Satellite Radio Question

[Sixx]

I just bought a Sirius Starmate Replay for my car, and I am enjoying it quite a bit. Love Hair Nation and the sports.

My only complaint is that the sound quality is not that great on some stations. I am using the built in FM transmitter that is in the unit. I have heard that had wiring the unit to the car via an FM Modulator is the way to go.

My question is will the FM Modulator improve sound quality and /or reception. My reception is great and not an issue. My issue is that sat radio does not sound as good as my CDs or even conventional FM radio.

Suggestions???

[shadco]

I just bought a Sirius Starmate Replay for my car, and I am enjoying it quite a bit. Love Hair Nation and the sports.

My only complaint is that the sound quality is not that great on some stations. I am using the built in FM transmitter that is in the unit. I have heard that had wiring the unit to the car via an FM Modulator is the way to go.

My question is will the FM Modulator improve sound quality and /or reception. My reception is great and not an issue. My issue is that sat radio does not sound as good as my CDs or even conventional FM radio.

Suggestions???

My wife bought me a Sirrus radio for xmas. I also enjoy the content as I spend up to 4 hours a day in the car.

I initially had it setup using the FM broadcast to an unused station. I have a good clean unused frequency 104.9 in my case. The Audio quality had what I would characterize as an in the can quality kinda compressed and slightly distorted.

So last night I stopped and got on of those cassette adaptors, a decent one (as far as I know) made by Maxell. The audio quality is worse than using the FM Broadcast mode, really worse. With my car audio setup there is no way to add an aux input. I'm not sure if the Sat radio quality is just generally that bad or if given a quality input it could be better.

FM Broadcast will never equal cd quality and I suspect Sat just adds more degradation to the mix.

Check this site to see if they make an Aux input solution for your car as that will be the best way to assure the best overall signal input into your car stereo. These are great for Ipod input btw.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/

[sylvanshine]

Suggestions???
Switch to XM.

I'm only half kidding BTW.

Satellite quality is not going to be equal to CD or FM. Switching back and forth between the 3 will prove that in even the best situations. I have XM hardwired into both my vehicles and it still isn't digital fidelity. In a market the size of Dallas, FM frequency interference is a BIG issue. There just aren't many frequencies not being used, and the ones that aren't pick up interference from adjacent stations. I've had the best luck using my iPod on the frequencies in the 80's. Forget the exact one, 87.9 or something. Not much going on down there.

But yes, hardwired is better than FM for reception. Sound quality you'll have to get used to. A good equalizer helps a ton by the way.

[Tremendo]

Hardwired is MUCH better than FM modulator (FM transmission). My XM sounded terrible through the FM (even with clear stations), but sounds very good hard-wired. Not as good as a CD, but close enough for me. It cost me $ to do a hard-wired setup, but it was worth it.

[wreckfan]

For what it's worth, my Acura came with factory XM Satellite radio. I was not impressed with the sound quality and let the subscription end after the free 90 day trial period.

[BrianH]

Bert, I received the very same unit recently and had the same problems.
I removed my antena and the it became clear as a bell.
Might have something to do with the 88.1 thing here (KNTU), but it works great now.

[BrianH]

And forget that XM non-sense.
There's no Stern on XM.

[sylvanshine]

And forget that XM non-sense.
There's no Stern on XM.
$12.95 a month for uncensored strippers, butt bongo, tickle chairs and drunk dwarfs. Genius. You kids enjoy. Stern is gonna bankrupt Sirius and then you guys will really have reception problems. ;)

[Casper]

I have Sirius hardwired into my honda. Cost me $120 to get it that way. My signal is also 88.1 here in Richmond. Sattelite is Compressed at its source for transmission so no one, even factory installed is going to get great fidelity. I have Sirius on my Sattleite (Dish network) at home and truly, I think the audio is better on my TV. I love it and am used to the lesser quality audio and can't wait for Stern! I also love the comedy and Standards, 70's ad 80's channels.
Just my .02
Shaun

[BrianH]

$12.95 a month for uncensored strippers, butt bongo, tickle chairs and drunk dwarfs. Genius. You kids enjoy. Stern is gonna bankrupt Sirius and then you guys will really have reception problems. ;)
Typical bitter XM user.
How can you dish on Stern.
As for bankrupting Sirius - they had 17 million new subscribers since Thanksgiving (at a min. of $135 a year plus install fees). I think they'll get their money back and then some.
It's that Martha Stewart show that will be their downfall (the thought of letting an ex-con have her own show), it just doesn't translate to radio.

[LWilliams]

I had Sirius installed into my Honda back in May 2003. It is wired into the Sirius inputs of my indash tuner. I don't use FM. I had tried that a few years ago and knew I would not like the sound quality.

I have to say that the audio quality on my Sirius is very near CD quality on most channels. Now some of that stuff is rebroadcast so don't expect it to be as good as it can be. But the direct channels are great.

I forgot to listen to Stern today. I have never been a big fan. I think he is a little funny sometimes and annoying sometimes. But, I can change channels.

I work for a Honda dealership and can tell you first-hand that XM is no competetion for Sirius. Sirius has much more to offer. More variety and more specialty channels.