This is something almost everyone does, and it bothers the hell out of me. With many new cars coming equipped with Aux IN jacks in their stereos, comes many more people incorrectly plugging their iPods in. Let’s start with some history. Audio players (like the iPod) usually have only one output, for unpowered headphones. This output is amplified and colume controlled so you can hear the music. Line level outputs can be found on some portable players, and provide an un-amplified signal that has a fixed volume. The iPod has this capability, via the dock connector on bottom. Feeding the audio to your car from the headphone jack adds hiss and also requires you to adjust the volume on both the car AND the iPod. Fortunately, there’s a solution.

SIK is a company that makes specifically what you need. A portable dock connector with a charger and line-level output for car iPod integration. I personally use these in my car and my computers at work and home. Now, I can listen to my audio, hiss-free and untouched. Now, order one and stop using your headphone jack for a powered stereo.