| Griffin Technology iFM for PSP Review |
| Written by Don Lee | |
| Wednesday, 03 May 2006 | |
      The Sony PlayStation Portable can do a lot of cool things but Griffin
Technology has just added one more feature to the list. With their
introduction of the iFM, you can add a radio tuner and remote
control to your portable entertainment device.
The iFM is a very small device that is a little less than three inches in length and about one inch wide. There is an attached three-foot cable that plugs into the headset connector (located at the lower left) on the PSP. There is a navigation wheel on the front of the device, a clip on the back and a radio/remote switch on the top. Using the iFM is pretty simple as it is powered through the PSP’s battery. There is no software or configuration needed. To listen to the radio, first plug your headphones into the iFM then move the switch at the top of the iFM to Radio. You will notice the iFM’s LED display begin to display radio channels. Just press on the left or right sides of the navigational wheel to locate a radio station. When you find a strong signal, put on your headphones and start enjoying radio through your PSP. One issue I discovered is that the iFM will shut down along with your PSP if your PSP is has its sleep mode turned on. You will need to enter your PSP’s power settings and turn off this function to keep your iFM powered continuously.  Overall, the Griffin iFM is a cool device that does work as advertised. The radio quality is pretty good when you can pick up a signal and the remote control provides nice control over your PSP’s audio. Even though it doesn’t mention the need for headphones, you will need them to listen to the radio. Try to use something lightweight and portable since you’re going to be carrying the PSP, iFM and those headphones around to use this device. Although the product does provide a nice extra feature to go along with your PSP, I feel that the iFM is a little pricey at its suggested retail price of $49.99. I did manage to find the iFM for a lower price which you can see by clicking HERE. Here is the technical specs of the Griffin iFM: U.S. Tuning Range: 87.9 MHz - 107.9 MHz in 200kHz intervals European Tuning Range: 87.9 MHz - 108.0 MHz in 100kHz intervals Japanese Tuning Range: 76.0 MHz - 90.0 MHz in 100kHz intervals Audio Frequency Response: 20Hz – 15kHz Volume Steps: 16 Max Output Power: 20mW each into 32 ohm speakers RF Sensitivity: 2μVEMF Max Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 57dB Stereo Separation: 27dB Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.4% |
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