Any of you use XM Radio or Sirius?

JoshK · « **on:** 26 Jun 2003, 09:57 pm »

I wonder if it sounds any good? Is there any product that sounds like a good hi-end receiver or it is just a background filler?

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Jun 2003, 10:24 pm »

Maybe it's just the systems I've heard it on but... it sounds a lot like the digital satellite dish music channels... "Music Choice" or something like that. Mabye it's the compression, but it just sounds weird to me.

I wanted the XM for car and home so I could have a tuner... but, after hearing it, I think I'd get tired of the weird digital sound of it.

I'd be happy if I was wrong... I've also *heard* rumors that XM is going away because of money problems. Just rumors, though, no facts.

satfrat · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 04:22 am »

I listen to Music Choice on my digital 4DTV c-band satellite receiver and it sounds awesome. It must be more compression free than the little dish. I too have been curious as to how XM on a good system would sound. I was hoping that it wouldn`t come across as bad as the little dish. Regards, Robin

JoshK · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 02:13 pm »

The Sirius corporate headquarters are two floors up from me in my building. I always see the exec's in my elevator talking like as if their biz was all serious and stuff. I have chatted with them a bit. I should ask them about compression and then brow beat them on sound quality!

Hantra · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 02:55 pm »

I love XM! I can't tell you how many new artists, and new discs I have found just listening to XM. It doesn't sound great. It sounds much better than FM, but it's still compressed, and it has a brick wall at close to 14K.

The reason I got it is for the live stuff. Telluride Bluegrass festival was broadcasted last weekend, and for 8 hours+ a day, I was able to attend that from my listeing room. Live events all the time, and exclusives like Janes Addiction in the studio talking about, and playing their new disc. . .

It's not about whether it sounds great, it's about hearing things you can't hear elsewhere, and also finding new stuff to buy in a better format. . .

If you do get XM, get the Delphi. I have owned the Delphi, and the Sony, and they are WORLD'S APART in sound quality! And usability. . . Sound on the Sony sucks BAD, and it's got a fan. .

B

doug s. · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 05:14 pm »

"...It doesn't sound great. It sounds much better than FM, but it's still compressed, and it has a brick wall at close to 14K..."

xm certainly doesn't sound great. sounds like crap is more like it. and, re: fm, it's obvious from your post, that ya have never heard a quality broadcast on a quality fm tuner. cuz if ya *have*, then you'd know the sound quality will easily rival that of the best digital & analog rigs... i spend ~half my listening time in the "sweet-spot" listening to fm...

doug s.

Hantra · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 05:16 pm »

Quote

it's obvious from your post, that ya have never heard a quality broadcast on a quality fm tuner.

Heh. . . You're right. . . Where I live, there are NO quality stations. not even any good stations. That's why I like XM so much. The only radio I listen to is AM, and ONE 12V college station. . .

B

doug s. · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 05:23 pm »

my condolences, hantra...

i personally detest xm/sirius, cuz, while ya may like the selection now, the end result will be monopolization of broadacsts, which is yust what happened w/fm, & which is why ya have no decent fm in your locale. if digital broadcasting takes over, you'll yust have 100 selections of crap. the crappy sonics yust adds insult to injury, imo...

yust my negative opinion, of course...

doug s.

Thump553 · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 05:54 pm »

With all respect, Doug, all we have now is Clear Channel, a couple of clear channel wannabes and, if you are lucky and live nearby, one or maybe two sometimes decent college stations. Plus NPR, which except for Car Talk and sometimes All Things Considered, I can pretty much do without (and certainly don't need high fidelity quality for). In my area all the commercial channels are owned by two or three chains-and its painfully obvious.

The appeal of XM or Sirius to me is the music content-the possibility of true variety. I don't subscribe to either now but am considering it.

Carlman · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 06:40 pm »

Quote from: doug s.

i personally detest xm/sirius, cuz, while ya may like the selection now, the end result will be monopolization of broadacsts, which is yust what happened w/fm, & which is why ya have no decent fm in your locale. if digital broadcasting takes over, you'll yust have 100 selections of crap. the crappy sonics yust adds insult to injury, imo...
yust my negative opinion, of course...
doug s.

So it will have those bad attributes but, it doesn't now. So, why not play with it while it's good... If I found 3 new bands to like this year, it'd be worth the money.

