xm radio sound quality

[UFObuster]

I would like user's opinions on the XM radio service. Is the sound quality good?
I have the Yamaha RX-V2600 and might subscribe if the quality is there.
Would you rate it CD quality? Near CD quality? Is it just stereo? Any multi-channel content?....etc...

Any comments on content are OK also....ie, is it worth the $$.

Thanks,

Roger

 

[Sleestack]

I would like user's opinions on the XM radio service. Is the sound quality good?
I have the Yamaha RX-V2600 and might subscribe if the quality is there.
Would you rate it CD quality? Near CD quality? Is it just stereo? Any multi-channel content?....etc...

Any comments on content are OK also....ie, is it worth the $$.

Thanks,

Roger

NO. It sounds like utter crud. You can totally hear the artifacts, as is the case with Sirius. Unless you are doing casual, low volume listening or using it for sports, talk shows, etc., I wouldn't bother. As for 5.1...no... but, do you really want to hear 5.1 channels of crud?

 

[Pursuitest]

Ehh

Satellite radio is almost, near cd quality. Alot will depend on which type of reciever you use and in what environment. It is definitely not for critical listening in a vehicle going down the highway. The home units that some of the better manufacturers are putting out now and the broadcasts along with Sat TV make it somewhat decent for in home use on a good system. I love mine for a few reasons. I travel alot and I don't have to carry as many CDs along with me because it is sufficient for in vehicle use. Also, at home, if I don't want to keep putting in CDs all day while working around the house, I just turn on the Satellite Radio. Another good thing I like is the variety of music available as well as sports, talk, weather, etc. It isn't for everyone. If you are really picky about your audio wherever you are, then it won't be for you.

 

[Zuke]

I love it, the sound quality is a little lower than a CD but the content more than makes up for it.
I have 2 Pioneer Airwares one for me and one for the wife. I went with those because I can use 1 unit for the car, house and go running (portable) with it. I don't like the built in Yamaha XM because its not portable and its slow to change the channels.
The Airware retails for about 200$ but you can get it for $99 (link below). It includes both car and home adapters, plus it has a built in antenna for portable use.

Here is the link
https://espromotions.xmradio.com/xm/
and enter this code
xmbbxm03

2 of the channels are now broadcst in "HD" sound (higher bitrate) and XM has said that more will be converted. Also 5.1 channels will be added soon as well, but you will yet to be released unit to recieve it.

www.xmfan.com
www.xm411.com
both are good sites.

 

[Sleestack]

HD would defintely be welcome. I'll have to check those out... but c'mon guys.... the normal channels are nowhere near CD quality. You can literally hear the artifacts like in the early days of digital compression... and I mean EARLY.

 

[footman]

I have been an xm subscriber for four months. My satifaction level is 100%. I intend to buy into a year's subscription next billing cycle. The sad thing is no more mooning over highend fm tuners. Right now I am listening to xm channel 110 (classical) the sound quality is excellent.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

My wife works for Sirius. both sat. radios use 66Kbps MP3 files for music. Live Talk is almost CD quality however (!?!).

If I had to pay for it, I wouldn't listen to either one. Of course I get it for free and still won't listen to it. Except for the comedy stations, which they really need to level-match the albums.

 

[anamorphic96]

XM and Sirius can be a godsend for people in very isolated areas that have little to no radio stations. I have a couple of family members who use it in the mountains and love it.

It seems alot of truckers and people always on the road are big subscribers. In a car or big rig I think it is perfectly acceptable. Especially if you tweak it a bit with the bass and treble.

 

[JaceTheAce]

The only time satellite radio is good is if it's free - other than that, I will never pay for it again. I will be cancelling my Sirius subscription right before the next billing cycle. After a month of it, I am DONE. DONE DONE DONE.

The sound quality is NO WHERE NEAR cd quality. XM and Sirius' marketing dept loves to boast "digital quality sound" - it sure is "digital quality sound"! No better than the digital quality sound you send through the telephone!

