Home » XM and Sirius Boomboxes Do you want a portable solution for satellite radio, or even just a slick and easy setup for your office? XM and Sirius both offer boomboxes that are perfect for an office, in the house, or even camping and on the beach. Each radio uses a Plug-and-Play unit as the satellite radio controller. There are several different boomboxes available right now, with more arriving later this year: The Audiovox Boombox Works with: Audiovox PNP1 & PNP2 The Audiovox Boombox is a sleek setup that does not look too conspicuous. The sound quality is great, but the speakers have do not deliver a lot of bass. If you want upgraded speakers, you can pick up a good set for about $30-$40 and change them out easily. Feature-wise, this one offers several advantages over the original XM boombox. First, there is an auxiliary input feature so you can hook an iPod, CD player, and even a microphone or your computer up to the speakers. Secondly, the speaker covers are metal and not cloth, so they will not tear easily. Lastly, the antenna can be wrapped up easily and in an organized way behind the boombox, and not just stuffed into the battery compartment. The XM boombox offers a bass/treble adjustment that the Sirius boombox does not; but, there is not a lot bass/treble to begin with so it does not matter too much in my mind. The $200 XM boombox offers everything on the Sirius, except an AUX input. The sound quality is better than the original XM boombox due to a higher quality amplifier. The volume can be turned up higher than the XM because the Plug and Play receiver has a stronger audio output. The sound quality and volume will not be as good as XM's $200 boombox though. This, in my mind, is the perfect boombox right now. The sound quality is great, it looks stylish, and it has an auxilliary input for whatever you want to hook up. The original XM Boombox Works with: Delphi SKYFi This boombox is very basic, and does not offer much more than a cheap portable solution for XM. In my mind, this boombox is OK if you are in a small environment, but is not that great outside due to static at high volumes. Unlike the Sirius Boomboxes, there is no AUX input. The handle leaves more to be desired, and it feels hard to carry with it. This unit offers bass/treble, unlike the Sirius boomboxes, along with optional metal speaker covers for less than $15. The sound quality is not great with these, and I would definitely replace the speakers that come with this. If you get new speakers, make sure they are not very deep so they fit in the boombox. This boombox works in the office or at home if you just want satellite radio out of it without the frills. If you are in a large room, outside, or in a noisy environment, I would recommend getting better speakers for your boombox. The Brix Streamer Boombox Works with: Brix Streamer This boombox is exactly like the one made by Audiovox, except that it uses the Brix Streamer Plug-and-Play instead of the Audiovox PNP2. It includes all the features of the Audiovox version, including good sound quality, an auxilliary (RCA) input, and an antenna wire organizer. The main difference is this boombox also has a real handle, and not just a molded depression in the top. This also has a slightly different shape, and grey, not black, speaker covers. While I think the Audiovox boombox is a bit more stylish, this boombox has the handle. If you are going to be carrying it a lot, I would go for this boombox simply because of it. The upgraded AM/FM/CD XM Boombox Works with: Delphi SKYFi This boombox is the most expensive of the satellite radio boomboxes, and has a unique design as well. The center flips so you can choose either the XM SKYFi, or the AM/FM/CD. An alarm is featured on this, but only on the AM/FM/CD version. The speakers are much better than the other XM boombox, and slightly better than the two Sirius ones. You can select bass boost on the non-XM side, and use the 4 EQ settings(pop, rock, classic, and flat). The volume control knob problem has been fixed as well. The CD player also has MP3 playback, and can display the title/artists of songs. The biggest problems with the boombox are that it only takes certain brands of "D" batteries, while others don't fit. You cannot use the bass boost or the alarm clock on the XM side. I also wish that they put an auxilliary input on this boombox. The price certainly justifies one. Plus, the price tag for this model is pretty hefty compared to the other boomboxes. This radio is great for college dorms or small apartments that want an all-in-one radio without taking up too much space. While the price is big, if you are looking for the most convenient way to get the AM/FM/XM/CD, this will be the best fit for you. Top of page
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