The trusty cassette adapter remains one of the few audio devices released pre-Y2K that's still relevant today. It first became popular with car-ready portable CD players; now it has become a must-have MP3 player accessory for the same purpose: listening to music in your car. Its secret is that it's compatible with any device that has a headphone jack, and, of course, all MP3 players do.

Many new cars have discontinued making cassette decks, and some even come installed with MP3 players and satellite radio. However, many of us haven't been on Pimp My Ride, so we rely on that good ole tape adapter in order to pump MP3s while driving. The other option is to use an FM transmitter, but those are notorious for having poor sound quality.

Like most things, you get what you pay for. Generally, adapters under $20 are of a lesser quality than the $30 ones. Maybe you won't notice a difference, but if you're an audiophile like me, you will. Let's take a closer look at the different brands.

Sony Cassette Adapter

Before Apple, Sony was the leader in portable music products, particularly with CD players. Today, its MP3 player line is catching up to the iPod. But devices like the cameras, mini disc, and this old-school cassette adapter is what Sony is best known for.

MSRP: $20

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Griffin SmartDeck for iPod

Dubbed as the "Intelligent Cassette Adapter for iPod," the SmartDeck syncs with your tape deck so you can skip tracks with your car's fast-forward buttons (rather than using the iPod's clickwheel). It also has volume-level control, which Griffin boasts as a bonus. However, I found it hindered the output rather than enhanced it. Overall, it has great sound quality and its extra features are superior to the other adapters.

MSRP: $30

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Monster Cable iCarPlay

The Monster Cable adapter has good sound quality, and like the SmartDeck, it comes in iPod white. The product description claims it's "for your iPod" for marketing reasons, but we very well know that it's compatible with all portable players since it has the universal headphone jack cord.

MSRP: $20

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Radio Shack Cassette Adapter

I'm a big fan of Radio Shack's Titanium headphones, but I was disappointed in the sound quality of this adapter. Maybe my '92 Camry's tape deck was having a bad day, but when I tested this I noticed a lack of high frequency (aka treble). It was simply too bass-heavy. Well, maybe that's a good thing for hip-hop lovers.

MSRP: $20

Maxell Cassette Adapter

Like Monster Cable, Maxell markets its cassette adapter "for iPod," but it works with all MP3 players. It doesn't sound as good as Sony's, but it does the trick and it's cheap. It also comes in black.

MSRP: $15

Mobiblu DAH-220 MP3 Player

This actually isn't an adapter--it's an MP3 player that stores 256MB of music. It slides right into a tape deck like any other cassette, so no wires are needed. Unfortunately, it's currently not available in the US, but it's worth an honorable mention in this particular story.

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