Gear4 BluFM

The basics

The Gear4 BluFM is a Bluetooth hands-free kit that also includes an FM transmitter for beaming your MP3 player’s songs to a nearby car stereo.

The good

The BluFM turns your iPod into an in-car pirate radio broadcaster, albeit one with a limited range (basically your front seat). You can scootch between FM frequencies to avoid interference from so-called ‘proper’ radio stations (airwave hogs!) and the BluFM even thoughtfully pauses the music when a call comes in. The Bluetooth hands-free tech keeps you limbs safely free for making obscene gestures to other drivers or picking your nose while you chat. And, er, indicating, changing gears and steering, obviously.

The bad

Don’t expect crystal-clear reception from this budget gadgets – its FM broadcasts sound closer to AM signals from Radio Azerbaijan in a snow-storm, and your callers might wonder why you’re talking to them from the inside of an industrial washing machine while wrestling some extremely vocal snakes. The Gear4 takes its power from the cigarette lighter but you’ll need to remember to keep your MP3 player’s battery topped up.

The bottom line

A small, smart device to take on holidays and for use in rental cars, but you might want a better-sounding sonic solution for your daily ride.