My wife would love it. She found some website that lets her decide her own radio station that she listens to at work all day.. Kinda neat. Talk about compression, though.... sheesh.

I'd play with XM a little but, not take it as serious (sirius) hifi. It's a toy. It's certainly not as good as some FM tuners I've heard. To me, satellite dishes aren't as good as normal TV reception, though. I don't like seeing all the gradation, digitizaition, etc. Give me a sharp picture with the occasional static and I'm happy.

satfrat · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 06:52 pm »

Carl, please don`t generalize when talking about satellite dishes. I`m in total agreement with you about the compression of the littel pizza dishes, BUT, I`ll put up my digital music channels off my 12' Paraclipse dish against FM anytime. It`ll hold its own with CD also. We`re talking about a first generation digital signal that has little compression at all. C-Band is the source for all cable AND the little dish, who retransmits the signal to their own satellite. There is NO comparision between quality of the two. Regards, Robin

Bwanagreg · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 06:53 pm »

I posted some positive comments about XM in another thread recently and got the same response from Doug. The facts are, the programming on XM TODAY is head and shoulders better than anything on the airwaves. XM has hired some of the best program directors around as far as I can tell (FYI I remember reading in Stereophile that they hired the classical music program director at NPR). I wish they also had great sound, but even if they don't, the programming makes it worth checking out.

Carlman · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 07:29 pm »

Quote from: satfrat

Carl, please don`t generalize when talking about satellite dishes. I`m in total agreement with you about the compression of the littel pizza dishes, BUT, I`ll put up my digital music channels off my 12' Paraclipse dish against FM anytime. It`ll hold its own with CD also. We`re talking about a first generation digital signal that has little compression at all. C-Band is the source for all cable AND the little dish, who retransmits the signal to their own satellite. There is NO comparision between quality of the two. Regards, Robin

Sorry man... didn't even know the giant ones were still in use... Never heard of the term 'C-Band'. The last time I watched one, there were no music channels that I could find... but, that was about 20 years ago. I'm sure the new stuff is different/better than what I've seen.

So.. how about I change my response to this?: All digital formats of video and/or audio via Direct TV, Dish Network, and digital cable such as TimeWarner, have sucky, digitatized looking images that render images like a 10-year-old video card.... and audio that has limited range and an accompanying hiss that annoys me.

satfrat · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 07:53 pm »

Thanks Carl, I`ve had my C-band satellite dish since 1985 but about 5 years ago I upgraded to a Motorola 4DTV receiver that has both the videocypher and digicypher which is the same system as the digital cable boxes use along with their high definition decoders which I also have. The audio/video quality of C-band far surpasses that of both cable or little pizza dish. I would never leave home without it. That`s why I never leave home!

Regards, Robin

JoshK · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 07:58 pm »

That is cool but what do you use if you live in a small NYC apartment? Good sound quality is a must or I end up turning it off in 5 minutes.

Carlman · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 08:07 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

That is cool but what do you use if you live in a small NYC apartment? Good sound quality is a must or I end up turning it off in 5 minutes.

You live in Music City.

You have the ultimate hifi on every corner.... There's at least 5 awesome bands playing every night. I envy your position

....

satfrat · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 08:11 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

That is cool but what do you use if you live in a small NYC apartment? Good sound quality is a must or I end up turning it off in 5 minutes.

Makes me glad I live 160 miles to the north of ya in rural Vermont. My dish has it`s 15° horizonal altitude shot to the west without no damn skyscraper in the way

You have my sympathy Josh! Regards, Robin

Hantra · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 08:36 pm »

Quote

You have the ultimate hifi on every corner.... There's at least 5 awesome bands playing every night. I envy your position ....

No kidding. . . If I lived in NYC, I would have much less time, and money invested in my system. I'd be out every night hitting the live music scene. Ohh, and I'd be broke too.

JoshK · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 08:58 pm »

Well I do try to get out to see shows but often it is hard to do so...this is when the hi-fi comes into play.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Jun 2003, 04:48 am »

Quote from: JoshK

Well I do try to get out to see shows but often it is hard to do so...this is when the hi-fi comes into play.

In NY its hard to get out to shows- everyone is busy working - scalpers get the best tickets - prices,you pay top dollar !! Its a lot easier out of NY !!