XM Radio Quality: Lexus vs. Cadillac

[LLT]

The quality of Sirius is better, in my opinion. The channel selection is better on XM. It's a wash as I see it.

[CTSmole]

I'd have to agree on the XM quality being terrible. I've yet to decide if I'm going to subscribe to it, as I hate the quality but like some of the programming.

In addition, I'm pretty disappointed in the Bose stereo (complete crap IMO). I've had better factory stereos in much lesser cars and they weren't integrated so that I couldn't upgrade them as the CTS stereo is.

FWIW, my wife's H3 (another GM auto) has a 6 disc changer that sounds much better than the Cadillac's and the XM is very acceptable sounding too (not as good as CD or perfect FM but OK to listen to).

[raposka]

In the end, I let the XM subscription run out. I usually prefer the silence when I drive anyhow.

[donjumpsuit]

The XM quality is just as bad in a brand new ACURA TL with XM. Both my roomate and I, have Factory XM units installed in our cars (his the 06 TL, mine is an 05 SRX). We also both have the new SIRIUS Stillettos, and before that we both had the S-90's. We have concluded that XM is a gigantic TURD and that SIRIUS has better, satellites, and compression algorithms in their units than XM does. Slowly over the next few years XM will die, their content SUCKS, thier sound quality sucks, and their corporate motto is to not to pay anymore talent until they are in the black for their investment, which is never going to happen due to SIRIUS taking over the market. So far SIRIUS has hired stern, EMINEM, Jamie FOXX, took NASCAR, Sinatra, and possibly MLB away from XM.

Do yourself and everyone a favor. SIRIUS offers a brain that swaps out with the XM brain in your car super easy. It costs 99 bucks. Go buy it and be please from now to the end of time.

Sirius took longer to perfect their technology before putting thier product on the market, whereas XM's big move was to move first, and secure market without concentrating on initial technology. Looks like XM looses in this competition as several manufacturers have switched over to SIRIUS, leaving GM, Toyota, and Honda left with an inferior product.

[RoadRatX]

Originally Posted by donjumpsuit

The XM quality is just as bad in a brand new ACURA TL with XM. Both my roomate and I, have Factory XM units installed in our cars (his the 06 TL, mine is an 05 SRX). We also both have the new SIRIUS Stillettos, and before that we both had the S-90's. We have concluded that XM is a gigantic TURD and that SIRIUS has better, satellites, and compression algorithms in their units than XM does. Slowly over the next few years XM will die, their content SUCKS, thier sound quality sucks, and their corporate motto is to not to pay anymore talent until they are in the black for their investment, which is never going to happen due to SIRIUS taking over the market. So far SIRIUS has hired stern, EMINEM, Jamie FOXX, took NASCAR, Sinatra, and possibly MLB away from XM.

Do yourself and everyone a favor. SIRIUS offers a brain that swaps out with the XM brain in your car super easy. It costs 99 bucks. Go buy it and be please from now to the end of time.

Sirius took longer to perfect their technology before putting thier product on the market, whereas XM's big move was to move first, and secure market without concentrating on initial technology. Looks like XM looses in this competition as several manufacturers have switched over to SIRIUS, leaving GM, Toyota, and Honda left with an inferior product.

Looks like this could be a moot point in the coming year. XM is looking to buy out the near bankrupt Sirius....

[bighebrewbear]

The problem is not XM, it is the Cadillac stereo. XM inputs as the orginal post stated through an aux input brust transmitter, like the cheap iPod snap on's from walmart. This is why the sound is so rough. This added with 4 other transmitters from your tire pressure system is signal hell on wheels.

This is why Bluetooth is not offered by Cadillac, it would not work. This is why Cadillac is still the cars of the Gold Chain set and not Mercedes drivers. They spend millions to save pennies. They just dont get it.

Now as for the lexus Levinson systems, they cost lexus almost $7000 per unit. And if you get the option or not, it is already built in the price of the car. Which when you consider one of his home units starts in the low $30k range, this is a steal. The Bose system in the Cadillac cost them around $450Remember what you mama told you, you get what you pay for! A Bose system will never be a Mark Levinson System. Just like a DTS will never be an LS 460 or S600.

And while we are all bitching about the Cadillac sound systems, let me add to the pile. How much would it really have cost to move the MP3 jack from the stereo to inside the console with a power outlet? I mean really? Have you ever tried to use your iPod in a Cadillac? Wires are all over the place. Why do you insist on always being 5 steps behind everyone but Lincoln.

[tweak48]

Originally Posted by bighebrewbear

XM inputs as the orginal post stated through an aux input brust transmitter, like the cheap iPod snap on's from walmart. This is why the sound is so rough. This added with 4 other transmitters from your tire pressure system is signal hell on wheels.

Complete bullshite. The signal never returns to RF after being demodulated by the sat box.

The culprit here is the total doggie-poo XM box supplied by GM in my 2004 CTS-V. After swapping in a Sirius GM-1 box, fidelity is somewhere between a very strong FM signal and CD. Far fewer dropouts, even when using the factory XM antenna.

Granted, the factory Bose system is not state of the art, but it is adequate; good enough that it would not drive me to install an aftermarket system. Definately not Mark Levinson though.

It's an easy install, one that can be accomplished on a Saturday morning. And the SIR GM-1 is way way under $100 after rebate.

My sat system has gone from being so bad that I was not going to renew the subscription, to providing really enjoyable, high fidelity music and entertainment.

[harvag99]

I had the same complaint about the xm radio. They have a direct connection into the radio, not an FM type transmitter. It's just not very good, as the previous poster stated. I was considering installing the Sirius GM-1, but then the dealer gave me this bulletin. I wasn't sure if that would help since GM says the problem is with the software on the stereo unit to regulate volume between the different bands. Apparently, the previous person says the sirius box does make an improvement.