Review: Delphi XM MyFi Shows Promise

REVIEW With satellite radio entering the mainstream, it was only a matter of time before we'd see units that would allow the customer to break free from the automobile and home and enjoy their music just about anywhere.

Enter the $350 Delphi XM MyFi. The first radio based on XM Satellite Radio's "xm2go" philosophy, the unit brings a full-featured satellite radio into the size of a cassette walkman. With recording features as well, MyFi is also first device capable of archiving satellite radio programming for later use.

Being a satellite radio junkie myself, I jumped at the chance to review the MyFi; I had been waiting for a portable solution. The Delphi XM SkyFi with the boombox attachment, while giving you the capability to run it from batteries, wasn't truly portable. Plus, I don't want to look like some space-age version of those guys from the 80's who would carry radios on their shoulders.

Pulling the unit out of the box, I noticed the MyFi itself is extremely stylish. It will get looks and quite possible "What is that?" questions if you wear it in plain view. It doesn't look like a Walkman, nor does it look like an MP3 player. Delphi seems to have gone to great lengths to create a visually appealing product.

Also, there are a lot of accessories that come with the unit itself, including options to use it portably through headphones and a wearable antenna; in the home with the supplied home antenna and RCA cables; and in the car with a car mount, vehicle antenna, cassette adapter, and cigarette lighter power adapter. And that's still not all the accessories. Delphi also gives you a case and remote too.

However, holiding the MyFi in my hand for the first time, I noticed that it has some serious bulk. It feels somewhat heavy. For comparison, the standard 20GB iPod weighs about 5.6 ounces, while the MyFi comes in at 7.2 ounces. It's also much thicker, 2.8 inches versus the iPod's one inch width. This means the MyFi isn't just going to be able to be slipped into your shirt pocket.

I also stumbled upon another potential size-related issue: those with small hands may find it awkward to use. Obviously the MyFi was designed for the male hand as I have no problem using it, but several women I handed the product to had to use two hands to operate it.

A little bit on the satellite radio. Most will find the service head and shoulders above FM and AM. If you have an eclectic musical taste, or find yourself switching the radio off because you can't find anything to listen to, then you might be a good candidate for satellite radio.

Back to the MyFi, and specifically reception, which was an issue for me. Unlike most of the reviewers of this unit, I do not live in a big city or anywhere near a terrestrial XM satellite repeater. Thus I am getting my signals completely from the satellites themselves. Indoor reception, even with the supplied wearable antenna, is nonexistent. However, Delphi does not deny this fact - they state in the manual that you must use the provided home antenna for indoor reception.

I was surprised, however, with the how finicky the wearable antenna was outdoors. Unless it's clipped to your hat or to the top of your shirt and unobstructed, it won't do a lot of good. Delphi supplies a clip to attach it to your clothes, but I advise against it. Use the clip pre-attached to the antenna for the best results. If you are in a heavily wooded area, you are going to see a lot of dropouts.

If you are looking for CD-quality sound, then the MyFi -- or any satellite radio for that matter -- is not for you. The MyFi at times seemed to magnify the compressed audio sound that satellite radio can bring. However, it will not be bothersome to most people, especially those who listen to a lot of online radio. The simple fact that you have 130-some channels to peruse rather than the 3 or 4 that you may reliably be able to receive now will likely be a worthwhile tradeoff for most. I also found that adjusting the bass and treble levels will help somewhat.

The record feature is great. XM appears to have broken its own terms of service policy (which states no recording of programming) by doing this, but I guess when you make the rules you can break them too.

What makes it truly useful is the scheduling feature. You can tell the MyFi to record a certain program or channel at a certain time. The unit has the capability to hold up to five hours of programming, which is great when you are in an area with poor or no reception. Recording can also help make sure you don't miss a certain show.

My favorite feature of the unit, however, was not the recording capabilities. Instead, it was something called TuneSelect. Those of us -- myself included -- who can not get enough of a certain song or artist will love this feature. For example, U2's "Vertigo" comes on the station you're listening to. By pressing and holding the dial, you can tell the unit to watch for U2 across all of XM's music channels.

But there was one part of this feature I did not like. Why must I wait until the artist or song comes up, rather than being able to preset the unit to watch for it? In any case, it's still a great feature.

So is the MyFi worth it? If you have the money for it, yes. Every new thing is going to have its flaws, and the MyFi's not perfect, but it's an excellent first go for Delphi and XM. And compared to the SkyFi2 unit with all the added accessories for car, home and "portable" use, the price isn't bad. The SkyFi2 with options will run you total of nearly $370, which is more than the price of the MyFi. Instead, you are getting all the options plus the added benefit of recording for a cheaper price.

If price is an issue, your best bet may be to either wait, or look into just the listening options that you would use. Satellite radio basics can be purchased for roughly half the price of the MyFi. But like most satellite radio fans will tell you, watch out - it becomes addicting real quick.

The Good: Kudos go to both XM and Delphi for finally bringing to the market a portable player with a lot of useful features. TuneSelect and the recording features are what set the MyFi apart, as well as its appearance.

The Bad: The price. $349.99 is a little steep for most. Delphi's other option, the SkyFi2, is good enough for use in the home or car with the optional adapters (sold separately). The wearable antenna needs work; reception is just a bit too shoddy in areas where it's satellite only. This problem really does take away from the unit as a whole, unfortunately.

The Bottom Line: The MyFi is a must have for the satellite radio nut. XM competitor SIRIUS has a lot of work to do in order to top this unit. The price, however, is a problem and is going to scare some away. But, if you can afford it, with all the accessories it's not a bad deal at all. Admittedly, MyFi has some flaws, but if this is the only first generation of portable players, I can't wait to see the second and third.