SIRIUS Stiletto 2 Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player Reviews

• Excellent device!

  
  By A1LT3KOK8Z4MQL on 2008-01-22
  I thought about writing a review for some time now. I wanted to make sure I was out of the honeymoon phase before I wrote about this device. I have had it for over a couple of weeks now and feel like it's time.
  
  I purchased the Stiletto 2 as a late Christmas present to myself. I had signed up originally for the 3-day trial and loved the radio selections. I live Montana and our radio stations are pretty decent, but we have a lot of commercials. So, being able to listen to music without commercials is fantastic.
  
  I wasn't sure what device to purchase, so I started reading. I had read a number of reviews (particularly the poor ones) about the Stiletto 2, but I liked the portability aspect, so I purchased it.
  
  I now understand their complaints. They want better reception from the device itself, better/more comfortable headphones, etc. I agree the reception on the device isn't the best when indoors, but I purchased the home kit and that significantly improved reception.
  
  When I am away from my home dock, I connect through Internet radio and it works just fine.
  
  I also bought the car kit, but haven't had a chance to install it yet. I was able to get reception in my car without it though, so I imagine the car kit will only improve upon that.
  
  The user interface is quite easy to navigate and the controls on the device are fairly intuitive. I like to test devices without reading the manual first to see how easy it is to figure out and the Stiletto 2 was pretty straightforward. I had to refer to the manual to understand the recording options, but otherwise, it was simple.
  
  The recording option is fantastic. I set up a number of recurring sessions in the middle night. In the morning, I can then listen to them when I am working out, running errands, etc. I think this is probably one of the best features of the device. I have 15+ hours of recorded content and have used only 35% of the internal memory. Replay is fantastic. You can skip through songs just like your MP3 player and for me, that's a great option.
  
  The size of the device is just right. It fits in my pocket, but it's not so small that I am afraid it's going to get broken or lost.
  
  The battery life has been more than adequate. It's rated at like 4+ hours for Satellite or Internet radio and 20+ for recorded or library selections. I can attest that I have listened to it for many hours without running out of power. I wouldn't mind having a spare battery, but it's probably overkill.
  
  As for the additional SD card slot. It's too bad it's under the battery. When you install an SD card, it's like you are putting in RAM in your laptop. This is not simple or intuitive for a lot of people (thinking of my mom here). I am sure there was an architectural reason, but it's too bad it's not just inserted on the side like a number of cell phones.
  
  I have owned a number of musical devices in my life, 5+ iPods, a Zune, Rio, CD players, Walkmans, etc, but I can say this device has really reminded me of how music can be such a wonderful part of your life. I listen to my radio non-stop, and I wouldn't have it any other way now.
  
  
  

• Great Item

  
  By A3BR317U4KBNMG on 2007-11-27
  This item is a homerun. I had the first Sirius Stiletto and that, while a nice item, was a little limited with it's WIFI connection and also it was a little large.
  
  Sirius hit a homerun with this, the much improved SL2. To start off, the WIFI capability has been expanded to support 802.11b/g and also will work with most wireless hotspots. Plus, you can now enter a username and password to connect where you could NOT do this on the first Stiletto.
  
  In addition to it's upgrade, it is also almost 30% smaller that the first Stiletto yet this item does not feel cheap. It is very solid, yet very small. It is slightly larger than a Motorola Razor phone. The feel of the device is also very nice with the all black look and the rubberized plastic covering on the back that will prvent scratches when set down.
  
  Overall, the performance of the device has been 100% perfect with no lockups, freezes or issues. Plus, the exandable memory is GREAT. You can add up to an 8gb micro sd card making this a 10 gig MP3 player (2 GB internal memory).
  
  Sirius has also updated the channel logos and wallpaper screens for each individual channel. Plus, the sports alerts are much improved and when listening to on NFL game, the screen displays a graphic of each team's helmet, ie. if the Raiders are playing the Cheifs there will be a Radier Helmet and a Chief helmet on the screen. This doesn't enhance your listening of course, but does make for a nice touch.
  
  There are a few other added features but most importantly, they have included a bass boost with four settings (off, low, med, high) and also SRS Focus, also with four settings. The sound is much improved over it's predecessor when using as an mp3 player and, in my opinion, far better sounding than any IPOD.
  
