XM vs Sirius

[Rococo4]

Hey do any of you all have satellite radio... if so whcih one is better overall and for political talk?

I am going to get one, but I cant decide which company to go with.  Thanks

[badnarikin04]

I own an XM Radio. I truly believe that XM is better in terms of music, but from what I hear Sirius has better political talk.

Also, if you're a baseball fan, XM is going to carry EVERY SINGLE MLB game next season.

[danwxman]

Sirius has two 24/7 conservative talk stations and two 24/7 liberal talk stations, including Air America's full schedule. Also ABC News & Talk (Hannity), NPR talk, C-SPAN radio, and OutQ gay radio (which is like another liberal talk station lol). There's also some other general talk stations like women's talk and hispanic talk. In terms of news there is BBC, CNN and FoxNews....I believe both Sirius and XM carry those though.

I am very satisfied with Sirius's political talk lineup (way more then even I can listen to)....

Here's a general list of what service is considered better for each area:

News: XM
Talk: Sirius

Opie & Anthony: XM
Howard Stern (coming 2006): Sirius

NFL/NHL/NBA: Sirius
MLB: XM

Alternative/Obscure rock: XM
Mainstream/Classic rock: Sirius

Pop/world music: XM
Dance/hip-hop music: Sirius

XM is $9.99 per month and Sirius is $12.99 per month...but XM charges more for their premium channels and online listening so you end up paying more then Sirius, while Sirius has everything included in one price.

Generally in terms of price Sirius has cheaper equipment, but you can find good deals on each. I would recommend the Audiovox PNP3 which is going for only $89 right now or the Sportser which is similar.

[MAS117]

I have been looking at both recently. I think Sirius looks good, better then XM.

[True Democrat]

Sirius is amazing.  The music channels are awesome.  Especially the sixties music and classic vinyl.  AirAmerica is also really fun to listen to. 

[Rococo4]

thanks all for your opinions.... I am going to a local car audio place tommorow.  I will report back.  I am pretty excited to get the satellite radio, even though it just becomes one more thing I have to pay for every month.

[Erc]

I've never tried XM, but had Sirius in a rental car once...I found that reception, even in well populated areas, was absolutely horrid.

[danwxman]

I've never tried XM, but had Sirius in a rental car once...I found that reception, even in well populated areas, was absolutely horrid.

Might have been a problem with the antenna. Well populated areas are flooded with terrestrial repeaters, so there should be no signal issues at all.

[badnarikin04]

I've seen recievers for both XM and Sirius, and the XM recievers are much, much better designed than the clunky Sirius recievers.

I have the Roady. Great entry-level reciever.

XM is also coming out with a portable reciever, which should be awesome.

[Rococo4]

I deciced to go ahead and buy the XM SkyFi2 yestrerday.  I get it installed tomorrow.  I will let you all know how it is.  XM recievers are defiently better looking than Sirius ones.

I almost ordered that XM portable thing (the one that is 349.99) but it was too expensive and I would probably lose it. It is so small

[danwxman]

I've seen recievers for both XM and Sirius, and the XM recievers are much, much better designed than the clunky Sirius recievers.

I have the Roady. Great entry-level reciever.

XM is also coming out with a portable reciever, which should be awesome.

This:  which fits into the palm of your hand, is clunky?

[Rococo4]

the display on that seemed too small when driving I thought

[Rococo4]

I got the XM- i almost wrecked lke 8 times while playing with it.  It is awesome

[MAS117]

If you get any one of them installed in your car, can u take it out a year later and use it as a regular radio.

[King]

If you get any one of them installed in your car, can u take it out a year later and use it as a regular radio.

You could, but I would instead recommend that you just get a Plug and Play XM SkyFi2 or Sirius Sportster that you can switch between car and radio with...

This:  which fits into the palm of your hand, is clunky?

No, but the XM2Go has a better design:

[danwxman]

If you get any one of them installed in your car, can u take it out a year later and use it as a regular radio.

You would need to get a portable "PNP" unit. It can be used in a car kit, home kit or boombox.

[King]

Somebody could "get rich quick" if they make an XM or Sirius receiver for the Apple iPod. There are already FM/AM receivers for the iPod.

[danwxman]

If you get any one of them installed in your car, can u take it out a year later and use it as a regular radio.

You could, but I would instead recommend that you just get a Plug and Play XM SkyFi2 or Sirius Sportster that you can switch between car and radio with...

This:  which fits into the palm of your hand, is clunky?

No, but the XM2Go has a better design:

Well, the Xact is not technically a portable unit...although it can be used as one.

[danwxman]

The XM MyFi is neat but the technology needs to be fine-tuned and the price needs to go down before I purchase a portable unit like that. The antenna goes onto your back and I've heard it looks rather odd....and if you hold it the wrong way the signal goes dead. Sirius is supposed to come out with a portable unit this summer, hopefully it will have all the kinks worked out and actually be a better unit then the MyFi.

[badnarikin04]

I've seen recievers for both XM and Sirius, and the XM recievers are much, much better designed than the clunky Sirius recievers.

I have the Roady. Great entry-level reciever.

XM is also coming out with a portable reciever, which should be awesome.

This:  which fits into the palm of your hand, is clunky?

The shape of it is oblong and the buttons are ugly.

[MAS117]

I have been looking at both recently. I think Sirius looks good, better then XM.

I first posted this in December and decided to bump this because I get my license a month from tommorrow and I will be purchasing a satillete radio. I am seriously consdering getting Sirius over XM. I was saddened to see that Air America Radio went to XM. However, Sirius I think is better due to better programing. I am currently looking at this....



That can go in the car. I'm also looking into getting this so I can bring it into the house, and so I can bring it to college...

[MHS2002]

What type of programming do you want to listen to? I have an XM (I've enjoyed it so far).

[MAS117]

What type of programming do you want to listen to? I have an XM (I've enjoyed it so far).

Well the only thing that I like that XM has is Air America Radio and the MLB. Besides that, Sirius has NFL, NBA, Howard Stern (next year), and now that XM is the same price as Sirius I feel that Sirius has the advantage. To tell the truth I've never actually heard a Sirius radio, I've only heard a XM one in a friends car.

[MHS2002]

What type of programming do you want to listen to? I have an XM (I've enjoyed it so far).

Well the only thing that I like that XM has is Air America Radio and the MLB. Besides that, Sirius has NFL, NBA, Howard Stern (next year), and now that XM is the same price as Sirius I feel that Sirius has the advantage. To tell the truth I've never actually heard a Sirius radio, I've only heard a XM one in a friends car.

I've heard XM gets better reception as a whole. I know XM also includes internet radio in its subscription, I believe. But Sirius definitely has more big-time programming, especially the NFL.

[MAS117]

What type of programming do you want to listen to? I have an XM (I've enjoyed it so far).

Well the only thing that I like that XM has is Air America Radio and the MLB. Besides that, Sirius has NFL, NBA, Howard Stern (next year), and now that XM is the same price as Sirius I feel that Sirius has the advantage. To tell the truth I've never actually heard a Sirius radio, I've only heard a XM one in a friends car.

I've heard XM gets better reception as a whole. I know XM also includes internet radio in its subscription, I believe. But Sirius definitely has more big-time programming, especially the NFL.

I'm going to go to Best Buy and talk to some people there, before I buy anything.