Today Sirius XM Radio Inc. introduced the new XM Onyx (Model: XDNX1V1) dock-and-play satellite radio receiver. It includes all the features we've come to love with satellite radios, but what sets the Onyx apart is it's customizable options and sleek new design.
But it's not the customizable options that really makes the XM Onyx special, instead it's the new PowerConnect FM transmitter by Sirius XM that really adds value to this satellite radio receiver.
The XM onyX boasts a high-resolution display with different selectable colors and customizable trim rings to match your vehicle dash lights and interior.
Like I said before, it has the standard features we've come to enjoy with satellite radios, including the ability to save and access up to 10 favorite channels, One-Touch Jump that allows direct access to the traffic and weather condition of the 20 most congested cities, and the ability to browse, and scan other channels by categories.
But what sets it apart is that the XM Onyx is sold with the new patent-pending PowerConnect FM transmitter technology. PowerConnect is an FM transmitter that works directly through your existing vehicle power system - instead of piping the signal through the air, it sends it through your radio's electronics. The result? Easy DIY installation with much less wires, and sound quality that destroys other FM transmitters on the market.
The XM Onyx sells for an MSRP of $79.99.
Help support Orbitcast and buy the XM Onyx from Amazon. You get free shipping and a great price (one of the lowest I've seen anywhere), plus all the trust and guarantees you expect from Amazon.
Like I said before, it has the standard features we've come to enjoy with satellite radios, including the ability to save and access up to 10 favorite channels, One-Touch Jump that allows direct access to the traffic and weather condition of the 20 most congested cities, and the ability to browse, and scan other channels by categories.
But what sets it apart is that the XM Onyx is sold with the new patent-pending PowerConnect FM transmitter technology. PowerConnect is an FM transmitter that works directly through your existing vehicle power system - instead of piping the signal through the air, it sends it through your radio's electronics. The result? Easy DIY installation with much less wires, and sound quality that destroys other FM transmitters on the market.
The XM Onyx sells for an MSRP of $79.99.
Help support Orbitcast and buy the XM Onyx from Amazon. You get free shipping and a great price (one of the lowest I've seen anywhere), plus all the trust and guarantees you expect from Amazon.
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Looks like a more Sirius-inspired design than XM.
Interesting that we haven't seen a new Sirius-band radio in quite a while, but quite a few new XM-band radios. I've long conjectured that they'll scrap the Sirius-band (or at least the duplication of content) and try to get as many Sirius-band subs to the XM-band as possible, and this looks like another step in that direction. Once the Sirius side's share of the subs is down to something manageable, then we'll start to see more content going XM-only and free XM-band radios (perhaps with the same PnP pinouts so that docks and antennae don't need to be replaced) distributed with one-year sub-extensions.
Sirius OEM's wider use of box-in-trunk-style receivers instead of HU integrated receivers makes conversion of those easier, too.
Looks like a Sportster 5 .
So, the purpose of this is to change as many users over to XM-band equipment as possible so they can eliminate the duplication of content between Sirius and XM -- and, perhaps, have two satellite radio services for people with different tastes? Are you joking? It's been less than a year since we did have that. Now they want everybody to buy new equipment so we can go back to what we had before?
Why no love for Sirius?
I've had both:
The sound is better on the Sirius side
Moving reception is better
Sirius has better features (Traffic, gas prices, etc)
Sirius is available in more vehicles
Just don't get it - just converted me and the wife over to Sirius from XM and it's 100x better in the SQ department than the XM stuff.
Customize colors ? Sorry i like to customize the actual music . Slacker Rocks !
The purpose of releasing radio equipment for one infrastructure is quite simple. Sirius XM is required to maintain compatibility with legacy equipment for fifteen years. After that, they can deprecate a platform and expand the bandwidth. It is clear that they plan to do this with the Sirius platform - and rightfully so. The CODEC and the broadcast technology limits them.
If I had to guess, I bet the receiving hardware on the new XM receivers can "see" all of the spectrum for Sirius XM. That said, in under fifteen years, they can deprecate the Sirius platform and expand the XM platform to use the entire spectrum. HE-AAC is far superior at reduced bitrates than PAC, and, having to speculate more - these new tuners likely support versions of the CODEC beyond V1.
That is to say, in fifteen years, based on my non-professional analysis, they will deprecate the Sirius platform, and effectively have twice the bandwidth available on the XM platform. This will allow them to add more content.
Unfortunately, this means that in the interim, the Sirius side's in-house broadcast equipment will probably never receive any further augmentations. They likely won't invest in new processing or CODEC optimization technologies. It will probably never be enhanced. If I had to wager a guess, they are probably working on a plan to terminate the operations at Rockefeller center. They rent that (and that part of NYC is very expensive); they own 1500 Eckington Place NE. The location isn't that important. Most DJs voicetrack or broadcast from remote facilities. The Internet makes this incredibly easy to do.
