Thankfully these dedicated devices are relatively inexpensive, with models like the XEZ1H1 Onyx offering remarkably affordable access points for satellite radio. Installation in the vehicle is super easy with the included vehicle kit (adapter, antenna, etc.) that allows you transfer between cars all on a single subscription. The full-color display will showcase album art, channel logos and graphics to add some visual appeal. The Onyx Plus offers “SiriusXM Xtra,” which includes more music and entertainment channels, plus SiriusXM Latino. And catching up on the big game is no problem with Sports Ticker. There are some standard features, too, including one-touch access to traffic and weather, as well as one-touch jump back to a previous channel. At just 3.88 ounces and 4.1" (W) x 1.69" (H) x .48" (D), the Touch is in the middle of the road when compared to the rest of the portable satellite radio competition. However, car installation is a snap and portability is simplified with multiple car attachments all on a single subscription. You can also share your music with new social features, as well as receive personalized recommendations to help find new content. And a smart, easy-to-navigate design helps simplify the number of presses it takes to find and play music. Streaming is included with every All Access SiriusXM subscription. The smartphone app allows subscribers to go back in time up to five hours to listen to previous content, and Start Now starts every song at the beginning upon selecting a new channel. Favorites, settings and listening history all sync between devices allowing you to listen from your iPhone and then pick right up where you left off on your iPad. The app itself is free and offers a truly portable listening experience. If you’re already a subscriber, listening virtually anywhere offers just one more attractive reason to be a SiriusXM subscriber. The standalone 5.2 x 10.8 x 6-inch radio employs a SiriusXM receiver right on-board and you can access all the requisite music, talk radio and sports stations — MLB, Nascar, NFL and more with your SiriusXM subscription — you want. What’s great is you can use this as an in-home speaker as well — something that sets it apart from Sirius’ car-based models. They’ve even thrown in some alarm functionality, so you can wake up to sports updates or news programs, rather than your regular alarm (you can even snooze it). It’s a great speaker, with a good amount of volume and it’ll look nice in any room.
Display
Not all displays are created equal. Some radios have full-color, touch-screen displays, while others have more basic, black-and-white displays with physical buttons. Some show information like the station, song title, and even album art, while others are much more bare-bones.
Size
Of course, portable satellite radios need to be small enough in dimensions and weight to be conveniently portable. Options range in weight from 4 ounces on up, and in size from as small as a checkbook up to a large clock radio. Choose a size that is practical given the amount of toting around you’ll do.
