Is something wrong with my XM? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

GoldFire · 06-29-2009, 09:54 PM

I was under the impression that XM's sound quality would be at least somewhat better than regular radio, but it is quite noticeably worse than radio. Could something be wrong with the receive in my car, or is that just how it is?

RoRo · 06-29-2009, 09:58 PM

I think this is a general problem with sat radio. Corvettes suffer from the same problem.

CamaroLover21 · 06-29-2009, 09:59 PM

Yea ive noticed that too. it is so much quieter.

GoldFire · 06-29-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroLover21

Yea ive noticed that too. it is so much quieter.

Is yours just quieter or is the quality worse as well?

jtnwevo · 06-30-2009, 01:50 AM

XM-Sirius compress the hell of their stuff. This means the sound quality is piss-poor. Has nothing to do with the particular car or sound system.

I am more annoyed with the fact that as a long time Sirius subscriber I can't add my Camaro radio to my account but must setup a new XM account at full price, despite the fact that they are the SAME company....

LadiesMan217 · 06-30-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtnwevo

XM-Sirius compress the hell of their stuff. This means the sound quality is piss-poor. Has nothing to do with the particular car or sound system.

I am more annoyed with the fact that as a long time Sirius subscriber I can't add my Camaro radio to my account but must setup a new XM account at full price, despite the fact that they are the SAME company....

Yeah, that isn't right. They really have us by the shorthairs.

Rockytophummer · 06-30-2009, 06:29 AM

Haven't listened to it much in my camaro but it was better quality in my H2 I had. But it also had a much better sound system in Bose. I'm very dissapointed they didn't go with the Bose system in the camaro. Don't know if that's reason or not butjust thought I'd throw that out there.

badkarma · 06-30-2009, 07:12 AM

XM quality used to be better. Different stations vary with quality. Some use really high compression sources. (I'd still like to have their music library though

With the increase in channels, I think most of them had to go to lower bitrates. How much they compress at the satellite to receiver is a good question too, I haven't researched it

I first got it back in 04 and it was much better than FM. Now they are about the same for me. But no commercials and stupid DJ to DJ banter is worth the cost. If I remember correctly it started losing quality around 06 ish

Camar0wn3d · 06-30-2009, 07:29 AM

Don't forget that the tone settings you set up for regular radio don't carry over when you listen to XM - you have to set those settings up separately.

That being said, XM's sound quality still sucks due to all the compression. Especially since we have tweeters in the car, the imperfections in the high frequencies is definitely annoying.

I got into this discussion with the guys from the stereo shop that installed my tint and they said that the sound quality of Sirius signals is much better.

SeaShell · 07-01-2009, 11:58 AM

wh0rsep0wer, you said:

Don't forget that the tone settings you set up for regular radio don't carry over when you listen to XM - you have to set those settings up separately.

I just got my car this past Saturday but came to the forum because my XM seems to have too much bass. (i'm one of those old ladies when it comes to that :-)) Can you give a quick place to go to adjust the XM? I've adjusted my FM stations but as you say, it didn't carry over. Thanks.

faninc · 07-01-2009, 12:01 PM

I noticed I had to reset my treble and bass settings on XM, they reverted to flat and helped make sound even worse. For some reason the bass and treble settings from FM did not carry over to the XM band?

Overall, sound is still not very high quality.

best
J

Rogue Leader · 07-01-2009, 12:08 PM

I thought it was just me but Sirius DEFINITELY sounds noticeably better.... Oh well nothin you can do if you want satelite radio. Maybe they will eliminate some channels to free up some bandwidth and uncompress it a bit.

patriotpa · 07-01-2009, 12:16 PM

It's most likely due to source compression. More compression=more channels over the same satellite bandwidth. More channels in the same bandwidth=larger selection without having to pay to launch another bird. I like the channels that cater to my musical tastes, but I wish it was CD quality sound. It isn't. It's roughly equivalent to 128K MP3. If they bumped it to 192K you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Rogue Leader · 07-01-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patriotpa

It's most likely due to source compression. More compression=more channels over the same satellite bandwidth. More channels in the same bandwidth=larger selection without having to pay to launch another bird. I like the channels that cater to my musical tastes, but I wish it was CD quality sound. It isn't. It's roughly equivalent to 128K MP3. If they bumped it to 192K you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I noticed high power FM stations sound as good as if not better... Also the low quality makes my rear speakers rattle. :( I wish it was sirius instead....

