Unlike with TV, there are just two contenders in the huge battle for satellite radio supremacy. Sirius Satelite Radio vs XM Satelite Radio. To find the satellite radio provider that suits you best, Sirius or XM Satellite Radio, you first need to know that there are many more similarities between Sirius and XM than differences.

• Both Sirius Radio and XM have monthly subcription plans and, although each has pre-paid packages, Sirius is the only one currently to offer lifetime (of radio) subscriptions, which works out extremely reasonably. Otherwise, costs per month are very similar.
• Both Sirius Satelite Radio and XM have portable tuners, which you can easily move from home to car, etc.
• Both Sirius Satelite Radio and XM have superb, digital-quality sound, although you should buy orginal satellite radio equipment for best sound, as opposed to modifying an existing radio with an FM Modulator
• Sirius Satelite Radio and XM Satelite Radio each broadcast throughout the continental United States via their state-of-the-art satellite systems
• Each has 100% commerical-free music channels, and the number of channels and genres is also very similar. Some non-music channels do have a minimal amount of commercials, but nothing to get worked up about. Compared to regular commercial radio they're effectively commercial-free.


At the end of the day, both Sirius Radio and XM Radio offer compelling products at excellent prices, although at this point in time, in our opinion - having tested both - we favor the Sirius Satelite Radio. The well-designed Sirius Satellite Radios, sleek and stylish to say the least, also help to tip our scale in Sirius's favor.

Sirius not only has the best programming and the best value, the selection of Sirius radios is also beyond compare; here are just a few of the excellent Sirius Satelite Radio products:

• Sirius Sportster: Sirius is the place for sports … and the Sirius Sportster was created to maximize the listening experience of the broad sports line-up. This is a really sharp looking piece of kit!
• Sirius Sportster Boombox: with the Sirius Sportster boombox you'll never miss the action! You can take this boombox to the beach, park or tailgate party so you never miss a moment of the pre-game or game excitement
• RadioShack Orbiter SR4000: Exclusive to RadioShack, The Sirius Orbiter SR4000 Receiver is the heart of the Orbiter system. Used with the home or mobile docking station, or the boombox, it can go from home to car to work.
• Sanyo CRSR-10 Plug & Play System: The Sanyo CRSR-10 Plug & Play System includes the receiver, car kit, and home kit for all your satellite radio needs!
• Clarion SIRPNP: The smallest Sirius Satelite Radio Plug & Play Receiver, yet still providing all the features of its bigger siblings. Very neat.

We think that when you compare Sirius Satelite Radio to XM Satelite Radio, then Sirius has far more stylish satellite radios, although your choice of satellite radio provider should probably depend on more than just good looks!

It's good to compare both Sirius Satelite Radio and XM Satelite Radio, although both Sirius Satelite Radio and XM Satellite Radio offer a wide range of channels, including music (100% commercial free), talk-radio, sports and several other specialist channels (ie. music by decade for example). One of the many feathers in the Sirius cap is in aquiring Howard Stern, shock-jock, for its line-up, but there are plenty of other big-names too. Sirius Satelite Radio also features ABC News and Talk, A&E, BBC World Service, Bloomberg, CNBC, Court TV Plus, C-Span, CNN Headline News, Discovery Channel, E! Entertainment, ESPN, Fox News, Hispanic Talk, Radio Disney, Sirius Trucking Network, The Weather Channel, and lots more.

The Sirius sports line-up also looks tempting, with the NBA, the NHL, and live play-by-play coverage of each and every NFL game.