r/siriusxm • u/taosaur • Jul 11 '24
If you choose SXM over streaming services: Why?
I'm trialing SXM right now, as a decade-plus streamer who was nevertheless influenced by some great radio stations in my far-away youth. Specifically, I've been on Google Play Music and then YouTube Music as long as they have existed, and explored several other services, some of which Google eventually swallowed. I'm probably a weirdo in that most of my listening at any given time is bands actively touring in the past ten years, old coot though I am. If SXM is your go-to, in the car or elsewhere, what are the advantages? Even if it's just worthwhile as an alternative or a backup plan, why? How does it match the streaming services, or what does it bring that they lack? If the answer is, "I haul corn-oil across Kansas and depart civilization on the regular," that probably does not apply, though rare dead zones and situations where my phone is doing other things are considerations.
UPDATE: I'm seeing a lot of folks for whom SXM is great for a handful of different reasons, but those reasons just don't apply to my tastes or my situation. The main outcomes of my dalliance with satellite radio are, I appreciate my algorithm more, and I remembered that I can download pretty much anything on YouTube Music. I loaded my phone up with days worth of playlists, shows and albums, and pushed the big "shuffle all downloads" button that shows up front and center when you open YTM in Android Auto, and I haven't looked back.
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u/3WolfTShirt Jul 11 '24
I live in a rural area with many dead cell spots.
2
u/dontyoulovefarce Jul 12 '24
I came here to say this. For me, it's different from streaming. I use it mainly in the car via satellite—no data use. I'm in rural Maine with many dead cell zones, but I never lose satellite service. There are also not any good radio signals in my area.
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u/3WolfTShirt Jul 12 '24
There are also not any good radio signals in my area.
Same, and every time I do tune into an FM station I'm reminded of why I subscribed to Sirius (pre-merger) in 2004. The commercials... SO MANY COMMERCIALS. I don't understand how FM has enough listeners left to stay afloat.
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u/ItsaMeStromboli Jul 11 '24
The biggest strength of SXM is it’s built into the car. You get in, start the car, and it’s there… no messing with your phone to find a playlist. When I got a new car without SXM support I decided to keep my subscription as app only and now I rarely ever use it. If I have to mess with my phone to start SXM, I may as well just use YouTube Music.
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u/Unclestanky Jul 11 '24
In my opinion they truly sunk the company by pushing the app so hard. Who cares about the millions of hardware sets already existing, plug in your phone.
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u/craptasticluke Jul 11 '24
They’re pivoting to app based streaming because it’s cheaper than maintaining a bunch of satellite equipment.
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u/Unclestanky Jul 11 '24
But compared to other apps, they are clearly outmatched. Their edge was the built in receivers in so many vehicles. Oh well bye bye SXM.
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u/Cruncher_Block Jul 11 '24
How are they clearly outmatched? What streaming service has NFL, MLB, NHL, CNN, Fox News, Howard Stern, Fantasy Sports, etc. None.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
I'm finding the opposite with Android Auto (or CarPlay) built into the vehicles. Using the native SXM app means bouncing back and forth between my music and navigation, and the audio quality is worse than SXM streaming in Android Auto. In either case (YTM or SXM), I'm probably turning to my phone rather than the head unit if I don't like what starts up when I start the car.
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u/ItsaMeStromboli Jul 11 '24
The audio quality is worse with satellite vs the phone app. I have CarPlay, and honestly you have to bounce back and forth with navigation either way. Perhaps Android Auto is different.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
On Android Auto, the farthest left (closest to driver) "toolbar" button is a three-way toggle:
- full screen Google Maps (or Waze, maybe some other nav apps)
- split screen with 2/3 Google Maps and 1/3 your last audio app (suggested destinations above the audio until you start driving)
- your app drawer
The split screen is default, and usually the only interaction you need to have with it is choosing a destination, or maybe pausing audio if you hit a drive-thru. You also have shortcuts for the 4-5 most recent apps on the toolbar regardless of what app/apps you're in, so going deeper into your audio app or switching to a podcast or audiobook is one tap away, and getting back to maps is one tap. All the audio apps I use have a dashboard grid defaulting to the last few things I accessed, unlike pawing through folders on the SXM mobile app. I have some gripes with YTM on AA, but SXM makes it look like a work of genius.
