
Nothing beats a proper AUX line in.

Indeed, when broadcasting FM its advisable to down sample to 32khz.

But again, your missing the point, its just not possible on some cars to fit an Aux adapter.

And its the best one I've found out of a number of options, not sh1te and works without interference.

dr.fuzzenstein

keithclancy wrote: »

Indeed, when broadcasting FM its advisable to down sample to 32khz.

But again, your missing the point, its just not possible on some cars to fit an Aux adapter.

And its the best one I've found out of a number of options, not sh1te and works without interference.

Indeed, some don't have that option, transmitter best way to go other than replacing the radio. I just go a bit carried away there with the detail.;)
I've heard what they sound like, alright at best.
Best budget option: Different radio with AUX in and mp3 player.
You can pick one up for not too much money, if I was in that situation I might wait for one to come along in Aldi.
I'm currently using my phone with an 8 gig card as mp3 player, works a treat.

keithclancy

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Indeed, some don't have that option, transmitter best way to go other than replacing the radio. I just go a bit carried away there with the detail.;)
I've heard what they sound like, alright at best.
Best budget option: Different radio with AUX in and mp3 player.
You can pick one up for not too much money, if I was in that situation I might wait for one to come along in Aldi.
I'm currently using my phone with an 8 gig card as mp3 player, works a treat.

Might look a bit silly taped to the dash

Only other option is to trace the points in the amp in the boot and wire it in directly with a switch.

If you have the Premium Audio option theres a 400 euro Optical adapter you can purchase. But thats too much of an investment to merit the difference in Audio quality imo.

Works fine for me .. and tbh if it works without interference here it should work pretty much anywhere