A lot of things really impressed us about the MyFi, but the sound quality didn't blow us away, especially when we were using it as a portable. It doesn't sound bad, but it is a little volume challenged. It doesn't play loud enough for the streets of New York, for instance, and we definitely felt our iPod delivered richer, more refined sound. We can't say what the audio bit rate is, but it sounds compressed--even more so than your standard 128Kbps MP3. In other words, if you're used to ripping your MP3s at high bit rates (192Kbps to 320Kbps), you'll probably be disappointed. However, for more casual listening--both at home and on the road--the sound quality is acceptable.
Summing up, the MyFi has a lot to recommend it, and it's a truly groundbreaking product. In fact, if not for the average sound quality and volume levels, the MyFi would be Editors' Choice material. Ideally, Delphi could figure out a way to add a slot for memory so that it could be an MP3 player as well, covering all the bases. We'd also like to see better customized-recording capabilities, so you could pick and choose songs and other content from a programming guide, much as you would with a TiVo. It's a safe bet to assume that successive generations of portable satellite players will improve, but the MyFi is ready for prime time.
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.
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- Delphi MyFi,
- XM Satellite Radio,
- Delphi Corp.,
- Borland Delphi,
- satellite radio
Where to buy
Delphi XM MyFi:
$129.99 - $179.00
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$179.00 | Yes |
|
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$129.99 | No |
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