  The antenna headphones are probalby the BIGGEST improvement as the original ones were god awful. The improved headphones are extremely comfortable and are made by Altec Lansing. Portable reception has also improved with this device but if you do not live near a terrestrial signal repeater, you are probably going to be forced to either use the Antenna Headphones or try to connect over a wireless network because the built in antenna on the device is just not that strong and probably never will be---this is just a shortcoming of satelitte radio, not of the SL2 or Sirius.
  
  Overall, I am loving life with this device as it is now my Satellite Radio for use in my home, car and in portable modes and also my primary MP3 player. I ditched my Ipod since I am now able to squeeze 10gb onto this player. Also, I can record any Sirius program on a daily basis and listen back when I have the time.
  
  If you have been considering Sirius, or your are a current subscriber looking to upgrade to a better radio, your 100% best choice would be the Stiletto 2. A great device without a lot of cool features and capabilities.
  
  

• S10/100 design flaws ignored

  
  By AYM8339DSTCUD on 2007-11-21
  The S10/100 was a very flawed item. The main problem, for me: I DO NOT WANT A COMBINATION ANTENNA AND HEADPHONES. That means I have to use "special" headphone, and when (not if: WHEN) they break, I'll have to pay an arm and a leg for new ones rather than the perfectly fine $5 ones from the local gas station. So the S2 made the headphones more comfortable - who cares? Is that worth the extra $100? How about the ability to log into wifi using a username and password - what, you couldn't correctly implement an ancient protocol like 802.11 the first time around? You can't at least provide a firmware upgrade to fix that, instead you're gonna try to hose us for another $350? Oh, and now we can insert a microSD card (not even included) - worth the extra $100. I say "no." I say that unless Sirius' engineers get their act together bailing as soon as Howard is gone.
  
  

• Nice idea, flawed execution, abisimal service.

  
  By ATPCNB0VHIKK8 on 2007-12-31
  My wife gave me the Stiletto 2 as a Christmas gift. Here it is New Year's eve and I'm awaiting my 3rd return. Yes, 3 defective units.
  
  In my case, the device will not hold a WiFi connection most of the time and will disconnect in as quick as 30 seconds. It connects and buffers quickly, but drops connection (even while showing a strong signal) in moments. Several times the dropped connection initiated a reboot of the device which takes an exceptionally long time to run as it is.
  
  I've had few problems with the Satellite signal with both the internal antenna as well as the headphones. Both work as well as my GPS receiver in that as long as I have a fairly good view of the sky, I get a signal. If I go inside, I lose it. In fact, I've even had a weak but usable signal inside where I never expected one.
  
  In dealing with Sirius custom support, I sent a highly detailed e-mail with the results of testing with my second unit. Over 48 hours later (they promise a 24 hour response) I got a reply that told me to call their Technical Support.
  
  I get a 'Supervisor' on Technical Support that insists that the problem with my WiFi is a bad internal Antenna. This is the same reason I got for unit #1 that was malfunctioning in a similar manner.
  
  I find this diagnosis doubtful for several reasons.
  
  1) I can connect and initially download (buffering) from any distance from my router that I can get a signal on my laptop.
  
  2) Even sitting less than a foot from the router with full signal and no other RF devices (computer, phone, cell phone, etc) on, the unit drops connection as if I had a marginal connection.
  
  As an engineer who has developed software for networked devices and did some early packet radio work, the failure looks more like an issue with lost packets and time outs rather than a "Faulty Antenna". Especially since the same antenna is used for the satellite reception and I've found that to be quite good given the size of the device.
  
  If you are looking for a portable satellite radio, this is a good unit, but if you are looking for a way to enjoy Sirius programming while working around the house where you can't get a clear view of the sky or the average boombox or stereo is not a good solution, this device seemed like a perfect solution, but is instead very disappointing.
  
  Hopefully Sirius will get the WiFi issues resolved soon, but until that occurs, I CAN NOT recommend this product as the primary use as portable
  radio is simply not well served.
  
  
  

• Leaves a lot to be desired

  
  By A1M9UPEF1CNH8S on 2007-12-07
  I bought this product and was really excited to start listening to satellite radio at work and in my car. In general I feel like the product has a great interface and is easy and intuitive to use.
  
