is XM Radio worth it?

[ThePresence]

I'm considering putting in XM or Sirius in my car, being that I spend so much time commuting. Anyone have it? Is it worth it?

 

[RossMAN]

I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

 

[djNickb]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

I believe that XM is faring much better than Sirius thus far. While I'm not sure that either are profitable yet, XM's subscriber base is growing at a decent rate along with some manufacturers jumping on the satellite bandwagon too. If I had to put money on one it would be XM.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

And/or offer a rebate.

 

[LordJezo]

http://www.xmfan.com/index.php

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

And/or offer a rebate.

Rebates are suck.

However if there was a "new customers" promo offering a free home unit after rebate or something like that ... I'd jump on it.

 

[Actaeon]

If I had a choice, it'd be XM. Though I really don't care about satallite radio. I just listen to my MP3 CDs.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: djNickb

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

I believe that XM is faring much better than Sirius thus far. While I'm not sure that either are profitable yet, XM's subscriber base is growing at a decent rate along with some manufacturers jumping on the satellite bandwagon too. If I had to put money on one it would be XM.

I think XM will win also. Delphi is a a big company with big pockets. It also has something like 5 times the subscriber base of Sirius.

 

[tnitsuj]

I have Sirius radio in my car and I love it. I chose Sirius because it has commercial free music, and the news/talk etc. are more extensive than with XM IMHO. Either are great if you spend a lot of time in the car, although the commercial viability of either is still in question.

If you do get either, skip the FM modulators, and use the line in on your head unti. It totally ruins the experience to have to listen to FM modulated sattelite radio.

 

[aircooled]

I was an early adopter to XM (I travel by car alot).
I would never not have it now! It's the best $9.99 a month I could have ever spent (equipment is going down in price all the time).

I'd get rid of $10 bucks a month worth of TV and replace it with satellite radio if need be.

The only people that trash satellite radio have never owned it.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

You can already get XM for less than $100/yr if you're willing to pay in advance.

I would get XM if I hadn't just bought a new TV and TV stand. Maybe in a few months.

I only need the Pioneer Tuner ($150) and an antenna ($50).

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
I have Sirius radio in my car and I love it. I chose Sirius because it has commercial free music, and the news/talk etc. are more extensive than with XM IMHO. Either are great if you spend a lot of time in the car, although the commercial viability of either is still in question.

If you do get either, skip the FM modulators, and use the line in on your head unti. It totally ruins the experience to have to listen to FM modulated sattelite radio.

Do most CD decks offer this line in? Where is it located (in the face unit)?

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
I have Sirius radio in my car and I love it. I chose Sirius because it has commercial free music, and the news/talk etc. are more extensive than with XM IMHO. Either are great if you spend a lot of time in the car, although the commercial viability of either is still in question.

If you do get either, skip the FM modulators, and use the line in on your head unti. It totally ruins the experience to have to listen to FM modulated sattelite radio.

Do most CD decks offer this line in? Where is it located (in the face unit)?

Most stock CD decks do not offer line in. I used to use a cassette adapter and now I only have CD so I have to use the FM modulater. I agree that even the cassette adapter sounds better than FM modulater, but it still sounds great!

 

[iamwiz82]

Some car companies offer Line In as an option. Most HUs comes with it also, but not all.

 

[guyver01]

I have XM.... i couldn't decide whether to get XM or Sirius.... until XM signed up NASCAR.... I am a NASCAR fan, and am often on the road for one reason or another when the races are on.... the NASCAR channel simulcasts all the races, and is exclusive to XM (another reason XM will probably last... the exclusive stations, like Nascar & Playboy... they don't go to a failing service).

One way or another, depending on which survives... XM will buy Sirius, or Sirius will buy XM, either way.. the equipment will probably work for the new XM/Sirius hybrid service.

 

[LordJezo]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
I have Sirius radio in my car and I love it. I chose Sirius because it has commercial free music, and the news/talk etc. are more extensive than with XM IMHO. Either are great if you spend a lot of time in the car, although the commercial viability of either is still in question.

If you do get either, skip the FM modulators, and use the line in on your head unti. It totally ruins the experience to have to listen to FM modulated sattelite radio.

Do most CD decks offer this line in? Where is it located (in the face unit)?

Most aftermarket decks have the line in port now. Most stock stereos do not.

If you don't have line in just call up crutchfield and they will sell you an FM modulator the plugs into the antenna port of your stereo and let you have line-in enabling you to hook up anything from a laptop to a gameboy to play through your car stereo.

It's what I needed to play my iPod through my speakers. I tried an FM transmitter but the sound on that stunk. FM modulator is a direct input and is better then any FM transmitter out there.

