We auditioned the SRX-3's analog and digital outputs and found no difference in their sound quality. However, we did note the SRX-3's overall sound quality was slightly ahead of the best-sounding Sirius home receiver we've tested so far, the Kenwood DT-7000S. The SRX-3's stereo separation was a tad sharper, bass was a little better defined, and Sirius's MP3-like compression artifacts were reduced. That said, our hopes for this high-end receiver to deliver true "CD-quality sound" were dashed.
On the upside, Sirius continues to add new streams and programming choices, such as the all-Elvis-all-the-time music stream. The news, weather, and talk streams from Air America, CNBC, CNN, BBC World Service, E Entertainment Radio, ABC News & Talk, ESPN, NFL Radio, the Speed Channel, and Radio Disney have commercials; the three NPR streams are commercial-free. In selected markets, Sirius offers local traffic and weather reports. And of course, Sirius is the only place you'll be able to hear Howard Stern in 2006. Prefer rival satellite service XM instead? Check out the Antex XM-3000 Triple Play tuner.
If you're a Sirius fan looking for a more modest home receiver, you'll want to opt for the aforementioned Kenwood DT-7000S, which rings the register at a reasonable $300. But if you've already invested in a custom-installed whole-home audio solution, the Antex SR-X3 is the only product currently available that will let you and your family listen to up to three separate Sirius stations throughout the house.
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Sirius,
- satellite radio,
- Kenwood,
- radio,
- satellite
%20Satellite%20Radio%20Tuner%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/satellite-radio-tuners/antex-srx-3-sirius/4505-7873_7-31152807-2.html){kind=small}