New York – Sirius XM is preparing to
launch its lowest priced satellite-radio tuner at $59.99 and the first dual-network
docking-speaker system capable of docking with XM and Sirius Dock and Play
tuners.
Previous
speaker docks were designed to work only with XM tuners or only with Sirius
tuners but not with both types of tuners.
The
tabletop docking speaker system is the $129 Sirius XM Sound Dock, an AC/DC
model that comes with dual antenna to pick up XM and Sirius satellite signals.
It also features a single multipin connector that mates with all XM and Sirius Dock
and Player tuners offered in the past three years. It also mates with the wearable
XMP3 player with XM tuner, wired headphones, and recording capability.
The
$129.99 speaker system ships around early November and will replace current XM-only
and Sirius-only docking speaker systems.
The
dock operates on eight C batteries. A recess in back lets users carry it from
place to place. Other features include aux input and headphone output.
Compared
to its predecessors, the dock boosts audio performance while occupying a lot
less space, said aftermarket product marketing VP Sean Gibbons. The system, he
claimed, compares favorably in sound quality with iPod-docking speaker systems
at two to three times the price.
For the car, Sirius XM plans October
availability of the $59.99 transportable XM Snap, which consists of an XM
tuner/controller mounted to a flexible stalk that plugs into a car’s power port
or cigarette lighter for power. The device uses the company’s PowerConnect
technology to convert satellite-radio programming into FM radio signals, which
are injected into the car’s behind-the-dash power wires through the car’s power
port. The FM-modulated signal can be picked up by the car’s existing FM tuner
if tuned to an unused FM station.
The
Snap can be moved from car to car, but unlike Dock and Play transportable
tuners, the tuner cannot be removed for use in a home docking cradle for
playback through a connected home stereo system.
Snap was designed to simplify installation by
eliminating the need to install a dashboard mounting kit for a Dock and Play
tuner, the company said. To complete the installation, consumers need only run
a thin wire from the Snap to a magnet-mount antenna on the vehicle’s roof. Snap
also reduces dashboard clutter by eliminating the mounting kit and the need for
a dangling power cord.
Snap
was also designed to be simple to use, the company said. The device features
five presets buttons, seek button, LCD screen, and controls to select stations
by genre.
The next step up in the XM selection is
the $79 Onyx Dock and Play tuner.