Crutchfield also knows their stuff. I did it online through the online chat support thing. Just told him my car and said I wanted an input to hook up my iPod. The guy put everything I needed into a shopping cart for me (modulator, antenna adapters, mini plug adapters) and I was on my way.

Note: FM modulators and FM transmitters are not the same thing. Transmitter plays over the airwaves and sounds like garbage in most situations. FM modulator plugs in through your antenna port and provides a direct link and sounds as good as the stereo can.

 

[aircooled]

I agree that one will probably acquire the other at some point in time.
You also have to remember that the 'over the road trucker' is a huge audience for satellite radio. There is no way that it will disappear with that industry supporting it.

 

[mjquilly]

sirius and xm have agreements to eventually make units that recieve both services.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
I have Sirius radio in my car and I love it. I chose Sirius because it has commercial free music, and the news/talk etc. are more extensive than with XM IMHO. Either are great if you spend a lot of time in the car, although the commercial viability of either is still in question.

If you do get either, skip the FM modulators, and use the line in on your head unti. It totally ruins the experience to have to listen to FM modulated sattelite radio.

Do most CD decks offer this line in? Where is it located (in the face unit)?

Most aftermarket decks have the line in port now. Most stock stereos do not.

If you don't have line in just call up crutchfield and they will sell you an FM modulator the plugs into the antenna port of your stereo and let you have line-in enabling you to hook up anything from a laptop to a gameboy to play through your car stereo.

It's what I needed to play my iPod through my speakers. I tried an FM transmitter but the sound on that stunk. FM modulator is a direct input and is better then any FM transmitter out there.

Crutchfield also knows their stuff. I did it online through the online chat support thing. Just told him my car and said I wanted an input to hook up my iPod. The guy put everything I needed into a shopping cart for me (modulator, antenna adapters, mini plug adapters) and I was on my way.

Note: FM modulators and FM transmitters are not the same thing. Transmitter plays over the airwaves and sounds like garbage in most situations. FM modulator plugs in through your antenna port and provides a direct link and sounds as good as the stereo can.

FM modulator while it does sound better than an FM transmitter does not sound "as good as the stereo can" not even close. no contest. Line in sounds better by far.

 

[TubStain]

Check out this link on the forums: Text

For Sirius questions go here: SiriusBackstage

I have sirius and it's definitely a great purchase. Neither company can buy the other out, coz a monopoly is not allowed. Neither one will die either, if anything, one of them will be bought out by a larger media company. Sirius also signed a 7 year agreement to broadcast NFL games starting next year.

Your best bet would be to go to the message board listed above and point blank tell them you are interested and you want to know whether you should go with Sirius or XM. You will get all the convincing you need.

 

[tkdkid]

There was a segment on TechTV where they showed them both. The audio is compressed so much that it sounds like crap. I would never consider it based on audio quality alone.

 

[TubStain]

Originally posted by: tkdkid
There was a segment on TechTV where they showed them both. The audio is compressed so much that it sounds like crap. I would never consider it based on audio quality alone.

That tech TV segment is VERY old... as with all technology, it's constantly improving, even most content reviews are old. If you doubt me, drop by your local CC or BB and give it a shot. I gurantee you will change your mind.

Have you seen the variety in stations? you can go to Sirius.com and listen to the live streams at 20 minute samples. The quality of the online streams is not reflective of the actual quality.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: djNickb

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

I believe that XM is faring much better than Sirius thus far. While I'm not sure that either are profitable yet, XM's subscriber base is growing at a decent rate along with some manufacturers jumping on the satellite bandwagon too. If I had to put money on one it would be XM.

I think XM will win also. Delphi is a a big company with big pockets. It also has something like 5 times the subscriber base of Sirius.

BINGO. And of course Delphi = GM = $$$$

GM is also putting XM in their cars a a option, and may become a standrad thing after a year or so.
Also right now you can get a Home OR Car XM unit Free after rebate at Ubid. Thats where I got mine and it is working great. Even if you do not pay you still get like 5-7 free channels.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I am waiting to see whether XM or Sirius survives, one of them has to fail eventually.

Also once they lower the price to $100/yr then I'll sign up.

Aren't they at $10/month now? So you are waiting to save $20?

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: tkdkid
There was a segment on TechTV where they showed them both. The audio is compressed so much that it sounds like crap. I would never consider it based on audio quality alone.

You need to hear it for real, in a real car (not at best buy). Don't worry about what TechTV says, judge it for yourself. Hell, digital cable is way more compressed than satellite radio. FM radio is not CD quality and satellite (even through an FM modulator) sounds better than broadcast FM.