What do you think of your XM?


I am not sure if it is just my setup or if everyone experiences this. The sound quality on some stations is not good. Too much compression. Some are ok but not as good as I hoped.


The programming is a bit out there sometimes. This may grow on me but for now I somtimes have a hard time finding anything to listen to that sounds familiar.

Do you guys feel the same way?

What XM stations do you listen to?

'familiar'...you said it! Can't find much that is familiar like I can on a regular station.


I have the same problem and flip around to much sometimes. I have grown to like the Bone Yard.

I've found that I like Squizz (47 or 48 I believe)... I had a hard time finding a channel that played everything I liked, and even this one has some songs that I've never heard before, but I find that I like most of them...

The sound quality on mine seems to be fine but in my opinion the programming is terrible.


The only thing I have found worth listening to is Bloomberg or MSNBC.

I have the Roady...........XM 150 Comedy and XM 46 Deep Tracks.


Some News and Laugh XM 151 is also good................


As far as quality.........cassette adapter and stock 2002 Radio/speakers.......


Good Enough for me.........


Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifNY

Now I'm wondering if the sound quality is an issue with my system http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif I can see how some wouldn't hear what I am complaining about but I think most would hear it. It sounds like a bad mp3 rip. CD sound quality is significantly better. I need a long trip to get used to the programming.


I expected a lot better. My assumption was that it would be like going from regular over the air broadcast TV to satellite tv. As it stands now I think I enjoy my favorite FM stations better then XM. I do like some of the advantages of XM but for me I don't think its going to be an FM replacement. Hopefully it just requires some adjustment. I wish I knew someone with XM so I could compare the sound quality to mine. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

Max - you are right in saying it sounds like a bad MP3 rip. that's how they squeeze all that music onto the sattelite. It's heavily compressed and has a much lower sampling rate than a CD. If you know anything about what a sine wave looks like you will understand what I am about to say.


The 44.1K sampling rate of a CD means that at 20,000HZ (upper limit of human hearing) it is actually a sawtooth instead of a sine wave. The sampling rate of XM has to be somewhere in the 15-20K range, hence the very MP3 sounding and brittle high frequency range. What this means is the practical upper limit of XM is somewhere in the 7000-10000HZ range. Anything above that is garbage. Simply put the sampling rate is how many "points" of data there is and there needs to be at least 2 points of data per cycle to get any audio. If you have only 2 points, then you have a sawtooth wave. To get close to a sine wave you need to have at minimum 4 points of data, which puts XM in the 3500-5000HZ range for "true" audio.


Anyhow I was really getting techie there, bottom line is I think the audio quality of XM stinks. There are many people out there that can't really tell the difference and the fact that there is no "static" in the audio as compared to FM radio, many people think it sounds better. The selection and lack of commercials is awesome. If the audio quality was better I would listen to it all the time...


Anyhow, that's my .02 for the day.


Stefan


www.audiovideoelectronics.com (http://www.audiovideoelectronics.com)


(see the website and you will understand why I know so much about audio.)


As for the BOSE system, I also think the sound quality sux... that's why it's getting pulled out and in goes a new system. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

I would sacrifice a lot of the selection for better sound quality. I've been doing some reading on XMfan.com I am surprised to see that most do not notice this high compression noise. You and I are about 1 in 1000 from what I can tell. XM needs to get their act together. There are so many advantages to XM but they are all not worth it if the sound quality is no good.


While I agree with you that the Bose sound quality is far from top notch, it is a lot better then other OEM systems I have heard. I think that the bose system and xm clash. In other words the bose system exaggerates the XM compression sound. Maybe I'm wrong but I just can't see how so many people are so happy with XM.


I really hope I get used to it and learn to tune it out because I want to enjoy xm.

To clarify, what I am hearing is quite a bit worse then a 128k mp3 rip if that makes sense. Newguy, is that consistant with what you hear?


I can listen to a 128 mp3, although I know it could be a lot better I can tolerate it. I'm not sure if I will be able to tolerate xm or not. It seems maybe 1/2 as good as a 128 mp3. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif Some channels are better then others. Channel 20 for example is a lot better then channel 8 or 9.

The shop that installed my CB sells satellite radio as well. The installer asked me if I had ever noticed how some of the XM stations didn't sound quite as "crisp". I remembered at one time listening to the Disney channel (10 year old daughter!) & thinking that the sound wasn't very good. Wonder if certain XM channels use more bandwidth than others for better quality sound. I've only noticed it in the truck with my Roady & FM modulator, never with my Skyfi in the house. But I'm certainly no audio expert either.
The two comedy channels, Top Tracks, & Deep Tracks are probably my favorite channels, but I've caught myself listening to Hank's Place & Bluegrass Junction alot lately too. About the only time I listen to FM anymore is when I listen to the Bob & Tom show in the morning.

