Sirius Starmate Replay ST2

Reviewed on 12/20/05    Release date: 11/15/05    The Sirius Starmate Replay ST2 is an update of the company's original Starmate model. The list price is $130, but this model can be found online for less. It's a plug-and-play Sirius model, which means the diminutive head unit goes where you do. It ships with a car kit for mounting in your vehicle, but you can buy a home kit for connecting to your stereo system, as well as a boom box receptacle with its own speakers.

Upside: Like all plug-and-play models, the Starmate Replay lets you listen to the dozens of Sirius satellite music, news, talk, and sports stations wherever you go--assuming you invest in suitable docking stations--while paying only a single-subscription price of $13 per month. The unit has a TiVo-style buffer that lets you rewind as much as 44 minutes of audio, so you can always replay that favorite song. It also includes an FM transmitter, so rather than using a cassette adapter or a line-in port, you can hear your Sirius stations rebroadcast to any nearby FM radio. The Starmate Replay can store 30 channel presets, and its nifty GameAlert feature will notify you when your favorite teams are playing and will update you on scores.

Downside: The Starmate Replay is transportable, but it's not one of the new MP3-enabled portable units (such as the Sirius S50) that you can slide in your pocket to listen to recorded (but not live) satcasts. And if the low price seems too good to be true, remember that you'll need to factor in the monthly subscription, as well as any of the extra accessories you might require to listen to the Starmate Replay away from your car.

Outlook: The Starmate Replay ST2 is an affordable option for prospective Sirius listeners--and the rewindable buffer will ensure that Howard Stern fans will never miss a second of his uncensored antics.