XM fidelity poor compared to FM

[lazydawg]

Have basic radio in 2012 3.8. Though my hearing is poor, it seems the fidelity (overall sound quality) of XM is not nearly as good as FM and not even close to CD, IPOD or USB,
Anyone else noticed the same, or might their be an issue with the head unit?

 

[waveman]

XM is the worst of the sound sources in my car, too. I mostly use it to listen to news and comedy, though.

 

[Seattle Genesis]

yep. XM is pretty bad in the Genesis.

 

[waveman]

yep. XM is pretty bad in the Genesis.

Is it better in other cars, or is it a matter of XM using limited bandwidth?

 

[OBCT]

Is it better in other cars, or is it a matter of XM using limited bandwidth?

Bingo.

The fact that the other sources sound so good makes the XM's poor bitrate stand out worse than in most cars, comparatively.

 

[hwks1]

I have a new 2012 4.6 XM sounds fine.. not much difference if any from FM. I noticed on my new 4.6 there are separate 'audio' settings for XM and FM.

For instance I didn't have 'surround' enabled on both sources and I did hear a difference then I discovered the audio preference settings were different for each source.

 

[OBCT]

I have a new 2012 4.6 XM sounds fine.. not much difference if any from FM. I noticed on my new 4.6 there are separate 'audio' settings for XM and FM.

For instance I didn't have 'surround' enabled on both sources and I did hear a difference then I discovered the audio preference settings were different for each source.

#1. You might not have FM - HD turned on (or be in an area that broadcasts your favorite stations as HD). If not, know that it makes a noticeable difference, especially with music.

#2. Yeah, those separate audio settings are extremely handy. They've been standard since the first Geneses equipped with the Tech. Package.

 

[Rambler16]

the high def FM always seems clearer and crisper than the XM in most cars i have been in.

 

[Ernie3647]

Can’t figure out where to post this question….this looks as good a place as any.
Up until 2011 the Tech option didn’t support “HD” radio. Has that changed for the 2012 model year? Was disappointed to find out it wasn’t included with the Tech package for 2011 but I wasn’t about to give up the Tech package features just for that.

 

[cle0950]

I have the same problem with XM in my 2012 base. It sounds mono vs stereo. Anyone know if you can change a setting or something?

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[OBCT]

Can’t figure out where to post this question….this looks as good a place as any.
Up until 2011 the Tech option didn’t support “HD” radio. Has that changed for the 2012 model year? Was disappointed to find out it wasn’t included with the Tech package for 2011 but I wasn’t about to give up the Tech package features just for that.

I know with 100% certainty that HD Radio was included in the 2009 Genesis w/ Tech. I've utilized it often.

As for the 2011 and 2012 model years ... sorry, can't help you there.

 

[OBCT]

I have the same problem with XM in my 2012 base. It sounds mono vs stereo. Anyone know if you can change a setting or something?

You could try tinkering with the equalization presets and/+or the surround sound toggle, but unfortunately, no, there's not much else you can do. It's honestly just a deficiency with XM. (Although some XM stations seem to subjectively sound better than others, and I'm not sure why.)

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

I know with 100% certainty that HD Radio was included in the 2009 Genesis w/ Tech. I've utilized it often.

As for the 2011 and 2012 model years ... sorry, can't help you there.

Yep.

 

[Ernie3647]

I know with 100% certainty that HD Radio was included in the 2009 Genesis w/ Tech. I've utilized it often.

As for the 2011 and 2012 model years ... sorry, can't help you there.

You're right OBCT it's there just had to dig a little further and enable it.
Thanks

 

[JOwest]

Can’t figure out where to post this question….this looks as good a place as any.
Up until 2011 the Tech option didn’t support “HD” radio. Has that changed for the 2012 model year? Was disappointed to find out it wasn’t included with the Tech package for 2011 but I wasn’t about to give up the Tech package features just for that.

FYI, none of the Canadian Genesis model include the HD radio feature

 

[balazsbb]

This is just the way XM is regardless of car. XM and Sirius stream at a very low bit rate. What makes it even worse is that some of their stations stream higher than others, so if you like a station that happens to be one of those that streams at a lower rate you are not going to be a happy camper. So that is the reason for the digital distortion and noise. XM and Sirius could of course fix this problem by cutting their stattion number in half thus doubling their bandwidth they can allocate per stattion but I doubt they will do that.

With that said the XM in the Genesis (2011 4.6 tech) sounds better than in any other car I have been in especially channel 11 which I think is Kiis.

 

[OBCT]

This is just the way XM is regardless of car. XM and Sirius stream at a very low bit rate. What makes it even worse is that some of their stations stream higher than others, so if you like a station that happens to be one of those that streams at a lower rate you are not going to be a happy camper. So that is the reason for the digital distortion and noise. XM and Sirius could of course fix this problem by cutting their stattion number in half thus doubling their bandwidth they can allocate per stattion but I doubt they will do that.

With that said the XM in the Genesis (2011 4.6 tech) sounds better than in any other car I have been in especially channel 11 which I think is Kiis.

Thanks for this info, balazsbb. I've often wondered if that was the case, but it's nice to know for sure. Seems like a strange policy, though.

It's also interesting (positively) to hear that XM sounds better in your 2011 than you've ever heard it before. I wonder if the folks at Hyundai heard the complaints about XM and programmed in some digital improvements specific to the XM source for the 2011 model year...

 

[balazsbb]

Thanks for this info, balazsbb. I've often wondered if that was the case, but it's nice to know for sure. Seems like a strange policy, though.

It's also interesting (positively) to hear that XM sounds better in your 2011 than you've ever heard it before. I wonder if the folks at Hyundai heard the complaints about XM and programmed in some digital improvements specific to the XM source for the 2011 model year...

Another thing to keep in mind is that since the sound system in the Genesis is high end it will project more detail (good and bad) so if you are listening to one of those xm stations with the low bit rate the quality will likely sound even worse than for instance the same station of a worse audio system. So yes the XM in the genesis is one of the best I have heard but that is on select stations.