What is an FM transmitter?
An FM transmitter is a device for transmitting an audio signal to a car's speaker system. It decodes the incoming stream (for example, in mp3 format) and converts it into a radio wave that can be picked up by the radio. You could say that you get a small personal radio station to play the tracks you want to listen to.
It works like this: an external medium is connected to the transmitter, and the device itself is connected to the on-board power supply of the machine. After this, the same broadcast frequency is set on the transmitter and the radio tape recorder - and you can listen to any music recorded on an external media on the radio tape recorder, and adjust the playback parameters using the transmitter.
What is the advantage of FM transmitters over players?
The main advantage of transmitters is that they are cheaper than players. If you got a car with an old radio, you will either have to be satisfied with the music that is recorded on CDs and the radio, or buy additional equipment. This is where the choice arises: take a new player or a transmitter that expands the capabilities of the radio.
The transmitter will cost much less than a high-quality player, and after purchasing it you will have all the same capabilities and choose the music yourself. Of course, transmitters also have disadvantages. The main one is that the sound quality in budget models may not be very good. In large cities, it is difficult to find a completely clear channel that does not have radio noise; in addition, the signal can sometimes disappear while moving, especially when the car is in the lowlands. But these shortcomings are not so critical, especially if you choose a high-quality model in which they are minimized.
TOP most popular FM modulators for cars from Aliexpress
Most FM modulators today are multifunctional. They are able to work with different types of cards, performing a full-fledged player function with rewinding music tracks, they allow you to charge your devices, several at the same time, through fast charging, act as a Bluetooth headset, and you can answer a call without being distracted by the phone. In general, they are a cheap multifunctional gadget for your comfortable stay in the car.
In my selection you will find the most popular FM modulators from Aliexpress, which have received customer recognition.
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FM modulator with Bluetooth 5.0 connection
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Recent reviews, more than 6,000 orders have been placed in this store for this very compact transmitter.
Bluetooth connection, support for 2 USB drives, fast charging, support for TF card up to 32 GB, display.
From the official Baseus store
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From the official Baseus store from a warehouse in the Russian Federation you can purchase a best-selling modulator with a large number of orders and reviews. Here is one of them: Everything is fine, pairing is instant, the quality is good.
Multifunctional transmitter Onever with color screen 50% DISCOUNT
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Multifunctional transmitter Onever with color screen from a manufacturer rated as a Reliable brand. Currently on sale at 50% discount. Judging by the reviews, very fast delivery and excellent quality. “I recommend the seller and the modulator!!!”
Fast delivery from Russia
Check out the Onever Official Store for many decent FM transmitters and car chargers Onever Official Store
From the manufacturer of car accessories KORSEED
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Another good manufacturer of such car accessories is KORSEED. The range consists entirely of car chargers. Reviews about the product are good: The thing is small and neat. Made with high quality, works properly, does not fog. The appearance of extraneous noise may depend on the frequency you select on the radio. Fast delivery
Another Baseus with a lot of orders
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The undoubted leader in sales and quality among FM transmitters are devices from Baseus. Reviews from the series: “The quality is excellent. Thanks to Baseus and the seller. I recommend"
High-quality car charger UGREEN
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I will not tire of praising UGREEN, in principle, like many buyers: “Excellent fm transmitter, has fast phone charging, compact. Ugreen does quality and beautiful work. Well done! I recommend!"
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What parameters to pay attention to when choosing
When choosing a device, you need to focus on a number of the most important parameters. This is the type of playback, connection and power features of the device, as well as what additional functions it can please the owner.
Playback type
- Bluetooth – when using this data transfer method, a wired connection is not required. Often in this way the transmitter device is connected to a phone or laptop, after which music is played from them. You can also organize a speakerphone using a device with a Bluetooth module.
- Flash – budget transmitters may not have Bluetooth, in which case a direct connection of a flash drive with audio files is required.
