I have three options in my car. I can use a hands free speaker device ( I have a Jabara) and bluetooth to it and it transmits an FM signal to the car stereo. It's OK, but the sound deteriorates somewhat. second: I can use a patch cord and plug my phone into the audio system. third: I load my songs onto a thumb drive and use the USB plug into my audio system. The last two have equal tone quality outputs. A lot of cars have have the options of bluetooth, patchcord, or USB. My car is a 2011 and isn't even the "top of the line".