I listen to 46, 150, 144, Boneyard, Nashville.


I would say that the sound quality is the same in my truck on CD or XM. Better than FM in either case. I wonder if your antenna has anything to do with it? Tuner maybe. I've got a 900 I could send you for testing purposes that sounded as good as my 910.


Too bad we don't live closer! I bet we could get this sorted out over a couple of Rum and Cokes.

I must be spending too much time in the welding shop and can't hear anymore. The sound quality in both of my cars is excellent! I would go frickin crazy without it. Channel 7 and 46 are my main stations.

Heck I couldnt tell the difference between cassette tapes and CDs. XM sounds fine to me, but the antenna sucks. Parking garages, valleys, etc. all affect reception.


As far as the programming goes I'm happy as a lark. No commercials, no djs that think they are funny. I am into older 70s and 80s non mainstream music. I am hearing stuff that you can not find in stores anymore. What I cant say is that its worth me forking over the cash for.

I live in North Dakota right now. So the XM rocks.


Sounds a little fuzzy at times but most of the time it is great. I have not had to listen to these babbling idiots here in Minot North Dakota for over a month now and it is GREAT!


I listen to all the country stations mostly. and the news

Everyone says its so good that really makes me think there is something wrong with my system.


The thing is I can't really notice it on some stations at some times but then others are really bad. I am certain they are using more compression on certain stations.


Trippin, did you pay any attention to the sound quality of the PIE adapter? I wish I had a 903 with FM modulator so I could eliminate problems. Does XM let you easily change tuner ID's?

My wifes new GTP Comp-G came with XM and I can't tell a diff between it an the local stations I listen to. Free trial just lapsed, not sure if I'm going to renew, probably not just because we don't ever leave town with it. Trips are always in my truck. I may try it when/if I upgrade my head unit though...

Max,


I'm using a XM Commander with the FM Modulator. I'm no audio expert, but the quality seems to be as good as or better than Broadcast FM. I can hear the difference between 64k and 128k mp3 rips. I don’t know how it compares to my CD play as I haven’t loaded a disk since the XM install.
I do plan on bypassing the modulator one day, just haven’t bought a switch unit yet. I’d love to wire it internal to the cassette. I doubt I’ll ever use it.





Channels? 46 7 6 8 150 40 45 9 144 23 Depends on the mood!


Edited by: Professor

Max - there is nothing wrong with your radio.


There is different bandwidths reserved for different stations. Ones that are more popular tend to get higher bandwith.


The plain and simple fact is that like some people that are color blind, some are not as sensitive to audio. Max, you and I are some of the "lucky" ones that can really be critical listeners, and I don't mean this in a degrading way to anyone else here.


No XM for me... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif it's like torture to listen to for me... I'd rather listen to AM than XM. less of the compression and digital garble.

I also have problems with the sound quality of my XM. I was able to get a 3 month free trial period courtisy of GM a few months back. I was dissapointed in the sound. First of all, it seemed very tinny to me, I guess that is how you describe it. You could hear it fade in and out depending on the song. Also higher pitched sounds, like laughter on the comedy station sounded echo'y or garbled, or symbal (sp) hits on a drum not sounding clear. I like rock, so you heard this quite a bit.


I figured it was me being picky as I was told it was cd quality, or it was the radio being a cheap stock unit. There is a difference between cd and xm on my factory bose unit, as well as a difference between fm and xm, laughter and other high pitches sounds, sound normal and clear on fm. I periodically check in on the preview stations that are going that day, and within a few minutes, I can hear this echo chamber or garble type noise. Thankfully I have a 6 disk cd player, but it would be nice to use the xm... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif


Bob

4x4man - what you are describing as garbly/tinny/echo'y is the fact that it has a low sampling rate. It is just plain not good audio from a purist standpoint.


As stated earlier many people won't be able to tell the difference, however there are those of us that will hear it.

I spend most of my time listening to the sports stations & talk radio (which I can't get locally in my neck of the woods), so I don't notice any lack of quality.

I'll have to listen a little closer & see if I can notice the compression.

MP - Could you go down to the dealer & listen to the XM in a few different trucks?

