When it comes to decent quality, inexpensive car stereo systems, the Pyle PLR24MPF AM/FM Receiver MP3 Playback with USB/SD/AUX-IN takes the cake. The lightweight unit combines pleasing aesthetics with reliable functionality to give drivers the opportunity to leave boring talk show hosts in the past and actually find some enjoyment in their daily commute.

The Pyle PLR24MPF AM/FM Receiver MP3 Playback with USB/SD/AUX-IN does precisely what it says it will do, offering AM and FM reception for your vehicle on an AM/FM 2 band radio with a small selection of easy to operate preset options, with ID3 tag function and a folder up and folder down option.

The built in USB and SD ports in the front (designed to accommodate USB adapters like those found with an iPod and the small SD memory cards that most people only know from their use in their digital cameras) and auxiliary jack for other adapters make it easy for you to take your digital music collection out on the road and enjoy something besides the cookie cutter, repetitive stereo music that clogs the radio these days.

This unit has had a number of small complaints, including its ability to adapt to a multi-speaker (i.e. more than 2) sound system and the distortion that follows, as well as the lack of digital tuning and a slightly outdated mp3 menu system. There’s also the chance that the input cables in the front will result in tangled wires and general chaos, something that really isn’t a major deal until you’re trying to shift at 65 miles per hour going down the road! (For all those steadfast manual transmission fans out there…)

For an extraordinarily inexpensive car stereo system, however (most units are available for under $40), the Pyle PLR24MPF AM/FM Receiver MP3 Playback with USB/SD/AUX-IN more than fulfills expectations and offers drivers the chance to give their sound systems a boost without having to clean out their bank account.