... the audio to be much better then FM and only a step below CD when I used the aux input. This applies ONLY to the music channels.
The talk channels audio ranges from near FM to sub-AM stuff.

Here's how I would put this:

Most music channels have high frequency range up to 12Khz, which is around or above the upper frequency limit of FM and way below CD (20+ Khz). They do produce some sounds at and a little above 12 Khz that FM radio may not be able to reproduce.
The talk channels' frequencies upper limit ranges from 2000 to 8000 Khz. Between AM and FM frequency range.
But frequency reponse is not equal to sound quality. Throughout the entire frequency spectrum sat radio has horrible digital distortions that cripple the sound, making it way inferior to any kind of FM radio I've ever heard. These distortions are so irritating to my ears, that I sometimes would prefer a limited in terms of frequency spectrum but with truer sound AM (yes, AM!) radio over many music (yes, music!) channels on Sirius.
Some of the talk channels, due to their limited frequency range, actually tend to have lower distortion than music channels, and in fact sound more pleasing to me (like analog AM). I don't have an XM receiver yet, but I can definitely say that Sirius cannot produce (in the past, now or in the future) even remotely as good sound as any of the dozen FM stations in Calgary.

miniks,

thats kinda wierd??? You would think that the toronto star would actualy know better.. thire proly listening to it on dishnetwork..... Im a nobody.... but I like SOUND and when your used to it.... you CAN HEAR THE DIFFERENCE... must be the "sirius one"
the quality IS a bit better with the oudio out sted of the fm but man..... FM sounds good... REALY good, lots of separation... this sirius sounds almost MONO... trust me guys I know sound. and this dont sound as good as I would like.... but dont get me rong.... I LOVE THE CONTENT , I just hopping that the add on tuner for my deck will be better....

Also, for some people it's not all about the sound quality, it truly is about the selection. I get two FM stations where I live...... For me adding another 80 choices in music and talk (I went XM) is definately worth the tradeoff in sound quality.

Mark....For home use....StarChoice offers about 50 Canadian radio stations + 7 Spokane FM's + 40 Galaxie+ Max Trax commercial free audio channels...good quality signals too.

in all honesty.... does XM sound better than sirius... AND would if be worth it to buy the addon kenwood tuner for my deck.would it be better thanthe sirius one?... cuse I realy want to keep this... and OH I tried it in my dads car... and in HIS car it sound "ok" but its the factory 2002 neon system.. no tweeters no subs.... but FM STILL sounds WAY better and the stereo separation is STILL better on FM also.. if you want to see that there really is ony a SLIGHT stereo separation on the sirius one... put a set of headphones on the output jack... THAT WILL TELL IT ALL RIGHT THERE>>>> sounds almost MONO....

I really think Sirius ought to get rid of those Traffic channels. They take up bandwidth that is really needed for other channels and really, how useful are they? If I was driving and stuck in traffic I'd rather listen to something to take my mind of it (like other entertainment programming) rather than information about the Traffic Jam I'm in :/

Hmm i just got my Starmate Replay today and by golly, my first impressions are favorable for sound quality-granted I have it hooked up to my AUX in my car. It's a solid looking sat receiver and I think the repeaters are awesome. Solid signal through the downtown core of Vancouver. I am so glad I went back to Sirius programming.

Perhaps a bit early to make a post but so far, impressed.

P.S Results may vary. ;)

I have both Sirius and XM and if you think the Sirius sound is junk, don't waste your money on XM (if you're buying just for better sound) as it doesn't sound any better.

I have both Sirius and XM and if you think the Sirius sound is junk, don't waste your money on XM (if you're buying just for better sound) as it doesn't sound any better.
yes it would be only for sound....

but I wonder if the add on tuner would sound better if I would use that insted?? I have a siruis capable Kenwood

yes it would be only for sound....

but I wonder if the add on tuner would sound better if I would use that insted?? I have a siruis capable Kenwood

Yes the add on tuner will sound better then the Sirius 1 using FM modulation, but that has nothing to do with the service, that's because of the hardware upgrade.

Does the sound quality improve if there's a repeater in your area?

Does the sound quality improve if there's a repeater in your area?