I listen to the Mix (22 IIRC) most of the time. The wife likes Nashville. They took a huge step when they went commercial free if you ask me. It was getting as bad as FM (or so it seemed).


For sound quality, I went with the direct hookup instead of the modulator and I think that makes a difference. I also added a 6 disk changer in the consol to go with the XM and cassette with the single disk head unit controlling it all. I have the house addapter and with my home unit all sounds great. It's nice to not have commercials when I'm in the shop. I also like the new traffic and weather stations. I do have some hearing damage, so I miss the tinny part anyway. I used to be a bit more picky about my sound, but that has faded along with my hearing. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

I spend most of my time listening to the sports stations & talk radio (which I can't get locally in my neck of the woods), so I don't notice any lack of quality.

I'll have to listen a little closer & see if I can notice the compression.

MP - Could you go down to the dealer & listen to the XM in a few different trucks?


I live in Cuba errr ahhh I mean Canada. We are not allowed to listen to XM because it is not approved by the CRTC and it doesn't have the required amount of Canadian content. Next time I am in North Dakota I will stop at a dealers lot.

Wish I didn't have such good ears!! Funny, now that you mention it, the wife couldn't figure out why I was unhappy with the sound. She just couldn't tell the difference and told me to do whatever...


grrrrr...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif


Oh well, my six disk cd player is commercial free, and I recognize all the songs!! hehehehehe

Gee guys I dunno I have a pretty good ear, ( spent thousands on HI-FI over the years) and my Alpine XM sounds real good. No, not quite as good as CD, and yes some stations are better than others, but the quality at least on my system is excellent.

I'll just say the people that are color blind are not so by choice. Those of us with extra sensitive hearing are also not that way by choice... My wife likes XM too, but she can notice the "problems" with it when I point them out to her... It's like not knowing the difference, then when someone points it out to you, you can't help but notice.

I live in Cuba errr ahhh I mean Canada.* We are not allowed to listen to XM because it is not approved by the CRTC and it doesn't have the required amount of Canadian content.* Next time I am in North Dakota I will stop at a dealers lot.

I don't know how far north you live in Manitoba, but could the satellite signal be somewhat weaker where you are, which might lessen the sound quality? Just a thought.

No. Digital is digital. Either hear it or you don't. If signal reception was an issue it would be cutting in and out but not poor sound quality. I have had a few people listen to it today and tell me it was fine. They don't hear what I am talking about untill I point it out. I guess I am just blessed with good hearing. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif





I am only 20 minutes North of the US border above North Dakota.Edited by: Max Power

I spend most of my time listening to the sports stations & talk radio (which I can't get locally in my neck of the woods), so I don't notice any lack of quality.

I'll have to listen a little closer & see if I can notice the compression.

MP - Could you go down to the dealer & listen to the XM in a few different trucks?


Do you even have TV in your neck of the woods?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif I am from your neck of the woods. Harvard.

No. Digital is digital. Either hear it or you don't. If signal reception was an issue it would be cutting in and out but not poor sound quality. I have had a few people listen to it today and tell me it was fine. They don't hear what I am talking about untill I point it out. I guess I am just blessed with good hearing. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif





I am only 20 minutes North of the US border above North Dakota.





Is canada better than here? Cuz I am in Minot and life blows here. 20 months and counting.......


As for the XM. I listened real careful today and I went to a less than desirable channel (Unsigned or something like that) and one song sounded like they were singing into a coffee can or something...kind of echoy...is that what your talking about?

Only ABC with an antenna & fuzzy NBC & PBS.... That's what satellites are for... :)Edited by: conradv

No. Digital is digital. Either hear it or you don't. If signal reception was an issue it would be cutting in and out but not poor sound quality. I have had a few people listen to it today and tell me it was fine. They don't hear what I am talking about untill I point it out. I guess I am just blessed with good hearing. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif





I am only 20 minutes North of the US border above North Dakota.





Is canada better than here? Cuz I am in Minot and life blows here. 20 months and counting.......


As for the XM. I listened real careful today and I went to a less than desirable channel (Unsigned or something like that) and one song sounded like they were singing into a coffee can or something...kind of echoy...is that what your talking about?





Yeah, thats kinda what I am talking about. I think I probably hear it more then you do though because I can tell on every channel.


I guess Canada is kind of boring. I sure have a lot more fun when I am down south on my winter vacation http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif I've lived here all my life so I guess I'm used to it. I have my fair share of fun. I guess it helps that I have been here all my life and have lots of friends here.


