I'm trying to decide between XM and Sirius. I personally want to have a direct connection and desire the headunit to display info and be able to control with the MFSW. I'm aware that is currently not available on an '05 for Sirius. My question here is hardware aside, which provider does everyone like. I currently have XM in my F150 and like it, but am not totally happy with the music channels on newer alternative music - I think they are a little too "playlist" like regular radio. I believe someone said that XM is owned by Clearchannel, which might explain this. Sirius has NFL, but now XM will have MLB. So what do you guys like, limiting this discussion only to content?

Happy listening,
Mike

 

Sirius has MLB... and NFL and NHL and some college football... and soon, Howard.

In the few months I've had Sirius, I've gone from listening to only a couple of stations, to listening to quite a few. Some great channels out there that play lots of underground and 'off-the-beaten-path' kinds of music, that I definitely enjoy.

From what I've heard on XM (my in-laws have it), it doesn't really compare to Sirius. This is just my opinion, but I have listened to both, and XM doesn't come close.

Enjoy

 

In regards to Sirius v. XM -

I'm a Huge XM Fan. I know that MINI has the option for direct install through the factory radio but the quality of display does not do it for me. I bought the Delphi Skyfi unit and love it. I’ve had it for 5 months now and haven't been disappointed yet!! Sure XM will have Howard in 15 months but I’ve grown tired of his FCC dribble. Sirius does have the Football Package. Sunday’s I’m in front of my TV watching Football with a beer not listening to it on my radio. But starting next year XM will have every Major League Baseball Game broadcasted live!! That will be great!!! Also XM has Opie & Anthony!! Which is a huge reason I went with XM. When It all comes down to it. It depends on what you want out of a system. I like the fact that i can take my XM unit into my house and office with out having to buy a new receiver/docking station/new subscription. Hope that helps... Cheers


I will try to post some links of my install. It turned out great!!!

 

Zen, if you have any friends with Dish Network sat tv, it carries several (but not all) of the Sirius music channels. Since you are already familiart with XM, perhaps you could spend a little time listening to the Sirius channels and see how well they align with your tastes. It's really your taste that matters for your decision, and the best way to decide is to find a way to sample Sirius. Good luck!

 

I think Sirius one-ups XM on content, and that's why it is a little extra.

Especially if you like Rock..Sirius has more channels, and NONE have commercials...whereas on XM all but the "common" rock channels will annoy you.

You can listen for a few days off their website, I highly recommend you try it.

 

This isn't really about content, but... if you have 2 subscriptions to XM, you can use the "family plan", meaning your second subscription price should only be $6 a month instead of $10.

One more thing to think about.

 

Let me say:

That Sirius rocks when compared to XM. Here is why:

Sirius plays better music overall. I do not like XM as they are owned by clearchannel and they sound like a clearchannel fm station. Take a listen at www.sirius.com you can take the test drive.

They have EMINEM, steven vanzandt and others doing the music.

Sirius has better talk with things like NPR, airamerica and several of there own talk channels.

When it comes to sports Sirius has: NFL, NBA, NHL, SEC, big 10, big 12, big east and pac-10. They do all of the important MLB thru ESPN.

XM has nascar, MLB, AAC, pac10 and the big10

they both have commedy and entertainment channels

they both have top 20 cities for traffic and weather.


If you like music, talk or sports go with Sirius, if you like nascar or want to hear every MLB game get xm.

more people have XM because
1. they came out first
2. they had better hardware (until now)
3. they give it away with gm and honda cars.

People buy sirius for the programming and there relationships in the industry. ALpine, kenwood, jvc, audiovox, uselectronics, DEI, clarion, blaupunch, and many others. Dont forget BMW and ford.

 

Sirius is $12.95 for the first sub and $6.99 for the 2, 3, 4th.

 

If you subscribe 'yearly' to Sirius, the price drops to 10 bux/mo and 6/mo for the first and additional receivers. Now you have better content for the same price.

