Using your MP3 Player at Home and in your Car

Their portability is what makes MP3 players so popular. However, there are bound to be times when you would want to play your music through your car stereo system or to your home. If you have the appropriate outputs and inputs, this can prove to be quite simple.

First of all, you need to know that all MP3 players may not necessarily have any additional output connections besides the headphone jack. Some players, such as the Apple iPod requires a special dock that has the necessary connections so that it can be hooked up to the home stereo system. Admittedly, this dock does provide extra video connections and the battery gets automatically recharged when it is in use, but it still means an additional expense, over and above the cost of the iPod itself.

Several MP3 players can be directly connected to your home stereo system with an in-built auxiliary output, which is typically a 1/8' mini-jack. What you would require is a cable that has 2 RCA jacks at one end and a mini-jack at the other end.

For home use, it is advisable to obtain your power from the AC adaptor rather than use up the batteries; this way, your MP3 is always fully charged and ready whenever you need to go out.

Though a direct connection between your MP3 player and your home stereo system is definitely the simplest solution of all, it is by no means the only solution. Another available option is to attach a network device to the MP3 player, this way your audio gets broadcast to all the other computers on the network. You will find this device very convenient if your audio equipment is part and parcel of your home network.

Yet another option available to you is to employ an FM broadcast device. This device takes the audio output of the MP3 player and converts it to a FM frequency band.

FM broadcast is also a great option for your car audio. Input jacks are usually absent in car audio systems, especially in the older models of cars. The newer car models have these input jacks, which are remarkably simple to use. The MP3 player simply needs to be connected to the car stereo's head unit. Alternatively, an FM transmitter can also be used for listening to your MP3 player when you are in the car.

Some MP3 models have an in-built video, which is great for watching any kind of video content or movies when you are on the go. The drawback to this is the tiny screen, which does not display all the details.

Using a specially-designed adapter can help you see your video on your TV set. Though these are available quite easily as accessories, you would have to pay extra for them. Apple iPod's docking station offers connections for audio as well as video, which can be connected to the home theatre system for viewing photos or even watching videos.