Supply voltage
As a rule, transmitters require a voltage of 12 V to operate. This allows them to be connected to a car's cigarette lighter. They can often operate at 24 V.
Connection features
The cigarette lighter may have its own characteristics depending on the car model. This primarily applies to cars equipped with old radios, because they themselves are already quite many years old. Therefore, it is worth checking in advance whether the transmitter is compatible with the cigarette lighter connector.
If everything is in order with this, you will need to adjust the frequency. Many transmitters have an auto-tune button. But it is not always enough: the fact is that many frequencies are already occupied by radio stations or are partially interrupted by them, which is why the music transmitted by the transmitter does not sound ideal. To avoid this, you need to select a completely free frequency. And while in rural areas this is usually not difficult to do, in a big city there may not be so many of them. Therefore, the frequency range is another significant parameter of the transmitter.
Additional functions
It may also be useful to have additional functions, such as the ability to transmit a signal from the phone to the radio for a hands-free conversation, or use the transmitter to charge other devices - after all, there are often not enough connectors in the car. And it will be more convenient to control the device if you have a remote control.
How to choose an FM transmitter
When choosing a transmitter, it’s easy to get confused by the variety of models and functions, so you need to first become at least a little familiar with the capabilities of different devices. We will take cost segments as the basis for the classification, since this indicator almost always coincides with the functionality of FM modulators.
Inexpensive budget FM transmitters
The simplest models, as a rule, provide only one function - the ability to play audio recordings from a USB drive with a small memory capacity on the car radio. They are equipped with a minimum of control buttons and a small black and white display. A full scanning of a playlist is most often impossible; playback is carried out in the order of recording in the root directory. Such devices do not have their own memory, and the playback quality is average.
FM transmitters in the mid-price segment
The devices have a small private memory and a color display on which photographs or other graphic images can be displayed. Thanks to the presence of memory, the processing speed of information is increased compared to the simplest models, so the functionality allows you to create your own playlists and process files in several different formats. As a rule, such FM modulators can communicate with smartphones and other media players with their own memory, for which a cord with an audio connector is included. In addition, the design usually includes a slot for micro-SD memory cards.
FM transmitters with bluetooth
The absence of a cord for connecting to a smartphone makes the FM transmitter easy to use. In addition to playing audio, they serve as a speakerphone, allowing you to talk on the phone without interrupting traffic on the road. Other functions are also provided - video playback, remote control, etc.
What to look for when choosing?
Depending on how the FM transmitter will be used, three user modes can be distinguished:
source of background sound - for those who do not pay too much attention to the melodies being played and do not like to create playlists on their own, so you can limit yourself to the simplest and most inexpensive model; audio+ bluetooth – the optimal mode for those who spend a lot of time on the road every day, often have to answer calls, and need high-quality and convenient hands-free communication; maximum possibilities - an option for those who value high-quality sound or feel the need to play video files.
However, the technical capabilities of modulators are constantly increasing, and it is possible that new models will have or already have even more advanced functionality.
The best FM transmitters for cars with a Bluetooth module
AVS F-901
The device has a slot for an SD card, power from a cigarette lighter socket, and a standard frequency range. Provides high quality sound - you won't notice any drop in sound due to the use of a transmitter. The signal can be transmitted up to a maximum of 10 meters. F-901 is equipped with a built-in display and has a remote control - this makes operating the device comfortable. For its price (from 550 to 700 rubles), the model provides all the required functions at a good level, corresponding to some more expensive ones.
Price: ₽ 542
Neoline Wave FM
This model has a Bluetooth module, a display, and a built-in microphone. Thanks to the latter, it can be used as a headset for a smartphone, freeing up your hands during a trip - the call will be transferred to the radio. Has a slot for a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 32 gigabytes, and a remote control. The device costs from 1,700 to 2,000 rubles, provides very good quality sound, and the speakerphone can be really loud - unlike many budget models. Easy to set up and connect, compact. Among the disadvantages, interference sometimes occurs in the city, forcing you to look for a new frequency.
