db6

I recently purchased and installed the lexus xm radio kit. I did the install myself, pretty easy, though I did pull a glued on clip off of one of the trunk panels. I have an 2007 IS 350 with nav, but standard sound system. I have also installed a Vaistech ipod interface. Using the ipod interface or a cd I am happy with the sound quality. Using the radio or the XM, I am disappointed. The XM works exactly as it should from a functional standpoint, so I think I installed it correctly. The sound seems compressed and not all that compelling, though some stations are better than others.
Anyone else have this issue?

Thanks

passnu2

iTrader: (33)

Not sure if you have ML in your car??

I have ML with XM in my car. Here is what I noticed recently is the FM is louder in the car then the XM. I do not listen to the radio since I have the XM its all I have used for years. I went to check the FM/AM for another member to see if there was interference with the HID fogs I had installed. I was taken back at how much louder it was. Was not as clean IMO but there was a definite difference in sound level. Rear sub was hitting harder IMO also...

not sure if this is what you mean or not??? hope it helps out in some way!

combfilter

iTrader: (3)

my friend has ML and his XM sounds horrible. Almost like a crappy mp3 encoding.

myculito

iTrader: (1)

We should probably make a distinction here on what channels aren't sounding good.

I have the XM and ML setup, and the setup is great overall.

- Talk shows (like Mike & Mike on ESPN and the comedy channels) sound crappy
- HD channels sound fantastic (ch. 76, 113, 200)
- Music channels sound good, i'd say a 3.5 or 4 out of 5


Is it certain channels you are thinking that aren't sounding good?

greg0723

you use xm for mike and mike in the morning? they are on espn radio dont need xm for that. even though i live 30min from bristol,ct espn i get it real clear.

spoonman3z

I have the same sound quality issue with my dealer installed XM. See this previous thread:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=346851

I took my car in to get it looked at and they said it sounds just like all the other XM radios.

SolaraToIS

I agree^^
My XM/ML sounds very good. Better than FM, not quite as good as CD.

javyLSU

iTrader: (21)

I've also thought satellite radio sounded like I was listening to my music through a tin can - so I never had any desire to get it. iPod + CD's is great for me.

Javier

WayneIS350

Add me to the list of those disappointed with the XM sound quality (on a ML system).

I did find that adjusting the treble/mid/bass equalizer settings helped mine (the default settings sounded awful).

PNice972

iTrader: (6)

i dunno about you guys, but my sirius sat radio sounds great in my IS.

BlackGhost

I got to agree with that. I had ML sound system before my Hartz system and XM sounded horrible

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Me three- XM sounds better than FM, not quite as good as CD.... on ML too.

jbuffett

I don't think the problem is with your sound systems, but rather with the source of the sound. XM and Sirius both compress their audio streams to save on bandwidth to/from the satellites, and the average person can tell the difference between an uncompressed CD source and a compressed source like XM or RealAudio etc. I'm not a hard-core audiophile or music snob (my car is the non-ML ha), but I have never been impressed with the sound of either XM or Sirius in any vehicle that I've heard it in, because it sounds like I'm listening to a audio stream on the internet.

suicidesam

xm80 is all i listen to and im happy with the sound...

Evitzee

XM with good channels sounds very, very good. Way better than a compressed iPod. Radio???.....what's that??