Xact XTR1 Sirius satellite plug-and-play receiver
Xact's palm-size XRT1 is a multiuse Sirius satellite radio tuner that can be used at home, in the car, or on the go. However, to make the XRT1 work in each of those locations, you'll need to purchase add-on accessories. Is the XRT1 a "Sirius" competitor to XM's portable MyFi? Read the CNET First Take to find out.
Xact's palm-size XRT1 Stream Jockey is a multiuse Sirius satellite radio tuner that can be used in conjunction with a variety of other Sirius products, such as the XS027 boombox, the XRT1CK car kit, and the XS028 portable battery pack. The XRT1's S-Seek feature allows you to quickly find 20 of your saved favorite artists or songs on all of Sirius's 120 digital radio streams. The XRT1 is currently available with a retail price of $99.
Upside: The wide variety of XRT1-compatible products makes it possible to listen to Sirius's programming at home, in the car, and on the go. The S-Seek searching capability should make it easy to find the content you want, and the wireless remote should make it convenient to get there. In addition, the XRT1 (with the battery pack) is about $150 cheaper than XM's competing MyFi.
Downside: The compatible battery pack makes the XRT1 pretty bulky and allows only 3 hours of listening time--considerably less than the 5 hours the MyFi offers. The XRT1 also lacks some of the advanced features of the MyFi, such as the TiVo-like abilities to record satellite radio, display sport scores, and be used as an alarm clock. And although the XRT1 is cheaper than the MyFi, it requires one of the add-on packages to work and lacks the MyFi's extensive array of included accessories.
Outlook: Compared to the Delphi XM MyFi, the XRT1 just doesn't stack up. Even the lower price evaporates if you need to purchase separate accessories to listen in multiple environments; by contrast, the MyFi includes home and car kits, as well as an integrated rechargeable battery. If you like Sirius's programming and don't need the advanced functionality of the MyFi, the XRT1 could be a good way to get a bare-bones portable satellite radio at a reduced cost. But we're betting that Sirius will have a better portable option by the time Howard hits the airwaves in 2006. In the meantime, check out CNET's satellite radio guide to learn more about XM and Sirius.