Review: XpressRC Plug-and-Play with Color Screen

[Ryan]

XM's newest radio is sure to be the hot item this holiday season. The new XpressRC radio is the huge jump technologically in plug and play units that we have all been waiting for. The XpressRC is nearly identical to the XpressR, which was released a few months ago, with the exception of some very cool new features. This review will only cover the new additions to this latest model radio. You can read more about the other features on my review of the older model XpressR here.

What's New?
Basically, there are 3 new features: A very vivid color screen, SongSaver, and FrequencyFinder. These features will be covered in this review.

Color Screen:
All I can say is, "Wow." While I will attempt to show you how brilliant this color screen is in photos, you will not get the full "wow-effect" until you use this radio in person. The screen is very bright, the colors are vivid, and the clarity is very sharp. I do not know the exact resolution of this screen, but it looks like your radio has a tiny HDTV screen. If you thought the Inno's color screen was nice, this radio makes the Inno look like an old blurry television.

The XpressRC is the first-ever plug-and-play satellite radio with a color screen-- XM or Sirius. It's been 6 years in the making, but it was well worth it.





SongSaver:
Like the previous model XpressR, the new RC allows you to pause and playback live XM. The amount of time you can pause the radio has been upped from 30 minutes to 60 minutes in this new model. Also, for the first time ever, you can save songs in your plug-and-play radio. Just like with the XM2go portable radios, once the song is saved, it's stored in your radio-- even if you turn the power off. Unlike the Inno and Helix's 50-hours of storage, this radio only lets you save a total of 10 songs. I am not sure if this was due to an agreement reached with the Recording Industry, or if it was simply a cost factor. Either way, it's still a very nice feature.

While listening to a live song, simply press and hold down the Tune Knob for about 1 or 2 seconds. The radio will beep and give you the option to add this song to SongSaver. Hit select again and the song will begin to record. As long as you hit the SongSaver button before the song ends, you can save the entire track to the radio. Just like the Inno and Helix, however, you cannot save the entire song if you changed the channel halfway through. If your radio does not have the full song in buffer, it will warn you before you save that the full song is not available. You can either cancel out, or continue save the incomplete track.

These saved songs are accessed using the number buttons along the bottom of the radio. You can either use the FAV button on the radio, or the preset/direct button on the included remote control. This will allow you to change between Direct channel entry mode, Preset mode, and SongSaver mode. Once in SongSaver mode, simply hit the number button of the track saved, and it will instantly start to play. Pressing the display button while in SongSaver mode will also give you a visual listing of the saved songs and the corresponding channel numbers.






FrequencyFinder:
The other new feature in this radio is called FrequencyFinder. This is a great feature for those who use the SureConnect and FM Direct installation options (neither of which is included in the package). Simply go into your radio's menu, enable the FM Modulator, and it will automatically scan all of the FM frequencies for the clearest choices to improve reception. It will then give you a list of the top 5 frequencies you should use. Simply pick one of the frequencies (the first one will always be your best choice) and hit select. You can always override the FrequencyFinder feature if you scroll to View All Frequencies. From there, you can select any of the 100 FM frequencies available.

Those who travel a lot from city to city will find this feature very handy.






Pros: Amazing color screen is a must-have, SongSaver gives you the recording feature of the portable radios in the plug-and-play form factor, not too expensive.

Cons: Radio will not power-on from remote. Power button on the radio itself must be pressed.

Overall Thoughts:
This is an amazing radio. I haven't been this excited about a radio since the release of the Inno. Even if you don't care about any of the other features, the color screen alone is worth the upgrade.

Rating: 10/10

Now available at XMFanStore:
http://store.xmfanstore.com/delphi-xpress-rc-color-with-vehicle-kit.html


More Pictures:

[Eatsleepdrivesc]

That thing looks sweet!

I found it interesting that the 90's background with the jukebox was in different colors where on my inno its all blue.

Also i think that the FM Feq. Finder is great!

Any chances of a lower piece near the holiday season?

[Ryan]

yes, it looks sweet in the pictures, but trust me it's 100 times nicer in person. The clarity of the screen doesn't come through in the photos.

I also wanted to add that all Xpress models are compatible with each other. So if you already have an Xpress home kit, car kit, Belkin boombox, or Delphi Premium Sound System, this radio will connect right into your existing setup. No extra parts to buy.

[Eatsleepdrivesc]

Does it come with a remote, and if so any pics?

[Ryan]

[kerberos]

I received my XpressRC and Pie Auxillary input adapter from XMFanstore today. After yanking out the old tired SkyFi2, and getting the Pie adapter installed, everything worked out great. I'll post a pic or two.

One question: The yellow wire from the Pie is supposed to be connected to +12 always on power. I've tapped it into the same power source as the XpressRC. My radio (GM) has retained accessory power, so that when the ignition is shut off, the radio stays on for 10 mins. However as soon as the ignition is turned off, I lose the auxillary input. The radio is on, and the XpressRC is still on so I know the Pie is still getting power, but just the Aux input ceases to function. Is this normal behavior?

[xmguy2500]

Nice!! Can the display be turned off for use in the Belkin boombox to conserve power?

[Ryan]

[xmguy2500]

[lronglien]

I popped my RC into the car dock from the XPress R. Worked great. The remote looks the same, but you do need the RC remote instead of the R remote.

Comment: Don't you think that the "powers" at XM could do something with the streaming of the song titles across the screen? By this time I would hope there would be some font size choices and a way to get the entire song title on the screen at the same time. I've had XM coming up on 6 years now--and its still the same as the first year. Just my thoughts.

[xmguy2500]

Ryan,

Do you know if there will be a PAS for this other than the Belkin?

[Ryan]

[tampa8]

I can add a couple of things.

You cannot erase an individual song that has been saved. You must either reset the radio to factory settings to erase them all, or when you add the 11th song, the first one saved will be erased, then the the second one etc.....

The Screen dimmer does work quite well and seems to dim to about where I would do it manually. However it only samples the light and changes the setting when the screen is turned off then on again. So if you have it on screen always on, it will not change. If you have the screen set to go off after a certain amount of time, when it comes back on it will adjust. I have found a work-around because in the car I always have the screen on. If you hit menu, then menu again it will adjust.

If the song you want to save is in the 60 minute buffer, even if you have changed channels, even several times, as long as you don't turn off the radio you can go back to the buffer and play/save/tune select a song.

Even with a few things I wish were different including having only 10 presets, this radio is everything I have wanted in a plug n play. It shows off most everything that makes satellite so much better than FM.

[Ryan]

[Eatsleepdrivesc]

Ryan is the screen bigger than the skyfi2?