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(More customer reviews)I'll start with my short satellite radio history. I've had XM radio for about six months now. My first radio was an XpressR, which was very good and had lots of bells and whistles, but definitely showed its design roots in the early 2000's and was slow to navigate. Some jerk broke into my car and took that one. I replaced it with the XpressRC, which was a nice update to the XpressR, and much faster, but I kept having a problem where it would regularly lose all my presets and settings, so I returned it and replaced it with the XM OnyX.
I decided not to go with the SkyDock because while it is a cool idea, one thing I love about satellite radio is not having the need to hook my iPhone/iPod up every time I get in the car to have some tunes. With a regular XM radio, I get in the car and drive and I don't need to do anything else. Wanting to try a newer model radio model instead, I went with the XM OnyX. I could barely find any reviews or anything online, so it was kind of a shot in the dark.
The OnyX is a solid radio with a nice design. I'd say it is more attractively designed and has better build quality than my two preceding radios. It comes with some color accent rings you can swap out, which is an interesting idea, but the color choices are only glossy black, matte silverish-white and matte blue. I wish there was a glossy red in there, but really even having that choice is a unique idea I shouldn't complain about. The display is full color, however instead of seeing full-color channel logos and graphics, the only color you see is the background and text colors. While it is much more minimalist than the XpressRC, I will go out on a limb to say that I prefer the solid color background of the OnyX to the unnecessary flashiness of the XpressRC. Having the blue or red background looks really nice while in use in my VW Rabbit. Combine this with the design of the radio and it is a very attractive aesthetic upgrade for my car as opposed to the eye sores some other satellite radios can be.
Navigation is quick and simple. Up and down buttons change the channels while left and right flip through the categories. You have ten one-button presets. The only unneccessary button for me is the FM button because I use auxiliary input. I have always preferred a less-is-more approach to electronics, so I appreciate a design that isn't littered with buttons and functions that you don't use often.
Sound quality seems loud and clear. The aux signal is noticably louder than my Xpress radios. When I flip back and forth between XM and FM, the volume seems about the same, which wasn't true with my previous radios.
When comparing this radio to the Xpress's, I have to bring up the lack of bells and whistles. This radio is more basic. It does not have artist/sports alerts which were convenient on the Xpress's. There are less display options, but the display is well laid out and is safe to view while driving (enough info, but not too much). There is no live pause or any buffer to rewind through-- I never really made good use of that feature on my Xpress's. There are no stock quotes or sports scores, which is fine because that is what my iPhone is for. It does not come with a remote which I don't care at all about because I use it in the car and just use the online streaming at home. So really of all those things, the only thing I would have liked to have seen in the OnyX would have been the artist/sports alerts.
All in all, the XM OnyX is a solidly designed and attractive XM radio that I would recommend to anyone who wants to experience XM in their car. It is not the flashiest radio, and will not blow you away with features, but it is probably the best basic car radio that Sirius XM produces.
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XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Dock-and-Play Radio with Car Kit (Black)With the XM onyX, it's easy to enjoy Satellite Radio in any vehicle. Do-It-Yourself Installation with PowerConnect is quick and effortless: Just plug it into your vehicle's power adapter socket to enjoy live Satellite Radio directly through your FM radio. The large color display and other advanced features maximize your listening experience. You can even personalize onyX to match your vehicle's dashboard with selectable display screen colors and trim rings. Add accessories to enjoy onyX in the home, office or anywhere in between.
Large color display View artist name, song title, and channel information on a clean and simple color display.
Customize your display Choose the backlight color theme that matches your mood or your vehicle dash lights. You can change the color of the display screen to one of 6 color themes: Blue, Red, Amber, Yellow, Silver, or Teal.
Personalize your radio Choose the trim ring that reflects your taste or complements your vehicle interior. The Trim Ring surrounds the Select button on the radio. A total of three trim rings are included with the onyX, including the one that is already installed.
Improved audio connection options Use the included Aux In Cable for the best sound. For vehicles with a cassette player, you can use a cassette adapter. If you have neither, the new PowerConnect technology transmits via FM, so you can receive audio through your vehicle's stereo system.
Enhanced real-time channel guide Browse programs, artists, and songs playing on other channels, without having to change the channel you are on.
Favorite channel presets Save and enjoy fast access to up to 10 of your favorite channels. Each favorite channel can be assigned to a number button.
FM preset button Store and quickly access FM channels that give you the best audio reception when using PowerConnect.
One-Touch Jump Directly access traffic or weather of the 20 most congested cities, or use it to go back to the previous channel to which you were listening.
Parental controls Easily lock and unlock channels with mature content.
Complete PowerConnect Vehicle Kit Included Color-coded connections make it a snap to install, and a wire guide keeps your cabling organized.
Universal docking capability Add accessories for your home, office, additional vehicles or even outdoors.
What's in the Box XM onyX Radio, PowerConnect Vehicle Kit, Magnetic Mount Antenna, Aux In Cable, User Guide, Quick Start Guide, XM Channel Guide
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