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the musicfly transmits MP3 songs to the car stereo via radio using a free FM frequency. In addition to the music, it also transmits title information to the radio display via RDS. See how well it works in this test.
Test report
If you are looking for a simple solution to listen to your MP3 collection in your car, the musicfly SD is the right choice. Plug it into the cigar lighter, find a free frequency on the radio, tune the transmitter to it and you’re done. However, the solution is not suitable for all vehicles.
- Easy installation
- Acceptable sound
- Easy to control by remote control
- SD card slot
- Title information via RDS
- Can also be used as a charger
Contra
- due to the design, the sound quality only reaches the level of an analog radio station
- Control on the device itself somewhat cumbersome
- Use of hard disks only possible to a limited extent
- Not suitable for use in all vehicles
- No battery operation
More and more car manufacturers are equipping their vehicles with a radio ex works. Unfortunately, most of these devices only play standard audio CDs. If you want to listen to your MP3 collection on the road, you need to retrofit an MP3-capable radio. This is often associated with high costs and a lot of effort during installation. An inexpensive alternative is the musicfly, which has been available since the 8. February 2006 officially permitted FM transmitter in germany. The small transmitter modules transmit audio signals via radio to the existing car radio – without any cables or installation effort at all.
The 40 euro musicfly SD from the german manufacturer DNT allows you to connect MP3 and USB sticks as well as hard drives with a maximum storage capacity of 32 gbyte via USB – but only up to a power consumption of 200 ma, which is too low for many HDD players. With an integrated card slot, you can also read SD cards (and mini and micro SD cards via adapter) up to a size of 8 gbyte. Alternatively, almost all audio sources can be connected to the musicfly SD via the included jack cable (with adapter from 3.5 to 2.5 millimeters), regardless of whether it’s a CD player, walkman or iPod. Then the transmitter also transmits DRM-protected MP3 and WMA files as well as audible audio books.
Installation and configuration
The installation of the musicfly SD is very easy. After plugging into the cigarette lighter (12-volt socket), it is immediately ready for operation and simultaneously charges devices connected via USB with an integrated battery of up to 200 ma.
After that, you still have to find a free frequency in the range between 87.6 and 107.9 mhz with a minimum distance of 0.2 mhz to the next radio station, which is not always easy in metropolitan areas due to a multitude of stations. Once a free frequency has been identified, the transmitter must be set to it, and the music from the MP3 player can be heard through the car radio.
Via RDS, the musicfly SD also transmits ID3 tag information such as song title and interpreter, so that they are shown in the display of the car radio. but this only works in USB and SD card mode.
Simple installation: the DNT musicfly SD is simply plugged into the cigarette lighter socket.
In some cases, interference can occur that severely limits or even completely prevents audio transmission. Vehicles with heated windshields and integrated antennas are particularly problematic. The windscreen is crisscrossed with fine wires, making it almost impossible to receive the transmitter signals from inside the car without interference. Similar obstructions due to electric fields also occur when driving under a high-voltage power line, for example. However, all FM transmitters are likely to have this disadvantage, as their transmitting power is limited by the federal network agency to a maximum of 50 nanowatts.