Polk Audio XRt12 Reference Home XM Satellite Radio Tuner

Polk Audio XRt12 Reference Home XM Satellite Radio Tuner

Product Description
Product Description
The XRt12 from Polk Audio is the world's first component-style XM Satellite Radio tuner for the home. It's the best sounding and most convenient way to enjoy XM's wealth of digital music, sports, news, and entertainment programming in your home through your existing amplifier and speaker setup.

The XRt12 connects to any audio system and fits in any audio furniture or equipment rack. (Use of the receiver requires a paid subscription to XM Satellite Radio).

Set it up once and the XRt12 is ready to deliver high-fidelity XM programming in your home anytime you want to fire up your favorite XM channels. You no longer have to remember to take your plug-and-play XM tuner from the car and dock it in a home adapter. No more squinting and running up to the tiny display to see who's performing that awesome song. The unit has its own 4-line blue-backlit display and a composite-video output for viewing the artists and track information right on your television.

The XRt12 comes with everything you need to enjoy XM radio the day you bring it home: a high-gain XM antenna with 20-foot cable, an optical digital-audio cable, and a stereo audio/composite-video interconnect. The unit's rear panel features both optical and coaxial digital-audio outputs for easy connection to surround receivers and processors. And, if XM starts delivering multichannel surround sound, you'll be ready. The XRt12 also features standard RCA analog stereo outputs for connection with any stereo receiver or integrated amplifier.

The XRt12 features both optical and coaxial digital outputs for easy connection to surround receivers and processors.

Other features include a built-in signal-strength meter to help you position your antenna, up to 20 channel presets for quick and easy switching to your favorite channels, a memory button (so the XRt12 can store up to 10 records of channel, artist, and song data for later retrieval), and a function that lets you scan through major channel categories (rock, talk, sports, etc.). Preview mode lets you see what channels are available and what's playing--before switching from the channel you're listening to.

Further, the XRt12 sounds better than other XM home appliances because of its high-grade parts and construction. If you already have XM in your home, Polk is certain you're not yet hearing its full sonic potential. The XRt12 maintains low noise and low distortion, delivering music that approaches CD sound quality. The digital bits and bytes of satellite radio must be converted to analog for listening, a job handled by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The reference tuner uses a Burr-Brown DAC, widely regarded as the best in the industry.

Each major function (power supply, display, outputs, preamp, and tuner) of the XRt12 are on physically separate circuit boards to minimize interference and noise.

The DAC's analog output must be amplified to a voltage level that your receiver or preamp can use. The XRt12 employs a true high-fidelity preamplifier circuit board, offering greater gain than do the cheap headphone preamps found in plug-and-play tuners. In fact, you can adjust the XRt12's analog output to match the gain of your other components. Each major function (power supply, display, outputs, preamp, and tuner) of the XRt12 is on a physically separate circuit board to minimize interference and noise.

If you have a whole-house distributed audio system like those made by Crestron, NetStreams, or Elan, the XRt12's RS-232 I/O connector allows you to plug right into the system to enjoy XM radio throughout the house. You'll be able to control the XRt12 from any station on the system, displaying channel, artist, and song data on any control screen in the network. If your audio receiver or amp has a 12-volt trigger output, you can connect your XRt12 to it and have the receiver turn the XRt12 on and off.

What's in the Box
XM receiver, a remote control, remote batteries, an XM high-gain home antenna, an optical digital-audio cable, a stereo analog audio/composite-video cable, a user's manual, an XM channel reference card, and online registration information.

