Does SiriusXM sound as bad in all cars?
#1
Does SiriusXM sound as bad in all cars?
I got a new ILX and was interested that it came with SiriusXM because I like the variety of channels they offer, but the sound quality is absolutely awful. It's like listening to an iPhone turned up in a plastic bag underwater.
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
#2
I got a new ILX and was interested that it came with SiriusXM because I like the variety of channels they offer, but the sound quality is absolutely awful. It's like listening to an iPhone turned up in a plastic bag underwater.
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
#3
It depends which Sirius channels you listen to. Less popular channels suffer from poor sound quality due to the compression needed in order sustain the bandwidth needs of other, more popular, channels. Until the bandwidth issue is resolved, satellite radio is a poor music medium. I've had the same issue in my tl, tsx, hyundai genesis, and infiniti g37...its definitely not a hardware issue.
#4
I got a new ILX and was interested that it came with SiriusXM because I like the variety of channels they offer, but the sound quality is absolutely awful. It's like listening to an iPhone turned up in a plastic bag underwater.
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
Of course, nothing will sound as good as the DVD-Audio discs, but these are limited (bought a couple on Amazon). I *did* expect SiriusXM to sound *at least* as good as my iPod (I rip at 320 kbps and buy some songs at 256) but it doesn't even come close. In fact, I would say it sounds worse than FM radio.
What gives? Why is the sound quality so bad?
(1) Do you have the ELS 10 Speaker Surround Sound System or Standard Acura System. That can be making the difference.
(2) On every single vehicle I have ever had Sat Radio on, (Infiniti, Acura, Lexus, and Audi), the sat radio has always had a little bit more muffled sound to it compared to regular radio, bluetooth audio, and/or DVD-Audio discs. It is just something with the satellite reception/receiver from orbit that is not as strong as the ones located on the ground here for regular radio.
I think this is something that the Sat Radio company will improve over time as they can perfect the technology and signal received from the sat radio in orbit around the planet.
#5
Thanks, I have the Bose 10 Speaker Surround. I've been listening to a lot of DVD-A discs from fairly high quality sources, so I'm kind of a spoiled audiophile. I was hoping that satellite radio would have HD sound, vs. just standard, but I guess most people don't care too much about that.
#7
Summer is Coming
Two things come to mind:
(1) Do you have the ELS 10 Speaker Surround Sound System or Standard Acura System. That can be making the difference.
(2) On every single vehicle I have ever had Sat Radio on, (Infiniti, Acura, Lexus, and Audi), the sat radio has always had a little bit more muffled sound to it compared to regular radio, bluetooth audio, and/or DVD-Audio discs. It is just something with the satellite reception/receiver from orbit that is not as strong as the ones located on the ground here for regular radio.
I think this is something that the Sat Radio company will improve over time as they can perfect the technology and signal received from the sat radio in orbit around the planet.
(1) Do you have the ELS 10 Speaker Surround Sound System or Standard Acura System. That can be making the difference.
(2) On every single vehicle I have ever had Sat Radio on, (Infiniti, Acura, Lexus, and Audi), the sat radio has always had a little bit more muffled sound to it compared to regular radio, bluetooth audio, and/or DVD-Audio discs. It is just something with the satellite reception/receiver from orbit that is not as strong as the ones located on the ground here for regular radio.
I think this is something that the Sat Radio company will improve over time as they can perfect the technology and signal received from the sat radio in orbit around the planet.
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#8
I understand the bandwidth issue, but satellite tv has more subscribers, more channels, and is streaming audio and video....you'd think that sirius would have an easier time sending out a 192 kb/s audio stream
#9
you'd think that sirius would have an easier time sending out a 192 kb/s audio stream
As for Satellite TV, I was amazed when I used a plain old antenna to watch a game on regular TV in HD vs. that same game on satellite TV. The picture was SO much better on regular TV without all the compression.
Hopefully, as time goes on, bandwidth will improve and there won't be a need to compress signals anymore.