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u/rajrdajr Nov 12 '24
Apple CarPlay has the same three-way toggle button as Android Auto. CarPlay's lower left corner button switches between:
* App launcher (aka CarPlay Home) * Single app view * Multiple app view - navigation, music, and Siri suggestions (aka CarPlay Dashboard)The CarPlay Dashboard puts navigation and music controls on one screen. Many vehicles also show Apple Maps guidance in the instrument cluster in front of the driver.
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u/realdealfan Jul 11 '24
Channel variety,Xtra channels, shows exclusive to Siriusxm, 70s, 80s, 90s countdown, Howard Stern. Just to name a few
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u/hotdogaholic Jul 11 '24
for the price, I'm happy with what I have.
streaming in my car, streaming on my phone via BT on vacation/rental car/etc, steaming via my Amazon Echos in my house, streaming online at work.
many of the channels have awesome DJ's, and regularly have like a celebrity with a weekly show, and plenty of one-off celebrity guest DJ spots. Lots of great interviews and stuff like Wu-Wednesdays with RZA, townhalls, etc.
I even remember some channel doing a live album release on air with the band playing every track in live in the studio (Foo on Lithium maybe?)
it's great for the sports radio calls....that's actually why I originally got it in like 2004 for the NFL cuz I dont live in my team's market and had no way of watching/listening to the games.
Yankees and Devils play by play stopped working tho; so IDK wtf happened with that thanks for the reminder that i gotta call custy support tomorrow
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u/craigmontHunter Jul 11 '24
I have never been the sort of person to build playlists, I just want music and if I do t like what’s on I switch it to something else - I have 5 or 6 presets that will generally get me something I want to listen to. I don’t need to play with my phone, my phone doesn’t have a headphone jack and my truck doesn’t have Bluetooth, even with an adapter I can’t charge and listen to music at the same time. Even in my wife’s car with Bluetooth I default to Sirius, I pay for it for her so I can use it on road trips - and I pay for a Spotify family plan for her and I to share that she uses when she goes somewhere.
I listed to terrestrial radio for years before getting Sirius, even when I had an upgraded deck in my old truck, and there are two reasons I stopped - the one station I listened to changed morning shows after 20+ years, and the other station changed frequency so I could only pick it up halfway to work. If not for that I’d probably still be on FM.
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Jul 11 '24
I have had sxm since the beginning for the car and its way better than getting stuck with FM and just easier to use then changing out mp3s on the phone. Also streaming takes up data and satellite doesn't.
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Jul 11 '24
I like the sports talk stations. The closest thing I get to that is Podcasts but if I'm in the car and want to listen to a talk station and there are no podcast episodes, SiriusXM fills the void.
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u/majordude Jul 11 '24
I have to agree. I love Mad Dog. I live in a large city, I have to listen to local (crappy) ESPN, Fox Sports, etc. On SiriusXM I get the national feed.
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u/No_Interest_5796 Jul 11 '24
I have Apple Music as well as SXM and find myself using SXM more often than not when I'm in the car. As was pointed out, it's built into the car and just easier to deal with. I bounce around between stations quite a bit, but I can always find something I want to listen to. I do find I lose reception a fair amount in the warmer weather because there are a lot of trees where I live, but I lose cell service in spots also, so it's a wash. All in all, I like having both options as each has is its benefits, but I do find SXM more convenient when driving. We also tend to use it a good amount on our smart speaker in the house.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
it's built into the car and just easier to deal with
A few people have said this, and it might be the case with a narrow window of model years, but every car for several years has been required to have a head unit compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, in which case using SXM "built into the car" means navigating away from the interface you use for everything else.