  I was shocked by how poor the sattelite reception was. Even worse the sound quality was muffled and not very sharp. I ended up owning the product for three or four days before I cancled my Sirius subscription and returned it.
  
  Unfortunately, the problems with this product outweighed the benefits for me. Since good sharp sound quality is really important to me, I figured I would put my money towards a good MP3 player and download all the extra content I want via pod-cast or through internet radio.
  
  
• I really wanted this to work
  By A349VPWB56K06 on 2008-02-14
  As the subject states, I really wanted this to work.
  
  For those who read through my review, I want to make it clear that I am a Sirius fan. I've had a Sirius satellite radio in my car for two years now and I cannot imagine driving around without it.
  
  Last year I accepted a new job that puts me on the train every day instead of in the car for my morning commute. I've missed my satellite radio since then so for the last few months, I've had my eye on the Stiletto. I decided to wait for the Stiletto 2, and I finally took the plunge over the weekend.
  
  Out of the box, the radio looks very attractive and fits perfectly in my hand. The large display is colorful, bright, and easy to read and navigate. The controls are very easy to operate. Overall, a very intuitive design.
  
  The radio is feature packed. You can import your own music into the device via included software. In my opinion, there is plenty of space for stored content out of the box (about 100 hours worth) and I think that will acommodate most people. For those of us with large music and audio book libraries, the added micro-SD card slot is a nice touch. Another feature was wireless connectivity. Some claimed they had problems with frequent disconnects. I didn't have this problem.
  
  Activation was pretty simple, however I couldn't grab a signal indoors, I needed to stand outside on the front porch to complete the activation and the initial download of the channels. I was hoping this wasn't going to be a typical problem, as I even had the antenna headset plugged in. By the way, I've heard rumblings about the Altec Lansing headphones being uncomfortable and I would have to agree. I think Sirius could have made a better choice in headphones, since they seem to be a requirement for this device to get any kind of a signal.
  
  Now, on to reception. Let me make it perfectly clear that I live in the outer suburbs of Chicago. I live near a small city called Crystal Lake, and although is not very close to downtown Chicago, I wouldn't consider myself as living in the "boondocks" either. I also want to make it clear that I purchased this radio so I could listen to it on the train. Those of us who have long train commutes would appreciate having such ability to listen to their iPod or satellite radio. And since my commute is up to 1.5 hours each way (up to 3 hours round trip commute) one could see how I would become excited about bringing my Sirius programming with me on the train.
  
  When I first put the headphones on and fired up the unit, I was standing in the depot after having just finished mixing my coffee. No signal. Okay, so I walked outside and with a cloudless sky, I was able to get two bars and I was able to listen to the radio. I walked across the tracks and went to one of the open-air shelters (it was a particularly cold day and there are warmers installed overhead in the shelter.) As soon as I entered the shelter, I lost signal. Huh, okay. I decided to test it. I walked out of the shelter and received signal again. I walked around and although uninterrupted, I walked under a tree and the signal was interrupted. I started to become discouraged.
  
  So, the train arrived and I boarded, selected a window seat and settled in. I was very disappointed (heartbroken, would be a better term) that I could not get a signal for pretty much the entire train ride. I tried moving the headphone wire closer to the window, I tried leaning my head closer to the window, tried holding the unit closer to the window, but the screen continuously displayed "Acquiring Signal." It was only when we were a couple miles from downtown that I was able to get a signal, but I attribute this to retransmitters that I hear people talking about.
  
  I realized the same results on the way home. I tried it again the next day, this time sitting on the upper row of seats but to no avail. Since this purchase was primarily for entertainment while on the long train commute, I have decided to return the radio. I suppose I'll look into XMs option or just get an iPod. I will keep a sharp eye out for future offerings from Sirius and XM. I haven't given up on my quest to bring satellite radio with me where ever I go.
  
  I give this product two stars, for the added features and well designed menues and navigation. It's too bad that I couldn't use it for its intended purpose, hence the deduction of three stars.
  
