XM Volume low

Did a search didn't find anything.

Has anyone else noticed their XM volume comes in a lot lower than regular FM or Aux/USB?
For USB I can have it at like 25-30 and its fine but I swear for equal volume I need to be at like 40-45 for XM.

Is this typical of satellite radio or can it be adjusted?

 

It is typical for satellite radio. I don't know if the stock HU can do source level adjustment like most aftermarket HU can. You can raise the input's loudness/volume relative to FM radio on a lot of aftermarket HUs.

 

The stock head unit can do source level adjustments. I have different equalizer settings for FM radio and XM radio. When your on the audio screen, go to any XM station, press the "Sound" button in the bottom right corner and adjust your equalizer settings. Now go to any FM station and do the same. That setting will stay for that audio input source. I've had no issues with volume from FM to XM. I keep both around 20 regularly and go up to 30 if I want it loud/bass. I do have the JBL premium package though, don't know if that makes a difference.

 

I can crank the volume to max and still have a normal conversation with a passenger. Plus the overall sound quality isn't that great... FM sounds much better. How the radio sounds worse than my '85 Escort Wagon I have no idea.

 

Most satellite radios stations broadcast at a very low bit rate, meaning the quality is terrible.

 

That's what I've come to learn. It's still weird to me in the age of technology. I always dicker them down to $36/6 mo. for this reason but I don't know how long they'll continue to do that.

 

I saw that and tried didn't do much for XM.

 

its complete shit man.
and for the price?

How did you go about doing so?
I'd keep it if it was around that price. My girlfriend loves XM and I love that one station on saturdays since its all punk and they even have shows with Tim Armstrong (Rancid) where all they do is play 80s and 90s and explain how things were when they came out and how its ratings were. Kick ass show to me would love to keep it. But no way in hell am I paying $19 a month for it.

 

To the guys saying their XM volume is low, do you have the JBL audio and tech package? Just curious cause I have it and my XM is way more crisp and loud than regular FM radio.

 

I have XM and there are some stations that the volume is very low compared to others.

 

Call to cancel and don't take the first retention offers.

You might even have to cancel. Within a short period you'll be getting US$30/6mo offers to come back with no activation fee. Select package though, and YMMV regarding CDN$ pricing.

They will of course start charging full freight at the end of six months. You need to set a reminder to call and cancel again a couple days before that happens. Also see if one of your credit cards offers "virtual cards" where you can get a new card number with a specified expiration date and a charge ceiling.

More info at https://slickdeals.net/f/9554884-siriusxm-6-months-of-select-30-or-all-access-50

@TravoHTX I have P&T with JBL and XM volume is lower than FMHD. I hadn't thought to play with the settings but will have a go of it later on. Sound quality varies some, and seems to get better after the first few minutes for some reason. Generally speaking I find the audio quality to be sufficient, better than FM, close to FMHD, not on par with USB audio of course.

 

Don't forget the super shitty reception in Canada

Also you probably won't get that deal in Canada, they like to screw us up here it seems(at least last time the offered me a renewal).

 

You can use the EQ settings to try and equalize the different inputs. The head unit also seems to remember your last volume setting based on the input, at least for the Premium package. If you add an amp, you won't be worried about low XM volume anymore.

 

When I first bought my truck I got a $36/6 mo deal cuz I was a new owner. Then I called to cancel and said I'd keep it if they gave me that deal again. About to try it again so we'll see what happens. It's honestly not worth 15.99 a month to me, despite the variety.

 

Entune w/ navigation, no JBL. I'm sure if I cherried out my sound system it'd be better, but it shouldn't be as weak as it is.

 

.
FWIW ... XM has given me 6 months for $25.00 USD and I routinely call them 2 days before expiration & auto-rebill and they always give me that rate.

Been doing this for 10+ years and getting same rate ... do kind of the same thing with OOMA and Comcast too.
.

 

So with very limited testing it looks like the XM and FM sides of the radio each retain their own volume setting. If I set the volume to 20 while on XM and set it to 15 on FM, it retains that volume level when I switch.

Either one can get VERY loud if I crank it up, no weakness at all. I have the JBL option.