Making a daily commute doesn’t have to be boring. The best satellite radio allows you endless entertainment while you’re on the road. For that purpose, you may also use a portable music player.
With hundreds of channels and programs to choose from, most of which are commercial-free, you’ll never be bored while driving. It’s difficult to choose the best satellite radio, so we reviewed dozens of satellite radios to find the best of the best. We looked at factors such as ratings from retailers, customer reviews, ease of use, functionality, and more. We narrowed our search down to the 9 best portable XM radios for you.
The best option:
Comparison of the main characteristics of the other great portable XM radios:
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SiriusXM SXPL1V1 Onyx Plus
Offering satellite radio experiences across multiple settings, SiriusXM is America’s leading satellite radio brand. This Onyx Plus radio is designed for the ultimate experience inside your vehicle. Plus, it fits neatly into your in-dash audio system.
This system includes everything you need to get set up in your vehicle. We found the detailed instructions made it really easy to install, in around 15 minutes. We plugged it into our aux input and set it up on the air vent with little trouble. It sounded awesome!
If you’re a new subscriber to XM, it also comes with 3 months of SiriusXM’s satellite and streaming service. This is accessed by subscribing to the ‘’All Access” package, which we set up super-quickly.
It has an impressive 20 pre-set channels with access to hundreds of satellite stations. We found this was plenty. It’s a nice touch that any pre-set channels tune in at the start of the tracks. We also liked the replay function which made it great for going back to any music or dialogue. You can also record the audio.
It’s a smart and modern looking piece of kit. It has a bright screen that’s easy to read. Operability and functionality are excellent – it’s super easy to navigate and understand.
The only snag was the three cables that come with it. It was a challenge to try to fit them somewhere inconspicuous. The antenna wire, especially, was difficult to run from the back to the front, but this is a common issue.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll need the additional kit if you want it to work in the home.
This is an impressive looking – and sounding – quality satellite radio from SiriusXM. It takes no time at all to set up and is a delight to use. It could be a good all-rounder for new or more seasoned listeners.
SiriusXM SXEZR1H1 Onyx EZR
It sits neatly on your home-powered speakers or can be wired up to your car if required. You can also get a free “All Access” subscription for 3 months.
It has quite a large 3.2” display which makes it easy to read. We also found it very intuitive. Even though it’s black and white, the screen is really high-definition. There’s also a split-screen, which we found great when navigating between preset channels.
The installation couldn’t be easier. At least, setting it up at home was simple and quick. It worked exactly as we expected it to.
It also seemed to deliver an excellent reception and sound. The receiver worked perfectly and we found no issues, cuts, or static coming through at all. It got up to loud volumes.
As mentioned earlier, there are some preset channels included – up to ten – and the split-screen mode is perfect to navigate. There is also a SiriusXM feature ‘TuneMix’ which we found pretty cool.
You set different channels to run from one, so it toggles between songs. This made it seem like the radio knew exactly our taste. We did have some problems installing the magnetic antenna. It seemed a little on the fragile side.
Because it’s used in the home, it might also be helpful to have a sleep timer function which isn’t included. This is a wish-list feature though!
Overall, this is a product that gets pretty close to living up to its claim of the ultimate experience. At least, for home use, we found this was a smart-looking product that delivered great sound.
SiriusXM- XEZ1H1 Onyx EZ
This thing is super-simple and easy to use. You get 10 presets which is certainly enough to get started. In fact, our sense was this is a great way to start out listening to SiriusXM, to see how you like it.
This seems to be a great value purchase for what you get – a solid and good looking system at a good price. There is an FM transmitter built-in, which is a great alternative option. The feature we liked the most is the chance to see what’s playing on other stations while you’re browsing. This way you can make an informed choice without affecting the current station.
It has an aux input so it is also very easy to install. It didn’t take us long to get it set up in the car and try it out at home. Most importantly, the sound on this is great!
After setting up, we did find some connections that seemed a little loose. We also found the antenna seemed to wobble a little at times. There also didn’t seem to be a way to turn off the blue screen. Having this option may be better for those who may not enjoy the brightness of it. This is a pretty minor issue though.
To summarize, this is a cool-blue, great value product that could be suitable for new listeners to SiriusXM satellite radio. The blue screen gives you greater visibility of the display, and the chance to see what’s playing on other stations. Small and effective.
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SiriusXM SXV300v1
There is so much music from every conceivable genre. There are even some channels that are dedicated to your favorite artists and will play your favorite songs non-stop.
Even if you are interested in sports, there is enough content for you, plus the fact that you can opt for notifications through SportFlash to keep tab with your favorite sports team.
In terms of design, the radio is well built that it can fit perfectly hide behind the dash of your car for a fully integrated look. Installation is so simple, thanks to the simple interface cable connection.
There are several other features about this wonderful radio that we can’t fully discuss here such as Traffic and Weather Now and TuneMix. It works on the XM network and subscription is sold separately. You may enjoy about 3 months free, however, when you buy the radio.
