Delphi SkyFi2 XM Satellite Radio Receiver and Car Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)After much research, I finally decided that this was the receiver for me!So far, so good.

I am primarily using this in the car, so I grabbed this version that included the car kit.If you only want one receiver but want to use it in two cars, you will need an extra car kit.It's too annoying to try to move the antenna between cars.I had looked at a few portable units, but I chose this one since it was designed primarily for those in the car, and I wanted the a unit that was going to be easy to use when I'm in the car.

Installation was very easy.I did it myself, and my antenna is on top of my roof near the front.The antenna cord is about 24 feet long, so there is plenty of extra cord if you are in a sedan like me.I ran my cord right under the weatherstripping on the front windsheild as was suggested at cruchfield.com, then through the door and around the door jam.The kit also includes one of those little tubes that you can fit around your cords, as you will have three: antenna, power and the cassette.All cords plug into the base.

I used the air vent base installation instructions (the kit also comes with dashboard mount and a swivel mount, but both can damage your car when you're ready to remove the mounts).The only thing is that I wish it were a little more steady from side to side when I am pushing the buttons.It takes some playing around with to get just right.

The receiver itself has been pretty easy to use.I definitely recommend actually reading the instructions on how to use all of the different buttons.There are 30 memory buttons available.There is also a neat feature that will alert you to when your favorite artist or song is playing, and the alert will allow you to go straight to that channel if you so desire.

One downside is that only the buttons have a backlight.The labels above them do not have these lights.So, until I get to remember exactly where the "jump," "memory" and "menu" buttons are, it's going to be to difficult to use them in the dark.

There is also a 30 minute record/replay function on this receiver.However, anything you save is erased when the unit is turned off.

I tracked this item for a few weeks before I bought it, as I noticed that the price occasionally would change from day to day.Amazon's price when I bought this three days ago was $93.99, and today it is listed about $3 less.Some third party merchants have dropped the price below the Amazon price from time to time, but generally, the Amazon price has been the lowest.

If you buy this item before the end of April 2006, there is also a $30 rebate available from XM.

Although I have not actually been a Sirius subscriber, I took advantage of the online trials with Sirius and XM.I also read some reviews of both and examined their channel guide.Their offerings are very similar.If you are interested in sports, XM has great college ACC/Pac 10/Big 10 channels (I am a UNC grad, so I have to have my ACC sports!), NASCAR and MLB.Sirius offerings are more towards NFL/MLH fans.One review I read said that the music on Sirius tended to be what he phrased as "riskier," which the reviewer defined as playing more deep cuts, etc.I have been very, very pleased with the XM offerings, playlist, variety, talk, etc.No complaints with XM here!

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Product Description:
DELPHI SA10126-11B1 SKYFi2(TM) Bundle Includes: ; DELSA10101 SkyFi2(TM) Receiver ; DELSA10102 SKYFi2(TM) ;Vehicle Kit SKYFi2(TM) Bundle

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Polk Audio Monitor 30 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had the Monitor 30's for almost a year now and am incredibly impressed.Great bang for the buck (paid $140 on sale at CC).I am using these as fronts in my 7.1 surround set up, with Polk M10's as the surrounds and a Pioneer VSX-1018 avr and Sony 40S2010 LCD.I am still using a crappy jvc htib 60watt powered sub, but am planning on treating myself to a Avs123 X-sub for Christmas. :)Anyway, I am here to talk about the Polk M30.My set up is for a 15'x17'den.That's a fairly small room and I have a wife that agitated with overpowering sound (yeah, my love for audio equipment does not always over well).Although I would have loved to go for a floorstanding speaker, I agreed to stick to bookshelf size to keep my wife happy.The M30 certainly fit the bill.They have a clean, accurate sound with excellent highs and mids.The sound is linear and smooth, with a warm tone.If you like a brighter sounding speaker, these probably aren't for you and you might be better off with the Infinity Beta series.As far as bass goes, on my radio shack SLP, they drop as low as 50hz, which is pretty decent compared to most of the bookshelves I have heard and better than the specs indicate.Still, these speakers, by themselves don't produce enough bass depth for stand alone duty.You will need a decent sub that can make up for what the M30's lack and, given the m30 range, setting the crossover on the amp at 80 is the way to go with these babies.

These speakers are designed for a tonal match with all other speakers in the monitor line and the M10's are perfect for satellite duty.I would recommend spending a little extra for the Polk CS1 center over the CSM (returned it).As for a sub to match, CNET likes the match between the Polk PWS10 with the Monitor 30s (used in their test).I auditioned the PSW10 and felt it was lacking umph.I preferred the sound of the Velodyne VX-10 or Dayton 120 (although I am going to take the advice my audiofile friends and go for the Avs123 sub-x for $200).

The bottomline, the Monitor 30 is a high quality bookshelf speaker for a fair price.If you're a hardcore audiofile looking for paradigm and definitive bookshelves, the M30 isn't going to work for you.However, if you're looking for a nice sounding speaker but don't want to spend $800, these are ideal.Certainly, they blow away anything from sony, pioneer, yamaha and Bose etc.

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Product Description:

The Polk Audio Monitor 30 2-way Bookshelf Speaker is a quality-built yet affordable, high-performance loudspeaker for music and home theater. The Polk Monitor 30 provides open, spacious and clear audio even when driven by modestly-powered amplifiers and receivers, and is voice matched for lifelike surround-sound environments. This monitor boasts a stylish look that complements today's flat screen technology, with a discreet black finish, and built-in keyhole wall mounting brackets for strong, secure on-wall mounting with no added brackets to buy.

The Polk Audio Monitor 30 in black.

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