For audiophiles, avoid XM and Sirius at all costs unless you are out on some secluded area with no human contact and no radio stations to access.

 

[Zuke]

Xm channels 76 and 110 are the HD ones.

I moved from the Boston/RI area where there are so many choices for radio. Now I live in the DC/MD/VA area where the radio selection and reception is sub par...

 

[UFObuster]

bit rate

Thanks for the posts above...let me summarize:
...one post (R&R Ninja) indicated that XM and Sirius use mp3 files at 66Kbps for music.
I rarely download and play anything under 128 Kbps and it is OK sound on my computer but I can hear a loss of dynamics when playing back files through my receiver (yammi rx-v2600).
...not doubting the report, but can 66kbps be confirmed? If it's true, then it's a long way from CD quality and indicates that it is very good for mobile use and small system apps but not so good for high quality home stereo/theater reproduction although the content may be a big plus.

thanks again for input....

Roger

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

If it's true, then it's a long way from CD quality and indicates that it is very good for mobile use and small system apps but not so good for high quality home stereo/theater reproduction although the content may be a big plus.

Sounds about right. If you drive alot, especially through more than one radio station area then its a great product. But don't pay for it thinking you'll never have to buy a good CD ever again.

 

[gene]

I cancelled my XM subscription after 3 months of listening to it in my car. I couldn't handle the compression and digitialized sound of vocals. I prefer FM sound quality to XM any day!

 

[annunaki]

The sound quality of XM and Sirius is no where near CD quality. And, if by CD quality you mean some of the horribly recorded crap to come out on disc recently, it is even worse. There is TONS of compression and it it quite lossy. I have heard better FM broadcasts. I will not pay $13.00 a month for Mp3 or lower quality music, and I still CANNOT pick my own songs to listen to. For $13.00 a month it should sound the way it was recorded on the disc.

 

[Hi Ho]

It's a shame that the sound quality of these services is so poor. Sirrius has a great bluegrass station. When they first started up, they had an internet stream available for free. The quality wasn't too great at 56k but it was listenable on the PC speakers I was using at the time.

Then they changed it so the internet stream was no longer free. They had a 3 day trial. I signed up and found that the internet stream was now 32k. I thought maybe that was just for the trial. I emailed them and asked if the sound quality was any better for subscribers. They said all of their internet streams are 32k! That's rediculous!

Listening to the actual satellite broadcasts in Wal-Mart on the cheap lo-fi display setup I can hear compression artifacts and a boxy sound that I wouldn't even want to listen to in my car.

Why don't they take full advantage of the technology and provide good quality audio over satellite and the internet???

 

[gene]

All;

This thread inspired me to write this article today:

The Dumbing Down of Audio

 

[mtrycrafts]

My wife works for Sirius. both sat. radios use 66Kbps MP3 files for music. Live Talk is almost CD quality however (!?!).
.

That would have been my input for a possible issue with sound quality
Low bit rates. I bet the satellite bandwidth is not infinite. 100 ch takes a lot, even at their carrier.

 

[zepaholic]

I would echo the thoughts of the negitive reveiws. I have had XM for two years and can say without a doubt that when I first got XM it sounded pretty darn good.Then I noticed I was tweaking my Yammy to try to improve the sound and it wasn't working. Then about two weeks ago I was listening and heard some popping ( kind of reminded me of when a TV station suddenly remembers to switch to HD) and I'm telling you it has sounded like complete crap since. I am going to cancel. It's a shame because I can't stand all the commercials on FM. XM is a great idea but to much compression.

 

[AudioArcher]

FM sucks !

I hate all of the damn commercials on normal FM radio 10 times more than the sound quality of satellite radio. I want music when I'm travelling or working around the house, not why I need to by this or that to improve my life. As stated before, i purchased sat radio for convienience not critcal listening. When I really want to listen to quality sound I turn on my main system or my video system and enjoy.