Jensen HD5212 HD Radio Tuner/MP3/WMA/USB/SD Card/iPod Receiver

5 Comments

1. Fenchurch1022 says:

   September 16, 2009 at 6:59 pm

   I purchased this receiver about 3 months ago for 2 main reasons. I wanted HD radio and the SD memory card option. The HD radio works, but channels are hard to find (not the products fault) and when I do get a channel, it keeps keeps switching between HD and analog. It is very noticeable and extremely annoying. I no longer even try to listen to the radio in HD.

   As for the SD memory card, it says its good up to 4 GB. I’ve tried over 10 different SD memory cards and nothing works. I always get SD error. At first I was wasting my time with SDHC cards, but normal SD cards don’t work either. I’ve even tried different size cards, from 4 GB to 32 MBs and none of them work. I have also tried changing the song formats and how they are organized and I get the same results. The only thing that has saved this product is the fact that I can put any SD memory card into a USB reader and plug that into the set for my music. Unfortunately, I’m still limited to the 255 songs maximum the receiver will read. Another little secret that would have been nice to know before I bought this product (I’ve been told this would be the case if I could get an SD card to work as well). I wish I could show you a picture of this, but just imagine a USB memory card reader sticking straight out of the dashboard. I know one of these days I’m going to reach so something and accidentally break it into pieces.

   The options this receiver offers are awesome, but remember you get what you pay for. I only wish I could have found a better receiver that offered what I was looking for before I bought the HD5212 unit. On a good note, when the HD radio works, it sounds incredible.

   Rating: 2 / 5
2. B. Stark says:

   September 16, 2009 at 8:58 pm

   I actually have the HD5112 version (or the Walmart version) but read that it’s the same thing just looks a little different. Bought it for the aux. port because I was tired of trying to use an FM transmitter to listen to decent music from my Sony Ericsson Walkman cell phone rather than the crud that comes from radio stations these days.
   
   Was hoping that the HD radio would offer some alternatives but was dissapointed to learn that HD radio just means better (sorta) sound quality of existing FM stations, at least in my area (Little Rock, AR). As far as I can tell there aren’t any new, independent, commercial free, HD stations to pick up. And the existing stations that DO broadcast in HD sometimes only get picked up intermintantly causing an echo effect as the receiver tries to pick up both the FM and HD version of the same station.
   
   HD, for the most part, sounds fair but what difference does it make if all you can stand to listen to is NPR to escape the nausiating TOP 40, bland country, over done classics and supposed Alternative Rock when your MP3 player is out of juice that day.
   
   The iPod controls are nice but I wish that was an option rather than manditory to play an iPod. When using my wife’s iPod she can’t see what’s playing on the iPod’s screen, so if you’re in shuffle mode you have to wait for the music to start to know what song is playing and whether you want to skip it or not. Plus changing songs takes about a second, which is longer than you think when you really, really don’t want to hear a particular song.
   
   Haven’t tried the SD card slot yet, because I keep reading about how it’s very particular about what type of SD card you use and I don’t want to waste time and money trying different cards.
   
   The only attempt I’ve made at using the USB slot was with my Sony Ericsson phone, which, of course, did not work. But the auxilary port does but that means no in dash controls.
   
   The remote control works great, if you need a remote control for something that is usually six inches away from your hand.
   
   In conclussion, I’m sure this product will be more appreciated when and if HD radio has more options. Being able to see the name of a song and band that’s playing will be nice, when and if the radio stations play anything I happen to like. All the other features of this receiver are nice but not as handy as I thought they’d be.

   Rating: 3 / 5
3. Joshua D. Smith says:

   September 16, 2009 at 11:12 pm

   I bought this radio as a replacement in my work car. I needed a radio that would be a good all around radio for when I went on business trips, etc. I am impressed with its ease of installation and performance. Sometime in the near future I will add an iPod to the mix.

   Rating: 4 / 5
4. Franklin S. Bounds says:

   September 17, 2009 at 12:20 am

   I have had this product for about two months now and find several things very frustrating about it. It will constantly change sources all by itself or will take itself out of shuffle. I have contacted the source that I bought it at (Crutchfield – Awesome company btw) and have gone through several “resets” to try and solve the problem. Another issue that I have found is that I have only one HD station in my area (NW Arkansas). While this isn’t Jensen’s fault at all, the constant switching from Analog to HD and the associated echo effects are quite annoying. Also, while I thought that having the Ipod controls removed from the Ipod itself would be kind of cool, it ends up that having it that way removes the screen viewing on the Ipod. It is also somewhat cumbersome to use the remote to select what you want to play (composer, artist, playlist, etc) but then you have to use the dial to scroll through the items; and do all of this while you are driving!? It also doesn’t retain what you set it up to play the last time if you shut off the car and then restart it. Say you were listening to a particular playlist and was having it shuffled, then stop at a convenience store. When you come back out and start the car, you will have to completely reprogram the radio/Ipod.

   As far as sound quality and available outputs, it is a great unit. The wattage is matched to my existing speakers (Ford Factory type) and sounds great.

   The reason I gave it the low stars is because of the frustrations already mentioned.

   Rating: 2 / 5
5. Concerned One says:

   September 17, 2009 at 2:13 am

   I puchase this after my dual xhd6325 model’s faceplate quit working, and this was the closest product I could find to match it at the place I purchased it (had the service plan). Sure, it does not quite have the same power (only 13 x 4 RMS (max 40×4)as compared to 20 x 4 RMS (max 50×4)), but you can not tell with my infinity speakers, and my small car. It does it’s job. What do I gain, an sd card reader (good up to 2gb of standard SD), and Sattelite Radio Ready (with converter). The rest is all here. I highly recommend this unit to anyone due to it’s affordability and versitility.

   Here are the Specs:
   
   18 FM and 6 AM electronic preset stations
   
   Electronic detachable faceplate
   
   Rear pre amp line output
   
   2MB electronic shock protection
   
   Last position memory
   
   LCD dimmer
   
   Preset rock pop or classic equalizer
   
   Loudness control
   
   Electronic bass treble balance and fader
   
   3.5mm media adapter cables included
   
   Infrared remote control
   
   jLink iPod cable included
   
   DIN chassis
   
   Import ISO DIN mountable
   
   Infrared remote control
   
   Classic pop and rock preset equalizer
   
   Rear RCA preamp outputs
   
   Electronic volume bass treble balance and fader
   
   2 VRMS RCA line output
   
   Flex fader
   
   Front auxillary input
   
   Media adapter cable included
   
   Made for iPod
   
   XM and Sirius ready
   
   Supports MP3 and WMA files
   
   Built in HD radio tuner

   Rating: 5 / 5