XM sounds better than Sirius on most channels...
04-14-2006, 10:23 AM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
XM sounds better than Sirius on most channels...
Just an FYI in case anyone is wondering---I have a Sirius S50 connected via line in and I have XM which is the factory installed unit that came with the TL.
The S50 is the latest/greatest soundchip and the MP3's you play on it sound AWESOME. So its not the player.
Most of the sirius channels sound like very low bitrate mp3 files..even more so than the XM channels.
The only exception I can hear are the Howard stern channels which sound rich and full. I would say the howard channels sound better than anything on XM as well. However the music channels all sound pretty bad on Sirius...worse than XM.
I still prefer sirius but the SQ is pretty bad in comparison to our stock XM.
The S50 is the latest/greatest soundchip and the MP3's you play on it sound AWESOME. So its not the player.
Most of the sirius channels sound like very low bitrate mp3 files..even more so than the XM channels.
The only exception I can hear are the Howard stern channels which sound rich and full. I would say the howard channels sound better than anything on XM as well. However the music channels all sound pretty bad on Sirius...worse than XM.
I still prefer sirius but the SQ is pretty bad in comparison to our stock XM.
04-25-2006, 09:27 PM
#2
Intermediate
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I bought a Sirius Starmate in January. I hooked it up to my home stereo and was not impressed with the sound quality at all. I know there are issues with the FM modulators, so I did a direct connect. I wanted satellite radio, and ended up ordering a Pioneer Airware portable unit ($49 - http://espromotions.xmradio.com/xm/directv.aspx in case anyone is interested) and did a comparison. After having a Starmate Replay and the Pioneer Airware connected side by side, there was no comparison that XM sounded much better. XM blew it away. I was really disappointed since I wanted Sirius to be the better choice. XM has a really nice selection of music too. Especially since they just added more channels.
04-27-2006, 07:08 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
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I think it all depends on your setup. The OEM Sirius I had in my Audi I thought sounded great.
You start comparing XM in the TL to FM modulated Sirius, then you don't have a level playing field to do a sound comparison. I'm sure the FM Mod does sound worse.
You start comparing XM in the TL to FM modulated Sirius, then you don't have a level playing field to do a sound comparison. I'm sure the FM Mod does sound worse.
05-01-2006, 10:47 AM
#4
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you are right xm has better sound quality by a long shot.. i've compared all the direct connect models on my home stereo which happens to be pretty damn good.. integra components and definitive speakers.. xm is THAT much better..
05-01-2006, 08:08 PM
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by HiTEC
You start comparing XM in the TL to FM modulated Sirius, then you don't have a level playing field to do a sound comparison. I'm sure the FM Mod does sound worse.
Its not the unit....when I put mp3's on my s50 they sound better than any other mp3 player I own. So the sound chip is good...
I believe for whatever reason Sirius has limited bandwidth or something.
Howard Stern channel sounds GREAT. But the music channels and the other talk channels seem to be at a much lower bitrate than the howard channels. They need to buy more satellites or something.
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