  
• Very buggy software limits, ruins the experience.
  By A26ORC5IB6V6XQ on 2008-06-03
  I received my Stiletto II about two weeks ago, and I've enjoyed the convenience of listening to Sirius programming on-the-go after recording it in my office during the day. The headphones it comes with are quite nice (metallic wiring). Most of the joy I get out of the device, however, is dashed by the very buggy software that's installed - and that I find myself having to reinstall over and over again - on it. In the last two weeks, I've had to perform an approximately 15-minute "device recovery" using a PC and the provided software to erase everything I've recorded and then reformat the Stiletto II. Thus far I've had to recover because: 1) the device had some kind of issue with an inability to delete recorded programs I no longer needed, freezing and then giving me an "error, plug into computer to recover" message; 2) for no apparent reason other than waking up the device after it had been recording during the afternoon; and 3) the software crashed the first time I attempted to upload mp3's onto it because I foolishly downloaded updated device software when prompted to by the "My Sirius Studio" program (the software you use to upload music and manage the files already on the Stiletto II, provided on a CD-ROM). In fact, I'm typing this as my Stiletto II is recovering after incident #3 ("Recovering / Please wait..." it says).
  
  I regret buying this; I had a Sportster 4 that worked just fine. I haven't had to reboot the Stiletto 2 in the last few days (the time between incidents 2 and 3 because, I suspect, I'd been limiting my use to very simple things, like recording and listening to just one station, rather than attempting to upload mp3's or manage what files I had on the device after successive recordings. That means, however, it seems that to avoid future crashes I'll have to avoid enjoying the Stiletto 2 to its fullest advertised capability. I hope in the future other device makers than Sirius/Directed Electronics offer Sirius reception. The Stiletto 2 is just a mess.
  
  It's been about 15 minutes already and my Stiletto 2 is now in the "Receiving Software" stage of the software recovery. I'll have to reselect my favorite stations and will have lost all my recordings. Sigh.
  
  
• Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Terrible! Horrible!
  By A26RCFBSB8XK0K on 2007-12-14
  Ok, so I really enjoy Sirius Sat. radio. I decided to give the new mobile Stiletto 2 a try. Let me just say the reception is HORRIBLE!!! I took that back today for a refund. I MEAN TERRIBLE!! The signal constantly goes in and out or no signal at all. Also, you can record shows with it but only if you have a dock and only if you have a solid signal. If not then it will not record any shows that you enjoy....and of course with this unit...no signal..so that meant no shows were recorded. Then they give you these awkward headphones that supposed to have a built in Antennae...and with it still little or no improvement in signal. All over town, in the house, and office there was little to no improvement at all. The reception gained was TERRIBBLE!! The lady even said as I was returning it...she gets a lot of them returned for same reason. If you have Sirius....stay away from the Stiletto 2...they need to get there hardware up to decent standard!
  
  
• iPod Killer
  By A29LCG1QPPYS3C on 2008-01-02
  With over 10,000 legit tracks in my iTunes library (and a heavy iTunes tab) it's obvious I love my iPod. I've also been on XM for YEARS now. However, since picking up a Stiletto 2, I haven't touched either. I can record almost 100 hours of CD-quality music (either one song at a time or in blocks of time) AND I can then shuffle or select songs JUST LIKE AN IPOD! Oh, and with built-in WiFi, I don't ever have to worry about having a strong signal indoors. Virtually perfect device!
  
  
• Exactly what I've been looking for
  By AUEBOAZV6NFOQ on 2007-12-16
  I'm an avid talk radio listener and frequent traveler, and have not been able to find a media player I truly enjoyed until the Sirius Stiletto came along. I know a lot of people take pleasure in setting up perfect playlists for moods or situations, but I don't like planning out my entertainment ahead of time.
  
  If it was only a radio, though (even an excellent satellite/internet radio like this one), it still wouldn't work for me because I'm frequently stuck on planes or other areas where I can't get reception. For times like these, being able to preload it with podcasts, music files, or "radio replays" (extended recordings of a satellite channel) is invaluable.
  
  I haven't had any signal problems, either driving or at home, and I have connected to a couple of WPA-enabled wifi networks seamlessly. The headphones are comfortable, although I use my regular noise-canceling ones whenever I don't need the signal enhancement.
  
  The Stiletto, with it's limited storage capacity, might not appeal to someone who is in love with their iPod, but for someone like myself that really enjoys the immediacy and unpredictability of radio it really takes portable media players to the next level.
  
  
• Surprised by the reviews. I'm in love with this thing!
  By A3J2M1BEF5RY0A on 2008-01-09
  I'm really surprised by the handful of negative reviews on here. I have been a long time Sirius user and have just recently upgraded to the Stiletto 2 after a car break-in led to the loss of my old radio.
  