Product Description:
Set it up once and the XRt12 is ready to serve up true high fidelity XM programming in your home anytime you want to hear your favorite XM programming. You no longer have to remember to take your plug n' play XM tuner out of the car and hook it up to a kluge home adapter. Its component-standard 17-inch wide chassis looks right at home among your cherished audio gear. No more squinting and running up to the teeny weenie little display to see who is performing that awesome song. And when you hear something new and cool and you want to remember the artist and song you don't even have to find pen and paper-just hit the Memory button on the front panel and the XRt12 will record up to 10 records of channel, artist and song data for later retrieval.The Polk XRt12 comes with everything you need to enjoy XM radio the day you bring it home -a high gain XM antenna with 20 foot cable (an optional 50 extension is available), a digital optical cable and a 3 cord RCA-type analog audio/video cable are all included in the carton. Hooking up is a snap. It features both Optical and Coaxial digital outputs for easy connection to surround receivers and processors. If XM goes multi-channel-you'll be ready! The XRt12 also features standard RCA jack analog stereo outputs so you can hook it up to ANY stereo receiver or amp.

Polk Audio XRt12 Reference Home XM Satellite Radio Tuner

Average customer rating:

Excellent product

Polk Audio XRt12 Tuner

Radio's great for news but too much compression for music

Decent, integratable with your HT/HA PC system.

sees the bird even inside commercial buildings

Polk Audio XRt12 Reference Home XM Satellite Radio Tuner

Manufacturer: Polk Audio
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Car Accessories | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
All Polk Audio | Polk Audio | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
Receivers & Tuners | Satellite Radio | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Home Satellite Radios | Home Satellite Radio | Home Theater & Audio |
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Product Features:

XM Satellite Radio tuner with component-standard 17-inch width; lets you store up to 10 artist name/song records for future recall and reference

TV text video output for easy visibility of channel, artist, and song information right on your TV screen

Optical and coaxial digital-audio outputs, as well as analog stereo RCA outputs, for easy integration with other audio equipment

Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converter chip, quality analog components for the best possible XM sound quality

Measures 17 x 2.3 x 10.5 inches (W x H x D)

ASIN: B0006L506C

Product Description

Polk XRt12 reference tuner is designed to be a permanent part of your home audio system. It is there when you want it and ready to deliver up the quality programming that XM is famous for. It is easy to connect to any home audio system and comes with everything you need to enjoy XM radio the day you bring it home. Its unique video output allows you to display channel number, name, and artist name and song title on your TV screen so you can see what you need to see from across the room. Yes there are other ways to get XM radio to play through your home audio system, but only the Polk Reference XM tuner brings out the best sonic performance from XM radio. Polk Audio uses premium digital and analog components and superior construction techniques to bring you the highest possible audio performance allowed by XM's digital standard.

Product Description

The XRt12 from Polk Audio is the world's first component-style XM Satellite Radio tuner for the home. It's the best sounding and most convenient way to enjoy XM's wealth of digital music, sports, news, and entertainment programming in your home through your existing amplifier and speaker setup.

The XRt12 connects to any audio system and fits in any audio furniture or equipment rack. (Use of the receiver requires a paid subscription to XM Satellite Radio).

The XRt12 comes with everything you need to enjoy XM radio the day you bring it home: a high-gain XM antenna with 20-foot cable, an optical digital-audio cable, and a stereo audio/composite-video interconnect. The unit's rear panel features both optical and coaxial digital-audio outputs for easy connection to surround receivers and processors. And, if XM starts delivering multichannel surround sound, you'll be ready. The XRt12 also features standard RCA analog stereo outputs for connection with any stereo receiver or integrated amplifier.

The XRt12 features both optical and coaxial digital outputs for easy connection to surround receivers and processors.

Further, the XRt12 sounds better than other XM home appliances because of its high-grade parts and construction. If you already have XM in your home, Polk is certain you're not yet hearing its full sonic potential. The XRt12 maintains low noise and low distortion, delivering music that approaches CD sound quality. The digital bits and bytes of satellite radio must be converted to analog for listening, a job handled by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The reference tuner uses a Burr-Brown DAC, widely regarded as the best in the industry.

