X50v Linked to Car Radio/Stereo

[DellX50v]

Is there any way possible to make it so I can play my mp3s from my X50v from my car speakers?

[philbailey]

Is there any way possible to make it so I can play my mp3s from my X50v from my car speakers?

Yes. Search the site for other more in depth discusions of quality issues, other ways to connect etc. But a short answer is there are devices to plug into the Axim headphone jack that transmit a FM radio signal to your car radio. My wife uses the iRock Beamit with her Dell Digital Jukebox. We have actually used it to transmit to our home stero system too. I think the issue some people have is the quality suffers (as opposed to mp3 right out of the device to your headset) but the quality (to me) is as good as I can get out of my FM radio.

Here are two links:
iRock Beamit ($39.99): http://www.myirock.com/players/newproducts.asp
Belkin ($50.99)
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=166173

[BKF]

You need an FM modulator. It takes an incoming signal and sends it out as an FM signal that your stereo is "tricked" into picking up as a radio broadcast and then sent to your car stereo speakers.

I picked one up at Costco the other day. In addition to offering the standard modulating duties, it also has Play/Pause/Forward/Reverse buttons on the front and a USB port. Basically it's also an MP3 player with no memory. You plug in a USB flash disk with nothing but MP3s on it and it'll play them straight off the drive to your car stereo.

Price was only 24 bucks and change.

[DellX50v]

Wow, is there an online store for that? I'm looking for sound quality too. Whats my best bet?

[BKF]

Your best bet is a head unit that takes a direct connection from the line out jack on the Axim. :)

FM Modulators aren't perfect, unfortunately. The one I have (MP3 FM Modulator) sounds like it could use some treble adjustment, but it still sounds good. I downloaded X50mix, and might try messing with that and change the profiles around dependant on when I'm using the modulator. The other day I was driving home from work with my GPS nav software (IGuidance v2.1) giving me voice prompts over the stereo, while BetaPlayer was playing MP3s in the background. It wasn't "CD Quality", but it was darn good as far as I'm concerned.

EDIT: Here's a link to a review of the product, where you'll find a link to the company. Also, the reviewer mentions he got it at Wal-Mart for under 30 bucks. Also, it looks like the USB port has the 5V out that can be used to charge devices... Maybe even the Axim with the Travel Sync cable.

http://www.oandp.com/news/jmcorner/2005-03/3.asp

[G M Fude]

What the guys said above. I'll just add that the Belkin works well for me. My car stereo is not especially high quality though (standard Subaru Forester issue), so I wouldn't want to comment on how good the sound potentially could be. Does the job though.

[runnr548]

My iRock rocks! I bought the first one I ever saw, quite some time ago, from my local Radio Shack. This past Christmas, my daughter got a better present for her car. The Clarion head unit, speakers/etc..., for her car includes several RCA jacks; input...output...eq...amp...sub...and AUX. With a RCA to mini stereo(male) adapter, any audio source ie Axim, mp3 player, boombox, cd player, etc...as long as it has a mini stereo (female) jack..it's good to go! Now if only MY car stereo was that cool!

[ghetrick]

I know others have had success with the FM modulator, but my experience wasn't as good. I found that the success of the modulator depends on your geographic location. I live in the Baltimore, MD area and just about every number on the radio dial is taken. Therefore, the radio fought to find a signal even with the modulator in the car. It put our a lot of static and the quality of the sound was terrible. I would say to give it a try, but save your receipt.

[runnr548]

Direct input makes it sound great!

The casette adapter option works well if you have a tape player in your car stereo. Only downside I found is hearing the tape player parts moving...

[vt1905]

I am using a direct connection to my car radio thorugh the "Aux in" port at the front. Great quality!!!

[pkcarlton]

yeah - look at buying a car stereo that allows an input from a separate device - like your X50. Or hook one up to the back of it as an input.

You can find the Belkin transmitter for $30 or less. Doesn't work so well in dense RF environments though. Great out west, not so well up in the north east.

I got a Belkin transmitter (not modulator) on ebay for $19.99. It works great and I have been able to eliminate one of the zillion cables that litter my vehicle's dash .. hehe..

[duckie]

Check my 'View MyPDA' info for a link to the Belkin which will solve your problems.

[Jigsaw]

Only downside I found is hearing the tape player parts moving...

That's just a problem with the volume control set to low