What are the downsides of an FM modulator, if any? Going to install a nav/entertainment system in my car and I'm trying to figure out whether it would be better to take out the wires from my factory radio and plug them into the new system or to connect it via FM modulator. I prefer FM modulator because I want to keep the functions of my old radio, but I don't want to do it if its (1) a pain in the *** install or (2) it'll really make the sound quality drop.

 

Fm mods aren't too hard to install...

Power from battery
Negative to ground
A switch to turn it on/off
A plug to go inline with radio antenna
Rca's

Sound quality may drop slightly, but it's not horrible. There should be room for it behind the nav door cubby box, just zip tie it in place. They aren't very expensive, I have one laying around from when I used it in my Spec V.

 

the sound will degrade significantly. The CD quality audio will be convereted to radio quality (bandwidth limited). Tru it will make for an easier system setup but what you gain in simplicity, you will lose 10 fold in quality. IMO

 

it will sound only as good as the best FM station you have ever heard. a new headunit with aux inputs would be best maybe?

 

Do no FM-Modulate. It will sound worse than radio, you will hear line noise, and there will be interference in the signal. Also, the sound and volume is lost, as the power is greatly reduced. Again, do not even consider FM-Mod as an option.

 

So are you guys saying that FM modulatars will degrade CD quality as well, i thought they were only radios. Then what option will I have if i am installing a Farenheit Screen into my nav and not a full on Alpine caliber Dvd flip unit. Isnt there a on and off switch to turn of the FM modulator when listening to radio or CD?

 

My opinion:
I have XM radio in my Z and my wife's Murano, Mine works through my pioneer's auxillary serial jack while my wifes works through an FM modulator.

Sound quality with a modulator is not nearly as good as a direct line in, but it is as good as a good, strong FM signal. On the XM,
you can turn off the system (I guess the Modulator too) and the reception on regular FM and during CD play is no different then before the Mod when the mod is turned off.

If you ground it right, you won't have any line noise either.
(at least, I don't)

That being said, a direct line in is still the best way to go.

Just my .02 cents.

 

Anybody else have any input on this, I need a response pretty quick as I dont want to degrade both my Fm and CD quality when i install the Farenheit screen.

 

I'm sure I speak for everybody on this one...I think the consensus FM modulators are a bad way to go.

 

But will it degrade Cd quality as well or just FM radio?

 

It won't degrade either CD quality or FM radio quality, if you are playing them from your head unit. What we are saying is that anything you play from the "nav/entertainment system" that you're going to install that goes through the modulator will be degraded to FM quality.

 

Don't know if you've done the installation already, but I have an FM mod installed for my DVD system. I simply turn the FM mod off when I'm not using the DVD player. When the mod is off, the CD player and the radio just play as they would normally, from stock. In other words, as long as the mod is off, it has no effect on sound from your stereo/CD player. I installed the FM mod in my sunglass holder and it works great.