does anybody have quality problems with there xm radio attached to there stock unit. I have a xm 2 go

i don't think quality can be compared xm vs sirius. they are both satellite and work the same way. but quality can be compared in each model. in other words, one xm model might work better than another xm model and similarly for sirius. of course this will be even more obvious once the two merge (assuming they do). i know price isn't everything, but it can be a pretty good starting point. a $20 unit probably won't perform as good as a $150 unit. but you can probably find some more specific reviews online.

 

fm modulated or directly connected?

 

With my Sirius i bought a direct connect adapter, plugs into the antenna outlet of the stock radio and it sounds great, damn close to CD quality.

 

Either way you hook it up to a stock unit, you're going to lose sound quality from what it should be.

If you do the FM transmitter, you'll get low end quality FM signal. Sounds alright, but not great.

If you use the USA Spec thing, the sound will have more clarity, but it's going to be a LOT quieter. You can turn the volume to the max and you won't have much sound.

Come to think of it, the FM transmitter is on the quiet side too.

Using a real XM tuner (as in hooks directly to an aftermarket head unit, not one of those portable devices) + upgraded head unit makes a WORLD of difference.

But if cheap is the way you're looking to go then it's not too bad.

(This is from personal experience, other experiences may vary, but I tried 2 different XM units and decided to go all out and upgrade everything after I hated the sound)

 

All satellite radio sounds like a crappy 32K/sec stream to me. Thats's the why I don't own them.

 

xm

i had this unit on my 01 tacoma an sounded better. but i do agree if i had the a new radio with xm built in it would sound better.i keep the xm 2 go because i use it at work as well as in my truck. i did install the fm modulator to see if it would work better.

 

i don't understand why i always hear people complaining about the sound quality of satellite radio. maybe i missed those ads or statements that it has awesome quality, but i never heard them. IMO, the purpose of satellite radio is many-fold, including:

commercial free (most channels)
works in the middle of nowhere
you don't have to channel surf while you're out on the road to find stations you like
tons of always available music/sports/news/etc

of course there are more reasons to own satellite radio, but those are probably the more popular reasons. if you are really interested in sound quality, you shouldn't be listening to satellite radio OR FM/AM radio.

 

I <3 XM Radio...O&A and Squizz...what more could a boy ask for...

 

xm

tuson trd you don,t understand what kind of xm do you have ? do you have a stock radio or do you have aftermarket or jbl? i am upgrading my radio so i can plug in in front

 

tuson trd you don,t understand what kind of xm do you have ?

:whatthe:

i have the stock jbl stereo. i have a sirius system and i just use the fm modulator. it definitely isn't cd quality, and i do have to turn up the volume some compared to listening to fm radio. the sound quality is generaly as good as fm as long as you can find an "empty" radio channel whereever you are.

 

All satellite radio sounds like a crappy 32K/sec stream to me. Thats's the why I don't own them.

What ever....reach:

I have had two different set ups with three different head units. I have used the direct connect modulator on a Kenwood H/U in my 99 and my 07 factory H/U, and the bus connect to a new Kenwood receiver I installed that I put in my 07 to replace my 6cd changer. XM will sound different over Sirius do to their compression methods. I think XM has better reproduction

It is not a CD but it is pretty darn good, better than any FM. I would say the bus connection is the best but I can truly say the direct connect modulator is no slouch either. Another reason I like bus is that you get rid of the little head/control unit.

ANESTECH...But to say it sounds like a 32kb feed is...well I would question you ability to hear and/or your possible cheap system. Stick with your knock off iPod you got off eBay and make sure you do not turn it up too loud as keep the nerve endings you still have won't be lost.

Hay EE...just got back from the CTS Truck races in Memphis last night.

 

xm

hey duckman good show watched it on tv. i used to go regularly from 1992 till 2002 talladega both races an daytona from 98 to o1. after big e got died kinda lost intrest in going i still watch all the time. i haven,t really found a new driver to replace the man!
i have a stock 6 disc radio not a jbl i bought it for ch 144 an i just didn,t find the quality as good as my old tacoma radio. i figured i could get a better quality if i changed radios an put one in that i could plug my xm right into

 

I got satellite radio for one reason: HOWARD STERN

 

I got satellite radio for one reason: HOWARD STERN

that's the worst reason ever to have it...seriously O&A are a million times better

 

Guys that have satellite with stock HUs, did you buy the portable tuner and connect them wireless? Can you direct connect it? If I can direct connect satellite to the stocker, I doubt I'd change the unit, but if not, I guess I will... This thread is up and going, so figured I'd ask here. Thanks.

 

Strub...I have not reseached all the new units lately. I did connect my old unit to my stocker (it would fit any h/u that had a antenna connection to it) It simply has a little box with a antenna out that you place in the H/U and take then antenna and freight train behind it. You will have a lot less, if any, intermodualtion from other stations when using the direct connect FM modulator.

 

I installed my XM with an auxillary input adapter and a line driver amp. CD Quality sound and no difference in sound level between XM, CD, or radio. Check out Navone engineering for the line driver amp.

 

I agree 110% XM x 3 ..running it through FM modulator (wired into back of stock unit, NOT wireless crap) and Opie & Anthony is 90% the reason I have XM. They invented XM...Don`t get much better than that. Whoo hooo

 

I agree 110% XM x 3 ..running it through FM modulator (wired into back of stock unit, NOT wireless crap) and Opie & Anthony is 90% the reason I have XM. They invented XM...Don`t get much better than that. Whoo hooo

I haven't pulled my stock unit out yet. Is the an auxilary port on the stock unit to plug into? Or did you you plug something in place of the factory antenna port as described about? I just installed a Sirius portable dock system in a Chevy with a Pioneer HU that had a mini stereo auxilary port, and this is the only knowledge I have to go by. Other than do that for a friend, I'm unfamiliar with the satellite setup. Thanks for all the clarification.

 

hey red taco which one of line drivers from navone are ya talking about