Cheaper XM radio

[darthspader]

My trial period is about to end so i googled to find a deal on XM. I found a site the said if you call them and tell them that you where offered 6mo for price of 3mo or 12 for price of 6 they will honor it. I called an got 6mo for 30 bucks after taxes and fees. Just wanted to share with the group.

 

[craigt]

Thanks. But I find the sound quality of XM to be atrocious. Perhaps it's useful for the map traffic information, but even that isn't very accurate (at least in the Boston area).

 

[darthspader]

I only like it for out of market games truly

 

[craigt]

Ah. For that I'm sure it's very good.

 

[Mark_888]

Thanks. But I find the sound quality of XM to be atrocious. Perhaps it's useful for the map traffic information, but even that isn't very accurate (at least in the Boston area).

XM radio has the worst sound quality I have ever heard. Not sure if it is the Genesis receiver that is not very good, or if it is excessive compression used by XM.

Even though I never got a paid subscription after the initial free trail when I bought my Genesis, XM gives every car that has ever had the service additional short free trial periods several times a year. During the free trials, it causes my iPod to loose its place from where it left off previously every time I started the car. Very bad for me since I tend to listen to a lot audio books in my car. I finally called XM and had my VIN permanently removed from their system so I would not get any more of their free trials.

 

[craigt]

It's XM. I had the initial trial in my '11 TL (great audio system as well) and it sounded terrible. Same in the Genesis. Same my in wife's Lexus RX.

As for the periodic free trials, I've never experienced anything like that. But I also don't use fruity products. I have a USB stick with all my stuff.

 

[Mark_888]

As for the periodic free trials, I've never experienced anything like that. But I also don't use fruity products. I have a USB stick with all my stuff.

One nice thing about the Apple AAC format used on iPod is that it picks up exactly where it left off when previously shut off. MP3 does not do that. That is big deal if listening to audio books in the car. Plus, my iPod was a gift.

 

[craigt]

Both the '11 TL and '13 Genesis do that (resume where left off). Heck, in the Genesis, I can remove the USB stick, add songs, plug it back in, and some how, it still picks up where it left off.

Can't complain with a gift. Though if I received one, I'd post it on Craigslist.

 

[Mark_888]

Both the '11 TL and '13 Genesis do that (resume where left off). Heck, in the Genesis, I can remove the USB stick, add songs, plug it back in, and some how, it still picks up where it left off.

Can't complain with a gift. Though if I received one, I'd post it on Craigslist.

Are you sure MP3 picks up exactly where it left off in the middle of a MP3 track, or does go back to the beginning of the track? For audio books, that is a problem since the tracks can be 30 min long.

My Classic 80 GB iPod that I got as a gift about 7 years ago holds my entire music collection of several hundred albums, and also a fair number of audio books. Sits in the compartment under the armrest.

 

[craigt]

Yes, it picks up in the middle of a song. If you have a spare USB, try it out.

But what it doesn't do is remember the "repeat folder" setting. Very annoying.

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[Mark_888]

Yes, it picks up in the middle of a song. If you have a spare USB, try it out.

Maybe that is an enhancement to the MP3 format since I last tried it (or maybe an enhancement my older Genesis does not have). But I also I wonder if you are talking about situations where a song is recorded on multiple tracks, so it can restart in the middle of a song, but not in middle of a track?

The other thing I like about the iPod is the hierarchical menu system, so I can see lists of songs by album name, music type, artist, etc depending on what categories I set up in iTunes. The iPod menu system is built into the Genesis audio system when using iPod.

 

[ED 718]

Once your six months ends they will try to get you at the normal price but whatever you do keep stressing you do not want to continue. Eventually they will offer the same for another six months. I do this all the time with them and never pay the full price. HOWEVER the key is NOT to pay via credit card I pay with a money order. If they do have your card on file they may charge the renewal automatically. I've read countless threads on this and NEVER give them scumbags my credit card numbers.

 

[craigt]

Maybe that is an enhancement to the MP3 format since I last tried it (or maybe an enhancement my older Genesis does not have). But I also I wonder if you are talking about situations where a song is recorded on multiple tracks, so it can restart in the middle of a song, but not in middle of a track?

The other thing I like about the iPod is the hierarchical menu system, so I can see lists of songs by album name, music type, artist, etc depending on what categories I set up in iTunes. The iPod menu system is built into the Genesis audio system when using iPod.

I don't recall which year/model you have, but the '13 Genesis with Tech does all this. I listen to a 15 minute song every day while going to/from work. I turned the car on yesterday afternoon when leaving, and it picked up right where it left off (4:17 into the song). This isn't a feature of MP3. It's a feature of the device playing it. I believe it's the same with your ipod. I don't think it's AAC keeping track of the song, but the ipod is.

Also, MP3s can be tagged with all that information you mention, and the Genesis has ways to sort and play any of them. I use mp3tag if something needs editing.

It also has hierarchical folders (somethings my TL didn't have), so from the main level, I can go into Rock, then Classic, then pick the Band.

The interface is much better than the TL, and far more responsive.

I'm not trying to change your ways. Just explaining that the Genesis (at least with Tech) can do this.

 

[Mark_888]

I don't recall which year/model you have, but the '13 Genesis with Tech does all this. I listen to a 15 minute song every day while going to/from work. I turned the car on yesterday afternoon when leaving, and it picked up right where it left off (4:17 into the song). This isn't a feature of MP3. It's a feature of the device playing it. I believe it's the same with your ipod. I don't think it's AAC keeping track of the song, but the ipod is.

Also, MP3s can be tagged with all that information you mention, and the Genesis has ways to sort and play any of them. I use mp3tag if something needs editing.

It also has hierarchical folders (somethings my TL didn't have), so from the main level, I can go into Rock, then Classic, then pick the Band.

The interface is much better than the TL, and far more responsive.

I'm not trying to change your ways. Just explaining that the Genesis (at least with Tech) can do this.

iPod can store and play MP3 or AAC, but on my iPod Classic only AAC remembers where is a track it left off. Not in a song (which could have multiple tracks) but within a track.

Before I got my iPod as a gift, I thought it was a fad. But after using it with iTune software I realized there is a reason why Apple products are popular (beyond the cult thing) and it has to do with the intuitive and convenient interface. Yes, MP3 files can be tagged, but not as flexibly (IMO) as with iTune on an iPod (or iPhone).

 

[craigt]

...and it has to do with the intuitive and convenient interface.

Funny, I feel the opposite. iTunes, at least on a PC, is the biggest piece of dung I have ever used. Resource hog/very slow, unable to make it do what I wanted to do, no idea where music was stored, etc. Perhaps I was trying to out think it and understand what it was trying to do, being a software engineer and all.

(My son received an ipod touch as a gift a few years ago. He's since upgraded to an Android device).

 

[geops]

The previous poster was right - the music format has nothing to do with remembering where the device stopped playback. It is just a feature of the device/software playing it. AAC is apple's format and is by far the least used audio format in the world. WMA (windows media audio) follows closely. MP3 is the most popular although the compression of ogg vorbis is a little better. My favorite format is FLAC for lossless music but very few hardware devices have the capability to play it (I haven't seen a car audio system that can).

 

[darthspader]

My favorite format is FLAC for lossless music but very few hardware devices have the capability to play it (I haven't seen a car audio system that can).

FLAC files are nothing if the original source was MP3 or another form of lossy format. I use neutron media player for android. Then i find true lossless files then upmix them to .WAV dts 5.1. Neutron player is the only player i found that can play most audiophile formats.

 

[geops]

FLAC files are nothing if the original source was MP3 or another form of lossy format. I use neutron media player for android. Then i find true lossless files then upmix them to .WAV dts 5.1. Neutron player is the only player i found that can play most audiophile formats.

1. Who would make flacs from mp3 - it makes no sense. Flacs are made directly form the CDs and are much smaller than wavs while giving you the same audio quality.
2. Why do you upmix stereo to 5.1? If you listen to music on a 5.1/7.1 system then the AV receiver will do the upmix itself. You're just bloating the already huge wav files. All players at my home can do FLAC - only the iphone/ipad built-in players and my car can not.

 

[darthspader]

People make flac from mp3 all the time. They download from market places like itunes or google then convert. As for upmixing trust me when i tell u that it sounds much better. You have to turn the surround feture off on the car to get the true effect. Belive me you can tell the diffrence between true 5.1 and upscaled 7.1.

 

[darthspader]

As far as bloating files. I have a 64gb stick so im not to worried about that. If anybody is intrested in great sounding music files check this out.
www.hdtracks.com