Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Updated Review 11/2010: For about $100 you get built in HD Radio and it plays MP3's from SD Card and USB. I don't own an iPod, but apparently you can control the iPod from the front panel. So you can load up an SD card, a USB drive and a CD-R full of MP3's, maybe each with different genre's and just switch sources for practically unlimited music; gone are the days of swapping CD's. The USB drive remembers what track I left off on when I switch back to it and it has a random mode that goes into all folders. I think it handles up to 8 gig media.
What this receiver boasts in features though, it lacks in audio specs. It's got only 13 watts per channel RMS and you only get bass and treble (and loudness). 13 watts is fine for most people and slightly better than factory radios but would be nice to have a bit more headroom. The preset EQ's are nothing to write home about but they work. The bass/treble and the preset EQ's are mutually exclusive functions. 2 bands is limited for EQ tweakers like me. Most users won't care but if fine tuning sound is important to you, maybe to clean up muddy bass, you might look elsewhere for more EQ options but expect to pay more too.
It lacks an automatic dimmer for when you turn on headlights, and the display and lighted buttons at max setting are washed out in bright daylight. It lacks memorized volume adjustments for each source however they are not bad as is. NO remote control but not expected in this price range.
Regarding the HD Radio, it sounds great only when it locks in, as is the case on strong stations in my area and then only when the car's not moving. It does take a couple seconds to change from analog to HD but when it does you'll notice the sound is clean, noise free and with better frequency response. Just don't expect "CD sound" - after all, this is still radio and stations usually drown music in heavy compression, ruining the original dynamic range. The second digital channel (HD-2) is a welcome addition and I've heard some good album tracks on the Classic Rock stations here. With HD Radio you often get track/artist info scrolling across the display. The radio pulls in most analog stations, but consistent signal is worse than my stock Corolla radio, nor can I pick up a channel 60 miles away as my old stock Corolla does. But here's the real BUMMER: HD Radio is only as good as the tuner's ability to pick up and hold onto a strong signal when the car is in motion, and here this radio fails miserably. If you don't like static and dropouts on analog AM/FM channels, you'll hate the dropouts on HD. Weak tuner = Bad HD Radio.
One more thing, if you own a late model Toyota, even though these cars may not have a power antenna, make sure you connect the blue antenna wire because that sends power to these "amplified" antennas. Without that, any radio is bound to get unacceptable reception in these cars.
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