Great when connected with audio cables
Written: Mar 24 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very small. Great unit when connected to stereo via audio cables.
Cons: Sounds awful when using an RF modulator. Pricey.
The Bottom Line: Buy the Starbase only if you are able to connect it optimally. When done right, it is a near-perfect unit.
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| jankowski56's Full Review: Sirius Starbase SC-FM1 Satellite Radio Receiver |
Got the Starbase when I purchased my 2005 Lexus RX330 because I wanted a low-profile unit. I was able to mount the display below the shifter and hide the head unit completely out of sight - a nice clean install. The first problem I had was that the antenna, while seemingly plugged into the head unit properly, was not making good contact and I was experiencing bad signal dropouts. I fixed this by using electrical tape to securely hold the antenna in place - absolutely no problems since. And since the head unit is hidden, it's not a cosmetic issue either. My biggest dissatisfaction was with the audio quality. Using the RF modulator, the sound is clipped/slightly distorted. Some channels sounded worse than others, but all were bad enough to make for an unpleasant listening experience. In desperation I figured the only way to get better sound was to connect the head unit to the stereo using audio cables. Doing so forced me to purchase an aftermarket unit ($300!), since there is no direct way to make the connection. Money well-spent, since now the audio is perfect - I would say close to CD quality.
Once I got the unit installed to my liking it has performed like a champ, and has been virtually trouble-free for nearly two years. Actually, about the only thing I can complain about is that the buttons are a little small for my big fingers. But i think that's the tradeoff for having a very unobtrusive display unit.
I would recommend the Starbase only if you are able to make a direct audio connection to your car stereo via audio cables. If you can do so it is a superb unit. If you plan to use the RF connection, look elsewhere or you will be sadly disappointed with the audio quality.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jankowski56
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Reviews written: 1
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