iRock 300W Wireless Music Adapter

Manufacturer:First International Digital Inc.
Price:$29.99
Review by:Marc Zeedar
Available: Applelinks Store

If you've been frustrated by wires trying to connect your iPod (or other external music device) to a stereo system, the iRock might be just what you need.

The iRock is a tiny FM transmitter. There's a sliding switch on the side where you choose one of four frequencies (88.1, 88.3, 88.5, or 88.7). Simply plug the headphone-style jack into your iPod (or other music player) and tune your stereo to the FM frequency you chose. Instantly, with no wires, you've got sound through your stereo system!

Hardware Design
The iRock is tiny (3" by 2" by 1") and not a burden to carry. The built-in antenna/headphone connector isn't very long (seven inches), but it's sturdy and conveniently folds and plugs into the unit when not in use. The iRock is powered by two AAA batteries which are supposed to last for 20 hours of broadcasting.

There's a single on/off switch on the front of the unit (which is unfortunately easy to press accidentally and waste battery power), and a bright red LED glows when it is broadcasting. The iRock is made of semi-translucent plastic, but the sides are rubberized for a comfortable grip.

Sound Quality
You can't expect a tiny FM transmitter to broadcast very powerfully, and thus the sound quality of these devices is key to evaluating them. Don't expect the sound to be as good as a wired connection.

When working properly, the iRock's sound quality is excellent. For a car stereo, it's better than your typical cassette adapter (which fail to transmit all sound frequencies and degrade over time). The manufacturer claims a signal degradation of less than .5% and a frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz.

You do, however, need to pump up the volume on your music player (I kept my iPod near maximum) to avoid having to crank up your stereo too much (which magnifies any static in the signal). Don't worry, though -- the unit puts out plenty of volume.

The signal quality varies according to distance, the quality of your FM receiver, and conflicting local stations broadcasting on the same frequency. The iRock's maximum range is about 30 feet, but the closer it is to your stereo the better the signal. In my car I found it worked best right near the stereo, but at home it worked fine 10-15 feet away.

There was some static, especially at lower volume levels (louder music tends to drown out a slight hiss), but keep in mind in my area a university broadcasts on 88.1 and interferes. In different positions, the iRock produced more or less static, so finding the ideal broadcast position is definitely suggested. In the silence between songs you may find static annoying.

The type of music you listen to can also be a factor: in quieter classical music the static can be noticeable. It seems optimized for bass, as those sounds came through, but some high notes are distorted. For your typical rock or pop, however, the quality is fine.

In short, if you're the kind of person who can tell the difference between a 128K and 192K MP3 by listening, this kind of transmitter is probably not for you. For most people, however, especially in a car stereo situation, the sound quality is excellent.

Summary
The iRock is an inexpensive wireless solution for connecting your iPod (or other music player) to any FM stereo system. The radio signal can be finicky and produce static if not ideally positioned, but it's easier than other connection systems (especially if you don't have a cassette player in your car).

Available at the Applelinks Store

.