There is far too much Clear Channel influence on XM. Most of the 'popular' programming is too formulaic IMO.

 

I hate Clear Channel and have XM but haven’t noticed the influence except for the Kiss XM station. XM has more listeners right now, but it will be interesting to see if Howard will help them grow as a company. Only time will tell. I do think that you would be happy with either one. It's nice to have a commercial free experience coast to coast. Good luck choosing...


I almost forgot that I can now cry in my car listening to OSU Football Team loosing another game due to my XM...

 

One reason I buy a car like the Mini is because it is not a "corporate car" like a GM or Ford. I like my music the same way...NO CLEARCHANEL!

 

Who owns Sirius? And I definitely will check out Sirius online .

Mike

 

And they both haven't shown a penny of profit .... yet.

 

I've had xm for over a year and i still love it. I mainly listen to the indie/college station, and from what i've heard from sirius subscibers, it's better than their equivalent. the way I see it, you will probably be happy with either one, unless you want something specific that the other one doesnt have. either way, they both blow away regular am/fm radio.

 

Zenaudio - Sirius is traded on the nasdaq siri. But its biggest investor is BMW!

zgocart - give it time the money will come. mostly cuz everyone wants it when they hear it.

wkndracr - take a listen to www.sirius.com when you surf. I think you will hear the difference. Go ahead take the chalange. Yes 3 days of Sirius listining. I will bet you will switch.

 

I'm thinking about Sirius because I hear they now have BBC Radio One

It's from the UK but they have the best English speaking major radio station on the planet IMO.

I really like the Electronic Music and Dance programs during the weekends.

All major genres are represented with specialist programs and throughout the day with awesome music variety and no commercials other than their own and news breaks...kinda like NPR and public music stations in America...but so much better

 

My borther has XM and I liked it but I compared it to Sirius via the 3 day offers that allows you to listen to content. I decided that Sirius had the type of music that I liked. I got the Xact SIRIUS Plug n Play Receiver/Kit from circuitcity($49) and installed it right atop of the cup holders. I can't use them anymore but the unit looks great down there. Like letsmotor mentioned the BBC Radio One dance selection on the weekends is the spectacular!!!


http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Xact-...oductDetail.do

 

This one is right in my wheelhouse!

I had SIRIUS before I had a MINI, so when SIRIUS was an option when I bought my MINI I added it. I'd never owned an XM reciever because they didn't have NPR and the BBC, which I listen to frequently.

Now when XM got the MLB contract I decided to change my shop satellite to XM from SIRIUS, figuring that commercial free music is great no matter who sends you the bill. Man was I wrong!! The music on XM is no where near the quality as it is on SIRIUS, and I don't know how they can mess it up so bad.

This is wrong IMO. SIRIUS Left of Center is the main Indie stream (and alone is way better than XM's version), but Garage Rock (Little Steven BTW) and Disorder also play a lot of Indie. The XMU stream is the only Indie one on XM, and it only covers a small section of the Indie spectrum.

Another difference is SIRIUS has "Stream Jockeys" for most of their channels, XM doesn't. You'd be suprised at what a difference that makes, the Stream Jockey's of course have their own personalities and spin different types of music in their shows, where as XMU (for instance) is just a voiceless plugging of songs without regard for how they line up.

Most of the streams on XM also come off as regular FM stations w/o commercials. SIRIUS is more laid back and seems to be all about the music. XM's format seems to be a shotgun spray on music on every channel, where as SIRIUS really breaks down the genres and each channel has a definite flavor.

Needless to say, I cancelled my XM subscription at the end of Baseball season, and have doubts about signing up again next year (I wasn't crazy about the way XM handled the MLB coverage... another story altogether)

My older SIRIUS unit also puts out a clearer sound than my new XM unit.

