New XM Polk XRt12 home receiver

[Tulsa1]

UPS delivered the new XM Polk XRt12 home receiver last night.
Low risk, money back if not happy, even shipping.
Nice looking unit and has digital output.
http://www.polkaudio.com/xm/
Going to fire it up tonight and see how it compares to my car unit.

Martin

[Cable Dude1122]

Martin, I have my eye on this too. Where did you get it and how does it sound?

Tom

[Tulsa1]

I am thankful for the 30 day risk free deal on this because it is going
back to Polk. I tried it out this weekend and it does not compare
to sound quality of my car unit. It had a muffled sound to it.
I even piped thru my equalizer and just couldn't make it a keeper.
The FM broadcasts on my Pio Elite VSX-56TXi sounded better than this
connected thru its digital fiber output.
Nice on the eyes but not for the ears.

Regards,
Martin

[Cable Dude1122]

OK Martin, appreciate the heads up as I was about to order this. Any chance your unit was defective? I am still hunting for something reasonable in a rack mount and this was the right price point. Polk talks about high end Burr Brown DAC's and with the optical connection, this unit should sound the equal of the car units or better. I have the Roady modified with a TosLink output and am happy with the sound. Maybe I just stay with what I have.

Tom

[Tulsa1]

I doubt it was defective as it performed fine in every aspect for the
exception of the muddy highs. My car unit sounds pretty good when
connected to the home dock. It really has great features and
appearance, just missed the sound Q. I'm going to try the analog L/R
output for the heck of it. I liked the signal strength indicator on it and
a nice adjustable blue display.

Martin

[dperrico]

I got my XrT12 last week and I love it. The sound quality compared to the XMPCR is incredible. Using a digital link to my Denon AVR5700. I'm keeping mine and I listen to it 10 hours a day.

Dave...

[Music Fanatic]

I must add my voice to those who like the XrT12. While there are certain audio limitations inherent in XM's compression scheme, I think the XrT12 produces fine audio for XM, and fits in nicely with my audio rack.

[Rysa4]

I like to hear more from you all about this product. How are the analog connects?

[Music Fanatic]

Well, I am using the digital connects most of the time, but the analog connects are just fine. Unless you are using some sort of special processing on a receiver (for example), I think you'll find the analog connects to be perfectly acceptable.

[Rysa4]

OK. Thankyou. Really neat product.

[Cable Dude1122]

I have had the Polk for about a week or so and am happy with it. Some channels are better than others due to possible differences in source material. For instance with the TosLink cable hooked up, channel 71 (I think it says watercolors) has some light jazz that sounds great with a 5.1 audio track. Some of the oldies don't sound as great. If there is music I really like, I will hunt for the DVD-Audio disc as that sounds unreal.

All in all, this unit works fine for me.


Tom

[hmurchison]

XMradio uses aacplus I believe and I think it should improve as the encoder/decoders get better. I'm eyeballing this Polk unit as well ..thanks for all the response.

[stevewm]

Originally posted by hmurchison
XMradio uses aacplus I believe and I think it should improve as the encoder/decoders get better. I'm eyeballing this Polk unit as well ..thanks for all the response.


Yes, XM uses ACCPlus with SBR (spectral band replication) from CodingTechnologies. the offcial name for the codec is ctAACPlus. This codec is for the most part nearly identical to the AAC-HE/SBR codec found in the new versions of Ahead Software's Nero Burning ROM package. There is also quite a bit of processing done to the audio before AAC compression and delivery.

[John Clark]

I received my Polk unit a week ago, and couldnt be happier. Everything about the sound quality is a BIG step up from my Sky-Fi unit. For $299.95 with free shipping, I think its a great value too. In fact, I just ordered two for Christmas gifts to family members.


John

[truaudiophile]

Too bad the remote uses the ancient Toggle bit codes. This is really difficult to use unless you are standing in front of it or using a TV to view the video. Very poor design.
Why do I say that? Most Whole house music systems have the equipment centrally located and use a keypad or IR sensor to pass the info on.

Now lets say you pick up the POLK remote to try and access a favorite channel and you have memorized the number. Go push the preset button...see the display Toggle from PRESET A, PRESET B and Direct. Only Direct will allow you to send the number.