XM XPMP3H1
Actually, the device is capable of recording from up to 5 different channels at the same time. It also has the capacity to hold up to 100 hours of recorded programs.
The XPMP3H1 lets you enjoy more than 130 channels that offer amazing content including sports, exclusive entertainment, news, weather information, and commercial-free music.
With the device, you are fully in charge. You can pause, rewind, replay, record, and play any tune when you want to. When you connect the radio with the PowerConnect Vehicle Kit, the quality will be enhanced in your vehicle: installation is quite easy.
There are several other features of the SiriusXM XPMP3H1 that we can’t fully discuss here due to space constraints. Such features as GameSelect, TuneSelect, and Infor Extras will make your experience with the device worthwhile.
SiriusXM Commander Touch Full-Color
As with most of the higher-end portable satellite radios, the Touch includes pause, rewind, and replay for up to 60 minutes of listening. The TuneMix feature creates a mix of songs from a subscriber’s favorite stations with the included album art and channel logos.
Songs will automatically pause when a stop occurs while listening in the car for up to 30 minutes and then replay from where the radio left off. SiriusXM will provide software updates to the Commander Touch via a USB flash drive that will help offer new features and capabilities as they are available.
At just 3.88 ounces and 4.1″ (W) x 1.69″ (H) x .48″ (D), the Touch is in the middle of the road when compared to the rest of the portable satellite radio competition. However, car installation is a snap, and portability is simplified with multiple car attachments all on a single subscription.
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XM XDNX1V1 Onyx
Already, we have considered several radios from SiriusXM but there are special things about this particular device that makes it quite attractive. For a start, it is one of the cheapest options even though there is no compromise in the quality of experience a user will get from it.
The XM Onyx can easily be installed by anyone at all in any vehicle thanks to PowerConnect: it is as simple as plugging it into your power adapter socket. There are lots of features that make it a wonderful device including the possibility of personalizing it to suit your style in your vehicle as well as at home or office.
Some of the other features that may interest you include the ability to save and enjoy speedy access to up to 10 of your favorite channels and the large color display that lets you view information about channels, programs, artists, and tracks.
SiriusXM Stratus 7 Satellite Radio
This is one of the devices that offers much more value than it appears to offer. When you look at it, you can be deceived by the simple design and the ease of installation, but once you start using the device, you will understand why it is featured in our list of the very best satellite radios.
The device comes with a PowerConnect Vehicle Kit that lets you install it in your vehicle with ease and enjoy the several channels that are available. You can get extra accessories to enhance the experience you get from the device in-home/office as well as in outdoor settings with your single subscription.
Just like some of the other devices reviewed here, the Stratus 7 radio lets you store up to 10 of your favorite channels and access them whenever you like with one-touch. Of course, you have access to over 140 channels that offer several interesting programs covering entertainment, news, sports, and Music of any genre.
There is also a One-Touch Jump to traffic and weather information for any city. The radio comes with PowerConnect Vehicle Dock and Adapter, Magnetic Mount Antenna, Dash Mount, Aux-in Cable, and a few other accessories.
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SiriusXM Sound Station
But, if you’re a sports fan, you need access to SiriusXM’s sports stations 24/7 — whether you’re in the car or not. That’s where the TTR2 Sound Station comes in.
The standalone 5.2 x 10.8 x 6-inch radio employs a SiriusXM receiver right on-board and you can access all the requisite music, talk radio, and sports stations — MLB, Nascar, NFL, and more with your SiriusXM subscription — you want.
What’s great is you can use this as an in-home speaker as well — something that sets it apart from Sirius’ car-based models. They’ve even thrown in some alarm functionality, so you can wake up to sports updates or news programs, rather than your regular alarm (you can even snooze it). It’s a great speaker, with a good amount of volume and it’ll look nice in any room.
FAQ for portable XM radios buyers:
What is satellite radio?
Satellite radio works similarly to your regular car radio: There are multiple music stations with different hosts and genres of music. However, you have to pay a monthly fee for access to the stations.
Is satellite radio a better option?
When comparing satellite radio to FM radio, the big thing to consider is whether a monthly fee is worth the benefit of not having commercials. You can also compare XM radio to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. SiriusXM typically costs less and has added features like personal playlists to compete with music streaming services.
What is the difference between Sirius and XM?
Originally, Sirius radio and XM radio were two different satellite services. However, the companies merged to become SiriusXM.
How do I activate XM in my new car?
Just turn your radio on with the antenna facing skyward and tune to channel 184 on a Sirius radio or channel 1 on an XM radio. (If your radio is in your vehicle, please make sure it isn’t in the garage.) Once you’re ready, press the button below and service should be activated within 15 minutes.
Why does my XM radio cut out?
There may be a break, weak point, or loose connection in the wiring between the SiriusXM antenna and the tuner. Or there could be the same issues in the wiring between the tuner and your stereo. This can affect the sound quality and it may cause the radio to cut out often.