I would be happy in Minot too I think. I met a bunch of girls from Minot a few years ago. They were 20 and the legal drinking age in Manitoba is 18. There were about 15 really, really good looking 20 year olds. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif I was about 23 or 24 at the time. Needless to say, I had a REALLY good time. Always made me want to go to Minot some time. I assumed it would be a blast http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif I am really only 2 or 3 hours from Minot. We were talking about going camping in that area this summer, maybe I'll look you up.

Trippin, did you pay any attention to the sound quality of the PIE adapter? I wish I had a 903 with FM modulator so I could eliminate problems. Does XM let you easily change tuner ID's?





The PIE and the Soundgate seemed the same to me. I always thought I had good ears but maybe I've just learned here that I don't. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif


Maybe so much time spent in the shop and around the race track has taken it's toll. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Unhappy.gif


Gettin old sucks!

I fired off a letter to XM asking them to explain the noise. Now that you mentioned it I am hearing it more often. No response yet.


Max- Give me a look. I am not single, nor do I even know the supposed hot spots around town but I imagine that we could find them.


To be perfectly honest with you all my single friends go to Winnipeg on the weekends. BIgger city with a actual nightlife.


I grew up in the Rockies and am having a seriously hard time adjusting to the featureless terrain. That and the fact that there is no real good Jeeping within 100 miles SUCKS for me.


Although I can't wait to go bird hunting. LOTS of that around here.

Ok Here Goes. I listen to pretty much all types of music. Also have built some trophy winning stereo systems in the past. Every thing from a 250 watt 86' Cutlass to a 800 watt 87 Chevy Pick-up. I don't know if my hearing is what it used to be, but I do believe XM is same or a hair better than CD given the system it's played on. I have a 2002 HD and installed an Alpine Head unit, Alpine XM tuner,Alpine component door speakers with an amp about 8 years old, and an amplified Bozooka Sub. A simple system as I am getting older and dont want to deal with stripping the complete interior of my truck. Anyway, my XM sounds excellent. I listened to a friends Tahoe with it and it sounded like the tinny,dead sound that was described earlier. It seems that my Alpine has a digital input with the tuner box and that could be the reason. Jus my .02.

I have the Delphi XM Roady and drive a Freightliner all over the east coast and midwest. I think its great. The only time I loose signal is in a long tunnel or in a couple spots on I-80 in PA or on the MASS Pike or anytime I drive next to a very steep cliff face next to the interstate. XM does not fade. Its either on or its off. My Roady has a signal strength meter on it like a cell phone. As long as I have one bar I am good. My favorites are XM 144 Nascar and Highway 16 and Eighty's 8.


Alaska Duramax, where were you up in Alaska. I lived in Wasilla for almost 3 years.Edited by: Maverick

I have the Delphi XM Roady and drive a Freightliner all over the east coast and midwest. I think its great. The only time I loose signal is in a long tunnel or in a couple spots on I-80 in PA or on the MASS Pike or anytime I drive next to a very steep cliff face next to the interstate. XM does not fade. Its either on or its off. My Roady has a signal strength meter on it like a cell phone. As long as I have one bar I am good. My favorites are XM 144 Nascar and Highway 16 and Eighty's 8.


Alaska Duramax, where were you up in Alaska. I lived in Wasilla for almost 3 years.





I lived in Fairbanks for 3 year (Ft. Wainwright)


Anchorage for another 5 (Ft. Richardson) Had a house in Palmer for a year. Loved it, just to far to drive every day.


I will retire in AK when I am done with the Military. Summer in AK and winter in Idaho.

JRKRACE, I agree the Alpine XM system is near CD quality. I also put a lot into all of my systems(seePics) and would know if the sound was inferior. I have not heard XM on a stock system, but as far as I'm concerned they sound horrible no matter the source.

True. Once you live with a clean powerful system for awhile, it's hard to listen to stock. Just hurts my ears too much...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

I love my XM, paid for 3 years, got a great deal. Lower than advertised. I listen to news in the morning and tunes in the afternoon drive. Nothing better than commercial free music.

I have Sirius not XM, but the music stations are much better than the talk stations. Fox or CNN sound like a reporter that calls in the story by phone. Dennis Miller at midnight when I get off work sounds the same way. I also find I need to crank up the volume more to get the same level as an FM station.

No noticeable sound quality problems with mine. I do a lot of traveling and really enjoy not having to constantly search for new stations. Like the variety of music and particularly enjoy the 40's, the 50's and Sunny for that easy listening sound that my son calls elevator music.