Price: ₽ 1,760
The best FM transmitters for cars with a display
4. Kensington Deluxe Liquid FM 33424EU
Allows you to transfer recordings from an iPod to the radio; it has a stylish and laconic design. The name of the song being played and the name of the artist are displayed directly on the screen of the car's stereo system. The device is distinguished by its high sound quality and reliable assembly, so it will last a long time. Its only serious drawback is the price from 2,500 to 3,000 rubles, because for that amount you can buy a new stereo system for your car.
Price: ₽ 2,480
Neoline Bliss FM
If you need an inexpensive transmitter with a full screen, then you should pay attention to this model - it costs about 800-900 rubles and does a good job of transmitting a signal to an audio system. The device is very compact; in addition to standard connectors, it has a 3.5 mm AUX input. Equipped with a convenient remote control. The noise level is low, and overall it does the job well for its price.
Price: ₽ 815
Best Car FM Transmitter with Bluetooth
The car FM transmitter with Bluetooth Mystery MFM-80BCU is rightfully called one of the best of its kind. The modulator display contains a large amount of information, plays files from smartphones and has high sound quality thanks to Clear Voice Capture technology. It is convenient to use for communication, since the Mystery MFM-80BCU is equipped with a steering wheel remote control, a convenient display and a simple interface.
The average cost of a transmitter from Mystery is 1,800 rubles.
The best budget FM transmitters for cars
Torso FM 2757336
A very simple and inexpensive device (costs about 300-350 rubles) that provides all the necessary functions. There is support for the two most used formats - MP3 and WMA, two USB ports and a slot for microSD - you can record music directly to a memory card and listen from it. Remote control included. In general, it is worth noting that the Torso transmitter combines low price with full functionality.
Price: RUB 319
Neoline Ellipse FM
This transmitter supports only MP3, is equipped with a convenient LCD display, and the settings and the last played song are stored in its memory. It costs a little more than the previous one - about 500 rubles.
It stands out for its interesting design and high-quality assembly for this price segment: no wobbly buttons, the case will not come loose after just a few months of use, as often happens with other transmitters at this price. The device is also characterized by a clear sound, it does not even emit a quiet hiss - and this drawback is also characteristic of many cheap transmitters. There are two disadvantages: the display shows only the track number, but not its name; The remote control only works at a very short distance.
Price: ₽ 461
Comparison table of the best FM transmitters
| Name | Main characteristics | Price |
| Torso FM 2757336 | There is support for the two most used formats - MP3 and WMA, two USB ports and a slot for microSD - you can record music directly to a memory card and listen from it. | ₽ 319 |
| Neoline Ellipse FM | Supports MP3, is equipped with a convenient LCD display, settings and the last played song are stored in its memory. | ₽ 461 |
| AVS F-901 | The device has a slot for an SD card, power from a cigarette lighter socket, and a standard frequency range. | ₽ 542 |
| Neoline Wave FM | There is a Bluetooth module, a display, a built-in microphone, a slot for a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 32 gigabytes, and a remote control. | ₽ 1 760 |
| Kensington Deluxe Liquid FM 33424EU | It has a stylish and laconic design, stands out for its high sound quality and reliable assembly, so it will last a long time. | ₽ 2 480 |
| Neoline Bliss FM | The device is compact, in addition to standard connectors, it has a 3.5 mm AUX input. | ₽ 815 |
Ritmix FMT-A710
An incredibly cheap modulator from a brand from South Korea now costs less than 400 rubles. At the same time, it boasts a good sounding MP3 player. The device is equipped with a small screen that can be rotated to an angle convenient for the driver. It has a slot for microSD cards. The modulator can be controlled using the remote control or buttons. The gadget is considered reliable, convenient and beautiful in appearance. Buyers consider its only drawback to be the inability to use it in trucks.
