some kind of satalite radio, XM?

[Chrisz24]

I was in my friends Alero today and she has solrice or something like that, stock head unit, but the hole device is in the trunk.
I really liked it, I'm always on the radio, rarely listen to tapes, sometimes hook up my CD player but not often.

I really dont know anything about this stuff, I know their is monthly fee's and such, I'm driving further and further, would like some new tunes.

[nova]

I've got Sirius in my car and love it.

No commercials on any of the music stations.

Basically there are two ways you can add satellite radio.

1. Get a satellite ready head unit, tuner and antenna.

Pros - Controls are on the head unit. Better sound quality through RCA inputs. Less clutter on your dash.

Cons - Generally more expensive since you have to get a new head unit.

2. Get a "stand alone" tuner and antenna. These input through FM modulation and have an external controller.

Pros - Less equipment to buy. Slightly less work to install. Probably gonna be a little cheaper.

Cons - Sound quality isn't quite as good, dash is more cluttered due to the controller. External controls in general.

Hope that helps.

[Ian]

XM screwed me with billing, didnt cancel the service when i told them and billed me for 3 more months when I didnt even have the equipment, didnt offer great programming, and i had to turn up the volume on my head unit a lot just to get it to be normal volume.


other than that, its GREAT!

NOT!

[hard96]

Ian needed to talk to his local car audio tech! Stand alone units with the correct modulator set up will sound excellent when installed properly... XM would take care of that overcharge on billing, and what do you like if you think their programming stinks?

[Ian]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by hard96:
Ian needed to talk to his local car audio tech! Stand alone units with the correct modulator set up will sound excellent when installed properly... XM would take care of that overcharge on billing, and what do you like if you think their programming stinks?<hr></blockquote>

Hey champ, check this out:

My setup was the Pioneer XM reciever plugged directly into a Pioneer DEH-P7300 head unit. I was using a rockford 4 channel amp with rockford component speakers. Rockford sub and a rockford amp powering that sub. Monster wire throughout. Terk roof-mount antenna for the XM.

Ian is a car audio tech, and here is what Ian experienced:

The switch from CD player to XM, while maintaining optimum volume, required in increase of approx. 9 to 10 on the volume. This put my amp running at approx 75% for XM at optimum listening level.

I would lose XM reception in places like parking garages, certain bridges, and certain areas on highways.

Oh yea, and as for the billing descrepency. I spent about 3 hours of phone time and countless emails trying to get this worked out. I thought i had it worked out. Then 2 months later another bill came in the mail. They never cancelled the service, and there was "nothing they could do about it."

I listened to XM's programming, and it wasnt worth the money. They had some good stations, but for the most part, with what i wanted to listen to, i had CD's that sounded slightly better, wouldnt lose reception, wouldnt heat up my amps, and wouldnt over-charge me.

Ive stuck with CD's, and they are fine for me.