XM improvements...?

steveinaz

Anyone notice a change in XM's sound lately? I had'nt listened to XM on the big system for a number of months, turned it on yesterday, and it sounded better than I remember it sounding.

Intrigued, I then did some surfing and found a couple of forum posts at different places mentioning that XM had indeed did some software upgrades/changes (something technical--I don't know) to improve the sound of the music channels.

Anyone else notice an improvement or know more detials on this?

EDITED: Found some info, see below...

steveinaz

I can hear good! I can hear good! SEE BELOW....

From The site admin of "XMFAN.com":

As of August 5th, XM Satellite Radio will be upgrading their sound quality using an upgraded audio processor. This comes directly as a result of our partnership with Neural Audio.

The attached bulletin has two parts:
1) an overall statement regarding the Sound Quality upgrades and
2) basic Q&A.



XM STATEMENT REGARDING SOUND QUALITY
UPGRADE FOR XM MUSIC CHANNELS
• XM will implement a sound upgrade on August 5th.
• In partnership with Neural Audio, XM has implemented a new upgraded audio processor for its music channels, resulting in a fuller and richer sound across the more than 70 XM music channels.
• This upgrade has been in development for over a year.
• Listeners may need to make adjustments to their audio settings (Bass and Treble) for their individual radios to fully experience these sound enhancements.

SOUND QUALITY UPGRADE: Q & A
Why does my XM radio sound different?
XM and partner Neural Audio implemented a new upgraded audio processor for its music channels, resulting in improved sound quality. You may have to adjust your audio settings (Bass and Treble) on your XM radio to meet your own preferences. Once you do so, you should experience improved sound.

Why did XM implement this change?
We’re always striving to enhance quality of our sound. Over the year, XM has been working closely with the sound experts at Neural Audio to implement this sound upgrade. Our extensive testing indicates this upgraded package will deliver an enhanced audio experience.

How is this better or different?
This upgrade should make your XM music channels sound even better by delivering a fuller, richer music experience.

Does XM have plans to upgrade the sound of its news, sports or talk channels?
XM is always striving to enhance our sound quality and we will continue to upgrade our sound in the future. The timing of those upgrades is to be determined at a later date.

Is this just more of XM compressing music channels to gain bandwidth?
These enhancements are purely fidelity improvements, no bandwidth efficiencies were derived as a result of these improvements.

Cool.

PolkThug

Hopefully it really is more of the original music data and not just EQ tweaks. I'll give it another shot.

steveinaz

I'm just surprised that I actually noticed it last night, before knowing of the upgrade. That tells me they did something. I'll have to give a good listen tonight.

Reading thru some forum posts on XM forums, some people state that they are hearing an over-abundance of sibilance--probably due to something lacking in their system, as I haven't noticed any on my system. I also don't know what particular radio they are using---as they didn't mention.

reeltrouble1

The XM was a hit at the Fest, it was on pretty much the whole fest in the garage rig, everyone seemed to enjoy the tunes coming from the rig.

RT1