Pioneer Inno user reviews (XM)

Pros Easy to save MP3 files to Inno, small and portable

Cons Expensive, horrible reception, battery drains when unit is off, funky controls, horrible tech/customer support

Summary I read all of the reviews on this site and others before buying the Inno. The features (MP3, built in FM transmitter, size, XM) seemed great. Unfortunately, the reality has been far different than the reviews and I have been extremely disappointed with the Inno.

My dissatisfaction falls into a number of categories:

Reception: Although I know that satellite reception within buildings is limited, I'd thought the purpose of the antennae and docking station was to permit it's use inside the house (with the antennae perched on a window sill). With a great deal of adjusting, I can get it to work indoors about 5% of the time that it's docked. Outdoors and in the car, the reception is better but still <60%, which ruins ones listening experience and makes the XM subscription fees worthless.

FM transmitter: This feature is pretty good and allows one to play MP3's through the car radio without an extra attachment. This is one of the main reasons that I chose the Inno over another product. Unfortunately, the pluses of this feature are far outweighed by the other minuses of the product (see below).

FM transmitter controls: Every time I go to turn on the device, I have to reconfigure the FM transmitter, which is a pain. Other controls are not intuitive and when I'm listening to lectures as MP3 files and I turn the device back on after a break, it keeps resetting to the beginning of the lecture rather than resuming where I left off. This is also annoying.

Battery life: Pioneer says that the battery will continue to drain even when the device is turned off. [They only told me this after multiple phone calls to XM and to Pioneer trying to exchange what I thought was a defective battery.] They tell me that you have to physically remove the battery if the device is not in use and not in the docking station. This is the most bizarre design for an electronic battery operated device that I have ever heard of!

Tech/customer support: Even though I bought the device through XM radio, their support is limited and they keep telling me I have to call Pioneer. Pioneer says that other suppliers (besides XM) will exchange malfunctioning Inno's but that XM has an odd policy that makes it impossible for customers to exchange anything except the main unit. They told me I should have bought the Inno through another store and not through XM (but it's too late for that now.) XM customer service gives conflicting information and prevaricates. By the time one figures out all of the problems with the device, it's too late to return it for a refund and neither XM nor Pioneer are sympathetic or at all helpful.

Pros XM Radio, Personal MP3 Collection, Bright Color Screen, Very Easy User Interface, Record XM Radio To Add To Your MP3 Collection To Listen When Satelite Not Available, Home Kit Gets Greet Reception.

Cons Upgradable Memory For Future Use.

Summary My wife got me the Inno for my birthday since my iPod crapped out on me, and I have been wanting satelite radio. This device absolutly stunned me, I have recorded over 40 XM songs, and added another 100 MP3's via the easy user interface. The screen is nice and bright, and best of all, I have the antenna on the window ledge facing south and I have three bars indoors, no need to set it up outside. I know the price is steep, but it is by far the best portable unit made to date, Circuit City has them on display, so go check it out and see for yourself!

Pros Xm+Napster, Bookmarking Songs, MP3, portable

Cons Price and wish it had more memory

Summary After owning several other xm and sirius recievers I can honestly say this is the best looking, most functional, mp3 playing, portable satellite unit available. The ability to listen to live satellite content on the go is great. 9 due to high price andwish it had even more memory.

Pros Good reception, ability to record, nice package

Cons Battery drains fast when power is in off position

Summary It seems that even when you have the player off ...in the "hold" mode, the battery runs down so that within a few days....you can't turn the unit on, and must recharge (even though the unit has not been used during that time)---a very large complaint since you better charge it right before you take it on a plane, etc.---maybe it is a defective battery.....anyone else notice this problem.