Bluetooth FM transmitters add wireless BT connectivity features (found in newer cars) to older vehicles –even ones that predate having any built-in Bluetooth capability. Turn any ride into a Bluetooth car supporting hands free calls using your cellular phone, and playing music from your Bluetooth device to your car audio system using a wireless FM transmitter. While the LDesign FM Transmitter is not among the best BT FM transmitters listed in the Best Bluetooth FM Transmitter buyer’s guide, it’s certainly worth a look due to its reasonable price point, interesting appearance, and state-of-the-art Bluetooth support. You may also be interested in similar top-rated car accessories.
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Why We Like It – LDesign FM Transmitter
The LDesign FM Transmitter sports a unique design profile that’s compact yet doesn’t scrimp on essential capabilities and features, plus using the latest Bluetooth technology.
- Distinctive Look
- Bluetooth V5.0
- Auto shut-off
- Lacks multiple USB ports
- Startup tone
Performance
You probably know by now how all these gadgets basically work. The LDesign FM Transmitter is true to form, plugging into a car’s power port (a.k.a. cigarette lighter), pairing to a BT device, and localcasting to your FM stereo on an unused FM frequency to hear quality sound output on a car’s stereo. Thankfully there are lots of videos on YouTube if you need help pairing a device and selecting the best FM frequency. A microphone enables hands free use of a paired smartphone. The LDesign has a single USB port allowing for charging a device or playing music files from a USB flash drive. The LDesign is small, but not as small as the LIHAN Bluetooth FM Transmitter. There’s not much display capability on the LDesign (just the FM frequency to which it’s tuned and the car battery voltage), unlike the Nulaxy Wireless Bluetooth Transmitter Smartphones, the No. 1 pick in the FM transmitter buyer’s guide, which has a much more fulsome display. Sound quality of the LDesign FM Transmitter is excellent, but of course greatly depends upon your car’s audio system. If it’s in the car and all set up, when you start the vehicle it emits a tone over the speakers that some find annoying.
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Design
The LDesign FM Transmitter has a unique looking unobtrusive design –just doesn’t look like most other compact BT FM transmitters such as the VicTsing Bluetooth Transmitter Wireless Hand Free design. LDesign claims theirs is the only FM transmitter car kit gadget supporting the Bluetooth V5.0 standard, and it’s the reason for their high quality sound (really only possible to sound as good as an FM radio station since it’s really an in-car FM transmitter that’s delivering the audio output). Pretty good sound quality for most listeners. A built-in microphone for hands free calling uses CVC (Clear Voice Capture) tech for noise suppression (probably just CVC’s passive ambient noise cancellation). Certainly can’t hurt, but how much it helps is subjective and depends on the location of the car’s power port that ultimately determines where the LDesign is placed in the passenger cabin. The LDesign has a 3.5mm input jack, and also a TF card slot if you want to play music files stored on a card. So, four ways to source content –wireless streaming via Bluetooth; music files stored on USB stick or TF card; or from a device connected using an aux cable. There’s one button on the front for call pick-up/hang-up, with other control buttons located on the side of the unit. Only design downside is the single USB port, which is only the barest of necessities. Others have dual USB charging ports, even the mini IMDEN Bluetooth FM transmitter. Dual USB ports are truly convenient. Some reviewers also note USB charging on the LDesign is not fast charging like the USB ports found on certain other similar products.
Value
The LDesign FM Transmitter has good sound quality and all the essential features of Bluetooth FM transmitters, plus using the best Bluetooth technology, all for a very low investment. Available in multiple colors, although it’s noted that the price of the black colored edition is priced slightly higher (at the time of this review). LDesign offers no overt warranty, but does claim “best after-sale services” that include refund or replacement.
LDesign FM Transmitter Wrap Up
The LDesign FM Transmitter works great and is a good way to add modern wireless calling and Bluetooth audio features to your favorite ride.. even vintage vehicles. If you’re driving a restored classic that you want to keep entirely stock (even the cassette radio) then the LDesign is an unobtrusive way to play your favorite music from your phone (better than one of those cassette radio adapters) plus make hands free calls.
