| Roadmaster USA VRFM8 MP3 FM Modulator
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Operation (continued):
The manual references many considerations regarding the use of the VRFM8, some of which seem to restrict the convenience of its use. Some proved to be true, but others proved to be more like suggestions than absolutes. A few things that are set in stone are that the files all have to be located in the root directory of the thumb drive, and that you can not play files that are protected by DRM.
One thing I was glad to see wasn't set in stone is that the manual says all files must be encoded at 128 kbps or less. I successfully played files from 128-192 kbps with no problem, even when files on the drive were of mixed sizes. One thing I did notice is that files with higher encloding rates did have slightly poorer audio quality, which is the opposite of what you would expect on a traditional player.
While mentioning audio quality it should be mentioned that you should not be expecting crystal clear CD quality from the VRFM8 (or any other wireless FM modulator that I have seen). The audio is acceptable and comparable to some typical FM broadcasts, but the highs and lows aren't as strong as you might expect from CDs or from very strong FM radio stations.
Overall I was quite pleased with the VRFM8's performance while using a thumb drive. It is about the easiest way to get your MP3s to play in your car, and the convenience and low cost of thumb drives make it exteremly appealing. I could load up a drive in a matter of seconds before heading out to work, and if I wanted to I could spend a few more seconds before heading back home to freshen up the audio selection. The memory recall on the last song played and the last station selected worked well, and removed two concerns I had about the true convenience of the device's operation.
The audio quality in either mode of operation was decent, and actually better than I anticipated. It isn't the best quality sound you will ever hear, but with a clear FM channel selected, you will be able to enjoy your music with minimal interference from things like static or electrical hiss.
Using the audio jack to connect to another device comes in handy in many situations. Not only does it let you play music from devices that might have nice screens that let you see things like file information, but it is also the only way to listen to DRM protected files. For all the people with music from iTunes or Napster, you can still listen on your car stereo, you just need to bring your player with you.
Owners of carputers (in car computers) might also be interested in the Roadmaster USA VRFM8 MP3 FM Modulator. What easier way is there to get the stereo audio from the computer onto your car's speakers?
One thing I did find a bit annoying is that other FM modulators apparently have much more powerful transmitters. While driving in traffic my music would occasionally be completely washed out as cars approached with their own FM modulator. I would go from listening to my music to listening to "Opie and Anthony" yelling on someone else's satellite radio in crystal clear quality. I was fairly suprised at how easily other cars could overpower my signal and completely take over that channel with no interference from my music.
One final idea I had to test was to see whether a USB hard drive could be used in lieu of a thumb drive. I connected a compact 2.5" drive/enclosure to the VRFM8 and powered up the system. The LED on the drive enclosure lit up to indicate it was functioning, but music would not play. Oh well, a few GB on a thumb drive is cool, but I thought having a 30GB hard drive might be even more fun.
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