Offering surprisingly good sound for its diminutive size, the SA10034
portable audio system from Delphi is a terrific way to enjoy your XM
satellite radio subscription and MP3 CDs at home or on the go. The
system, just 20 inches across, is easy to carry, easy to position, and
hard to turn off, thanks to its impressive abilities and engaging
performance. The boombox is designed for use with Delphi's SA10000 XM
SKYFi radio receiver, but it will operate independently of the receiver
for CD playback or analog FM/AM radio reception. Delphi uses a clever pivoting center unit that houses an XM receiver
dock on one side and a CD transport/analog tuner on the flip side--just
spin it backward or pull it forward to enjoy your desired source. As an
XM radio interface, the boombox is first-rate. The XM SKYFi receiver
locks in securely and the boombox carry handle is flexible but durable.
We were impressed with the bass output from the system's small,
relatively flat speakers, and midrange and treble frequencies sounded
smoother and more balanced than expected. We listened with ease for
hours at a stretch. The system seems to process stereo signals to make
them wider and more spacious than they'd otherwise sound from speakers
fixed less than 10 inches apart, but the effect is not unpleasant.
Crucially, the boombox--unlike the XM receiver itself--offers a
headphone jack, letting you plug the system into an integrated amplifier
or surround receiver for listening through your usual speakers. (A
minijack-to-stereo-RCA "Y" adapter cable is not included.) Sound from
the headphone jack is not processed for wide stereo. XM navigation,
wholly the province of the SA10000 receiver, is terrific, and the remote
control supplied with the boombox operates both the boombox and your XM
receiver, so you don't need both remotes on hand.
The CD transport appears to have been cheaply integrated, resulting in
audible electrical noise whenever a disc is spinning or skipping to a
new track. Luckily, discs spin only part of the time--just long enough
to load the music into a memory buffer. With MP3 CDs, the buffer will
hold a song or more. With audio CDs, however, discs will spin for about
a minute, rest for 20 seconds, then commence spinning. If you're
listening at a loud level to music that is fairly loud itself, you
probably won't notice the noise. But with close or quiet listening to
jazz, classical, or folk, the sputtering can be bothersome.
The CD player's LCD shows the number of directories (folders) and the
number of tracks on a disc at startup. The display does not permit macro
folder/file navigation, so if you don't know the folder and track
numbers for the file you want to hear, you'll have to browse by ear or
by specific file name as you skip through the tracks (folder names are
not displayed).
We experienced occasional audio glitches during MP3 CD playback, even
during stable indoor use. Still, it's nice to have the ability to listen
to or shuffle through an MP3 CD, especially on the go: just load 6 D
batteries, dock an XM receiver, and bring the included XM antenna and a
single multihour MP3 CD for fail-safe musical enjoyment.
The boombox's XM's satellite reception is great. Outdoors, maintain
clear overhead visibility (don't expect pristine reception under a
massive bridge, for instance). Every location will be different, but
it's worth noting that, indoors, we encountered no XM radio dropouts or
service interruptions during our review period, either with the
recommended south-facing antenna position or from an east-facing
position used for much of our listening. The signal intensity varied,
but reception was always solid. --Michael Mikesell
Pros:
- Remote control operates both the boombox and your XM receiver
- Rugged design, truly portable
- Cool flip-around CD/XM receiver design
- Plays MP3 CDs, includes FM/AM radio
- Excellent tracking of disc playback
while unit is in motion - Surprising amount of bass from small speakers
- Natural-sounding vocals with clear treble reproduction
- Handle offers
thermoplastic rubber grip - Displays file names for MP3 tracks lacking ID3
tags - Works with rechargeable batteries
Cons:
- Audio CDs are highly susceptible to electrical noise when disc
is in motion or changing tracks - Slow CD track changes while transport
gets up to speed - Occasional stuttering when playing MP3 tracks
- Does not
display MP3 folder/directory names - Volume up/down buttons rather than
rotary knob for CD listening - XM category up/down buttons hard to access
on boombox remote
What's in the Box
Boombox, remote control, 2 AAA remote batteries, an
XM satellite antenna, an AC power supply, a user's manual, and a
quick-start guide.