  Switching to the Stiletto 2 has really changed the way I use Sirius. The DVR like capabilities (rewind, record songs, record shows) has done for my radio what TiVo has done for my television viewing.
  
  Due to recent FCC regulations the FM transmitter has led to signal quality loss when broadcasting from the Stilleto to your car radio but a $30 direct FM adapter solves this problem entirely. When you hear people speak of "reception issues" it has nothing to do with the satellite signal but rather their own broadcast to their radio. This fixes the problem. In most cars you can self install this in a few minutes. In my truck it took a 15 minute audio shop install because I had to get behind the radio.
  
  My daily use of the Stiletto usually starts with the recording of my favorite show before I even wake up. I can then listen, pause, fastforward, etc until I get to work. Then I pop the head phones on and head inside and listen to the rest of the show.
  
  An internal MicroSD card allows you to expand the MP3 player capabilities and can give you iPhone/iTouch/Ipod-Nano like storage.
  
  The MP3 player is suprisingly intuitive (better than my iRiver). Overall I could not go back to a standard radio or even a non-Stiletto radio after a few months with this product.
  
  
• SL2 is great
  By A15FRCZGBVANL6 on 2007-12-28
  Ive always listen to sirius and wanted a portable radio so I puchased the stilleto 2. My parents live way out in the middle of no where it picked up perfectly, I live in the city and it still picks up perfect. Being able to save songs directly from the radio is very nice and you can upgrade to 10gb of memory. If you break the headphones or need a new pair you can purchase them for under 50 dollars which is an improvement. The wifi works great as well
  
  
• Not What I Wanted
  By A2KB1DKJR6X2WZ on 2008-01-27
  I thought this thing would be like a Tivo for Sirius. Its not. I have had several defective units. I would galdly pay more for something that works. This kinda stinks because I love Sirius so much I sure they will dupe me again next year.
  
  
• Wow! iPod Killer Indeed!
  By A2K3AK9WC7HWU7 on 2008-02-01
  I never thought I would find a device equal to my iPod, but this is pretty close. Some of the negative reviews are very misleading and I nearly believed in them to the point of almost not buying this item. I'm actually AMAZED at the reception I'm getting on this WITHOUT those cumbersome headphones. I work on the 44th floor of my office building (and not even in a window office) and I'm getting a 2 bar signal with the internal antenna and the small earbuds. My work's Wi-Fi will not accept this particular device and I was pleasantly surprised to find the satellite signal being so strong within the office.
  My only problem is using the crappy FM signal for my car stereo (damn you, FCC!) so I had to have somebody install the car kit for me and it works like a champ.
  
  
• Less than Honest rebate policy
  By AGOH8N902URMW on 2008-05-12
  The rebate had been extended by 30 days on their site and I had the updated form. Their web system was not so I mailed the form. They rejected it - I know how to properly submit. I let it go as did not feel like battling them.
  
  
• Excellent in Boston and other cities!
  By A378XEODD5IRF0 on 2008-01-11
  I cannot speak for reception elsewhere, but reception in Boston has been solid and without interruption. Cities with terrestrial reflectors are a great location, for you urban dwellers.
  
  As for Wi-fi, I had the radio connected to my home network in 15 seconds.
  
  Sound quality, usability and the looks of this thing are excellent.
  
  My only grips is the lack if an external antenna for non-city use. You are relegated to using the clunky Altec Lansing antenna phones.
  
  For city-dwellers, four stars. For others, the required antenna phones makes this a three stars at best.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Also Excellent MP3 Player - Great Sound Quality.
  By ASMVG0BEAL0JI on 2008-02-07
  The Stilleto far exceeded my expectations. I was skeptical at first but I decided to take the plunge and try it out......I've heard horror stories from people who attempted to use a portable satelite radio as a jogging buddy. Even though reception can be a bit spotty as one runs underneath tall trees, the signal was stable enough to make it viable, especially with the included antenna headphones........I listened to the Super Tuesday election returns on CNN literally on the run.......The WiFi Internet Radio feature works just fine as well with great sound quality. I only wish that Sirius included more internet channels....One feature that is seldom mentioned is the fact that the Stilleto is an excellent MP3 player, compatible with Play for Sure Music Services....The sound quality is one of the best I've ever heard with rich warm tones....The audio quality far surpasses my iPod Classic and is on par with my Sony Walkman A800...............I was about to give up my Sirius Subscription but so much for that......Kudos to Sirius....
  