At least, this is my input on the situation. This seems to make the smartest business sense to me.
No, xcountry, I think he's saying the Sirius band will die off and they can retire a few Sats by slowly removing the Sirius-format radios to improve the bottom line.
Why would they eliminate pause buttons and the select-tune features?
I would upgrade from my old skyfi2 but not with less features!
Fifteen years is a distant horizon for a radio service that's been on the market for about eight years. In that length of time, this technology may be completely obsolete.
And, they already have double the bandwidth if they weren't wasting it by programming the same stuff over two separate systems. Rather than thinking toward a very distant future that this technology may never see, wouldn't it make more sense to use what they have now to effectively double the bandwidth by returning to differentiated programming on the two services again? Then, there would be a market for the dual-service radios and double subscriptions, or "a la carte" plans that actually offer real choice -- and instead of hemorrhaging subscribers, they might actually gain a few.
Looks like the newest version of my trusty 'lil 'ol SkyFi generation 1 I still use(only SatRad rig I've ever owned/used since Feb 2002).
If I WAS going to buy a newer rig (which I'm NOT planning on) I would get the Inno which is truly portable all the way around.
I guess its still for sale.
This is what I was hoping they would do - release all dual-chipset radios, like the Mirge, and consolidate the technology. But, it's not looking like this is the direction they are taking. They need to be working on a chipset solution that receives both XM and Sirius radio on the same integrated circuit, to keep costs down.
That said -- with the introduction of the Sirius Stratus 6, I have no clue what the heck they are doing... There is a new tuner announced for Sirius. It is an A La Carte capable device.
Technologically, ANY radio can do A La Carte. My guess is that there is a considerable bandwidth overhead to "block" channels on all tuners, and thats why they aren't offering A La Carte for all units.
"HE-AAC is far superior at reduced bitrates than PAC, and, having to speculate more - these new tuners likely support versions of the CODEC beyond V1."
Hardly. I've A/B'ed XM and Sirius and while neither are awesome, Sirius sounds much better than XM. No more ssssshhhh's, better bass, and just a better sound.
And the Sirius infrastructure has better MOBILE reception than XM. Again, I've had both and my Sirius drops out less than XM. XM has better mobile repeater coverage so indoor is better on XM.
We just dumped XM in the wife's car because of the sound quality and recent dropouts that have been increasing. Sirius is performing beautifully there, just like in my car.
In short, I hope they go with the Sirius platform rather than the XM. XM is not the be all and end all and the better platform.
Of course, "better sound" when you're talking about these two services is a case of "damning with faint praise," and there are others who've come to the opposite conclusion that you have. Maybe the difference is too subtle to be significant.
But, the important point is, they need to move forward with both platforms both because of the large installed equipment base on both sides, and because two platforms, when used properly, double the SDARS programming choices of consumers. If they intend to continue using their monopoly to avoid programming both services, I believe they should be required to sell one off to someone else. As it is now, people are being deprived of 50 percent of the capacity of this medium.
I was also a pre-merger subscriber to both XM and Sirius and will agree with what others have already stated Sirius has superior sound quality. I was an XM subscriber for about 4 years and was always annoyed by the sound quality. I figured I would give Sirius a try about 2 years ago and found the sound quality much better. Maybe, as some have said, XM has a better platform But if that is the case they aren't using it effectively. I am still a Sirius-XM subscriber but if they keep hitting me with fees and rate-hikes I will have to ditch it.
SuperH, stop using the phrase "that said." It's a crutch that makes you look stupid.
Where can I find Sounds of the Season on XM
how do I lissen on my PC
Sounds of the Seasons is a Music Choice channel. If your ISP is either Cox or Comcast, you can stream SotS at http://broadband.musicchoice.com/mcbroadband/mso/player/portal.asp.
To listen to XM online (if you have purchased the online add-on service), you can login at http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/index.jsp.
The reason SIRIS XM would prefer to offer new XM radios is simple. XM, as far as I know, offers all of the available programming. Namely, XM is the only way you can get baseball. You can get Howard Stern, Football, Playboy,etc..on XM as part of the best of SIRIUS. However, Sirius subscribers due to contractual reasons, can't get baseball...even with best of XM. So, if it was up to SIRIUS XM, they would like to put all of their subs on XM, and offer Howard Stern, football, as a "Best of" package. M.L.B wants more money to be offered to Sirius customers....SIRIUS XM, rightly so, does not want to pay them any more millions to have available to SIRIUS...just have their customers get XM..
Truthfully!!! Will SIRIUS & XM ever really MERGE?
Does the onyx display stock ticker like sky fi2?
No the XM onyX doesn't have a stock ticker or sports scores. If you're looking for a new XM receiver and want to have all the latest features, check out the XpressRC
Does it have a remote control that can be purchased to operate the radio?
Yes
Belkin Universal XM Radio Remote Control F5X019
Also available: Smaller slim-designed F5X099