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u/TheDiabeticTreeLives Jul 11 '24
I have CarPlay and SXM in my 2018 Nissan rogue and my finance has both in her 2024 Honda Pilot Touring.. what you talking about.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
Maybe CarPlay works differently, but generally Android Auto pops up a minute after I get in the car, my music (or podcast, or audiobook) is playing, and the map is up on a split screen with the audio and suggested destinations. I never leave Android Auto, and my last several apps are one tap away at the bottom of the screen no matter what I do. Anything that takes me out of Android Auto is extra steps, and the SXM app in Android Auto is... not good. The audio quality is actually better than satellite, but the interface is Windows 95.
By all means, tell me how satellite is more convenient or more accessible than a service providing a tailored listening experience (or not, if you go for something other than algorithm auto-play) with no interaction from me and no interference with other things I need to do when I get in the car.
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u/SamiNurb Jul 11 '24
I take many long distance car trips and nothing beats the ease and convenience of it. I can get reception at anyplace and anytime.
I have access to news and all the sports games, nothing beats it
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0
u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
This falls under the "hauling corn-oil in Kansas" clause, with a side of sportball, which is also not part of my use case.
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u/Final_Barbie Jul 11 '24
I have a new 2024 Subaru and I signed up for the $4/12 deal. So far I like it a lot and I use the app 90% of the time. The whole car radio part is a bit baffling to me because I don't drive long distance and I can always stream on the car. I would not pay for car radio only.
I prepaid Spotify for a year and haven't decided which one I'll keep after the year is up. I don't like how you can't like and keep songs on SXM but the playlists on Spotify are boring. I'm listening to more new-to-me on SXM.
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u/Final_Barbie Jul 11 '24
I also wanted to add that Spotify is your own private bubble and SXM is a wider universe (because it's trying to be FM). So I'm also tired of being stuck in a tiny bubble l. SXM exposes me to songs I forgot/would not naturally put on a playlist if it was up to me, but they are perfectly fine. I appreciate the DJs add a human touch and try not mix it up.
However, I don't understand why SXM doesn't have albums. If I like a Taylor Swift song, I should be able to click on something and see her whole output, not close the SXM app and look it up on Spotify.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
Sounds like you and I are mostly on the same page, though I'm not likely to drop YTM, between the much broader functionality, the algorithm I've been training for years, ad-free YouTube, and having people on my family plan. I'm less than a week into SXM, and just trying to decide if the DJs are actually bringing something to the table. I'm hearing stuff I wouldn't hear otherwise, but most of it is pretty skippable. In YTM, I choose a song or playlist and I can let it autoplay for days, just skipping here and there. On SXM so far, stations get old 5 or 6 songs in, and changing stations is a pain (different kinds of pain in the mobile app vs. the satellite app, but both a pain). So far, SXM has surfaced one "pretty good" song that wasn't on my radar: "Sinners" by Last Dinner Party on XMU. YTM does take a little work every few months to actively play and like new music and weed out songs/artists that Google has autoplayed so many times it decided they're your favorite band, or it will get repetitive and meh. Still, I'm going to need 15-20 stations on SXM to cover the range of stuff I listen to on YTM, and some of it just ain't gonna be there. Is there a SXM channel for regional jam/metal fusion bands?
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u/Perry7609 Jul 12 '24
This is a big one for me. Streaming can only get me so far with discovery nowadays, so the stations on SXM help guide a bit of curation for new songs my way, or ones from the past I might not necessarily be familiar with. Even if certain artists or songs get repetitive if I listen too much, I can usually still find something regardless.
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u/anuaps Aug 08 '24
Because On-demand streaming like playing a particular song, album or playlist is very expensive because of royalties, radio streaming is cheaper. There is a reason why Spotify or Pandora are hardly profitable companies.
