XM vs Sirius Satellite radio. Which One is Better?

I can't answer all your questions but I can answer #4, both use satellite "Spot Beam" technologies, and the entire US is covered. Factors in reception are things such as tunnels and some area's may be affected by buildings (think downtown NYC) although the Building effect is usually offset by "bouncing signal." Sirius has Howard Stern, XM focuses more on sports such as Nascar, that's basically what it breaks down to. Which content you prefer.

 

I have Sirius....and honestly I have been contemplating cancelling it. I never listen to it anymore....as I am not in my own car alot anymore. I am only right down the street from work. However, it was great when I was driving to Champaign and back each week.

I think Sirius has better music on the channels...but that is just me.

 

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I have sirius and like it lust fine.

 

Depends on the content you want. I have never heard Sirius and have had XM for a few years now. As for XM, it probably has more content than Sirius. Don't pay attention to the number of channels they claim, because with XM, many are periodic for sports events and off the rest of the time so the actual channel count is really lower than claimed. If you are an audiophile XM will dissapoint you greatly. If you want music channels with uninterrupted music, XM has none. Each is operated like a mini radio station with plenty of promos and interruptions. Truth is, there are NO continuous music channels on XM. And if you like talk radio, most of the commercials on XM are for the same sorts of things you would get in common email spam (viagra pills, bankruptcy, get-rich-quick schemes, fast-n-easy credit, drive a truck - be your own boss). Anyway if you like news-talk the commercials on XM are thick and plenty and the same ones over and over and over and over and over and over.... Based on the commercials, I would say that the typical XM listener; drives a semi-truck, has over $15,000 of credit card debt, and has guilt feelings over his sexual performance.
Bottom line is, go to their web sites and choose which service you like based on which one has the best/most of the content you desire. If you live in or travel in big cities with tall buildings that block satellite signals, then coverage is not an issue.
If you are an audiophile I can only comment on XM, their sound quality is very very poor. It will never improve either.
And the portable radios dont work, do dont waste your money.

 

I have sirius and love it! great sound quality, and a pretty good selection to choose from......but I really only listen to hard rock.....I think their basically the same, it's just that they offer different things.

 

I have XM (because it came with my new car) and it's OK. It's a lifesaver early in the morning (what the hell is it with no-talent morning radio hosts who WON'T SHUT UP?) when I want to listen to MUSIC.

Will I keep it after my three-month trial subscription expires?

I don't know. I'll see how it goes.

I will say, I haven't heard a single commercial. I've heard promos (usually the "Beyond AM, Beyond FM, XM" tag) and sometimes they'll plug other channels ("listen to XM 206 for your NASCAR blah blah, don't forget our goofy Christmas music on XM 107" etc.) but never heard a commercial.

Sound quality's great but as with all satellite services the second you go into a parking structure, you're screwed.

 

I have had Sirius for 3.5 years. Content is mostly a personal decision, but I wanted to update a few items. Sirius has NASCAR starting 1/1/07, and this year both services cover the NHL however it is moving to XM only in 2007-08.

 

We have XM at my work and I have heard periodic advertisement, which drives me nuts. You pay for satellite radio and it's supposed to be completely ad free. Two of my family's cars are also equipped with XM- but we didn't keep it after the free trial. I have done multiple Sirius trials and like their music channels a little better.

 

I have had Sirius since December 2005 and my dad currently has XM which I sometimes listen to online. I will tell you what I know between the two. I got Sirius for Howard Stern as did many other people and his shows have been better than ever. He also has a few other talk personalities on his other station. Besides Stern, Sirius has Playboy which XM had, and Nascar is moving to Sirius in 2007. Between music and talk shows and entertainment, I would say Sirius has more edgy programing overall. XM tends to have a deeper library of music which could be a good thing. I noticed on some XM music channels there are no DJs and the shows are automated by computer or something. Also some good channels like Music Lab that were on XM previously, are now available online only. There are also some AOL exclusive channels on XM online. As for the music content you mention, both have dance and 60's and 80's era music. Reception should be the same with both. Overall, I enjoy Sirius more for all the real edgy programming and the DJs on the music channels are more lively. I also really enjoy The Rolling Stones and The Who channels.

 

I would go with sirius if I were to get this.

 

We just got XM at my work on Saturday (kind of funny since we have been talking about this on here) and the ads absolutely drive me crazy. They are annoying as hell and on some stations, like MIX 22, they have about 2 to 4 ads every fourth song or so.

 

I didn't even see your post, Erik, since it seems like we posted our responses at the same time.
I'm glad that you were able to decide on something. I actually did a three-day trial of Sirius online and liked them a lot. I like the XM music too, don't get me wrong, but the ads just somehow bug me. I don't see why I should pay money for something that I can get free.
Let us know how you like it once you get it installed!

 

I heard my first XM ad the other day on channel 8 -- but I'm so conditioned to change the station at ads that it didn't dawn on me until my wife said something.

I never hear ads (other than ads for other channels on XM) on the other channels I listen to -- 9, 26, 41, 44, 54, 73, 74, 82, 110, 112, 113 and 222.

 

I used to hear ads for other XM channels as well...That doesn't bother me, it was actually informative sometimes as to see what else they offer. At work, we listen to MIX 22 most of the time and their ads are quite annoying...One talks about breast enhancements...

 

There are two distinct differences between Sirius and XM that I've noticed. One thing is that Sirius is run more like a regular radio stations with DJs that animate while XM is more like a CD player that plays music with no animation. The other thing is that XM censors profanity much like terrestrial radio, so they will remove cursing from songs. Sirius doesn't do that which is why I like Sirius better. I think that's part of the reason Howard Stern is not on XM.

As for music programming I feel they are both pretty much the same, but for content in general I like Sirius better. However, programming preference is very subjective.

As for sound quality, I've found XM to always sound better than Sirius. It's like XM uses a higher bitrate audio streaming than Sirius. I can definitely hear the higher end of the spectrum clearer on XM. Sirius has some light "garbly" sound and it is not as bright as XM.

 

ive had sirius for a little over a year now. and i think its great. but some day i would like to hear xm, and see for my self what the differance is.

 

In my car...sirius sounds like degraded quality mp3's......almost seems like regular FM sounds a bit better...

 

well, I bought myself an XM tuner online today. It's the Audiovox Xpress (i believe). It's supposed to hook wirelessly to the FM headunit I have in my car (i'm driving a mazda 6). It should be here in the next few days, and I'm going to pay car tunes to install it for me like gamer.

I have never listened to sirius. I discovered XM while on a trip with my friend who has a 2006 Acura TL that is XM ready, and I liked the fact that it didnt have the over-talkative DJ's, its as someone else said, kind of like listening to a CD. the particular deal I got from signing up was no activation fee and first months service free if I activate by 12/31. I really hope I get it shipped here and installed by then. we'll see!

 

well, the xm reciever that i ordered says it hooks wirelessly to my fm unit, but i'm sure that the direct connection is available too. If it is, I will opt for that. I don't have the stock mazda head unit in my car though, its a JVC. So I'm not sure what all is possible with it. I am probably going to leave the xm reciever in my car only, so I guess a direct connection would be just fine for me.