Home > Consumer Reviews > XACT COMMUNICATIONS XTR3CK Sirius Satellite Plug + Play Receiver and Vehicle Kit

I recently bought this as a gift for my roomate as an inexpensive way for him to join the Sirius family. Basically so he could listen to Howard Stern. I myself have the Starmate which I would also recommend. The Starmate actually has a few more features such as the ability to Pause and Record (briefly - 44 minutes). This receiver does not have that ability but all in all after showing my roomate how to use it and testing it out a few times myself, I find it very useful, very effective, and a great value. Signal is NO different than the more expensive models, you get the same content, and stories of over heating are a myth. I'd buy it and I'd reccommend it.

I had purchased from the Sirius website a sv1 Sirius radio but could not get it to perform to my satisfaction. I looked around for another radio and found the Xact Radio. It does perform much better than the Sirius SV1 when it comes to the amount of static you hear and I don't have to change FM frequency's all the time trying to get rid of static. Problem solved!

I got one of these little wonders to put in the car, and it does what it's supposed to do: Bring the best radio on radio into my car! I've noticed very few dropouts with this, unless you're parked under a bridge or something like that, you should get a strong signal.
I do, however, highly recommend that you use the audio out to a line in on your car stereo, it's much better quality and the volume is much higher than using the FM transmitter, but if that's the only way you can connect, it works well enough :)
I don't listen to terrestrial radio any more thanks to this!

I got this receiver for my birthday and I have to say I had doubts about the quality of music I was going to get from this device. Honestly, at times It sounds better than the regular FM radio. As for the car kit, the only time consuming part is installing the antena because you have to wire it from the outside but hey!, if I did it - anyone can do it.
I definitely recommend getting this device based on the great reception that I get especially living in New York City where there are tall buildings all over the place.
This review is based on my experience of the XTR3CK car kit. I have yet to try the home kit.

I bought this recevier on Monday. I bought the receiver, the home kit, and a 50 dollar gift card to activate it and pay for the first two months. I also bought 4 year service protection (I got it at best buy). The total price was well under 200 dollars. And I'm satisfied because I can get the receiver replaced for free for the next four years.

As for how it works? Great. Now, I only use it for the home/office. The signal is great (I live in Chicago), and in the office, I'm not even near a window and it works perfectly. I have it set up with a computer speaker system (got it for under 50 bucks a long time ago) and it sounds great (The subwoofer helps fill out the sound.)

The only drawback for me is I can't get MLB or Air America. But I'm a Howard Stern nut, so I'm happy. Very happy. For simplicity, good sound, and a low price, I really think this is a perfect choice.