06-29-2009, 09:54 PM	#1
GoldFire Newborn Camaro Fanatic Drives: 2010 2LT/RS Camaro Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 435 View My Garage	Is something wrong with my XM? I was under the impression that XM's sound quality would be at least somewhat better than regular radio, but it is quite noticeably worse than radio. Could something be wrong with the receive in my car, or is that just how it is? __________________ 2LT/RS [Victory Red] \| GoldFire Studios

06-29-2009, 09:58 PM	#2
RoRo Drives: 2005 Corvette Lemans Blue Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 28	I think this is a general problem with sat radio. Corvettes suffer from the same problem. __________________ Previous car: 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 convertible. Heads, cam, exhaust....pretty quick Current car: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette coupe...lots of bolt ons....pretty quick

06-30-2009, 07:29 AM	#9
Camar0wn3d formerly "wh0rsep0wer" Drives: 2016 1SS Summit White Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 489	Don't forget that the tone settings you set up for regular radio don't carry over when you listen to XM - you have to set those settings up separately. That being said, XM's sound quality still sucks due to all the compression. Especially since we have tweeters in the car, the imperfections in the high frequencies is definitely annoying. I got into this discussion with the guys from the stereo shop that installed my tint and they said that the sound quality of Sirius signals is much better. __________________ 2010 1SS/RS - CGM/Gray Interior - M6 (SOLD) Kooks 1 7/8" headers, Solo Mach-X, Vararam. 2012 2LS - Black A6 (SOLD) 2016 1SS Summit White A8

07-01-2009, 12:08 PM	#12
Rogue Leader Iatefiberglassinsulation Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 3,601 View My Garage	I thought it was just me but Sirius DEFINITELY sounds noticeably better.... Oh well nothin you can do if you want satelite radio. Maybe they will eliminate some channels to free up some bandwidth and uncompress it a bit. __________________ 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - was daily driver, now toy 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - Daily Driver 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE 350 - Wifes Car 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD LT 6.0 - Tow Vehicle 1991 Alfa Romeo 164S - Project Car 1994 Volkswagen Golf - Race Car "Like" my race team on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farfrumwinnin

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
correct me if im wrong . pre sold vs allocated	mrpre10der	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	9	02-12-2009 06:53 PM
Am I wrong in my thinking.....if so tell me why	Speedy1975	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	27	02-03-2009 12:58 AM
Kevin2323, you were wrong	DGthe3	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	65	10-14-2008 02:01 AM
AW MAN I FORMATTED THE WRONG HARDDRIVE!	Dave McFly	Off-topic Discussions	18	10-09-2008 04:07 PM
Countdown clock is wrong	flaguy	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	13	07-20-2008 05:48 PM

06-29-2009, 09:59 PM	#3
CamaroLover21 Drives: 2018 RS Summit White Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Plantation, Florida Posts: 218 View My Garage	Yea ive noticed that too. it is so much quieter.

06-30-2009, 01:50 AM	#5
jtnwevo Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 53 View My Garage	XM-Sirius compress the hell of their stuff. This means the sound quality is piss-poor. Has nothing to do with the particular car or sound system. I am more annoyed with the fact that as a long time Sirius subscriber I can't add my Camaro radio to my account but must setup a new XM account at full price, despite the fact that they are the SAME company....

06-30-2009, 06:29 AM	#7
Rockytophummer Drives: 2006 Hummer H2 2010 2SS Camaro Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Maryville tn. Posts: 586	Haven't listened to it much in my camaro but it was better quality in my H2 I had. But it also had a much better sound system in Bose. I'm very dissapointed they didn't go with the Bose system in the camaro. Don't know if that's reason or not butjust thought I'd throw that out there.

06-30-2009, 07:12 AM	#8
badkarma Drives: 2010 SIM 2SS Camaro Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dacula GA Posts: 218	XM quality used to be better. Different stations vary with quality. Some use really high compression sources. (I'd still like to have their music library though With the increase in channels, I think most of them had to go to lower bitrates. How much they compress at the satellite to receiver is a good question too, I haven't researched it I first got it back in 04 and it was much better than FM. Now they are about the same for me. But no commercials and stupid DJ to DJ banter is worth the cost. If I remember correctly it started losing quality around 06 ish

07-01-2009, 11:58 AM	#10
SeaShell Drives: Firebird Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 6	wh0rsep0wer, you said: Don't forget that the tone settings you set up for regular radio don't carry over when you listen to XM - you have to set those settings up separately. I just got my car this past Saturday but came to the forum because my XM seems to have too much bass. (i'm one of those old ladies when it comes to that :-)) Can you give a quick place to go to adjust the XM? I've adjusted my FM stations but as you say, it didn't carry over. Thanks.

07-01-2009, 12:01 PM	#11
faninc Drives: 2010 Camaro RS in SIM Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 563 View My Garage	I noticed I had to reset my treble and bass settings on XM, they reverted to flat and helped make sound even worse. For some reason the bass and treble settings from FM did not carry over to the XM band? Overall, sound is still not very high quality. best J

07-01-2009, 12:16 PM	#13
patriotpa Account Suspended Drives: 02 Silverado, 09 Vue, 10 1SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tired of apologizing when we should be kickin' butt! Posts: 1,966 View My Garage	It's most likely due to source compression. More compression=more channels over the same satellite bandwidth. More channels in the same bandwidth=larger selection without having to pay to launch another bird. I like the channels that cater to my musical tastes, but I wish it was CD quality sound. It isn't. It's roughly equivalent to 128K MP3. If they bumped it to 192K you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.