Polk XRt12 XM tuner review

[steveinaz]

Well, I won't need a week to figure out that this is a major improvement over the Delphi Skyfi/Sony offerings. After much thought about how to describe the differences, a good analogy came to mind:

Imagine having a CD walkman (or other portable) connected to your system as your primary CD Player, and then replacing it with a NAD 541i or similar quality CD Player. Everything just sounds better. About a 6dB increase in output (seat-of-the-pants measurement), solid, deep reaching bass, drastically improved midrange, and better treble extension. Background noise is nearly non-existant. In short, it's an extremely worthwhile upgrade if you're suffering thru XM with the Sony or Delphi radios.

The unit is light (about 5lbs) but the chasis is very rigid and the feet are better than you normally encounter on a tuner. The ability to have the menu shown on your TV is a really neat idea, and saves the eyeballs. The remote is very similar in appearance to the Delphi Skyfi, but is larger and uses Triple A's instead of the funky "watch" battery found in the Delphi. Smart. The AC cable is hardwired (no IEC socket), albeit fairly thick, and again better than the "lamp cord" you see on most tuners.

I will say, however, I prefer the orange display of the Delphi to the blue display on the Polk, but this is a purely subjective observation, and a very minor quibble at best.

Great job Polk! As far as I can tell, you've addressed all of the problems that plagued the others and brought XM to the next level. The XRt12 definitely deserves the designation "XM Reference Tuner"...Outstanding!

[madmax]

Are you comparing to the Sony/sleeve combination?
madmax

[steveinaz]

For reference, the above comparison is made with the Sony 1st generation w/cradle and the Delphi Skyfi.

[madmax]

I have the first generation sony also. The polk XM is in my future as soon as I can afford it. If you could compare the noise difference between the two a little closer? I would just like a little more comparison if you are up to it. I'm sure it is better obviously.
madmax

[steveinaz]

To give a better explanation, with the volume turned up to pretty brutal levels, I can only hear the slightest bit of hiss, and this with my ears close to the speakers---better than any FM tuner I've heard for sure, but not "CD quiet."

Max, you'll really apppreciate the spaciousness of the soundstage, as well as the depth this tuner produces in comparison to the Sony/Delphi. The Sony/Delphi have a very "dry" 2-dimensional sound. The Polk midrange is wonderful, where it sounded more constrained in the Sony (and Delphi). The XRt also removes the invisable bath towel from in front of your tweeters that many XM'ers complain about--though highs are still rolled off a touch as compared to a CD Player. I think this is largely a limit of XM's transmission than it is of any shortcoming of the Polk tuner.

The Polk specification for S/N Ratio is 80dB. Sounds dead-on to me.

You'll love it.

[bknauss]

Steve,
Glad to see you enjoy the tuner. We put a LOT of time and effort into this thing, so its great to see other people enjoying the fruits of labor.

As for the blue LCD, we had a handful of cost effective color choices, and it seemed the best color to integrate with other home theater equipment. Orange is easier to read, but how many pieces of equipment have orange in them? :)

[steveinaz]

Agree, you know the deal, you'll never please everyone. The blue is growing on me though. :D

[Toxis]

I'd have to say blue was the best choice IMO. Everything is either blue or green these days when it comes to home electronics but blue is definitely sexier. :D :D I'd be interested in picking of these up but I don't see myself listening to XM that much. When I'm home, it's either a movie or PS2. No in between for me. :)

[steveinaz]

If I still lived in Saint Louis I wouldn't bother either. Tons of good FM stations there.

[Toxis]

Well, I live in KC and our FM stations suck BAD!!! Probably the worst I've ever experienced from a big city. But that's why I bought an iPod. :D

[audiobliss]

Originally posted by bknauss
Steve,
Glad to see you enjoy the tuner. We put a LOT of time and effort into this thing, so its great to see other people enjoying the fruits of labor.

As for the blue LCD, we had a handful of cost effective color choices, and it seemed the best color to integrate with other home theater equipment. Orange is easier to read, but how many pieces of equipment have orange in them? :)

From the pics I think the blue light looks good. However, orange sure would go well with my Yamaha receiver....:D

no complaints, though; looks good

[disneyjoe7]

Got mine :D

I love it, great sounding, very clean, control / function keys work well easy to scan.

Use it as analog output only, I don't know why Polk but a digital output as the A/D convertor is very fine.