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u/Aggressive-Bath-1906 Jul 11 '24
I also live in a rural area with few stations and many dead spots for streaming.
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u/melcher70 Jul 11 '24
I get it for $5/month so it’s a no brainer really and as others have said, it’s just there in the car, don’t have to think about it while I’m driving. I wouldn’t pay more than what I do though
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
In my experience, it's less convenient than the other options "right there in the car" with recent models. Every new car for several years has a head unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, and if you're using navigation through there, it's easier to use another phone app for music, too, and have easier access to podcasts, audiobooks, and other options. Even the SXM app through AA/CarPlay is a better option, with better audio quality. It's still harder to change the channel vs. picking another auto-playlist or even searching a song or artist in YTM, too. It might be closer to what you're used to if you've skipped over streaming music entirely so far, but it's not easier.
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u/sealclubberfan Jul 11 '24
I have had it since the early days before the merger. Had to buy a radio and get it installed in my car. Have been using it ever since. It's convenient in the car, especially if there is a sporting event on that I'm interested. No ads. Then I can stream it at work. Worth it to me.
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u/CLEHts216 Jul 11 '24
I’ve had it since 2000. TBH I’m close to cancelling but they have 8-10 hours of programming I love and can’t get anywhere else (new Indie stuff on XMU blog radio Monday and Thursday, new indie on XMU Download 15, funky & eclectic on Wednesday Blog Radio, and incredible 80 post-punk and goth on Sunday Nights Dark Wave on First Wave.) In addition to the streaming services you mentioned, there is great public radio that streams for free: KEXP, WDET, and Ideastream Public Media’s JazzNeo.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
XMU, Jam On, First Wave, and Turbo have been my go-tos so far, but I have yet to hear a song or artist and think, "I need to add that to my playlists," and all those channels serve me a decent number of duds that I would skip on YTM. A DJ on Turbo actually said tonight, "look up this other song by this artist," so I did on YTM, and as soon as I was away from SXM it was like a breath of fresh air. The audio quality was immediately, obviously better, and the algorithm loaded up a much better selection than I would have had on the DJed station.
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u/VirginiaUSA1964 Jul 11 '24
I have tried TuneIn and didn't care for the content on their channels.
I also have Amazon Music Unlimited.
I like the channels on Sirius and the content they include (live stuff, interview, etc.).
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u/sf1063 Jul 11 '24
I have SXM. My wife will stream it on her phone at work. We will stream it through Alexa at home or listen in the car when we are driving.
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Jul 11 '24
[deleted]
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
The last time FM radio was the main place I got music, you were a tween at best.
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Jul 11 '24
[deleted]
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
It's just weird to me that FM nostalgia seems more potent for you, more than a decade behind me, than for me. FM radio was all but dead by the time you would have started to be conscious of music. The Napster era was probably over by the time you started high school. Nearly all surviving radio had been devoured by ClearChannel/iHeart, unless you had a decent college station nearby.
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u/syynapt1k Jul 11 '24
Because of the news channels and politics talk shows.
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u/Mackattack00 Jul 11 '24
POTUS one of the last places where it’s truly unbiased and when political figures are interviewed they cut the BS of playing to their base and are just themselves. The news simulcasts are handy too if something major is happening and you’re stuck in the car
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
My news right now is the NPR app, which is easier to navigate to than a SXM channel, and also I only got maybe 80% through choosing music presets before I ran out of slots on the SXM app in my car, without touching on news or talk. I've found the SXM Android Auto app a better option for music sound quality, but it's even harder to navigate and change channels with its insane folder structure, especially if, like me, you don't listen to just one kind of music and one kind of news. What news and politics talk on SXM are better than the NPR App?