  
• Awesome Unit
  By A10FW5BNV2K6LF on 2008-02-29
  I'm a Gadget junkie...you name it, I've bought it and tried it, from the latest PC's...HD TV's,, Sling TV, TIVO, HD DVD players, Blu-Ray players,I-Touch, Zune, X-Box 360, PS3, Blackberry, XM radio & Sirius players...etc...etc...etc...
  
  If your looking for he Ultimate portable music device, the Stiletto 2 is the answer...This unit does it all, you need no other portable music device...
  
  First: How much money do you spend on downloading songs???
  Possibly hundreds of $ a year? With Stilleto 2 you can download up to 10 hours of indiviual songs from Sirius...and it's no additional cost, just the monthly subscriber fee you're already paying, and you can replay them at any time with the built in memory.
  
  Second: It automatically records the stations you listen to, up to 100 hours, so when your in a no signal area, you can listen to hours & hours & hours of music during this time.
  
  Third: Not only does it have 2GB of built in memory but you can add a Micro SD card to increase your music collection. You can transfer / import music files from your PC...it will replaces youe Zune, Ipod, MP3 player, and using the Yahoo music site (software included) you can purchase music online and continue to add to your colection.
  
  Fourth: It has not only satellite reception capability, but WiFi as well, and both work excellent! So if you have WiFi at home, no need to worry about a Satellite signal, it connects to your Wifi...and if you'e in a free hotsspot...wala, connetion!
  
  Fifth: The reception of a satellite signal is very good even without the antennae earphones...anyone who complains that they can't receive a satellite signal indoors with this unit needs to remember "IT'S SATELLITE", that means you need a clear view of the sky to receive, if you got a roof over you, it will block the signal!!!
  
  The only option I would like to see added is being able to load photos for viewing...
  
  I say BUY IT! You'll throw away every other portable music player you have after you do!
  
  
• Awesome device! What's with all the bad reviews??
  By A2GCY8YTZ8O40 on 2008-01-09
  Got this product for Christmas and was a bit concerned after reading all the negative reviews about it. So far, this product has been nothing short of excellent. Have had NO problem keeping a signal while walking outside or while connected to Wi-Fi. The recording feature is great and I'm very happy with the Stilletto 2.
  
  The one down thing is that you have to wear the headphones that come with it to get a great signal (not just any headphones will do) however, they are comfortable and sound good.
  
  I'd recommend this product to fans of Sirius.
  
  
• Great Product But Can Be Better
  By A3CFZ5HA9XDFBL on 2008-02-24
  I love Sirius Radio. It's the TiVo of radio. If you are already convinced on getting sirius then there's no other radio to get than this one. You no longer have to sit in your car to finish hearing your favorite song or howardstern. Now you can take it out of the car and walk with it. Looks great and show the score of your favorite teams no matter what channel you are on! Will be even better once MLB is a part of sirius. Easy to use and set-up. My mom loves walking around the house using the internet radio for martha stewart and the classical stations. When you are walking outdoors in an open area you do not need the provided headphones (with antennae). You can use any headphones.
  
  Things to improve: Be able to record the internet radio. Better indoor reception w/out headphones. Be able to play video.
  
  
• Excellent product, I have been waiting three years for this!!!
  By A1JS7U18C90VE6 on 2008-04-04
  I love this item and I wanted to wait a couple weeks to give my review of the product. I use it everyday and it eliminates all my other mp3 devices.
  
  Here is how a typical day breaks down with the Stiletto 2:
  5:00am - work out on treadmill or bike listening to mp3 mixes or sirius through wifi.
  7:30am - drive to work, drop the kids off, listen to satellite radio, news or music
  8:00am - listen to music all day at work, through mp3 or created playlists; why can't my office get wifi?
  12:00am - Walk around downtown listening to satellite radio with the headphone antenna.
  4:30pm - Drive home and to pick up the kids, listening to music.
  9:30pm - Chill out in bed listening to wifi radio.
  
