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VRM8 -
FM Modulator MP3 Player
Just about all computer
enthusiasts have a digital music library, and rightly so. Why spend time
messing with a clunky home entertainment system with its plethora of remotes.
Not to mention, physical media of some sort (CD or DVD) that needs to be
changed when you want to hear something different. On the PC, you
just have to start clicking away and you can change to anything in your
library. As hard as some organizations may have fought to keep the MP3 from
progressing, it has evolved to a world-wide standard. MP3 players in just about
every shape and size have not infiltrated the market.
Car audio is no
exception, because we all want our tunes on the go. Finally, more car stereo's
are coming stock from the factory that are able to accept MP3 CDs in ISO format. An MP3
player for my own automobile was actually the first mod I did on my own. That's
nothing more than a pretty fancy way of saying I pulled the stock stereo out and
installed an Alpine head-unit that could play MP3s and WMA compact discs. On
average a 700 megabyte CD can hold about 140 MP3s, which is a beautiful thing.
That gives you a pretty big pool of tunes to pick through when you're on the
road. But even an MP3 CD can have its drawbacks. Once its burned, you have to go
through the whole drag and drop process of making another collection. CD-R discs
are cheap now, so the cost of making the collection is pretty much null and
void.
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VR3
has been making accessories both the automotive and home industries a long time
now. Of particular interest to us here at Club OC, is this little gadget that
they call the VRFM. Basically, it's an FM modulator that can accept either a USB
flash drive, or you can plug virtually any external device into the VRFM through
the 1/8 inch headphone jack. The VRFM plugs into the cigarette lighter which
some automobile manufacturers now refer to these as power ports. (Since smoking
is now considered a serious health hazard and a major distraction while driving
- not that playing with MP3 players and cell phones isn't) Once it's got
power, it reads the MP3's or WMA's off of the USB flash drive (not included) and
plays them. That's where the FM Modulator comes in.
It
beams the signal out over the FM wave to be picked up by your already installed
car stereo. You can select a pretty wide range of pre-set channels, which the
VRFM will display on its LCD readout. Then, just tune your FM radio to that
station and you can enjoy all of your favorite tunes in true stereo sound.
Specifications: VRFM-8 - Pictured
above/model tested
VFRM-8
Plays All
your Audio Devices Wire-Free through your Car Stereo Systems FM Radio
Dual Function Buttons:
Shuffle/Channel, Play/Pause, Volume/Track Selection
Plug 'N Play your MP3s and WMAs
Wire-Free from your USB Flash Drive
Audio Input Jack for Use with MP3,
CD and DVD Players
Standard USB Port
Six Position Flexible Joint for
Ease of Use.
Large, Easy to Read LCD Shows
Pre-Set FM Stations
Play, Stop, Volume and Track
Selection Controls
Includes 3.ft. Audio Cable (male to
male 1/8 inch stereo jack)
3.5mm Stereo Input
12 Volt Wire-Free Transmission
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