If you plan on listening to satellite radio exclusively at home, dedicated home radios will give you the best sound options. There are three types: component tuners, stand-alone table radios, and Connect & Play systems. No matter which system you choose, an indoor or outdoor antenna is necessary to pick up the satellite signal (many include indoor antennas).

Component satellite tuners work with your home receiver and blend in with your other rack components.

Component tuners

A component tuner is probably your best option if you have a component system, such as a home theater setup, in which you plug several components into an audio/video receiver (or a preamplifier, or a stereo receiver). Generally, they deliver the best sound around, and they blend in well with your other components. Some can even send display info to your televison, so you'll be able to see what's playing from across the room.

A Connect & Play antenna plugs into your satellite radio-ready receiver to deliver satellite radio reception.

Connect & Play

Connect & Play technology is currently exclusive to XM. It's a two-part system that consists of a specially designed home audio/video receiver (which will be labeled "XM Ready"), and a specially designed Connect & Play antenna. All you have to do is plug in the antenna into the receiver, make sure you have reception, and subscribe to XM. Half the processing of the satellite signal is done in the antenna; the other half in the receiver. Select brands currently make XM-ready receivers. You must make sure the antenna and receiver are compatible, though: standard XM antennas won't work with Connect & Play receivers, while standard satellite radios won't work with Connect & Play antennas.