VRM8 - FM Modulator MP3 Player

     The entire VRFM series is designed with ease of use in mind. Since you'll probably be driving when you're trying to use it, the buttons are very large and easy to get to. The VRFM8 only lets you take control of the music in a few ways; skipping to the next song, going back a song, pause, play, and lastly shuffle. Obviously, if you plug your own MP3 player or other auxiliary device into the VRFM's input jack, then you will need to use the controls on the auxiliary device in order to change tracks or programs.

     The VRFM8, like most of the VRFM models, has a swivel head to allow it to be used in tight quarters. The device itself isn't that big, but once you insert a USB flash drive, you may need to tilt the head up. On the bottom middle portion of the VRFM's control head, we can see the small 1/8 inch headphone jack. This is where your external DVD, MP3, or CD player could go.

   Testing the Sound Quality.............

     Here, I've got  the VRFM-8 plugged into the power port of my 2004 Dodge RAM 1500. The head on the VRFM-8 is tilted up to give the Corsair Flash Voyager enough space to fit around the trucks manual 4x4 shift-lever. On the LED display, we can see the radio channel that the VRFM-8 is broadcasting on. There are 14 different preset channels that the VRFM can use. Simply press the CH button on the bottom to cycle through all the available channels until you find the one that sounds the best.

     When the unit powers on, it will automatically begin playing the MP3s stored on the flash drive which will play in order they were copied to the drive. Most importantly, all files must be copied to the flash drives ROOT directory. Folders are not be recognized by the VRFM. Using the SHFL button will shuffle the order the songs are played. This particular Corsair Flash drive is a 2 Gigabyte model and was filled to maximum capacity with MP3s. The VR3 FAQ states that there is no limitation to the flash drive size!

     The sound quality is going to largely depend on your area and how many radio stations you have competing for air space. The transmitter on the VRFM is very low power, so you'll have to use the channel selector to find a station that has the least interference. That said, even under the best of circumstances you won't be hearing "CD QUALITY" sound. Without an entire radio station's complex and expensive array of compressors/expanders, since it's very difficult to get a full 20Hz-20Khzaduio signal transmitted on an FM band. I had a Joe Consumer with me and he described the sound "It sounds as good as using the cassette tape adapter on a CD walkman......"  If you can remember way back when we had to use a cassette tape-size adapter to go into a car-cassette tape player, which had the wires to go to a CD Players headphone jack. Yes, I will say that it sounded very much like that.

      Conclusion.......

     Seeing a product like this come across the desk is sure a rare treat indeed. Sure, it's not used directly with my home PC, but now-a-days the home PC is doing a LOT more than for life than it ever has before. Pretty much, everybody that really uses their PC has a digital music collection, and most of us enjoy listening to tunes on the road. Without breaking down and purchasing a mobile entertainment center (or car stereo...) capable of playing an MP3 disc, this offers a very suitable substitute. Since it uses a USB flash drive, you won't even have to worry about purchasing media like blank CDs or even worse, a proprietary format that can't be used with anything else. USB Flash drives comes in a very wide variety of sizes, and their price has fallen drastically in the last year.

     The best part about the VRFM is the total lack of permanent installation! Just unplug it and take it with you. So, even if you already have an MP3 player in your car, when you ride with your buddy who isn't so technologically advanced -- you can still listen to custom made mix of road tunes. Brilliant!