New Part 15 FM Transmitter

I guess they do have a stereo version...

What I meant to say is that it would be nicer, if it didn't cost $500 smackers!

For that kinda moolah, it must outperform a Decade of comparable value, which I doubt. However, there is certainly added value for the digital optical inputs and onboard DA converter.

The ACC100 was a decent FM transmitter. I found that it had a problem with hum, until I replaced the supplied wall wart with a much better one that had some regulation.

I'm not sure that adding a digital input to a Part 15 FM transmitter is really worth it - kind of overkill, I would think. The range limitations for noise free sound really outweigh the need to improve FM sound quality. And you're going to want the mono version to get the best range in any event. I don't know if they've done any other redesigning (they do say it's the equivalent of the ACC100), but I would have thought you would have gotten more bang for your buck if they improved the on board voltage regulation.

I'm still looking for that transmitter that is the equivalent of the Rangemaster, but on FM (i.e., a board in a weatherproof box, can be mounted outside as high as possible to get you free of obstructions). Hopefully Decade (or someone else) is listening.

"I'm not sure that adding a digital input to a Part 15 FM transmitter is really worth it - kind of overkill, I would think."

To some degree, it depends on the quality of the D/A converter in the unit, but keeping a digital signal in the digital domain as far as possible is always desirable. S/PDIF signals are not nearly as susceptible to RF interference, and TOSlink not at all, therefore, a digital signal arriving at the transmitter will be the same as that coming from the CD, rather than one previously converted to analog and carried on line-level wire, especially in an environment where RFI is prevalent.

Anyway, I suppose that's the reasoning behind having digital inputs in the unit.

I do understand all that - I guess in my mind that's a poor tradeoff versus other improvements you could make to the transmitter - one that will only transmit 200 feet or so. I doubt very much that you'll notice any difference over an FM radio between an analogue input and a digital one. Now, removing hum - that's noticeable. Improving range as much as legally possible - that's noticeable.