Rating  - Some problems with heat and sound clarity
I was in the hunt for a shuttle to link my AudioVox plug-&-play receiver into that didn't look as "cluttery" as the home dock (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C04HU) and junky computer speakers I was using. Fortunately, I caught a pretty good deal on this boom box, which, while a bit plain-looking, is a fair deal more aesthetically pleasing than my old home dock. It also helps that I only need to plug one electrical cord into my wall socket, rather than two. The boom box is also compatible with all of the antennas I have. Speaking of which: built into the unit is a link-up for the included antenna to rest on; if you aim the boom box in the right direction so's the antenna gets max reception. You don't have to worry about running the antenna out to a separate location and risk having someone trip over the wire.
Sadly, the boom box has several downsides, including inferior sound from the built-in speakers; I got slightly better sound from the computer speakers my home dock is connected to. I've owned cheaper Radio/CD boom boxes that put out slightly better audio. Even through several pairs of earphones I've tried out, the sound is rather ordinary.
I've also discovered that the factory antenna that came with the boom box is the same as the one I got with my home unit... and it behaves in pretty much the same way. In other words: it usually picks up a strong signal, but on some occasions the signal is intermittent or almost nonexistent. And you may as well forget about picking up a good beam in heavy rain. Fortunately, I've made this little problem moot by acquiring a great outdoor antenna (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000167KPQ).
Also a potential problem is the design of the recession the receiver unit fits into. The receiver's heat vents aren't quite a free to breathe as they are in the other shuttles I own. Of course, my other shuttles don't cover over the top and sides of the receiver as much as the boom box does, so the heat dissipates a lot more quickly. Every time I touch the edges of the receiver after it's been playing for a fairly long time in the boom box, it almost feels like it came straight outta the microwave!
Another problem with the boom box's interface design is the parts that link the receiver with the boom box and hold it in place. I really have to push the receiver into place, some times even force it, to get it fully connected; needless to say, I worry about doing permanent damage to the receiver's connector pins. Then there's the little problem I have removing the receiver from the player; the release button on the top of the boom box has to really be pushed down hard and held down to get it to relinquish its grasp.
On one upside: ever since I started using the boom box, I've been using the receiver's remote control clicker more often to change channels and bands, memo songs, and all sorts of other functions. Sadly, the only thing the remote control can't change is the volume, which I can adjust with... a knob on the boom box that also turns the unit off and on. Well, that's a bit quaint. At the least, AudioVox could've designed the remote control so it'd be programmable for use with the boom box's volume control... if it wasn't in knob form that is.
`Late
Rating  - Audiovox customer service
Beware of Audiovox customer service. My unit has been inoperable for 6 months. I have sent in in twice (Paid for shipping)and got an inoperable unit back both times. They are now asking me to send it in again (on my dime). I am cutting my loose and running as fast as I can.
Rating - Goto XM, Serious is junk
Here are the negatives:
-worst customer service of any business I purchased something through (and I also work in a customer service job, so I know). They cannot help you with equipment problems, instead they tell you to call Audiovox, who still can't help and will not try.
- Signal on boom box rarely comes in. Fades in and out worst than any AM/FM radio station. If it doesn't work when and were you want, then what is the advantage over regular radio?
-Receiver heats up big time!
-I hope your office window faces the right direction!
-No CD player? With today's technology integration, you gotta be kidding!
Positives
-If they have a talk show on you can't get on the internet, them maybe it is worth it if you can stand the crappy equipment.
-If work does not allow you to use i-net for streaming audio, and you don't want X-M, then buy this soon-to-be antique.
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Customer Reviews for Sirius,SIR-BB1,044476019241,0044476019241,B0001DDKQM, |
