XM or Sirius?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ALIENCOP @ Apr 26 2007, 01:36 AM) [snapback]430298[/snapback]</div>

You certainly do have a choice now that Toyota has finally released the Sirius tuner! (XM was already available) That's if you wanted a factory unit to interface with your existing Head Unit of course.

I personally feel XM is better for music choice and quality...however both have exclusive 'channels' and talk personalities which may appeal to you more. Check out the lineup or better yet give either a trial spin and see what suits you.

I believe both have limited trials where you can listen to channels on the web, I suggest you give both a try and see what might fit your listening style.

 

Considering the talks about a merger between the two companies, this may be academic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ALIENCOP @ Apr 25 2007, 10:36 PM) [snapback]430298[/snapback]</div>

Go online to their websites and you can listen to the music on each channel.

XM has a little better bit-rate (sound quality) on SOME of their bigger channels, but then you have to deal with their commercials as well.

I prefer the music of Sirius myself.

 

I've been an XM subscriber for years, but never Sirius, so I can't give you a comparsion of either the technical or artistic quality of the music. I can tell you that I've been pleased with XM. Technically, The Vais Tech integrated unit I have puts out music that sounds as good as a CD in the car. I like jazz, and for jazz, XM offers several jazz and "jazz-like" channels: Real Jazz (classic), Watercolors (smooth jazz), Beyond Jazz (upbeat, contemporary, fusion), High Standards (Sinatra, big band, crooners), and Bluesville (self-explanatory).

My favorite XM station -- Fine Tuning -- plays a little jazz along with many other genres and music you're not likely to hear anywhere else. In succession you could hear Beethoven, the Beatles, BB King, and Bela Fleck.

All of XM's music channels are commercial-free.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 26 2007, 07:41 AM) [snapback]430377[/snapback]</div>

Only artists that start with "B"? What kind of crazy station is that? :lol:

We went with Sirius because of NPR. As for music, I can always find something on that I want to hear.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 26 2007, 04:41 AM) [snapback]430377[/snapback]</div>

You're not likely to hear them on the channels you listen to, but....

http://media.seekingalpha.com/article/15196

Oddly enough (or greedily), those make up the majority of the higher bit-rate channels at the high bit-rate.
http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t...;view=next&

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Skwyre7 @ Apr 26 2007, 10:52 AM) [snapback]430478[/snapback]</div>

Not a crazy station -- just a crazy attempt at an alliteration.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vagabond @ Apr 26 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]430481[/snapback]</div>

I stand corrected, thanks. A couple of years ago they made a big deal about taking all their music channels commercial-free. I hadn't heard that had changed. Of course, I would expect a little less fanfare with such a decision than the earlier one.

Since we're on that discussion, I'm sure both companies have to consider more commercials as one option for added revenue, especially if the merger doesn't pan out. Neither can continue to bleed red ink.

 

I prefer XM over Sirius. I feel that Sirius plays too many repeats. I also have better reception with XM than I do with Sirius. Given the choice for my new Prius, I am going with XM.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ALIENCOP @ Apr 26 2007, 01:36 AM) [snapback]430298[/snapback]</div>

Rather than just give my opinion, here is a website for content:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Featu...rticleId=103686

and a side-by-side comparison of content

http://www.radiosatellite.org/

Also something to consider is this...Sirius claims to have superior sound quality thanks to their statistical multiplexing technology, which provides additional bandwidth across all SIRIUS streams. This is supposed to increase overall sound quality and resolution. There has been little feedback however, to verify whether or not this system really enhances sound quality to a noticeable degree. In addition, Sirius also claims to have 24 hour customer service - something XM radio has yet to fully achieve. Sirius has 2 NPR channels, for you NPR fans out there: NPR Now and NPR Talk.

Based on this info...I chose Sirius.

 

I've got both. When I listen to sat radio, it's usually set to the eighties/nineties stuff. Based on my limited experience, I'd recommend Sirius. XM plays music (on the channels I listen to) that wasn't good even when new... twenty-odd years doesn't help the situation.

Obviously just my personal preference - just adding to the info pile on this.

 

To me XM is better. They have a larger library, less DJ talk, and higher bit rates. Plus I don't get as many drop outs on XM as I do on Sirius.

Our Honda has XM and our Range Rover has Sirius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ Apr 29 2007, 02:41 PM) [snapback]432156[/snapback]</div>

Certainly nice to have, but I've never had to call XM customer service for anything except activating a new radio and, once or twice, for a billing question.

 

Oh yea. Since XM has a much better repeater network setup you're less likely to get drop-offs with XM than with Sirius. Sirius is more dependent on satellites than ground repeaters compared to XM so it's more sensitive on antenna placement than XM.