Delphi SA10001 XM SKYFi Boombox by Delphi Products
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Our Price: $229.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $67.00 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Delphi SA10001 XM SKYFi Boombox
Digital camera Review: Husband is so happy with his Christmas present
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great way for my husband to have access to his xm while fixing up around the house. It works perfectly. The only problem is the batteries wore out in only one day.Digital camera Review: I Have My Doubts
Summary: 1 Stars
I looked forward to getting this product, but I was unable to get it to work.
First, I had trouble getting a signal, even after much frustrating effort, even with an unobstructed view of the southern sky.
Then, I couldn't get the machine to stay on, it kept shutting down.
I would be willing to try another one.
Digital camera Review: I bought two
Summary: 3 Stars
Delphi must have made an attempt to improve this model. Neither unit I bought had the high-pitched noise described by previous Amazon reviewers. But both units I received do have an AC hum when using the power adapter, and both have another noise -- a repetitive, low-level clicking sound.
The noise isn't noticeable if the volume level is set above 6 or so, and if the boombox is placed a few feet from you. But if you listen at low volume with the unit close by, you might find the incessant click-click-click quite annoying. Classical music fans may find this unit completely unacceptable. At low volume during the quieter passages of classical music (XM channels 110, 112, and 113), the clicking sound actually breaks up the audio.
I unplugged all wireless devices in the house (they supposedly can cause interference with satellite radios), but that didn't solve the problem, even with the units placed well apart in different parts of the house. I suspect the clicking has more to do with the refreshing of the SkyFi 2 receiver's digital display than it does any external interference -- it does appear synchronized with the scrolling display when you have it set to scroll.
I understand the SkyFi 2 receiver is not to blame, and that the receiver works well with other home or car audio kits. So, apparently, it's the Delphi boombox.
And there's another overall audio weakness in the product. In spite of the sales talk about the beefy, dual-cone speakers, the units sound like cheapo drugstore boomboxes. Actually, they sound less like boomboxes and more like "woof" boxes. Besides bass being practically nonexistent, harmonics in the plastic cases (sometimes called "case resonance") create a lot of cheap-sounding, mid-range woofiness. That has the unfortunate effect of rendering some talk programming -- especially vintage recordings on the old-time radio channel and the comedy channel -- almost unintelligible in places.
(I did manage to improve this problem a little on one of our units by removing the pop-off speaker grille covers, and by lining the boombox's interior with peel-and-stick felt to deaden the woofy harmonics. I don't recommend anyone try this. Besides possibly voiding the warranty, there are electronic components inside that could cause a nasty shock or could easily be damaged, and there is a heat sink inside that felt must be kept well away from or smoke or fire may result.)
If this is the only experience you have with satellite radio, you'll go away thinking it sounds little or no better than local AM radio. But -- unless you're a classical music listener -- it's not completely bad. Just wait for some heavy discounting before buying one, and make sure that you're willing to put up with some noisiness, and audio quality that's a little cheap-sounding.
For the money -- especially the MSRP the unit originally sold for -- it should have been better.
Digital camera Review: I hope XM doesn't replace FM anytime soon ...
Summary: 1 Stars
Otherwise, people who live in apartments/houses with no southern view of the sky are going to be SOL :(This thing sounds great ... so long as I'm outside. However, once I get anywhere close to my front door, the signal dies. I just spent the last 3 hours aiming the antenna every which way (and them some), but no luck - I just get 'No signal' on the receiver. I guess that for the time being, some of us are going to be stuck with AM/FM until something better comes along.
Digital camera Review: I too hear the buzzing... :-(
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this, and hear the buzzing as well... Perhaps there's some sort of simple grounding problem or something, but it's not worth my time to try to keep exchanging on the hope I'm lucky enough to get one that does not buzz...
I'll be looking for other options, and I'd suggest you do the same...