iTape Cassette Adapter Car Bluetooth Audio Receiver works during charging

First, a disclaimer -- products of Chinese manufacture vary widely for performance, quality and longevity. Longevity would be determined when the unit breaks down or fails, and I haven't had any time to assess this.People who want these Bluetooth cassette adapters are all seeking a way to upgrade their older car with the BT feature using their old OEM cassette tape player -- usually part of the head-unit or receiver. Some just want something that will work. Some have a tin ear, and might not be able to determine differences in sound quality. Some don't care if there's a dangling wire for a 3.5mm phone jack -- the traditional way these devices work, but some do. And those who do see Bluetooth as a way to eliminate the kloodgey-looking wire. But BT devices like this are all powered by a rechargeable battery, which may only give about six to eight hours of play before it needs to be charged. And usually, charging the unit means ejecting it from the cassette player, and waiting a couple hours before the device can be used again. Worse, the older cars don't have USB charging ports, so there is an inconvenience in the logistics of managing the unit along with "stuff" you take to or from your car after driving it. And even if your car has a USB QC charger, you again have the problem of needing to remove the unit from the cassette drawer before charging, and they may not allow you to charge and operate the unit at the same time.Then, there's the matter of sound quality. As I said, I tested some five units: the M***ll conventional wired model with the 3.5mm phone jack; a "W****o" conventional unit with the wire; the A*****k Bluetooth model. Of the first two wired units, I was surprised at the performance of the W****o, which has a flimsy phone cord and a phone jack that some say falls apart. For the $8 -- same price as the M***ll unit -- it's a pretty good buy if you don't mind the wire or you need the wire. The two Bluetooth units offer superior sound quality, but the Heibaige "Patchsky" model reviewed here is head and tails better than the A******k. I found that the Heibaige unit offers more sound volume than my integrated 12-CD-changer, which is my reference for everything. Moreover, the sound quality is at least as good as that from the car's OEM CD-changer.The design of the Heibaige "Patchsky" adapter has advantages and shortcomings, but the shortcomings are only relevant to what you want to do with the gadget. For me, I want a semi-permanent installation of parts that can still be easily removed, and an appearance of "permanence". With the A*****k model, you have to poke the on/off button with a popsicle stick if you prefer to leave the adapter in the cassette player. And of course you have to remove the unit to charge it.The Heibaige has a push-botton/switch dongle attached to the cassette with a thin wire about 5 inches long. This of course means you have to find a way to stick the dongle on your dashboard and do it neatly, if you don't like things dangling from the console. An extra inch or two in the cable's length would be helpful.But the Heibaige charges during operation in the cassette player. Here again, though, there's a "wire problem", but I figure if the customer wants a neat installation and a way of managing that wire, he or she will find a way. I'm going to use Velcro patches to secure the USB cable.And again, if your car doesn't have a USB QC charger, you can buy one. Some come as standard-sized rocker switch models. You can install such a charger, and even switch it with another 3-pin LED rocker switch.So -- this Heibaige PatchSky model? Totally stellar! Amazing sound! You can even put your MP3 files on a micro SD TF card and install it to the cassette adapter for music play. It pairs readily and easily with your phone or Android tablet.Considering all the chump-change I'd spent on the other three reasonably acceptable models, I am patting myself on the back for dropping another $25 on this item.Will it last? We'll have to wait and see. But why wouldn't it?The only other option to these devices involves a DIY project in which you remove your head-unit/receiver from the car, take it apart, and solder connections to a small 3.5mm-to-USB Bluetooth dongle -- probably four or five tiny wires. Then you'd have to re-assemble the head-unit, reinstall it -- if it works and you didn't screw things up.I would say this "Chinese knock-off" Heibaige item is the ultimate solution. Absolutely incredible.AN UPDATE TWO DAYS LATER: Many of the MP3/FM-transmitter/Bluetooth devices have a built-in limiter on sound volume, so users of those devices may complain that the volume through the OEM head-unit is either lacking, or sufficient but limited. This was the case with such a device I'd already installed in my dashboard: great sound, built-in equalizer but less volume than I'd get from my CD-changer.With the I-Tape 6 (Heibaige) unit -- be careful! The three-button tootsie-roll dongle attached to the unit has three buttons. The center one is the ON/OFF switch. The first and last each do two things. With a momentary button press, they will advance or return to any song in an album being played on your cell-phone or tablet with Google Music Play. That's a real plus, similar to the functionality of the FM-transmitter devices. But you can also press and hold either of those two buttons to increase or decrease sound volume. It is possible to make a mistake fishing for the ON/OFF switch, and hold down the wrong button. That's when I discovered -- and puzzled -- that I was suddenly getting sound through the tape player that was too loud and very distorted. I thought the I-Tape 6 was somehow "broken". Then I discovered how to adjust the volume, so that the clear, pristine sound returned to the albums I was streaming from my Android tablet.The volume can actually exceed that from my OEM CD-changer, and the sound quality is perfectly equal to the changer's. Amazing device, for a market limited to old cars and people seeking to give new life to their OEM head-unit receivers. Just amazing.

I bought this specifically because it can be charged during use, so I could keep it plugged in and not have to worry about the adapter running out of juice. To test it, I slotted it in and plugged in the micro USB cable to my cigarette lighter adapter, started the car, held down the center button, and...nothing. Ok, it must have to be charged a bit before its first use.I brought it in and charged it fully, brought it out, and my phone connected successfully and played music...the first time.The next time I went to connect my phone, I turned on the adapter, but it didn't automatically reconnect. I double checked it was definitely on, power cycled it, and tried again. Nope. I found the device again in my bluetooth, tapped it, and after thinking for a moment it gave me the "could not connect" error. That was officially the point where this became not worth the effort.I'm fine with a bit of troubleshooting, but not every time I want to use it. Will stick with the wired AUX adapter for now.

I LOVE this, my old one had to be charge then I could use it for 6hrs. This one can just stay plugged in, if the cassette player worked in the new car I would use this all the time. It's really great with reconnecting to the last bluetooth. Super easy to use.

I have an 06' highlander that lacks any bluetooth/aux. This unit does exactly as advertised. The only negative is it requires the phone button to be pressed on the unit's cable to cause it to sync with my phone. I would prefer that it try to auto-sync with the last connected phone. However, this is not a show stopper. Pros: great sound quality and easy to use. I highly recommend this unit.

I'd read questionable reviews of several brands and researched somewhat extensively. Have had this for a few months now and would buy it again.

First time pairing is a snap. Automatically reconnects thereafter. Works as advertised... I not only get to listen to my favorite pandora stations, but my old-fashioned car is now also hands-free capable for my cell phone. Love it!

Static galore. This thing has more buzz than Bee Movie

Received a out of spec model. Confirmed connection was good but no output. No sound.