  Overall, I love this product. Is it expensive? Yes. Are the accessories expensive? Yes. Does it work as advertised? Yes.
  
  There are so many options I like I will highlight a few.
  First, I love having the option to listen to the radio through wifi. I think that is awesome.
  Second, I like to listen to a lot of different kinds of music and I wouldn't have the patience to search through the 80gb ipod. With sirius, different genres of music are just a click away.
  Third, I love that I can walk outside and listen to sirius, a service I have had for two years and haven't been able to take it portable. I go to Missouri football games and I am going to take the Stiletto 2 to the games to listen to the play by play, or to check other games.
  Fourth, I love that you can add a micro-sd card. I added a 2gb to expand my music. A bonus feature I discovered is I can play my mp3s in the car now. That was an awesome feature I didn't think about.
  
  I feel the Stiletto 2 is pricey, but for me, it has allowed me to listen to a service I was already paying for in a lot more applications throughout the day!
  
  
  
• Great when you can get reception
  By A2Y9K7QZT5HWS8 on 2008-04-24
  What an adventure! I have had this radio for 4 days now and purchased the home docking kit so I could listen to it at work. I work in a single story building located in zone 2 (for those of you who found the satellite zones on the sirius website because of signal problems) and do not have access to an open window that faces north to northeast. In fact, I do not have access to a window at all! So I have had difficulties trying to get a good (or any) signal where my desk is at. I was able to squeeze 1 bar, but it was intermittent. I called Sirius to no avail. They suggested I use the wi-fi. We do have one at work, but I cannot get it to authenticate and connect. I think it has something to do with our proxy server. Sirius suggested that I mount an outdoor antenna. YEAH RIGHT! Not possible at WORK!!! They suggested that I use a signal repeater. NOPE! I am not about to spend another $100 just to get it working. Finally they suggested that I just use the internet radio through the website! At that point I was just about ready to return it. But, I have been a Sirius subscriber for over 4 years now, and I love the service. So, I searched the web to find a solution. I found on one of the forums I scoured, that someone had used the car antenna, which got a better signal than the antenna that comes with the home docking kit. I was skeptical at first, but found the car antenna (the low profile one) at a local dealer for $15. I took a chance and bought it. I figured that if it does not work, I can replace the bigger antenna that is already on my car with this one. So, I connected it and got no signal. #$^@!!! I disconnected it and was ready to take everything back. But, I thought to myself, I really did not try all the available spots to place the antenna. I placed it on top of the hutch at my desk, in the same spot I had the home docking antenna. VOILLA!!! It WORKED!!! I was able to get 3 bars or @ a 70% signal vs. the intermitten 1 bar and 30-40% signal with the home docking kit. I guess it has something to do with the multi-directional technology vs. the directional that the home docking antenna uses. Try it! It may or may not work for you, but I think it's worth a try. I'm a happy camper for now.
  
  
• Not flawless but pretty close...
  By A18JIRGUW7OPO8 on 2008-04-09
  After seeing this product several times but avoiding it because of the issues I have heard of its predecessors I finally made the plunge. My Sportster was dying and instead of going the cheap route of Sirius sending me a free base unit I decided to get the Stiletto 2 for the options.
  
  It really is my favorite gadget and has easily replaced my Ipod as the portable audio device. I can now store MP3s and access live content. The best features I have found are the recording options. You can record individual songs for later playback or you can program to record at specific times, also the unit records a channel after 15 minutes of steady listening for what it dubs radio replays. This is great because if you can't get a signal via satellite or wifi you still have access to programming without making the effort to record.
  
  It does have some flaws though. The battery cover I've found has a tendency to slide off. The sports ticker is very cool but it doesn't provide much information besides the score. It would be great to have stats or other pertinent information, hopefully they can add this in a firmware update.
  
  Other then that I can not recommend this device more.
  
  
• Awesome
  By A24094SN8YAFL8 on 2008-05-12
  We actually bought this as a gift for my father. He loves it. You can record mp3s on it and you can record right off sirius as well. The headphones it came with are pretty dorky, but they include an antenna in them so that's why they are so bulky. But you can actually use it with your own headphones and just rely on the internal antenna in the stiletto. Or if you are in a bad connection area you can just listen to your prerecorded music. I want one of these for myself now!I have a regular sirius radio, but this can also be docked so its multi use! So cool.
  