Each major function (power supply, display, outputs, preamp, and tuner) of the XRt12 are on physically separate circuit boards to minimize interference and noise.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent product.......2007-05-28

After one month of use. Excellent product, works well; easy to set up and use. Don't listen to the XM Radio people about having to set up the antenna on the SW side of the house or even outside the house. Try it first on top of the TV or the unit itself and play around with it a bit; see where you get a decent signal. IF that doesn't work, then do what they say and worry about drilling holes, running cable and having to get an outside antenna. My antenna sits on top of my TV in the entertainment center and gets an excellent signal.

Polk Audio XRt12 Tuner.......2007-03-16

This is the correct tuner to add to my stereo unit, but a bit pricey when you compare it to the portables out there. With the portable units you can switch from home stereo to car stereo using one account. With this unit you only get one account and cannot use it for a stereo care unit. Therefore, I had to pay for two subscriptions.

Radio's great for news but too much compression for music.......2006-05-16

I bought this tuner last year after finding out this receiver had optical and coax digital outputs for SS, expecting great soon to be 5.1 surround sound and entertainment, but was disappointed when I found out XM went to another system (neural sound decoding). This receiver is great for News but you will be diappointed if you decide to hook it up to your home entertainment system for music. You would think anything coming off of a satellite in digital would put you close to the sound of a philharmonic but because of the number of channels XM has and the high compression they use...you would be better off listening to the transmission of your local AM radio statiion. If you are a news/sports junkie, this receiver is for you, if you want cd quality sound....don't waste your time or money. I have recently sold my receiver on E-Bay and am looking at over the air HD reception using the Ibiquity system. If local FM radio stations decide to use more then two sub-channels (after going digital)and thus lower their bit rate, I'm afraid, it too, will sound as poorly as XM and this polk receiver. Polk csr said, Polk does not intend to update or support the XRT-12 with a Neural Sound firmware update, to enable this receiver to function as a 5.1 ss receiver using the backside output of optical digital or coax.

ABOUT NEURAL SOUND:
Neural Audio Corporation, an audio development company specializing in digital signal processing solutions for broadcast and consumer electronics, is the developer of Neural Surround, a proprietary audio format that embeds the rich envelopment and discrete image detail of surround sound and is 100% compatible with stereo content. Chosen by XM Satellite Radio as the format for their 24/7 XM HD Surround programming, Neural Surround will introduce the excitement of surround music to a broad audience. Neural Surround is supported by major home theater brands and automotive OEM's and is expected to be available in more than 50% of surround sound receivers starting in Spring '06. Neural Audio Corporation is a privately owned company headquartered in Kirkland, WA.[...].

Decent, integratable with your HT/HA PC system........2006-01-18

Product is decent, most importantly it is integratable with your HT/HA system via RS232. I can control it via my package (CQC) that also controls CDs, DVDs, TV, HVAC, irrigation, lighting, & security. The Polk XRt12 makes the perfect partner for myhometheaterpc.

sees the bird even inside commercial buildings .......2006-01-07

WHAT WORKS;

Something the typical XM subscriber might not know when they first read about satellite radio is that the signal for the XM systems arrives as a direct line of sight signal AND a terrestrial repeater signal network in larger Metro areas.

We get both.

When I first set this up at the office, the menu for Signal Aiming only showed 2 land signal bars and the satellite showed 0 (zero) signal bars. I thought I would have to drill through the buildings 24 inch brick walls to connect.

Wrong!

It connected to the XM Service without a problem with the land signal alone. The sound quality of this is very good played through a small 5.1 channel home theater I pirated from a residence. The senior partner likes it so much, he is re-discovering the joys of listening to pure music at his fingertips.

We are very happy with this Polk tuner. I will only buy audio systems with a satellite service std/option in the future.

WISH LIST;

I would like to see an option for a larger mini menu display, and perhas one with a bit more legible color text/background on it. A few others have mentioned this. Perhaps Polk will offer other options for this unit over time.

Electronics:

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