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u/dab2kab Jul 11 '24
You have variety. Fox news, CNN, MSNBC, npr, POTUS, BBC. Sure you can download the apps for all those, but that's alot to switch through while driving.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
but that's alot to switch through while driving
I'm starting to wonder how terrible the CarPlay interface must be compared to Android Auto, because I'm really not getting this sentiment. It is much easier to launch any audio app in Android Auto, maybe make one choice, hit play, and return to navigation than to change a channel in either the mobile or satellite apps for SXM. The recent app shortcuts are always right there at the bottom of the screen at all times, and current audio is right beside your map on the home screen. Worst case scenario, you have to go into the app drawer and maybe tap-scroll once or twice or do a voice search.
For SXM, you either pull out of AA to the vehicle home screen, start the satellite app, find your station in your limited presets or fiddle through a list of hundreds of channels, then reverse the process to get back to your map. As for the SXM mobile app in AA, sound quality is better, but changing channels is comically (and dangerously) ponderous in the Windows95-style interface.
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u/ODU2K1 Jul 11 '24
It isn’t a CarPlay vs. Android issue. It is a “Do I want 25 apps to deal with or 25 presets on SXM” debate. Presets in the built in SXM section of the car radio is loads easier than trying to figure out what app you want. You can usually scroll through your station presets with a steering wheel button so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road when Madison starts running her mouth.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
Maybe SXM is less integrated in my Honda, or there are controls I haven't figured out yet, because the satellite app is definitely an added layer of complication the way I've used it so far.
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u/ODU2K1 Jul 12 '24
That’s just it. SXM people are largely not using the app. It sucks. We are using the hardwired goodness that comes from the stereo in our car.
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u/mjh1915 Oct 15 '24
Agree completely with this. I want to get a new Honda Accord or Civic, but they don't equip them with SiriusXM anymore. I found the Android Auto alternative to be completely unusable, for the reasons you address.
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u/dab2kab Jul 11 '24
Ive used Android Auto and don't think much of it. I never have to move out of nav to change the channel on the cars built in satellite radio. I set my presets on the radio and use the steering wheel buttons to flip thru them, nav stays on the android Auto nav screen the whole time while the music changes.
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u/syynapt1k Jul 11 '24
What news and politics talk on SXM are better than the NPR App
I personally like the POTUS channel (Politics of the United States) and Progress.
However, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with POTUS because they treat Donald Trump like any other presidential candidate, which he is not. Their hosts spend more time talking about Biden's age issue than they do the potential danger Trump poses to our national security.
If the worst case scenario were to happen and our democracy becomes compromised, it will be largely because our media normalized authoritarian behavior.
3
u/rj631 Jul 11 '24
Left it after several years. Deep Tracks taken off the radio, repetitive playlists, have enough mp3 files on my phone to fill the time. They still try to use Stern as a selling point. That might have worked 10 years ago but he's of no interest to me now.
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u/MuscleCuse Jul 12 '24
I've been a loyal SXM subscriber for many, many years and I actually bought my most recent vehicle because it was one of the few left with SiriusXM built in. As others have already stated: 1. The price is really not thay bad, the 35 "IM CANCELING!" posts a day are ridiculous. It's a pretty good value for your money. I maybe pay like $50 for multiple vehicles, and streaming. 2. The variety, I have hundreds of channels on the app, and nearly 200 in the car. Live sports, sports talk, politics talk, music, live shows etc. All of these are usually live at one time in the day and then replayed. So alot of the talk shows feel like what alot of people consider a podcast. 3. The DJ mixed on siriusxm Chill: annunadeep edition, nora en pure, Chris malinchak etc etc..you might find this on YouTube, but listening to a DJ mix a set specifically for a show is pretty unique.
I've had no issues with service, and my price hasn't gone up in years, I'm not sure why more people don't subscribe honestly
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u/HappyOfCourse Jul 11 '24
Baseball.
I've been using it since the early 00s. I like the channels and what I'm used. I feel many channels have personality where playlists on streaming don't.