#10
Burning Brakes
sounds terrible in my car too
#11
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It IS terrible and a good sound system only makes it more obvious. I've told them several times I'll return when they improve the audio quality.
#12
It is not a matter of signal strength. It is a digital signal like Satellite TV. It is a matter of the amount of compression they do to the signal to get more channel in the same bandwidth. If you listen to the traffic and weather channels it is so bad you can hardly tell what they are saying. In Satellite TV they compromise picture quality to get more channels, in Satellite radio it is audio quality.
#13
let me just say that quality wasn't much of an issue when xm first came out. in fact, satellite radio's selling point was the cd-like audio quality. Now that that has diminished, I see no value add between that and traditional media, almost makes the price premium not worth it.
#14
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Try the XM station "Pops" and see if you like the sound. It's 5.1 surround sound and higher quality.
I think it's channel 75.
I think it's channel 75.
#15
Terrible for music:however
If you want global news and decent financial insight its worth the $$ if you are in the car a lot during the day. I was in sales and on the road 40K miles per year and used if for those channels. For music, don't waste the time or money. Low bit rate, terrible sound regardless of what car of system. Use an Ipod and enjoy the music.
#16
Summer is Coming
Sirius and XM trnasmit in the S-band and only have about ~10Mhz of bandwidth. The lower frequency and higher power density (as opposed to Satellite TV) allows you to have a small omni-directional antenna on your roof. Sat TV uses a much higher frequency and much greater bandwith which allows for a much higher data rate to support video. The problem is that you need a large fixed dish to close the link. Still hard to close the link which you notice when it rains hard. So given the limitations of the bandwidth assigned to satellie radio they can only send down a limited data stream. Worse I think that when XM and Sirius merged they now carry stations from eachothers service but the hardware is not compatible so that might have forced them to compress programming even more. I mostly just listen to news and just a few music stations. I think the serice was better before the merger. I gave up XM for awhile and didn't really miss it. I only took it back because they made me a deal I couldn't refuse. With most younger people listening to compressed music all thier lives they probably just don't notice.
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#17
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I had the 2009 TSX and it sounded bad there originally... and it was my first experience with XM satellite radio. I just bought the ILX and it sounds the same (bad!). The bitrate is just not there. I prefer to listen to my Droid Razr over bluetooth audio streaming via Google Music which is in sync with my home desktop computer... its my always up to date music playlist
#18
Banned
It's my understanding that XM plays its music at a low 64kb/s. When Sat Radio first appeared, it was advertised as "near" CD quality audio. I don't see this anymore as it's not even near FM quality. My brothers Jaguar X-type has HD Radio and that sounds very clear. I'll still listen to SiriusXM radio as i love listening to live News stations while driving.
#19
Summer is Coming
It's my understanding that XM plays its music at a low 64kb/s. When Sat Radio first appeared, it was advertised as "near" CD quality audio. I don't see this anymore as it's not even near FM quality. My brothers Jaguar X-type has HD Radio and that sounds very clear. I'll still listen to SiriusXM radio as i love listening to live News stations while driving.
#20
I had the 2009 TSX and it sounded bad there originally... and it was my first experience with XM satellite radio. I just bought the ILX and it sounds the same (bad!). The bitrate is just not there. I prefer to listen to my Droid Razr over bluetooth audio streaming via Google Music which is in sync with my home desktop computer... its my always up to date music playlist
#21
Banned
#22
Intermediate
I agree. Sounds like they're being cheap with bandwidth because most people don't care.
As for Satellite TV, I was amazed when I used a plain old antenna to watch a game on regular TV in HD vs. that same game on satellite TV. The picture was SO much better on regular TV without all the compression.
Hopefully, as time goes on, bandwidth will improve and there won't be a need to compress signals anymore.
As for Satellite TV, I was amazed when I used a plain old antenna to watch a game on regular TV in HD vs. that same game on satellite TV. The picture was SO much better on regular TV without all the compression.
Hopefully, as time goes on, bandwidth will improve and there won't be a need to compress signals anymore.
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