Component Tuners
Learn about component tuners
An essential part of any home theater or hi-fi set up has always been the tuner. Traditionally, these rectangular prisms of short and long wave frequency have a number line ranging from the high-80s to just below 110, illuminated by small hidden light bulbs so you can see the needle that scrolls as you turn the tuning knob.
Today’s generation of digital satellite tuners offers much of the same technology, only jazzed up a bit. Displays are digital instead of analog, and it is a satellite signal they are transmitting rather than terrestrial radio waves.
Component Tuners
Buying a device for your stereo system dedicated solely to satellite radio is a commitment for the connoisseurs of electronics who only listen to their subscription in their home. Instead of buying a home receiver that is XM-ready, you can get a component tuner that is adaptable with your existing receiver, so all you do is plug in and go.
While, of course, XM is favoring their Passport technology, they do have a component tuner to accommodate this corner of the market. The Polk Audio XRt12 is a stylish, DVD-player-sized satellite radio tuner with the power to produce near-CD-quality sound (remarkable considering the signal is coming from space). There is an option to link the system with your TV, allowing you to see the program listings from across the room. It has inputs and outputs for both analogue and digital speakers, and offers a money-back guarantee if you do not like the sound quality. To all the XM-subscribing audiophiles out there, this is the system for you.
Sirius has satellite tuners made by Polk Audio, as well, with pretty much the same features as the XRt12. The SRH1000 replaces the discontinued SRH550 and is styled nicer than the XM model. Reviews list incredible sound quality, both speaker connection options and a video output to choose programming on your TV, so really the only thing different is the list of channels you can listen to. There is no mention of a refund upon dissatisfaction with this model, so keep that in mind when shopping.
Satellite entertainment systems are becoming more and more commonplace in the home, and manufacturers are always at the drawing board to come up with the latest and greatest. They are all really similar in the options they offer, so the satellite programming you prefer is the true deciding factor in the component tuner debate.
