XM v. Sirius

I like Sirius better for Howard Stern and NFL



Satellite Radio Face-off: Sirius vs. XM


How Much?

Sirius $13 per month
$142.45 for an annual subscription with one month free
$15 activation fee ($10 if you activate online)

XM $13 per month
$142.45 for an annual subscription with one month free
$15 activation fee ($10 if you activate online for a year or more)

What You Get

Sirius 125 channels with 68 commercial-free channels of music
Tons of sports (including the NFL and NBA) and, for a really wide range, both Eminem and Jimmy Buffett have created their own channels

XM 162 channels with 69 commercial-free channels of music
Listen to talk shows by Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, or song selections from celebrity DJs like Tom Petty and Snoop Dogg

They Say

Sirius “Music is subjective, but we’re probably a little edgier than XM is,” says Sirius spokesman Jim Collins. “We’re the leader in sports and original talk shows that you can’t find anywhere else.”

XM “XM has twice as many subscribers as Sirius, more channels, and a broader variety of choices,” says XM spokesman David Butler. “Plus, XM has more cutting-edge radio.”

We Say

Sirius If you and your husband are sports junkies, Sirius is for you. If you’re into talk radio, you’ll love the two channels of NPR, as well as Martha Stewart. And, for better or worse, Sirius has Howard Stern.

XM It’s strength is in its tunes. With channels dedicated to every decade since the ’40s and multiple channels playing nonstop rock, jazz, hip-hop, country, and everything in between, XM is a music-lover’s dream.


from The Nest
by The Nest Editors
4/28/08
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It like Ford and Chevy. (Toyota and Honda?)
I have both. Id have to say its a toss up. I listen to XM during the baseball season.
During the football season its Sirius.

As to music if I had to choose it would be Sirius because it has more Classic Rock channels. They both have a wide selection of stations. XM does have a "New Age" channel.

As to the cost they are both the same per month. XM is fixed Sirius. does give cheaper rates for extended subscritpions. Also Sirius does allow you to buy a lifetime subscription for $399 (I think).

Remember that they will merge sometime in the near or mid future. What will happen then is anyones guess.

The satellites are different. XM has two fixed geostationary satellites. They are in the same spot in the sky. Sirius has three eliptical satellites. Two of them are above the horizion at any one time.

I have drop outs with both systems. XM has two on my 60 mile drive from NH to Boston. I know where they are and it never changes. On the otherhand I do get annoying drop outs with Sirius whcich can show up at anytime. The satellites are never in the same place. Remember its hilly where I am. You might want to check out local listeners on XM and Sirius forums.

No matter what you chose you will love it.

 

XM subscriber of several years here, so I can't give a head-to-head comparison. I've been pleased, however, especially with music choices. Wish I had NFL and NASCAR, but I have several college conferences, MLB, and NHL.

 

After weighing the two, I just signed up for Sirius. The deciding factors: Sirius has an offer on the Stratus 4 radio for $25; and they have some soccer coverage.

 

You can also buy a lifetime subscription.

 

Activation fees are such a scam and the consumer should be outraged! You already have to pay for the unit and pay a monthly fee for crap's sake.

 

And what happens when they merge?

 

I just ordered Sirius (should be arriving tonight) because of the ability to integrate a portable receiver with the MFD and steering wheel controls. I'll gain NPR but miss baseball.

 

They will be one company soon...merger approved. Rates are locked for 3 years as a part of the merger. May happen some time this year. Getting both company's units to accept the master satelite signal may be a bitch.

I would anticipate that the similar programs (channels) will merge into one as well.

I have XM.....

Oh yeah, neither are truely commercial free.....bummer

 

I've read that after Sirius & XM merge that ala-carte subscriptions will be offered. My Prius will already have XM installed.

 

there will obviously be some sort of adapter you will have to install in the antenna line to get both services with the same tuner after the merger finalizes. The FCC by the way is expected to officially approve it by the end of this month (June)

 

It would be cheaper for the merged XM/Sirius to just broadcast the same channel lineup on both services.

 

I've had both services. I currently have Sirius mostly because the sports lineup is better. If I were to choose either of them for music only I think that XM easily wins.

 

If you're a AAA member, you can get free activation.

 

We prefer XM because they broadcast Baseball and Hockey.

 

Sirius doesn't have major league baseball nor hockey.

 

I have Sirius, a lifetime subscription and I installed the unit myself (previously in my 2005, now in my 2007). Since XM & Sirius are about to merge, the "Which is better?" question is moot. I enjoy the full range of offerings, and keep 18 stations preset on the MFD. The weather & traffic selection is a bit strange (Seattle/San Francisco). I'm sold on Sirius. I also have a Sirius home unit that connects to my sound system.

 

I think this overview is really accurate although I think it is a misnomer about edginess of the broadcasting between XM and Sirius. While Sirius has Howard Stern, XM has an equally disturbing Opie and Anthony and a few other shock jocks, ironically, on a station called the Virus. I like how XM often discuss applying parental controls to consumers on the Virus station during intermissions.
I am a predictable customer so I don't veer too far aa from rock stations and sport broadcasts but I am sure Oprah on XM is far edgier than Martha Stewart on Sirius. Most of these high profile broadcasters are billionaires so I don't think any perspective purchasers should choose one over the other because one has Tom Petty and the other has Jimmy Buffet. You will find what you want on either XM or Sirius.
I have to admit while I like my sport and rock stations on Chicago
radio stations I plan to get a XM receiver at home so I can be connected to away from my car. I looked at XM receiver in Best Buy. The same XM receiver unit can be removed and used as a walkman-like device. The monthly charge for the additional unit is about $7.00 / monthly. The XM receiver I saw was about $250.00. The salesman told me Sirius receivers were inferior. I would check that out thoroughly before purchasing either.
I agree wholeheartedly that no one purching either subscription service should pay set up fees. Their bread and butter is found in monthly maintenance fees, anything else should be considered unacceptable. I purchased an XM receiver with my Prius and received 3 free months subscription and no set up fees. They do have long term contracts for subscribers but I did not check rates for each service.
Both XM and Sirius have broadcasting over the web so you can have a trial period listening to each service. Check out them one at a time because these trial periods are time limited.
Finally, the FCC is taking their sweet time about approving a 'merge'. Neither service wants to merge in the sense they will lose their ownership or identity. Actually both subscriptions services support a merge. It only means that, if FCC approves a merger of the two subscribing services so they will be 'sharing customers' for a fee to the customer while staying with their original subscriber. So...as an XM customer, if I want to purchase Martha Stewart program, I would buy it from XM (even though its a Sirius program). The price would be included in my monthly fees. I am sure the two subscribing Titans will work out bundles of programming from each other at a retail price to the consumer while doing it at a discounted rate for them....Sweet or what? Obviously, the FCC is taking a close look at how this merger could place a stranglehold on consumers in general, subcription or commercial radio.
BTW, the most annoying part of this service is listening to commercials on subscription radio..."it just isn't right'!

Unless XM puts a satelite in my garage I will always have transmission problems there. Terry