[Steve Bosell]

I have had XM for about two years now, the quality was great when I started, I believe they were using 98 kbps originally, however I have heard some really crappy sounding songs lately in terms of compression. Anyone know if they have made any “updates”?

[Rumor]

I had it in my truck for about a year and my buddy has had if for the last 8 months. I currently get it through DirecTV at home. I haven't really noticed, though when I usually listen to it I'm doing household duties.

[starman]

/hug my iPod

[baw]

Originally Posted by Steve Bosell

I have had XM for about two years now, the quality was great when I started, I believe they were using 98 kbps originally, however I have heard some really crappy sounding songs lately in terms of compression.

That is just XM. Had it a few months and then realized FM sounds alot better (and FM is free). And before anyone says anything it was a Pioneer XM receiver connected directly to a Pioneer HU via the IPBUS. No FM modulator or tape adapter. XM still sounded like a 16kbps Realaudio stream.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Steve Bosell

I have had XM for about two years now, the quality was great when I started, I believe they were using 98 kbps originally, however I have heard some really crappy sounding songs lately in terms of compression. Anyone know if they have made any “updates”?

nope they are using 64kbps, not even CD quality. Sirius is up to 128 kbps. Sounds great in the car. My friend hates XM and is going to Sirius since they have Howard and RAW Dog Comedy, NFL anyway.

[zerostar]

I have sirius and listen to howard/music about 4hrs a day, I think Sirius is 128k?

[driven]

I have XM in my Acura and both XM and Sirius in my SRT-10.

Sirius does seem to sound a bit better (although the Acura audio system makes up for quite a bit of it.) However the programming blows on Sirius. I simply like the stations better on XM and I like having baseball.

Sirius has Howard Stern which is nice and XM really doesn't have anything to compare, but I'm not sure Stern alone is worth the price of Sirius. When the free Sirius subscription is up I'll probably pull it and go with XM in the vehicle. (Leaving a dead antenna on the roof next to the aftermarket XM antenna). <sigh>

[NYK Ace]

just got sirius in jan and howard stern is worth the price for me and now they stream online for free which just adds to the benefit. i usually never change off howard 100

[driven]

FWIW: Both XM and Sirius stream for free.

[ghporter]

I have XM through DirecTV, and it sounds superb. I have no idea how you can hear a difference in encoding bitrates on a car stereo, even a high quality one. But on my home stereo system (not high powered, but very well suited to the room) it sounds great.

[Steve Bosell]

Originally Posted by baw

That is just XM. Had it a few months and then realized FM sounds alot better (and FM is free). And before anyone says anything it was a Pioneer XM receiver connected directly to a Pioneer HU via the IPBUS. No FM modulator or tape adapter. XM still sounded like a 16kbps Realaudio stream.

FM sounds horable, I cant even listen to it anymore, way too compressed, and much worse than anything I have heard on xm.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by driven

FWIW: Both XM and Sirius stream for free.

They do? I jut took a look at Sirius and all I could find was a three day pass. For that they demanded registration and my agreement that they could spam me. I think I'll pass.
XM is the same. They only stream for free to subscribers, right?

[baw]

Originally Posted by Steve Bosell

FM sounds horable, I cant even listen to it anymore, way too compressed, and much worse than anything I have heard on xm.

At least it is free. I'm waiting for the prices of HDRadio equipment to drop.

[driven]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

They do? I jut took a look at Sirius and all I could find was a three day pass. For that they demanded registration and my agreement that they could spam me. I think I'll pass.
XM is the same. They only stream for free to subscribers, right?

Sorry ... that's what I meant ... free for subscribers. XM used to charge an extra fee for it.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by ghporter

I have XM through DirecTV, and it sounds superb. I have no idea how you can hear a difference in encoding bitrates on a car stereo, even a high quality one. But on my home stereo system (not high powered, but very well suited to the room) it sounds great.

XM stations on DirecTV are broadcast through DirecTV. The quality you enjoy from that is completely unrelated to satelite radio broadcast quality.

XM is getting raped by Sirius anyway.

[driven]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

XM is getting raped by Sirius anyway.

How so?

[baw]

Originally Posted by driven

How so?

XM and Sirius are raping themselves.

Until recently full of promise, satellite radio runs into static : Moneyweb

[Mastrap]

That's an interesting article. When satellite radio first came out I seriously considered it. But then I realized that if you live in a metropolitan area (check), rarely drive long distances in rural areas with poor FM coverage (check) and have access to streaming radio at home via the internet (check) there's no need whatsoever for yet another fixed monthly cost.

Instead I use my iPod for the rare occasions that there is no radio coverage or I want to listen to music without interruptions.

[Big Mac]

If you get a sample of the content on sat. radio you may change your mind.

[Mastrap]

I did. I didn't find anything that I couldn't get from existing sources.

[Steve Bosell]

Can anyone verify that XM has gone from 96 kbps to 64 kbps?

[chris v]

Originally Posted by starman

/hug my iPod

Exactly. 4539 songs to go, 160kbs AAC. Headphone out to line-in. no static. No ads. No DJs. Just the music I want. Radio is dead to me, except for a few minutes of NPR a week (I'm a g*dless Trotskyite).

[alligator]

I have XM, and it really depends on the station. Talk stations use a lower bitrate, but music stations are pretty good.