Another note, I got the Antenna to work in the house ok. Southwest sky is completely on the other side of house, so antenna works pointing to the ceiling away from sliding door as this door is facing east. Cool saved me from running this say 75 to 100' of cable.;)

Another first for PolkAudio.

[disneyjoe7]

Originally posted by steveinaz
I will say, however, I prefer the orange display of the Delphi to the blue display on the Polk, but this is a purely subjective observation, and a very minor quibble at best.

Really I liked the blue display, but not have Delphi XM first I don't think I gave this a second thought.

[disneyjoe7]

Falling in LoVe XM channel 71 WaterColors (Jazz & Blues)
:)

[Airplay355]

y not make a couple colors instead of just blue? theres more then one finish on speakers so y not more then 1 color of xm tuner? lol

[VR3]

Blue + Silver = SWEET

I wonder why Polk didnt offer this unit in silver!

Congrats Disney and Steve on da da tunas! Enjoy!

[steveinaz]

Originally posted by disneyjoe7
Falling in LoVe XM channel 71 WaterColors (Jazz & Blues)
:)

71 is one of my favorites as well.

[bknauss]

Deep tracks here... and the movie soundtrack channel.

[madmax]

I like chrome and raw. Don't know why, but I do.
madmax

[MediaDude8]

This is my first post...I set up my Polk XM tuner yesterday and the blue was what sold me, it looks great next to the other equipment. My favorite is watercolors as well, it has the best sound as well. Elton John was the guest DJ on deep tracks today...he did a pretty good job.

[steveinaz]

Welcome aboard mediadude!

[MediaDude8]

Thanks. Forgot to mention that all of my speakers are Polk as well. I have a Harmon Kardon 7.1 system with a Sony Wega 50" LCD, all of which I am extremely happy with. SACD's sound incredible.

[hodell]

I have had the tuner since the first week, and like most everyone else, I think it is a major improvement over the other units available on the market. I am running the tuner through an outboard DAC into a entry-level high-end system. The sound, for the most part is excellent. I notice little difference using the DAC or going through the analog outputs. Almost cd quality - close enough for folks like me that always have music on in the house.

The problems I am experiencing may be XM-related and I don't know enough about XM to say. I can say I have never experienced these problems with Sirius.

As a point of reference, I keep all of the equipment on all the time and it runs through a computer-grade UPS system so that the equipment is not subject to most electrical system problems like spikes or short-term power loss.

First, there are times when the tuner goes back to the Preview channel and won't allow me to access any of the channels; it acts like I don't have a subscription. After several attemps to access channels and several minutes turned off, it will finally reset.

Second, I have experienced very noticable changes in volume on several different channels. It goes from full on to full off, like my ten year old was playing with the volume on the preamp. It is on multiple channels, for example 40, 46 and 70. At first I thought this might be digital signal issues, but the sat signal was at the maximum at all times and there was no 'digital fuzz' as it went to zero. Then I thought it might be compression at work with the signal from the sats. The confusing thing was that as soon as i moved off the channel, and then returned, it was ok again.

So, perhaps someone more XM-savy can let me know if this common for them or it might be a problem with my tuner.

Thanks!

[disneyjoe7]

Sounds like you have a defective one, have you called Polk?

[hodell]

No, I haven't called them yet. Since I am not familiar with XM, I thought maybe it was an issue with their side of the system.

chuck

[steveinaz]

The first issue might be that the XM satellite is updating your tuner. Every now and then you will see a message "Updating" on your display, but I'm not sure if this is what you're experiencing.

The second issue may not be a tuner problem at all. I've noticed with all 3 XM tuners I've had (Sony, Delphi, XRt12) that different channels will have different output levels. A good example is channel 20 and 46. 20 has a very high output, 46, very low. This is an XM problem, not a tuner problem.

[disneyjoe7]

Chuck,

What's your satellite levels, I know this can cause problems.

I found that I get no problems at all if my Satellite level is 3 or 4 (in my house looking pass ceiling and roof just 3 peaks 4). If my Terrestrial level is too high vs. my Satellite level problems, I could adjust antenna to a Ter level of 3 but a Sat level of 2 just doesn't work that way.


Steve,

Yes see your point of output levels of channels 20 & 46.

[michael_w]

How much do you have to pay monthly to use an xm radio? $10?

[disneyjoe7]

Originally posted by michael_w
How much do you have to pay monthly to use an xm radio? $10?

$9.95 per month billed quarterly. Plus tax for me "Florida" got me again.

[michael_w]

Cool but I think for now I'll invest that 10 bucks a month into cds :D .