VRCD400-USB review - updated 8/1/06

SECOND GENERATION VRCD400-USB REVIEW:

When I first wrote the review at the bottom, I had the first generation model VRCD400-USB radio. After working with the Roadmaster tech support guys over its poor FM reception, they mailed me the second generation model VRCD400-USB radio. It has a different faceplate, different functions, and a remote control. I've been using it for 7 months now and I'm very pleased.

Here's what I like about the latest model:

1.) The FM picks up stations 10x better than the old model.

2.) When using the USB drive and turning the key on, it plays the song that was playing before the key was turned off. The old model would revert to the beginning of the USB drive whenever the key was turned on, requiring me to "track forward" to the song that was playing before leaving the vehicle.

3.) It has a file search menu, so when I have 100 MP3's on a USB drive, I can scroll through and pick the one that I want to hear. The old model didn't have this.

4.) The AUX input is behind the unit, so I could hide my wires to my satellite radio behind the dash. The old model had the AUX input on the faceplate. Also, this new model has a subwoofer output whereas the old one didn't.

5.) It has a remote control.

6.) The Roadmaster tech support was GREAT. The guys (Larry and Morty) were more than helpful with my old model's problems, and they sent me the latest model, no charge for shipping.

Here's what I don't like about the latest model:

1.) It's nit-picky, but I don't prefer its blue illumination. I liked the old model's green illumination because it matched my car's dash illumination.

2.) When the key is turned on, I wish it could play from where it left off in the middle of a song, instead of starting the song from the beginning.

3.) When using USB in the middle of playing an MP3, it sometimes skips to the next MP3. Perhaps it only does this on bad MP3 files that it has trouble reading? I don't know.

All-in-all, I'm very happy with the latest generation VRCD400-USB. I don't think I could've gotten a better radio from any other company. If you buy one, note that the latest model has blue illumination/white display digits. The old model had green illumination/black display digits. I stopped by Target, and they have the latest model and didn't change the price, so that's a good thing.

Here's what I wrote 7 or 8 months ago for the old model:

FIRST GENERATION VRCD400-USB REVIEW:
I just bought the VR3 VRCD400-USB for $99 from Target, but I've seen it for $80 on EBay.

I bought it because it had everything I wanted in a radio: a USB input for MP3's, an 1/8" jack for my satellite radio, and a detachable face so no need to worry about someone stealing it when parked with my convertible top down.

I like the looks of the radio, I think the sound quality is decent and it gets loud enough, and I really like the MP3 playing ability using a USB drive because it makes it easy to copy mp3's from my computer and play them in the car.

One complaint I have is poor FM reception. Even some local stations come in staticy! Perhaps an antenna booster would repair this, but I have not tried one. The only other beef I have is the USB for playing MP3's. Whenever a USB drive with MP3's is connected, it starts playing from the beginning and there's no way to scroll through the list to a song that you want to hear, instead you have to push the "track forward" button to get through the tracks, one by one, and it stops for about 2 seconds on each track as you're going through. One more beef: when the key is turned off in the middle of an MP3 song, then turned back on later, it automatically starts playing the list of files on the USB drive from the beginning, so you need to "track forward" back to the song you left off on.

Despite the chinsy-ness of it's functionality, I still think the radio was worth $99.