- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,787
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
Let me begin by saying that it should be no surprise
to anyone here that I am a huge supporter of XM and
have been from the beginning. I usually don't make any
complaints about this service unless I really feel one needs
to be made, and I'm not ashamed to be doing so now.
When I first got XM radio 2 years ago the sound quality
was pretty damn good. In fact, it used to be so close to
CD quality that those who really didn't know any better
would be hard to tell the difference. Let me point out
that this is based upon playback on basic equipment
(car system enhanced with subwoofers and/or boombox).
These days the audio is barely as good as FM radio.
I have never heard the service sound this bad with its
over compression elements and "tinny" sound qualities.
XM sounds as bad as Sirius.
This bothers me greatly.
I realize that XM and SIRIUS have limited bandwidth.
I also realize both services are racing against each other
to sign on the most talent and boast the most music
channels. All of this involves the usage of more bandwidth
that ultimately is taken away from the music channels.
This can only get worse.
Friends who have tried XM radio generally all have the
same complaint -- "Sure, there is a great selection of music
to be found here, but CDs sound so much better in my car."
It's bad enough that XM was forced to place a few commercial
music channels on their service. In doing so, they had to
create more commercial-free channels and thus, the sound
quality has taken a complete nosedive.
Even before the addition of the new channels, the sound
quality on XM was getting progressively worse. It seems
that extra bandwidth was being given to popular channels
like THE '90s or THE MIX in order to improve sonics. These
days, the sound on those channels have diminished. Try
listening to THE '60s or THE '70s channel and you'll probably
find yourself having to use more volume and bass to
compensate for the audio that sounds like it is coming out
of a transistor radio. While you think that description may
be way over the top -- it's not too far off from the truth when
you compare audio quality across the XM spectrum.
To be honest, I have had my moments of wanting to
dump satellite radio because of the shoddy sound quality --
especially when I could get better quality from music stored
on my iPod. The only thing that stops me is that fact that
I have supported this format from the beginning, and I feel
very loyal to XM, a service I believe in.
I do feel there could be a solution, though I doubt XM would
take the necessary risks involved.
Let Sirius have their dozens of channels of repetitious music
and sports.
XM should concentrate on lessening the amount of available
music and entertainment and concentrate on promoting itself
as the service with the best sound quality. This is especially
important when you have HD-RADIO also competing for market
share. XM could easily compete with HD-RADIO.
I know some of you think that many subscribers don't
care about audio quality. I don't think that's true. I actually
read many complaints on my Internet site (as well as here)
about audio quality.
I really feel that XM could take a bite out of Sirius by
touting itself as the service with the best audio. It certainly
would become a major factor for new subscribers deciding
which service they wish to choose.
My idea may be a good or bad, but all I know is that my
ears are growing very tired of hearing music that sounds no
better than FM radio.
Look forward to hearing your comments.
to anyone here that I am a huge supporter of XM and
have been from the beginning. I usually don't make any
complaints about this service unless I really feel one needs
to be made, and I'm not ashamed to be doing so now.
When I first got XM radio 2 years ago the sound quality
was pretty damn good. In fact, it used to be so close to
CD quality that those who really didn't know any better
would be hard to tell the difference. Let me point out
that this is based upon playback on basic equipment
(car system enhanced with subwoofers and/or boombox).
These days the audio is barely as good as FM radio.
I have never heard the service sound this bad with its
over compression elements and "tinny" sound qualities.
XM sounds as bad as Sirius.
This bothers me greatly.
I realize that XM and SIRIUS have limited bandwidth.
I also realize both services are racing against each other
to sign on the most talent and boast the most music
channels. All of this involves the usage of more bandwidth
that ultimately is taken away from the music channels.
This can only get worse.
Friends who have tried XM radio generally all have the
same complaint -- "Sure, there is a great selection of music
to be found here, but CDs sound so much better in my car."
It's bad enough that XM was forced to place a few commercial
music channels on their service. In doing so, they had to
create more commercial-free channels and thus, the sound
quality has taken a complete nosedive.
Even before the addition of the new channels, the sound
quality on XM was getting progressively worse. It seems
that extra bandwidth was being given to popular channels
like THE '90s or THE MIX in order to improve sonics. These
days, the sound on those channels have diminished. Try
listening to THE '60s or THE '70s channel and you'll probably
find yourself having to use more volume and bass to
compensate for the audio that sounds like it is coming out
of a transistor radio. While you think that description may
be way over the top -- it's not too far off from the truth when
you compare audio quality across the XM spectrum.
To be honest, I have had my moments of wanting to
dump satellite radio because of the shoddy sound quality --
especially when I could get better quality from music stored
on my iPod. The only thing that stops me is that fact that
I have supported this format from the beginning, and I feel
very loyal to XM, a service I believe in.
I do feel there could be a solution, though I doubt XM would
take the necessary risks involved.
Let Sirius have their dozens of channels of repetitious music
and sports.
XM should concentrate on lessening the amount of available
music and entertainment and concentrate on promoting itself
as the service with the best sound quality. This is especially
important when you have HD-RADIO also competing for market
share. XM could easily compete with HD-RADIO.
I know some of you think that many subscribers don't
care about audio quality. I don't think that's true. I actually
read many complaints on my Internet site (as well as here)
about audio quality.
I really feel that XM could take a bite out of Sirius by
touting itself as the service with the best audio. It certainly
would become a major factor for new subscribers deciding
which service they wish to choose.
My idea may be a good or bad, but all I know is that my
ears are growing very tired of hearing music that sounds no
better than FM radio.
Look forward to hearing your comments.