I know this probably has been discussed b4, but what the hell...

since the free ride deal is basically over, and now I'm forced to buy either system, what do you guys recommend? Sirius or XM??

I also was thinking bout the FM modulated version of both units and I take it that it doesn't sound as good as the direct plug-in type...


what are your guys opinions on both systems and FM modulated vs direct plug in??

thanx!

 

I don't know about XM because I don't have it but I do have a Sirius FM modulated system in my car. Both services are definately better than regular radio. However, Sirius' music channels are 100% Commercial Free but it also cost 3 bucks a month more. In my opinion, it is well worth it.

I went with the Panasonic FM Modulated system. The sound quality is better than regular radio but it does not even come close to CD quality sound. It still sound really good. I would rather have a direct line into the HU but I don't want to put in a new HU at this point.

Ether one you choose, XM or Sirius, once you have the service you will not want to go back to regular radio.

Good luck with your choice.

 

XM has a family rate now. I have XM in my max, wife's pathfinder and a Delphi for work and home.. while I dumped a ton on receivers, I'm paying < $24/per for the accounts.. thats nice..

Most of the stations I listen to are commercial free (and they say they will stay that way). The top 40 stuff has commercials.. if you can stomach some of that music, you can deal with < 6 min of commercials. The commercial stations seem to have no more than 2-3 mins per hour (but say they can do up to 6 mins in the future).

One nice thing about the commercials I have heard, they arent like radio commercials ("get down to the Toyotathon now! NOW! Sunday! SUNday! SUNDAY!!!!") They sound more like TV commercials. not very intrusive even when you are on a commercial station.

So, either way, you're gonna win with sat radio.

Both have streams on their site. From my friends, I've heard the Rap and decades (80s,90s) stations are better on Sirius. Whereas Reggae and Alternative are better on XM. (both commercial free).

Honestly, the Rhyme has some great old school.. I mean great.. but Raw XL and The City are pretty weak to me. The Metro Mix is about the only thing that sets them apart from local stations. :/ I dont think they have commercials either.

 

the Pioneer and Alpine are great modulators.. The Delphi is MUCH more feature rich, but their modulator is super crappy (even revision 2). If you have the stock bose, you wont hear much of the FM noise. I swapped tweeters and got 10x more highend back in the bose... unfortunately I also could hear alittle static now. It was always there in the crappy Nissan/Clarion Bose head unit, but now I can hear it more. Still, very livable. If you stay off the highest output setting of the modulator, it will be pretty clear.

the Delphi has weak output to begin with, so the modulator is cranked up alittle too high for the stock system.. it gets really noisy and not adjustable (also has alot less stations to choose from then the alpine/pioneer units). and it gets way too hot for my comfort.

 

I have the stock Bose in my 2003 and I planned on getting the Sirius Kenwood FM modulator because it connects to their Music Keg which is a digital hard drive, so I planned on using that also for music..yeah its $400 but its 10 gig and connects through USB and supposedly very user friendly

I also am more partial to Rap and 80's then anything else

 

the alpine Tua-200 controller/tuner is on sale at Crutchfield for $150, it will also control an AiNet 6 disk MP3 changer.

 

I want Sirius because I like rap.....I've heard their hip hop and its hot....alpine only does XM

 

I have a 2002 Max with a stock Bose system. I'm very pleased with the Delphi reciever. I was listening to XM 15 minutes after I got it home. Still haven't hardwired it yet but it sounds great even with the cassette adapter. I have to figure out a good spot to mount it but after listening to XM you'll never go back to normal radio.