tanenterp-ga:
Thank you for your question! The sound system that came with your 2004
Ford Focus is indeed a nice one, with the challenge being that it is
custom-designed to fit into the curved double-DIN opening in the dash.
You are therefore thinking along the right lines when you say that you
are not interested in replacing the factory system, since it blends so
well with the interior design.
Fortunately, you do not need to replace anything in order to listen to
your books-on-tape in the car. The best solution for this situation is
to use a portable cassette player (such as a Sony Walkman), and a FM
transmitter that will allow you to tune it in using the FM stereo
capabilities of your car's audio system.
The most popular FM transmitter used for this purpose is from iRock:
http://www.myirock.com/players/irock400fm.asp
Noteworthy about this model is the ability to power it using a
cigarette lighter adapter, saving you the expense of batteries. You
can still use it with batteries when a cigarette lighter adapter is
not convenient, of course.
If you prefer not to purchase online, iRock's older model, the 300W,
is available through various stores including Radio Shack and Circuit
City:
http://www.myirock.com/players/wireless_fm_transmitter.asp
However, the newer 400FM I linked originally above comes with the
cigarette lighter adapter, while the 300W does not.
Another unit that will do the job, but at a higher price, is the
Belkin Tunecast II:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201670&pcount=&Product_Id=166903
Belkin also has a Tunecast I, but since their main motivation in
creating the Tunecast II was the horrible reviews that the Tunecast I
received, I will not recommend it.
The key feature you need to look for is the ability to choose the
frequency that the transmitter transmits on. Both the 400FM and the
Tunecast II give you a choice of frequencies, with the Tunecast II
being the class leader in this regard as it lets you transmit on any
North American FM frequency. The reason why this is important is
because any one frequency may already be in use in your area. A
high-powered radio station transmitter will overpower, or at least
heavily interfere with, a low-powered transmitter such as these.
If price is a major concern for you (making the Tunecast II and/or
iRock 400FM unattainable), you can look into this third alternative:
http://www.mp3playerstore.com/buy_it_now__/carstar.htm
While the retailer, MP3Playerstore.com, is reputable (I've purchased
from them myself in the past), this particular transmitter is
something that I have no personal experience with. The biggest concern
is the fact that it only transmits on a single frequency, 107.7 MHz.
To see if this will be a problem, tune your car's radio to that
frequency, and listen. If there is a station transmitting on that
frequency, then it rules out this unit right away. If there is
'bleed-over' from a transmission on a nearby frequency, then chances
are your experience will be sub-optimal as well. If the frequency is
clear, though, then this is the smallest and cheapest solution you can
get, even after shipping and handling.
Please let me know if you have any need for clarification of this
answer before rating and accepting it.
Hope this helps!
aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher |
