XM or Sirius?

[Minimus]

Any opinions? Pros/Cons of either?

Thanks!

[L A Woman]

1. oooh i am very interested in this thread...

I was just thinking today about which one to get.

[bridgit]

2. XM = AAR, more music streams, plus you don't have to help pay...

Howard Stern $1,000 every 7 seconds, and that works for me just fine :thumbsup:

[Ikonoklast]

3. I got Sirius two years ago

I like it a lot, and have had no problems with the service. The music selection is great, I listen to many different styles of music, and there is a channel for each of them. Sometimes I just wander through and stop to listen when I hear something exotic, some world music that would never get air-play from commercial radio.

C-SPAN and NPR get a lot of time from me, sometimes I can listen to either one for days without changing channels.

I have heard anecdotally that their customer service is terrible, usually having something to do with a hardware issue, but I have never had to deal with them, thankfully.

My overall experience has been a positive one.

[Downtown Hound]

4. I've got XM and love it.

[YankeyMCC]

5. I have Sirius

and like it very much.

Howard Stern and NPR :) Can't beat that.

Also, BBC, Maxim, Raw Dog (uncesored comedy clips mostly) and much more.

Also, you can listen online.

I will say their customer service leaves a lot to be desired but it isn't bad enough for me to get rid of the service.

[KitchenWitch]

6. I also have XM and love it

XM carries Major League Baseball (it is nice to get the Twins games here in SoCal).

They also carry Big 10 sports, ACC sports and Pac 10 Sports.

[Maestro]

7. I love my Sirius.

I stay away from the talk now that AAR left, but I love the music. My favorites are Hard Attack, Octane, New Wave, Area 33 amd Boombox.

[lildreamer316]

10. Area 33!!!

Hello!!
Luuuuuuuuuuuve it.

[Maestro]

20. Yeah sometimes I like to sent back and

chill to the cool beats while fighting through rush hour. It's really nice now that Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyk have their own shows now on Area 33.

[dad]

15. holy

crap. Maestro likes the same music stations I like.
I've basically had Sirius since the service came out. Things have changed a lot since then. Now as far as I can tell it is basically a toss-up.
For Howard Stern fans, obviously you have to tilt towards Sirius. They replay his show 24/7 on channel 100.
I listen to what Maestro likes and also enjoy the old-school rap station. Hard Attack is the music channel I listen to the most. I do not think XM has a counterpart to that, which would be a deal-breaker to me. At least they do not on the XM channels that come with my DirecTV.
But more than music I tend to listen to the talk stations Sirius Left and the NFL channel. Sirius Left seems to be getting worse as time goes along. We really miss the Young Turks! But Lynn Samuels is a treasure - not ever predictable in her opinions. Also Alex Bennett in the morning is growing on me for some reason. Most of the rest of Sirius Left I don't enjoy too much. Stephanie Miller is too upbeat (haha), just not my thing. Ed Schultz seems to always be on, but he sounds voice-wise like Rush and generally I get the opinion that he's full of shit for some reason. Tom Hartmann is on sometimes and he is worth a listen. Can't think of any other left channel hosts. Oh yeah, the right-wing channel is called SIRIUS PATRIOT, which pisses me off.
The Sirius customer service is not that great. When you call them invariably you will be talking to someone from India or who-the-fuck knows where. But you can always get the issue resolved. On occasion you have to call back the next day and try another rep, coz some of them are just ridiculously bad. Call during the day if you want a better shot at reaching an American.
The Sirius comedy channels are very weak. I'll bet XM has them beat on that. The uncensored comedy channel is constantly playing "Jim Brewer", don't know who the fuck he is, or why he is famous, but goddam he sucks. The uncensored channel was actually okay before he came along. NOW it is so bad I even took it off my presets.
This is without a doubt the longest post I've ever written on DU. I better stop now; PM me if you want more information. As I have said, I've been on satellite radio pretty much since it was invented.
Regards,
"dad"

[Maestro]

19. Great minds think alike.

Hard Attack is where I spend most of my time as well. It's great for working out frustrations. BTW, Jim Brewer became "famous" on Saturday Night Live and now has the show on Sirius.

[Rosco T.]

8. XM (FREE RADIOS)

- deeper music library

- two uncensored comedy channels (the Canadian one is execellent)

- Bob Edwards from NPR

- NPR programs (neither has "Morning Edition" or "All Things Considered", but Garrison Keeler's contract is up with NPR next year and he wants to be on XM)

- Air America (and others things approaching {wink}).

- "Broadminded" on XM Take 5

- Opie & Anthony, Ron & Fez, Lazlow

- MLB, NHL, ACC, PAC-10

- better hardware

- more stable signal (XM uses Geostationary birds, Sirius does a 'Chinese fire drill' on theirs causing 'dead times' while you are out of sight of a bird.



- better deals on hardware available, how about some FREE RADIOS


http://partners.xmradio.com (XM Friends & Family.. and you are all my friends...)

STARBUXM5 = Free Delphi RoadyXT or Free Audiovox Xpress with SureConnect
- Or SkyFi2 w/Car Kit + Boombox for $59

XMBBXM03 = Free AGT Sportscaster with SureConnect

you have to pre-pay at least 6 months contract

[lildreamer316]

9. Sirius..

but we are huge techno freaks, and I got the radio for free, so that's really why I like them.
I think either is really good.

[Maat]

11. I had Sirius, and then switched to XM when Air America left.

I really prefer XM, with the exception of missing Buzzsaw on Sirius. I listen Big Tracks and Top Tracks, but XM just hasn't developed the classic rock station that I would want; however, I really enjoy their other music stations.

I must have crystal clear Air America and Radio Disney (for Her Royal Highness, my daughter), and the XM equipment I have provides this. I haven't experienced any gaps in service.

[kanrok]

12. I don't have an opinion about XM since I have Sirius

But I love Sirius. Sirius has NFL football. I love to listen to the home team broadcasts. "Sirius Disorder" is a great music station. Like the Blues and the Jazz stations as well. Also "Jam On" and "The Vault." In actuality, though, it may not really matter which one you choose, as I believe that there will ultimately be a merger between the two.

[Maat]

26. I understand ... take care!

Vive la difference!

;)

[KitchenWitch]

13. My son and I listen to both Top Tracks and Big Tracks as well

He is, however, sick of Top Tracks playing The Rolling Stones' "Midnight Rambler". :rofl:

[Maat]

25. Me, too!

This is EASY. We come up with a playlist, and then send it to them.

Sorry I took too long to respond.

I'm a 48-year-old married ma, but I like my classic rock-and-roll!

Any suggestions?

I'd like 'War,' 'Highway to Hell,' 'Sunshine of My Love,' 'TNT (by AC/DC),' and/or 'If I Could Change the World (Stuff like that).'

[KitchenWitch]

27. I am into all of those songs!

:hi:

[Maat]

28. Take care, KW!

:hi:

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

14. I went with XM.....

I love the music stations, the talk (Air America), the special events....but above all, for a baseball nut like me, XM has EVERY major league game; Sirius has no live baseball at all. I'm a transplanted NYer, so being able to listen to the Mets in my car is a plus.

No matter which service you get, get a unit that allows you to listen in your car and your house.

[KitchenWitch]

16. Yes it is very cool to listen to the MN Twins in SoCal

I have a unit that hooks up to my home or car stereo...it RAWKS

[retread]

17. I have had both. It comes down to taste in music. I much prefer XM for the following:

1. '50's channel is better.(features like an hour of Harlem from the early and mid '50's)
2. Has a folk music channel(Sirius eliminated their's)
3. Old country channel plays wider selection.
4. Air America
5. The Power(African-American talk channel)
5. Bob Dylan Radio hour
6. Tom Petty's Buried Treasure
7. Frank's place

Other channels I listen to(60's, blues. bluegrass, classic jazz, etc.) are roughly equal between each company.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. They'll probably end up merging pretty soon...

So you won't have to make the decision....
That said, I have Sirius, and I love it. There's a station called Radio Classics that I listen to a lot. I love the old Serials, the suspense, the old comedy shows. It's fun. And I listen to this station called Faction, which is harder rock, a little old school rap, and punk. They play a lot of really old punk. It's awesome.
And I also like the comedy channels, but they play a lot of stuff over and over again. The music channels are great, and like I said, the Radio Classics Channel is awesome.
Their customer Service needs some guidance. I need to go to NYC and revolutionize the place, but until then, it's not so bad I can't deal.
Duckie

[lildreamer316]

22. Man, that would be cool.

I hope it wouldn't lead to any lack of originality, 'cause I would love to be able to get both on the same receiever.

[LibraLiz1973]

21. I've had Sirius for a year and I

I get great reception and I love having so many options and no commercials!

[Mrs. Venation]

23. XM

Because they carry all the MLB games!

[DrDan]

24. SIRIUS

If you want better college sports coverage - then SIRIUS is the choice. You typically get home and away coverage.

I think the music choices are pretty much equal.

Howard Stern - yeah they are paying him a lot. But my monthly fees have not changed in the many years I have subscribed to SIRIUS. I do not listen to Howard.

XM did have NASCAR - but that coverage starts first of the year at SIRIUS - if you care about NASCAR - I do not.

You also get a couple of NPR stations.

[gr8dane_daddy]

29. I'm torn between the two...

my brother has XM, I have Sirius.

I got Sirius as a graduation gift and instantly fell in love with Air America. But since losing AAR, I am reconsidering. Sirius Left kinda blows...plus Sirius has two reich leaning stations to their one liberal one. However Sirius does have NCAA and NFL games, something I really enjoy. Not much of a baseball fan.

So if you like AAR, get XM. If you like college or pro football, get Sirius. I'm stuck in the middle.