The Soloist receives high-quality satellite reception thanks to its indoor/outdoor antenna, which includes a 21-foot connection cable. For best results, listeners should place the antenna on the roof (the antenna is fully waterproof), where it's more likely to find a clear path to the satellite signals. However, the antenna may still work well if located on the side of the house or near a window, provided it receives an unobstructed view of the sky.

The Soloist is also equipped with an LCD display that coordinates the built-in clock, source, timers, and other functions. The full-featured alarm and sleep timer, meanwhile, come in handy should you locate the Soloist in a bedroom. The alarm lets you wake to one of Sirius's more than 130 digital streams--including music, news, talk, sports, or entertainment--as well as recorded Sirius content or an iPod playlist. The sleep timer works in the opposite direction, playing your Sirius or iPod tunes for 10 to 90 minutes (in 10-minute increments) until you fall asleep.

Other details include a 20-watt Tripath amplifier; five built-in equalization settings (flat, classic, rock, pop, and jazz); a dynamic bass boost function that improves the low frequency response; a USB connection for hooking up to your PC; line and auxiliary inputs and a line output for connecting external audio sources to the system; a headphone jack for private listening; and a wireless remote with buttons for virtually all of the system's functions, including a 0-9 direct keypad for selecting Sirius channels. The Soloist, which measures 12.62 by 7.88 by 4.62 inches (W x H x D), is backed by a one- year warranty.