XM is more popular amongst the masses no doubt, but I don't have any worries about SIRIUS surviving (especially with them bringing in that troll Stern).
I tend to look at the popularity of XM as Honda Civics, and the quality and enjoyment of SIRIUS as MINI Coopers. The Civics will always out number us, but if they only knew what they were missing!

Cheers!

 

I have the factory Sirius in my MINI and my mom's Impala has factory XM. I think for the "hits" channels, XM will play more hit after hit after hit stuff you've heard, but Sirius seems to have the best selection. And I got the lifetime Sirius subscription for $500. I don't know if they still offer it, but it's a heck of a deal and you can switch it to a different vehicle up to 3 times (for a $75 fee)

 

I don't think they offer it anymore, I'm still kicking myself for not signing up for that years ago...

 

I just got the lifetime thing back in July of this year. Maybe the offer will come around again

 

I've been considering switching to Sirius form xm for some time now. I have had the xm for two years, but lately the play list/ content has become much worse than before. I'm in the car for about three hours a day, and I can hear the same songs over and over again, day after day. Much like the local FM stations. It seems they play the top ten songs over and over again, on the mix channel, alternative, rock or whatever..


In general on the sirius alternative, rock, or mix channels is there alot of swearing by the dj's?, or are there channels that have it and some that dont? XM's only decient rock channel has enough swearing that I dont like to listen when the kids are around. Then I'm left with the repeats on the mix channel.

Oh, Siruis $500 lifetime offer is going until Jan 31st.

Nik

 

I second and third all the great comments about Sirius on this thread, especially if you are a fan of alternative music. The alternative channels on Sirius offer a great mix of music, covering the spectrum from punk rock to outlaw country.

I'm sure XM is similar, but the options are awesome: NHL, NFL, weather and news, the great BBC channel, really good hip hop, plus NPR, Elvis, and E street radio on demand. As someone upthread said, the deejays/personalities add a LOT to the mix, and you get real sets of favorites and new stuff that makes listening to the radio a pleasure instead of an exercise in stupidity and aggravation.

OT: Zen, do you get LA's Indie 103.1 where you are? That's one commerical station I stream online and enjoy.

 

I've had Sirius for a couple of weeks now, in anticipation of Howard's move (1/9/06), and have not been impressed with the music stations.

I can't compare them to XM, but here in San Diego we have a very nice FM alternative station (94.9) that apparently has completely spoiled me. They play few commercials (granted Sirius plays none), but where they really beat Sirius is with their DJs.

Sirius's DJs are really, really annoying, and the bumpers of "You're listening to Sirius 26, Left of Center blah blah blah" are endless. FM 94.9 has knowledgable DJs who come on every 3 songs or so to tell you what you heard, what's coming up, and every once in a while something interesting about a song or a band. That's it. Plus, they play every song completely from beginning to end without talking over it or fading it into another song.

I expected Sirius to be at least that good, if not better. Considering I can see the artist and song title on the display, DJs are pretty much unnecessary. Unfortunately, Sirius doesn't think so.

The selection of music is certainly better than terrestrial radio, and they do have BBC 1 and, I think, BBC News, plus NPR, NPR Talk, Public Radio Int'l, NFL, ESPN Radio, etc. Add Howard and the uncensored Raw Dog comedy channel, and I'd guess that XM doesn't stand up to the comparison.

 

My Sirius account has 3 radios and the second and third are $6.99/ month. You can have upto 4 raqdios on an account.

I'm with Sirius because it was the first I discovered (In a Hertz rental car) and I was able to find the first system on eBay at a good price and haven't looked back since.

I like the music channels (Octane- Hard Rock, The Pulse - Top 40(ish) and once in a while I'll go over to my "high school years and hit the Big 80's) and the fact that there aren't any commercials on the music side is a HUGE plus.


I rarely use the regular radio and don't really care that I cannot see the artist or song info on the receiver. I've got a starmate and just zip tied it to the cup holder, don't have an AUX port so I use the FM transmitter built in.