XAct XS027 Sirius Satellite Radio Portable Boombox with CD Player and AM/FM Tuner

by Xact

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 22.8 x 13.6 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002QNDL0
• Item model number: xs027
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Keep the beat wherever you go with the XAct XS027 Sirius satellite radio boombox. Designed to interface with the XAct XTR1 plug-and-play satellite receiver (sold separately), the boombox lets you enjoy Sirius' 120 channels of satellite programming while at the beach or in the backyard. The setup couldn't be more straightforward: simply insert the XTR1 into the front dock and you're set. To sweeten the deal, XAct threw in a top-loading CD player that's compatible with CD-R/RWs and MP3 discs, along with a digital AM/FM tuner for listening to commercial and public radio stations.

The boombox boasts a stylish, contemporary design with a pair of attached 4-inch full-range speakers (5 watts x 2) and a carrying handle for easy portability. Additional features include 45 seconds of electronic skip protection, 10 AM/FM presets, an auxiliary input for connecting an iPod or other components, a rotary volume knob, a stereo headphone jack, and a satellite antenna. The unit, which works with eight D-size batteries (not included), measures 20.8 by 10.2 by 5.25 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

Note: You must subscribe to Sirius satellite radio to receive the satellite radio signal.

What's in the Box
Boombox, satellite antenna, AC adapter, user's manual.

Product Description

The XS027 Sirius Portable Deluxe Boombox offers over 120 channels of great news & music you can't get anywhere else! With it, you can enjoy the very best in music and broadcasting, 100% commercial-free. Whether you like to hear news broadcasts from overseas, NFL play-by-play commentary or music you never hear on AM/FM stations -- Sirius has it all. Clear, crisp speakers combine with an AM/FM tuner and an integrated CD player, to deliver the very best in listening options. Auxiliary line level input/output 3.5mm stereo mini jack XACT XTR1 Satellite Receiver and service subscription are required to receive Sirius channel streams (sold separately) Extended outdoor play with 8 D batteries (not incl.) 110V AC Adapter is included

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so deluxe after all, December 28, 2004

By 

Joseph B. Moore (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: XAct XS027 Sirius Satellite Radio Portable Boombox with CD Player and AM/FM Tuner (Electronics)

I purchased two of these units and found that the volume function on the remote does not work on either unit. I contacted XACT (which was a huge hassle) and talked to supervisor after supervisor and the only explanation they could give me to why the volume could not be adjusted from the remote was that " it was manufactured that way"... are you kidding, i had stereo's 20 years ago that had a remote that could control volume. Other than that the unit is fine, but I just feel a state of the art "deluxe" boom box should be able to adjust the voulume via the remote. Why else would you waste 2 buttons on the tiny remote. It is just a pain to have to physically increase or decrease the volume manually.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This model is pure junk - I give it ZERO stars, October 27, 2005

By 

George (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: XAct XS027 Sirius Satellite Radio Portable Boombox with CD Player and AM/FM Tuner (Electronics)

Must I give this unit 1 star? It deserves ZERO stars.

I purchased XACT model XS027 Boom Box from BEST BUY. The AM/FM "radio" in this model is pure junk. I have been a broadcaster and electronics product design engineer for over 30 years. Typically in a radio receiver design you have to choose between good selectivity (ability to select one channel and reject adjacent channels) and good sensitivity (ability to receive weak broadcasts). The fact that the XS027 does not have an external FM antenna (nor AM antenna) was surprising. I figured that perhaps it had a little bit better RF amplification and therefore would perform just as well. Combine that with the fact I live in the Northern California (Sacramento area) where there are an abundant number of 50K Watt stations on the air, I the last thing I expected was not being able to pick up a very strong local station.

But to my dismay, the AM/FM receiver design in the XS027 is pathetic. I can get some channels even though I am selected as much as 300KHz+ off frequency. For example KHWD 93.7 comes in just as good when the receiver is tuned to 93.4, 93,5, 93.6, 93.7 or 93.8 MHz. And it is not the only station to do that. And I am NOT even close to their transmitter(s).

Then there is KSEG 96.9; which I can not receive at all. I am in their grade A area, but their signal will not lock in on the XS027. KSEG's signal is "best" on the XS027 when I tune to 96.7. EVERY other receiver I have (including some that cost less than $10) pick them up just fine (on 96.9).

What gives? NO sensitivity AND NO selectivity????

Oh I suppose you really dont care about the AM/FM receiver since you figured that everyone would just use the satellite receiver. Well there is a slight bit of truth to that, but there are issues there too. I was out in the forest recently; a good distance away from any terrestrial transmissions. I was down in a canyon and unable to pull in anything on AM/FM (no surprise). Sirius came in just fine. But if I turned the volume up too high, without warning, the satellite receiver simply powered OFF. Once off, the load on the batteries was removed and so the satellite receiver powered back on. On and off like a flasher. Obviously if the batteries are not brand spanking new there is not enough power to operate the satellite receiver. But I used the same set of (dead) batteries to play CDs (at least when they'd play) for well over a week at a fairly high volume.

The CD player is not without its problems either. The spec claims to have a 45 second ESP, but even with the unit sitting solid on a table operating from AC power, CDs often skip, jump or stop playing altogether.

After all these troubles I decided that I must have a bad unit. Then I found out the same unit was on sale at Costco. So I returned my unit to Best Buy and bought an entirely new unit from Costco. The new unit works so identical to the prior unit it is scary. ALL of the same problems, right down to not being able to receive KSEG.

I had a conversation with some PR people from Sirius about this and they directed me to write to the manufacturer, US Electronics in New York. I wrote to them several months ago and did not receive any response. This design is so bad that it can not even be used for the purpose for which it was sold. To me that seems like a case for the FTC.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than XM boombox, February 14, 2005

By 

Dennis A. Lepak (Northwest Tucson AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: XAct XS027 Sirius Satellite Radio Portable Boombox with CD Player and AM/FM Tuner (Electronics)

I've had the XM Delphi boombox for two years now. Today I bought the XS027 for a friend.

I too was frustrated with the volume control on my remote with the boombox. They need to put a info sticker on the remote. I have had equipment where the remote turned the volume knob with a motor. I like this type of analog volume control. I'm assuming the volume works with the car and home kits.

I think the box sounds really good. The inclusion of the radio and CD player is a plus for those very rare occasions. CD plays MP3 too. The aux is jack is something usually not included in products like this. Nice to see it and a rear line out jack on this product.