Sirius Radios

Sirius satellite radio hardware

For Sirius satellite radio, the portable Sirius Sportster 5 (*Est. $150) has a stylish, slim-line profile and a color display. Some of the product's other highlights are its 2.7-inch multi-color, six-line, customizable display; 30 preset channels; S-Seek Alert so you don't miss your favorite artists, songs or sports; and the Sirius Replay function for up to 60 minutes of live programming. It comes with a car dock, remote control, FM extender antenna and mounting equipment. It includes an FM transmitter for wireless connection to a car radio. Earlier Sportster models suffered from complaints regarding that transmitter, but user reviews indicate that's not as much of an issue in the Sportster 5. A stereo audio output is also available.

If you are interested in something more basic and less expensive, the Sirius Starmate 4 (*Est. $90) is a good choice. The Starmate 4 handles the basics well, and it even has a few tricks of its own. Those include a five-line graphic display, a 44-minute replay function and Game Alert to tell you when your favorite team is playing. This plug-and-play satellite radio receiver comes with a car kit that includes an antenna, dock, cigarette-lighter type charger and vehicle mounts. The Starmate 4 was designed with an ultra-slim form factor to increase the ease of portability, while still maintaining a large, widescreen display. Most owners of the Starmate satellite radio applaud the new, slim design, but some reviews state that with the vehicle docking and the mount, it ends up being as thick as some earlier models.

The Sirius Stiletto 2 is a truly portable Sirius satellite radio -- meaning you can listen to live Sirius radio through headphones while you're outside. In addition, it is Wi-Fi capable, which is useful for streaming Sirius radio content from the Internet when you're within range of a Wi-Fi hot spot or network.

The Stiletto 2 is feature-rich. There's a microSD memory card slot that lets you add removable/expandable memory to supplement the built-in 2 GB of internal flash memory. The radio has the ability to record live programming, and includes Sirius Replay (pause, rewind and replay) for up to 60 minutes of live radio, Game Alert and Game Zone for sports fans, and one-touch recording of up to ten hours of songs. Owners say that the new Altec Lansing headphones are better than what was available on earlier Sirius radios, and they appreciate the size-adjustable menu read-out and handy six-way navigation media dial for one-handed access to the Stiletto's features. Neither a car kit (*est. $50) nor a home kit (*est. $50) is included, however.

If you want a receiver for use at home, the Tivoli Model Satellite AM/FM/Sirius (*Est. $300) is a standalone Sirius satellite radio that gets a good rating from editors at CNet and more favorable reviews elsewhere. This elegant, all-in-one model delivers AM/FM radio plus the Sirius channels in a modestly sized cherry-wood cabinet. A large, blue Sirius LCD display shows the title of the current selection, the artist and the channel. Reviewers at CNet.com commend the Tivoli for its rich sound, flexible options and reception. There's no recording function, and there are no controls for treble or bass. Furthermore, the Model Satellite is mono only (though you can add an additional speaker for stereo sound).