Satellite radio thoughts

[StarvingForHDTV]

How is the sound quality?  Are there optical or coaxial digital outs for connecting to home systems?

Thanks in advance,

Starving

[Todd Wiedemann]

How is the sound quality?

I don't have mine, yet, but from what I've gathered, it's pretty darned good. It's, obviously, compressed, but compares favorably to a high-end (128) MP3.

Are there optical or coaxial digital outs for connecting to home systems?

The major intent of XM and Sirius is automobile installation. I have not seen a piece of satellite hardware that has either optical or coax. It seems to me that home-installation is accomplished either with a 1/8" to RCA cables or the SkyFi boombox, like Kevin has ...

[sdn10s]

Originally posted by StarvingForHDTV
How is the sound quality?

It's not C.D. quality, but fairly close. Definitely far better than FM. And don't forget, a lot of the stations are commercial free.

[Gregg Lengling]

Who ever doubted satellite radio would really take off? Not Tom Watts of SG Cowen.

The satellite analyst had good things to say about the business and XM Satellite Radio in a note released after the company reported 237,395 net additions for third quarter, taking its total to 929,648. Watts said he expects XM to continue trading strongly through the end of the year due to holiday spending in the aftermarket, launch of the company's "Roady" product and ramp-up of vehicle sales with XM through General Motors and Honda.

Watts predicted XM will pass the 1 million subscriber mark around Halloween, "but given the company's plans for a blowout celebration of the million sub mark, the announcement may be a week or two later," he said.

As for Sirius, the satellite radio company had second quarter net additions of 37,127. Watts said the company's net additions should pick up to 80,000 for the third quarter. That would bring Sirius' subscriber count to 185,186 after six quarters of nationwide operations.

[oz]

The commercial-free (or close to it) aspect really appeals to people, but how long will that last? Once there's a dedicated subscriber base, what will stop them from changing the no-commercial stations to some-commercial stations and the some-commercial stations to "normal radio style commercial" channels?

At times, I cannot even listen to Milwaukee AM radio because it's half commercials, especially from 3PM to 6PM during the week. I switch between 620 and 1130 whenever I hear a commercial and it seems like I'm changing channels every 2 minutes. It gets quite ridiculous between 4:45 and 5:15. There's 5 minutes of show, 5 minutes of traffic reporting, and 20 minutes of commercials in that one half-hour.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.  

I'm not willing to pay for sub CD quality.  Maybe if I spent more time driving I would consider it further.

Starving

[Kevin Arnold]

Oz has a good point.  I don't think that XM or Sirius will increase the commercial load anytime soon.  Too many marginal listeners who would cancel as soon as their subscription radio became like free radio. I would.  I can't listen to most AM and some FM's around here in the pm's either.  The commercial load on tmj and isn is about 22 min/hr, add in traffick and self promos and you're at 30 min.  Try listening to Belling between 5:30 and 6 - theres only about 7 min of show there.

[Todd Wiedemann]

Breathing life into this old thread ...

I just activated my XM last night. It's been everything I wanted, and then some.

I'd love to see an update from you guys that were about to buy like I was last year.

Matt - Great sports talk channels, ESPN, ESPNNews, FOX Sports, Sporting News and Nascar.

Tom - The music selection is unreal. You'd probably enjoy it (if you haven't been already !)

Check out XM411 for some discussion.

I bought this bundle. It's a great value !

[Tom Snyder]

Lease is up on the Jeep in August... The car I'm loking at has XM in it.. took it for a test drive and I'm not sure what I dug more... the vehicle or the tunes!

The other car we're getting doesn't come with either, so I'm trying to find out how the subscription works...if we get a discount for a second sub in a second car.  If not I might just get Sirius for that one!

But I do like the bundle...

[Joseph S]

I'm definitely looking at the Roady 2, but until the Stern rumors die down I'm not picking. Sirius has better quality and more pro sports, but XM still has the largest base. We shall see in the next 3 - 6 months what may come.

[StarvingForHDTV]

How does the sound quality compare to CD quality?

[The Law]

The commercial-free (or close to it) aspect really appeals to people, but how long will that last?

Hehe.  Remember when Cable TV was s'posed to be commercial free....waay back.

We've come a long way, baby....and XM (and derivatives) will go that route too....

[sdn10s]

Originally posted by Todd Wiedemann I just activated my XM last night. It's been everything I wanted, and then some.

Todd, if you think you like it now, just wait until you have to go on a long trip! It's awesome to be able to drive anywhere, no matter how far, and always have"your stations" with you. And, in 22 months of being an XM subscriber, I haven't lost signal once, no matter how bad the weather is.

[Racer47]

I've had XM for almost 2 years. At first they had very few commercials, even on the channels that were supposed to have commercials. Then the commercials became more frequent, but still not excessive. Then in April (I think) all the music channels went commercial free. So I don't see them adding commercials again anytime soon.

But as the Dish subscribers here know, Sirius music channels are now free on Dish. I think Sirius may have a better selection of rock and hard rock channels than XM. I've been more than happy with XM (especially on trips up North where the radio stations suck even worse than here), but I've been considering a switch to Sirius.

As far as sound quality goes, I know the specs say it is not as good as cd quality, but I think it sounds every bit as good as cd's in my car. I have not used it in the house.

As far as cost goes, I have not bought a cd in 2 years, and I now have a better varity of music to listen to than when I was buying cds. But obviously I'm at the progammers mercy.

[mred]

Addressing two questions/comments:

Re: digital outputs
You can get an XM PCR receiver with optical digital output here:  http://store.myradiostore.com/xmwitoopdiou.html

This is the XM PCR (which must be controlled with a computer via USB) modded to include a toslink optical output.

Re: Christian stations on XM
I chose XM over Sirius for a few reasons, but the single biggest factor was The Torch (ch 31).  Sirius doesn't have a Christian Rock station to compete with The Torch.  I listen to The Fish (ch. 32) on occasion, but mainly I keep it tuned to ch. 31.  The Fish is basically the same music  as 105.3 in Milwaukee and 106.7 in Chicago, both of which are also called "The Fish".  This is not a coincidence as Salem Communications owns 105.3 and 106.7, and also programs both XM CCM stations.

The one thing that has me peeved at XM is the removal of Special X (ch 30).   They'd play anything and everything:  polka, surf music, William Shatner songs, weird covers, cartoon music, parrot training records,  etc.  I was bummed when I heard it was getting the axe...