Sirius audio Quality

[PSAIRCHECKS]

Hi All,

I just got my new Sirius Sportster Replay yesterday. I got the receiver unit with the car kit and also purchased a home docking kit.

I have it set up so far on the home docking unit.

I'm a little disappointed with the sound quality. I thought it would be "near" CD quality but find most channels sound like a very good internet stream. I've got 7 bars out of ten on the "TER" meter which seems like a good signal to me. I've also got it hooked up to my stereo using the 1/8th to RCA patch cord supplied with the home dock kit.

Is this the best sound I can expect? Any suggestions?

 

[listner2]

> Hi All,
>
> I just got my new Sirius Sportster Replay yesterday. I got
> the receiver unit with the car kit and also purchased a home
> docking kit.
>
> I have it set up so far on the home docking unit.
>
> I'm a little disappointed with the sound quality. I thought
> it would be "near" CD quality but find most channels sound
> like a very good internet stream. I've got 7 bars out of
> ten on the "TER" meter which seems like a good signal to me.
> I've also got it hooked up to my stereo using the 1/8th to
> RCA patch cord supplied with the home dock kit.
>
> Is this the best sound I can expect? Any suggestions?
>
Welcome to sat radio. Yes, the quality on both Sirius and XM sucks. XM has a beter codec, but the Sirius has better audio processing. Too bad we can't get the two good parts together. I think it's BS that they are allowed to tout "Digital Quality". This is true, heck cell phones are "digital quality", but I wouldn't want to listen to music over them. What I find amazing is the majority of people who fall for it and think it sounds good. Almost any FM station with a good signal sounds way better than Sirius or XM.

Try to enjoy the best you can. The programming is good. I listen to XM over AOL more than the XM radio. AOL has a direct connections to the XM studio and it sounds fabulous over AOL.

 

[Radio-X]

I primarily listen to mp3's and sat. radio, so that low audio quality does not really bother me...

actually, by far the worst channels are the obscure talkers, like NPR Now and BBC World Service...they sound like an internet stream over a 28k modem!

For some reason, First Wave and BBC Radio 1 seem to have the best audio quality out of all the music channels

Anyone agree?

Radio-X
<P ID="signature">______________
I wasn't born in the south, but I got down here as fast as I could...</P>

 

[PSAIRCHECKS]

> actually, by far the worst channels are the obscure talkers,
> like NPR Now and BBC World Service...they sound like an
> internet stream over a 28k modem!
>
> For some reason, First Wave and BBC Radio 1 seem to have the
> best audio quality out of all the music channels
>
> Anyone agree?
>
> Radio-X

Now that I've had a couple days to listen a little more, I'd say that it's the voice that makes it sound more like an internet stream. I'm listening to Jazz Cafe and the music sounds good, in fact the music sounds good on most of the channels I've heard so far, but why do the Voices not sound clear... First wave is cool, I like it a lot, haven't heard BBC Radio 1 much yet.

 

[RyanCA]

> > actually, by far the worst channels are the obscure
> talkers,
> > like NPR Now and BBC World Service...they sound like an
> > internet stream over a 28k modem!
> >
> > For some reason, First Wave and BBC Radio 1 seem to have
> the
> > best audio quality out of all the music channels
> >
> > Anyone agree?
> >
> > Radio-X
>
> Now that I've had a couple days to listen a little more, I'd
> say that it's the voice that makes it sound more like an
> internet stream. I'm listening to Jazz Cafe and the music
> sounds good, in fact the music sounds good on most of the
> channels I've heard so far, but why do the Voices not sound
> clear... First wave is cool, I like it a lot, haven't heard
> BBC Radio 1 much yet.
> `


I think the audio is decent with the right set up. I have the home unit with Optical output which makes a difference if your willing to spend 250 for it.

 

[rdcuff]

> I primarily listen to mp3's and sat. radio, so that low
> audio quality does not really bother me...
>
> actually, by far the worst channels are the obscure talkers,
> like NPR Now and BBC World Service...they sound like an
> internet stream over a 28k modem!
>
> For some reason, First Wave and BBC Radio 1 seem to have the
> best audio quality out of all the music channels
>
> Anyone agree?
>

The narrowest bandwidth is the traffic/weather stations -- they're phone line quality. I have no problems with the BBCWS bandwidth because it certainly is better than shortwave.

Classical music is a little tinny, but that's the only music format I have particular qualms about. I don't think much about their classical offerings anyway, but my primary reason for signing up was the WRN / PRI / BBCWS combination, plus the traffic when I travel towards NYC and Phily. It was also helpful earlier this year to hear Chicago traffic/weather while on the way to the airport...the Philly airport...so I knew what I was headed into.

Richard / Allentown, PA