My Kenwood DTS7000 is ugly, but I can at least use it the way most radios work.

Where oh where is that Audiovox model , I need to test that box.

[slamdog]

After two years as a mobile subscriber I'm interested in getting my first XM home tuner. I'll probably need to run 30 feet of cable to get to an outdoor location for the antenna. Any thoughts on the acceptable length of antenna runs? Is the home antenna directional...or can it be anywhere as long as it's simply outdoors?

[barbie845]

XM's antenna needs to be facing south....There is a 50' antenna cable extension you can buy...It costs about $30-35....If you need to go 30' you'll probably need the extension,XM's home docking kits antenna length is about 22'...I'm not sure about the Polk though...The antenna cable length can be loooong,it won't bother the signal...

[jjonah]

Does anyone have a comparison of XM to Directv or Dish music channels?

I realize the Polk XM unit should sound superior, but I'd like to hear any opinions. THanks!

[Cable Dude1122]

truaudiophile, I couldn't aggree with you more. The sound you get is great but the remote interface is very poor. I tried to program the Polk with my MX-800 using a flasher and it is hit or miss on channel selection.

I will keep my eye on what's coming in this class and make a change down the road when someone has firgured out the remote.

Tom

[Low Profile]

[FONT=Arial][QUOTE=truaudiophile]Too bad the remote uses the ancient Toggle bit codes. This is really difficult to use unless you are standing in front of it or using a TV to view the video. Very poor design.
Why do I say that? Most Whole house music systems have the equipment centrally located and use a keypad or IR sensor to pass the info on.

Now lets say you pick up the POLK remote to try and access a favorite channel and you have memorized the number. Go push the preset button...see the display Toggle from PRESET A, PRESET B and Direct. Only Direct will allow you to send the number.

My Kenwood DTS7000 is ugly, but I can at least use it the way most radios work.

Where oh where is that Audiovox model , I need to test that box.[/QUOTE]

I could not agree more regarding the IR codes. I am very annoyed about this. I have all my equipment in an equipment closet in a room off my home theatre / family room. If I am more than 20 feet away from the IR receiver in my home theatre the original remote does not work at all. Even within 20 feet the original remote does not work well. I have to go in the other room, open the door to my equipment closet, and point the remote at the unit for it to work reliably. Not good. Thank goodness for my Philips ProntoProNG TSU7000. It has very strong IR output. I can be as much as 30 feet away from my IR receiver for reliable operation of the tuner. I tried using my Philips RF Extender in conjunction with my TSU7000, so I could control the tuner in other areas of my home. After just a couple days now it is clear I won't be able to have this tuner on my RF extender. Using the RF extender it works perfectly some of the time, and then other times it does not work at all. To date I have never had a problem controlling any of my existing equipment via the RF extender. Not as much as a one missed IR code. This Polk tuner's IR just blows. The other big frustration I am having is with the tuners scrolling display which I can't stand. I am outputting the tuners composite video to a DLP front projector of which there is no concern of burn-in yet I have to sit here and wait for the stupid display to scroll long enough to show me the artist and title short of hitting the enter button all the time. I have yet to find a work around for this.

On a positive note, I am very satisfied with the sound quality and even more pleased that I am getting full signal strength with the antenna sitting in my equipment closet with the rest of my gear. There was no need to run the antenna anywhere. Talk about easy installation. As much as I have already enjoyed listening to XM with this tuner I would be shipping this thing back had I not got it for half price. As such I will be holding on to this unit for now until something better comes along at a similar price point. In preparation for said tuner I did spend a good bit of time programming my TSU7000.

http://home.comcast.net/~cds1834/Pronto/lp_07232005_dvdlobby_xrt12.gif
[size=0](Image optimized for web.)[/size]

This has certainly helped to smooth out the annoyances I've encountered with the tuner so far. For anyone also controlling this tuner with a TSU7000 you are welcome to download my configuration file. It can be found here (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-prontong/thread.cgi?3189,7#135). :-)

-Lowpro

[truaudiophile]

Low profile

There is a possible fix for the IR problem now. Please email me for details.

