Sound Quality with Various Audio Options - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

marcus147 · 07-12-2009, 06:40 PM

I've had my Camaro for a full day now, and have started to experiment with all the nifty ways to hear music. I've found that my dinosaur MP3 player (an iAudio X5) DOES interface via USB, but the sound quality sucks. The XM sounds much better, and I've heard people describe XM sound quality toward the lower end of the spectrum. So, a question for all you veteran Camaro owners with the BA stereo system:

Out of all the following ways to listen to your tunes, what sounds the best?

CD
XM Radio
AM/FM Radio
USB Stick
iPod/Zune via USB
MP3 Player via AUX
Bluetooth streaming media from your phone

badkarma · 07-12-2009, 08:19 PM

I would think CD would be the best as far as sound quality. I don't know the compression if there is any on a CD. But, there is some loss of sound quality going from Analog to Digital. Some music purists can even detect it.

Any time you compress a signal you lose sound quality. Everything you list there has some type of compression, XM compression probably being the most depending upon which channel.

I did not mention AM/FM as that is the worst of the bunch unless you make and compress your mp3 files wayy too much

2010SLVRBULIT · 07-12-2009, 08:43 PM

Sound reproduction and signal loss on most but CDs...need a good amp and signal processors to try and reproduce those sounds/frequencies lost in transition/translation..

marcus147 · 07-13-2009, 06:46 PM

It seems like people think the iPod/Zune sounds as good if not better than the CD Player. So, another question. When you connect the iPod to the AUX port instead of by USB, does it sound as good, worse or about the same?

Thanks for all the votes! This is helpful.

slick rick · 07-13-2009, 07:01 PM

I don't know if it's just my Sirius Stiletto 100 or the AUX port but the volume of the AUX port is considerably lower than FM/CD. I have the Tone options configured the same way for all sources and the volume on my Stiletto 100 is at 100% so I guess the only other thing left to try is another source on the AUX port.

Matrix · 07-13-2009, 07:47 PM

You guys!!!

your in a car not a recording studio and your using a car stereo and not a Class AAA Amps etc. You wont notice the difference between a CD and a compressed MP3 especially with wind blowing through your hair and the engine growiling lol!

Supermans · 07-13-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrix

You guys!!!

your in a car not a recording studio and your using a car stereo and not a Class AAA Amps etc. You wont notice the difference between a CD and a compressed MP3 especially with wind blowing through your hair and the engine growiling lol!

I sure as heckfire notice the difference between compressed Mp3 and CD quality.. It is even more dramatic with XM and FM...

camaro envy · 07-13-2009, 09:23 PM

I think Ipod/USB drive are about the best, followed by CD, then by XM, and lastly FM.

Oh, and bluetooth audio sounded great, but I only did that to play around and haven't really listened to it.

Rogue Leader · 07-13-2009, 10:52 PM

CD will always be better. XM sounds pretty terrible in thsi car, FM even sounds better. MP3's recorded at 320k sound ALMOST as good as a CD, but listen to them side to side and the CD is stil better.

Aaron1121 · 07-13-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supermans

I sure as heckfire notice the difference between compressed Mp3 and CD quality.. It is even more dramatic with XM and FM...

XM and Sirius use different compression rates for different channels. If you listen to a popular channel, it may sound good. If you listen to an unpopular channel, or talk radio, it's not going to sound great.

07-12-2009, 06:40 PM	#1
marcus147 Drives: 2010 Camaro LT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 5	Sound Quality with Various Audio Options I've had my Camaro for a full day now, and have started to experiment with all the nifty ways to hear music. I've found that my dinosaur MP3 player (an iAudio X5) DOES interface via USB, but the sound quality sucks. The XM sounds much better, and I've heard people describe XM sound quality toward the lower end of the spectrum. So, a question for all you veteran Camaro owners with the BA stereo system: Out of all the following ways to listen to your tunes, what sounds the best? CD XM Radio AM/FM Radio USB Stick iPod/Zune via USB MP3 Player via AUX Bluetooth streaming media from your phone

07-13-2009, 07:01 PM	#5
slick rick SoCal Mayhem Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Foothill Ranch, CA Posts: 5,488 View My Garage	I don't know if it's just my Sirius Stiletto 100 or the AUX port but the volume of the AUX port is considerably lower than FM/CD. I have the Tone options configured the same way for all sources and the volume on my Stiletto 100 is at 100% so I guess the only other thing left to try is another source on the AUX port. __________________

07-13-2009, 07:47 PM	#6
Matrix Drives: '10 Camaro 2SS/RS & Magnum R/T Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,520	You guys!!! your in a car not a recording studio and your using a car stereo and not a Class AAA Amps etc. You wont notice the difference between a CD and a compressed MP3 especially with wind blowing through your hair and the engine growiling lol! __________________ SIM Camaro 2010 V8-2SS/RS-A6!!+

07-13-2009, 10:52 PM	#9
Rogue Leader Iatefiberglassinsulation Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 3,601 View My Garage	CD will always be better. XM sounds pretty terrible in thsi car, FM even sounds better. MP3's recorded at 320k sound ALMOST as good as a CD, but listen to them side to side and the CD is stil better. __________________ 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

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View Poll Results: What's the best way to listen to music?
CD	11	33.33%
XM Radio	3	9.09%
AM/FM Radio	0	0%
USB Stick	8	24.24%
iPod/Zune via USB	10	30.30%
MP3 Player via AUX	0	0%
Bluetooth Streaming Audio	1	3.03%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll

07-12-2009, 08:19 PM	#2
badkarma Drives: 2010 SIM 2SS Camaro Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dacula GA Posts: 218	I would think CD would be the best as far as sound quality. I don't know the compression if there is any on a CD. But, there is some loss of sound quality going from Analog to Digital. Some music purists can even detect it. Any time you compress a signal you lose sound quality. Everything you list there has some type of compression, XM compression probably being the most depending upon which channel. I did not mention AM/FM as that is the worst of the bunch unless you make and compress your mp3 files wayy too much

07-12-2009, 08:43 PM	#3
2010SLVRBULIT Drives: G5(LLT) & C6(LS3) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MARS Posts: 7,527 View My Garage	Sound reproduction and signal loss on most but CDs...need a good amp and signal processors to try and reproduce those sounds/frequencies lost in transition/translation..

07-13-2009, 06:46 PM	#4
marcus147 Drives: 2010 Camaro LT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 5	It seems like people think the iPod/Zune sounds as good if not better than the CD Player. So, another question. When you connect the iPod to the AUX port instead of by USB, does it sound as good, worse or about the same? Thanks for all the votes! This is helpful.

07-13-2009, 09:23 PM	#8
camaro envy Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 112	I think Ipod/USB drive are about the best, followed by CD, then by XM, and lastly FM. Oh, and bluetooth audio sounded great, but I only did that to play around and haven't really listened to it.