Nope just reception. I've had Sat radio for over a year now, but the local repeaters were only activated about a month a go and it doesn't do anything for sound quality.

Yes the add on tuner will sound better then the Sirius 1 using FM modulation, but that has nothing to do with the service, that's because of the hardware upgrade.
I am using the aux input in my deck now.... it does sound a bit better.. (like mono FM lol)
I am hoping that the add on tuner for my deck will do the trick....
I have read in the XM forum that XM DOES sound better... is there any truth to this???

I am using the aux input in my deck now.... it does sound a bit better.. (like mono FM lol)
I am hoping that the add on tuner for my deck will do the trick....
I have read in the XM forum that XM DOES sound better... is there any truth to this???

None at all, like mentioned above, I have both Sirius and XM and there's no sound difference between the two. Just take what you read on XM or Sirius specific websites with a grain of salt, as I find you'll get the XM and Sirius Fan Boys that feel the need to just bash the other service

I have an Alpine deck with the Sirus tuner, and find it sounds much better than a buddys set-up with the FM modulator. In my truck, I find it better than the FM, but that may be due to the lack of static etc., as mentioned above. As far as getting rid of the traffic channels, that may free up band width, but the vast majority of listeners are in their cars/on the road, and having constant up-dated traffic can be a godsend. We drove from Charlotte to Halifax on Memorial Day and those traffic channels saved us from several hours worth of traffic jams between Washington DC and New York city. They are part of the reason I am staying grey.

Sound quality issue is b/s. The sirius radios have a built in fm transmitter that broadcasts through your fm radio. You may have it on a station that isn't clear. You can change it from the menu. For instance, my radio comes preset to 88.1. I had to change it to 88.3. You can also hard wire it if you wanted to, but changing the frequency is easier...

Sound quality issue is b/s. The sirius radios have a built in fm transmitter that broadcasts through your fm radio. You may have it on a station that isn't clear. You can change it from the menu. For instance, my radio comes preset to 88.1. I had to change it to 88.3. You can also hard wire it if you wanted to, but changing the frequency is easier...

DUDE I am NOT using the fm anymore.... its with the audio out now and its only less "hissy"
lol

You need proper equalization settings for good sound using a Sirius or XM receiver.

Your "deck", whether or not it is "kickin'" is irrelevant - only the equalizer settings matter.

I have my Sirius receiver hooked up to a soundcard that re-encodes it into Dolby Digital 5.1. "Hidden" Dolby Surround is played through the rear channel speakers. I have the equalizer set for the type of music I listen to (electronica and trance).

1000 watt speakers will not help. Spending $2000 on your car stereo will not help. Setting the equalizer correctly is all that matters.

If you do not have the equalizer set to the proper settings, or (even worse) you do not have an equalizer, your audio will be poor, period.

if you knew the deck i have you would know that it does have a eq a mighty good one, 15 band to be exact... and its set ok... I know what Im doing.been into car audio all my life and WON many SQ and spl comps in my province... I would love to hear your "hidden" "5.1" lol I bet you I know what it sounds like.... anyways.... lets not turn this in to a bashing thread...... everyone is in agrement that FM DOES SOUND BETTER.... (if you are in a area that has GOOD fm)
and you have this on a PC... I have it in a car.... and DISHNETWORK's feed of sirius is AWSOME.... its is perfect but the car...... that is a whole other story...

Your "deck", whether or not it is "kickin'" is irrelevant - only the equalizer settings matter.


You can't put something back in to audio that was taken out. You can never make it better than the source. The only thing you can do is filter out the things that annoy you or reshape the audio to meet your personal taste. Increasing the quality of the audio beyond what the source is providing would break law one of the linuxgeek audio rule book. (ex soundsystem pro steps down from the mic)

You can't put something back in to audio that was taken out. You can never make it better than the source. The only thing you can do is filter out the things that annoy you or reshape the audio to meet your personal taste. Increasing the quality of the audio beyond what the source is providing would break law one of the linuxgeek audio rule book. (ex soundsystem pro steps down from the mic)
well said...
but please dont let this get in to a bashing, cuse IM sure Hugh will close it.. and we are having some realy good discussion here...