Sirius Soloist Universal Sound System
by Sirius Satellite Radio
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Our Price: $49.99
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Category: Car Audio or Theater
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Sirius Satellite RadioBrand: Sirius Satellite Radio
Edition: Electronics
Model: SOLOIST
Publisher: Sirius Satellite Radio
Studio: Sirius Satellite Radio
Music Label: Sirius Satellite Radio
Product features:
- Universal speaker system for Sirius plug 'n' play receivers and dockable iPods
- Supplied with multiple docking cradles and adapters; 5 preset EQ settings
- Patented NXT flat-panel speaker technology creates rich, dynamic sound
- LCD display shows clock, source, and timer info; includes wireless remote
- Line and auxiliary inputs; measures 12.62 x 7.88 x 4.62 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sirius Soloist Universal Sound System
Customer Review: A product that requires some compromises
Summary: 3 Stars
First off, this product is widely available at many online retailers at various prices. I suggest you do some goggling before making a purchase anywhere. Prices can range from $30 refurbished to $150 brand new.
I was originally looking for a boom box for my Sirius Sportster 4. Unfortunately, many of them have been discontinued and are very hard to come by new or used. The Sirius Soloist seemed like the next best thing, even though it is not portable.
The Sirius Soloist accommodates about seven different Sirius Radios, including some plug and play models as well as the Stiletto series. It can also handle any iPod with a 30 pin connector. The Soloist does come with adapters for all of these as well as a Sirius antennae. As far as the adapters, I found that they are hard to snap in and take off without the fear of breaking them. In fact, I docked both my iPod and Sportster 4 radio directly onto the pins without the adapters. The adapters help give the units a snugger fit, especially if you are directly pushing on the buttons on either the iPod or radios. My recommendation would be to use the remote control as much as possible so you don't bend the units back to the point that you break the pin connectors.
A nice feature to this unit is the clock. Not only does the Soloist act as an alarm clock, but it also has timer features and a sleep mode. When using the alarm, you can wake up to an annoying buzzer sound, the Sirius radio, or iPod. The only thing with the iPod is that you have to have a song already cued to play so when it turns on it will wake you up. The timer is cool to have. You can program the unit to turn on at a certain time and turn off as well. I find this useful when listening to the Sirius radio in the morning while getting ready for work. The sleep mode allows you to set the unit to turn off after 90 minutes, allowing you to set it in 10 minute increments. One thing I do not like about the clock is the display. It is a dark blue background with light blue LCD numbers and icons. It's a bit hard to see at times. The only drawback with the alarm clock and timers is that you can only set them when the Soloist is turned off. Also, both the alarm and timer buttons act as on/off buttons. There will be icons that light up to let you now when these are activated.
Another nice feature for this unit is the extra inputs and outputs. There is a line in jack as well as an auxiliary in jack for other devices like another MP3 player, CD player, tape deck, etc. I find the volume has to be turned way up on both the additional players and the Soloist in order to hear anything connected to these jacks. There is also a line out jack for extra speakers. Again, I find the power/sound to be very weak when listening through extra speakers. The headphone jack is cool to have. It mutes any sound coming from the Soloist speakers when plugged in.
There is also a USB input which allows you to access the computer for things like iTunes.
The sound that comes out of the Soloist is quite impressive for such a small unit. There are 5 preset EQ settings (Rock, Jazz, Classic, Flat, and Pop) and a DBB button which increases bottom end bass frequencies. Both of these features help enhance any type of music you listen to.
The Soloist remote control works pretty good with the Sirius Radio. The Soloist remote can do pretty much everything that the Sirius ones can as far as navigating through different screens, accessing different stations, etc. When it comes to the iPod however, it is quite limited. You need to already be in an album or playlist of some sort. Then you can only pause or track back and forth between songs. The remote that comes with the Soloist will not allow you to access other menus in the iPod. In that case you would need to use the touch controls on the iPod. Also, you need to be in pretty close proximity when using the Soloist remote. I sometimes find myself pressing the remote buttons more than once to get it to do what I want.
The buttons on the Soloist seem very cheap and almost feel like they are worn down already. A person with big fingers might have a hard time trying to press one with out another next to it.
I paid close to $80 "brand new" from one online retailer. I probably would have even settled for a refurbished one at $30 from another online retailer. I wouldn't pay over $100 for the Soloist. I was considering getting an extra one but not sure yet.
Overall, it's a nice little unit that provides some conveniences I was looking for, which seem to outweigh any of the inconveniences. Still, it could use a few improvements.
Description of Sirius Soloist Universal Sound System
This multi functional media dock from Directed Electronics features the most versatile amplified dock with a patented NXT stereo sound panel. The Soloist delivers 20 watts of clear dynamic sound from simply plugging in your sirius radioBring your Sirius satellite radio receiver or iPod to life with the Soloist universal sound system. Boasting a series of docking cradles and adapters for holding the Sirius Sportster 3 and 4, Starmate 3 and 4, Stiletto SL100 and SL10, and Stratus receivers, along with a separate cradle that holds all dockable iPods, the sound system serves as an ideal audio centerpiece for your bedroom, office, or basement rec room. Simply drop your preferred audio device into one of the docking cradles and you're set. Listeners will love the Soloist's rich, detailed sound, which employs patented NXT honeycomb flat-panel speaker technology to create a dynamic, powerful audio performance. The flat-panel surfaces vibrate seamlessly to provide a full audio range, while the four built-in exciters are coupled at lower frequencies to flesh out the bass response. The resulting sonic footprint resonates in all directions, making this a far more immersive system than most integrated speaker models.
The Soloist receives high-quality satellite reception thanks to its indoor/outdoor antenna, which includes a 21-foot connection cable. For best results, listeners should place the antenna on the roof (the antenna is fully waterproof), where it's more likely to find a clear path to the satellite signals. However, the antenna may still work well if located on the side of the house or near a window, provided it receives an unobstructed view of the sky.
The Soloist is also equipped with an LCD display that coordinates the built-in clock, source, timers, and other functions. The full-featured alarm and sleep timer, meanwhile, come in handy should you locate the Soloist in a bedroom. The alarm lets you wake to one of Sirius's more than 130 digital streams--including music, news, talk, sports, or entertainment--as well as recorded Sirius content or an iPod playlist. The sleep timer works in the opposite direction, playing your Sirius or iPod tunes for 10 to 90 minutes (in 10-minute increments) until you fall asleep.
Other details include a 20-watt Tripath amplifier; five built-in equalization settings (flat, classic, rock, pop, and jazz); a dynamic bass boost function that improves the low frequency response; a USB connection for hooking up to your PC; line and auxiliary inputs and a line output for connecting external audio sources to the system; a headphone jack for private listening; and a wireless remote with buttons for virtually all of the system's functions, including a 0-9 direct keypad for selecting Sirius channels. The Soloist, which measures 12.62 by 7.88 by 4.62 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one- year warranty.
What's in the Box
Soloist sound system, AC/DC power adapter with 6-foot cord, wireless remote with battery, antenna with 21-foot cord, Sportster docking cradle, Starmate/Stratus cradle adapter, Stiletto docking cradle, iPod docking cradle, clock battery, user's manual.
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