[gparris]

Was originally going to upgrade my Pioneer Ultra2 receiver with either a Yamaha or the new Denon 4806, but decided on getting this slick-looking unit.
Ease of use is good, menu and remote convenient and I use the on screen display when I switch from TV viewing to XM and also programmed my Pronto remote control to match the Polk XM remote control.
Bought it at CC for $30 off and got the free Roady 2 reciever in the mail already.
Makes a nice addition to my rack unit and just a good sounding as both of my trucks that have XM built in to their factory-installed radio/CD players.
Worth the buy!

[cyben]

I too am thankful for the 30 day return policy on the Polk.
I hope Directv will start broadcasting XM with an eye on -sound quality-.
Please.

[jautor]

[QUOTE=Low Profile][FONT=Arial]

I could not agree more regarding the IR codes. I am very annoyed about this. I have all my equipment in an equipment closet in a room off my home theatre / family room. If I am more than 20 feet away from the IR receiver in my home theatre the original remote does not work at all. Even within 20 feet the original remote does not work well. I have to go in the other room, open the door to my equipment closet, and point the remote at the unit for it to work reliably. Not good. Thank goodness for my Philips ProntoProNG TSU7000. It has very strong IR output. I can be as much as 30 feet away from my IR receiver for reliable operation of the tuner. I tried using my Philips RF Extender in conjunction with my TSU7000, so I could control the tuner in other areas of my home. After just a couple days now it is clear I won't be able to have this tuner on my RF extender. Using the RF extender it works perfectly some of the time, and then other times it does not work at all. To date I have never had a problem controlling any of my existing equipment via the RF extender.
[/QUOTE]

I had some difficulty learning the Polk codes with my Home Theater Master MX-700 and URC-200, but once I got them in solid (I believe I used very short taps to learn them to the URC, and downloaded a CCF file for the MX), they work fine. On both devices, I set up macros assigned to LCD buttons with about 50 of the channels (I coulda done more, but since I'm never going to listen to them, why bother! :rolleyes: ), and use the URC-200 in the back yard with the RF repeater. Works great! Also, there are discrete on/off codes for the unit, which helps with the macro programming.

The other big frustration I am having is with the tuners scrolling display which I can't stand. I am outputting the tuners composite video to a DLP front projector of which there is no concern of burn-in yet I have to sit here and wait for the stupid display to scroll long enough to show me the artist and title short of hitting the enter button all the time. I have yet to find a work around for this.


I agree with the on screen and front panel display - they suffer from the same single-modal issue that the Delphi products have (the remote and the front panel share the same mode of operation instead of being independent). If you press the display button, and use the left/right keys (I'm not in front of it at the moment) you'll get a (smaller) text display with both artist/title without scrolling.

Jeff

[Low Profile]

I am using the stock codes for the Polk with my TSU7000. I tried learning them and got the same exact codes. I did not send a short burst however. That may or may not show a different result. Always something to try. I have a few other things I am going to try as well. Using IR I am solid and pleased with the units repsonsiveness. Having the unit on the RF extender would be ideal though, so that line of sight to my IR receiver was not required.

After enjoying the unit so much over the past couple weeks the scrolling display (via its video out) has really become a non-issue for me. Having any type of display is not that important to me now. While at home and working on the computer I have just been getting the song and track info using XaMp Desktop. If the same channel is available via XM Online I will keep that station cue'd up via XaMp Desktop. It runs minimized in my system tray which is great! Even better, an MSN style message windows slides up from the system tray showing the artist and song track info as each new song starts playing. At any time you can also just hover your mouse over the icon in the system tray to see this information as well. Pretty sweet! :-)

-Lowpro

[bknauss]

[QUOTE=Tulsa1]I am thankful for the 30 day risk free deal on this because it is going
back to Polk. I tried it out this weekend and it does not compare
to sound quality of my car unit. It had a muffled sound to it.
I even piped thru my equalizer and just couldn't make it a keeper.
The FM broadcasts on my Pio Elite VSX-56TXi sounded better than this
connected thru its digital fiber output.
Nice on the eyes but not for the ears.

Regards,
Martin[/QUOTE]

Martin - the problem is that once you hit a certain point with SQ, you're going to hear all the crap in the recording (or in this case, the compression).