  
• GREAT PRODUCT
  By A1AR44X3QL35RS on 2008-02-13
  I HAVE HAD THE STILETTO 2 FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND AM STILL LEARNING ABOUT IT. IT HAS MET ALL MY EXPECTATIONS AND MORE. TO ME IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE STATIONS BUT THE REMOTE CONTROLL "CLICKER" THAT I RECEIVED IN THE AUTOMOBILE MOUNTING PACKAGE (OPTIONAL PURCHASE) HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. THEY SHOULD SELL THAT THING WITH THE UNIT.
  
  
• AWESOME
  By A136MI5UWVWVNY on 2008-04-08
  Im glad I took no notice of the bad reviews this thing is awesome. If you hard wire it to your car stereo you will have no problems at all. Yes if you are under a cover like a gas station or heavy tree you will lose signal.....but think about it...if you block the signal wave to your antenna you will lose signal. The fact that you have the freedom to listen to MP3 too....well, what else do you need. Oh, apart from the fact that if you like one of the tracks your listening to you can press this little heart and it will record the whole thing for you even if your half way through it. You can then play it again and again. I have two saved now and its like having another MP3. You can set it up to record shows too. im sure Im going to find more things I can do with this because I have only had it around a week. Do you have a wireless network in your home....then you have another advantage because now you can use that to log on with your Stiletto and listen to your channels without losing signal...well I havent lost signal yet and I use it a lot. WELL WORTH THE MONEY...sure we all like to see things cheaper, who doesnt right? But i love music and this is the gadget to have.
  
  
• Sirius and MPC's combined
  By A2QRKSPJEZ8K0S on 2008-04-14
  This is a great product which allows you to listen Sirius satellite radio,
  and store up to 8 gig of MP3"s ( you will need to purchase card)
  You can also store up to 100 hrs of Satelitte programming so you never have to miss something played on Sirius. It is portable so you can take it where ever you go. I comes with 2 types of earphones, standard earbuds
  and standard headphones(which have a Satellite antenna in them). However, the top of the radio is also an antenna so the headphone/Antenna is not needed if you prefer the smaller earbuds.
  You can also plug this into a car (or Home) Adaptor and play Sirius on you car or home Stereo.
  
  
• Excellent player for Sirius
  By A27AN5T9UIGFBE on 2008-04-20
  I enjoy sirius radio and this player makes it sweet. It's small like any MP3 player. It does an excellent job on recording your favoriate sirius program, and uploading your MP3 songs. I use the portable player in my car and around my house. WI-FI function is awsome. You will not need the home kit to set up music. Use the head phone connections for that. I have no problems so far. A great toy for those who love their sirius and mp3's.
  
  
• The best of the Sirius family of radio's
  By AD12UDENN5BNS on 2008-05-30
  The Siruis Stiletto 2 is a far cry from my previous Siruis S50 portable radio. It is an attractive multi-functional device that makes me smile when I hold in my hand or wake up next to it on my pillow. I will however replace it the moment Sirius comes out with the Stiletto 3. Out with the old and in with the new. Similiar philosophy for my relationships.
  
  
• I knew I'd like this thing...
  By A1RS909ZVMS8HE on 2008-06-23
  I knew I'd like this thing, but I didn't know how much! I use it all the time in the car, mow the lawn connected to wi-fi, listen to the library all the time...it's great. The Altec Lansing antenna headphones sound and work quite well, and the home and vehicle kits are a must. The "patch" antenna on the unit itself doesn't receive satellite well at all. If you're in a city, the terrestrial repeaters are received by the portable very well. Sirius programming is excellent- you just need to get past their customer service first. I highly recommend the Stiletto 2.
  
  

• SanDisk 512MB TransFlash microSD Card (SDSDQ-512-A10M, Retail Package)
• Ultimate Ears Metro.fi 2 Earphones Black with Silver Trim
• Creative EP-630 In-Ear Headphones

• Directed Electronics SLV2 Sirius Stiletto 2 Vehicle Kit
• Directed Electronics SLH2 Sirius Stiletto 2 Home Kit
• Directed Electronics SLLC2 Leather Case for Stiletto 2
• SanDisk 8GB microSDHC Card (SDSDQ-8192, Bulk Package)
• Sirius Stiletto Vehicle Docking Kit In Black