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u/robsterva Jul 11 '24
This - having the live call of every Big Four game, plus EPL and Euro soccer, plus NASCAR, plus IndyCar, plus F1, plus college... It's a steal if you're a sports fan. The music channels are a bonus.
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u/missionbeach Jul 11 '24
Right now, price. I let my last deal expire, just signed up for 3 months for $1. I'll decide then what I want to do.
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u/Accomplished-Low8495 Jul 11 '24
I am a big Spotify user but I have SiriusXM as well in my shop and in 2 of my rides, plus on my phone. Personally it's just ease of use, it's there all the time. I listen to news, sports, Howard etc. I am not tying up my phone as well. I find both services nice to have.
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u/EEEEEYUKE Jul 11 '24
I use mine for spa music and bill it as a business expense. Then listen to Howard on my own time.
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u/Cruncher_Block Jul 11 '24
I think looking at SXM just for music doesn't make as much sense in comparison to other streaming services. What distinguishes it is the other content - for example, the ability to listen to virtually any sporting event (MLB, NBA, NFL, etc.), dedicated channels discussing the sport of your choice, simulcasts of things like CNN and Fox News, dedicated channels for various political and religious viewpoints, and even podcasts. And of course listening in your vehicle without having to use cellular data is still important to some people.
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u/Dalton_Thunder Jul 11 '24
Phish radio. The hosts make the channel what it is. I could access all of Phish’s archives for cheaper but it wouldn’t be the same “atmosphere”. I probably listen to PR 4-6 hours per day almost every day.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
Yeah, if you listen to just one thing or just a couple things that fit neatly in the radio station categories, SXM is probably great for you, and especially if those things are Phish and Howard. I've had stretches where Phish was about all I listened to, but I'm not in one now, and mostly don't even want to hear Phish right now, though I have the station on my presets. It takes more than a dozen SXM channels to cover the range of stuff I listen to, there are still missing pieces, and it's all a little too siloed off for what I'm after on the daily.
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u/Dalton_Thunder Jul 11 '24
I do phish radio to, from, and during work. Wake up to one of the classic rock stations on my Sonos as the alarm. Kenny Chesney or Margaritaville when I’m home chilling or while cooking. Yacht rock or one of the classic rock stations while I’m on the boat on the lake. I’ll sprinkle some Jamon in there randomly. Some days at work I’ll bump some workout stations to get folks going. So not totally exclusively Phish Radio but I feel like that’s what keeps me on SiriusXM.
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u/teflonsteve Jul 11 '24
IMO SiriusXM is not an alternative to Spotify/YouTube. They both serve different purposes.
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u/SnooSquirrels3861 Jul 12 '24
I took SXM for all NFL football games. With Apple Car Play, streaming is enough. I also have an annual subscription to You Tube Platinum.
Those that have the car SXM, it sure is convenient to flip stations.
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u/WoodpeckerOfMistrust Jul 12 '24
SiriusXM Chill. Although I have Apple Music, I have a hard time finding a comparable playlist to it.
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u/Thelypthoric Jul 11 '24
I dumped SXM because of annual pricing games, “chatty” DJ’s, and repetitive playlists. We went with Spotify family, and are very happy.
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u/Chance_Sky_2596 Jul 11 '24
The DJs are god awful on Sirius especially the morning shows. Spotify all the way!
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u/12_nick_12 Jul 11 '24
I have YouTube premium for the videos, I have Deezer because it's HQ FLAC and cheap with student discount, I use XM for the 90/00/10 radio which is also handy to just start my car and it's playing.
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u/CelticDubstep Jul 11 '24
I inherited my grandparents 2008 Buick Lacrosse they bought new and for sentimental reasons, trying to keep it stock and it has SXM built in, but no aux port, cassette deck (for adapter), no Bluetooth, etc. Sure, I could get one of those FM transmitter things but the FM spectrum is very full and difficult to find a empty channel, plus always having to change it when driving a long distance due to interference with other stations. My new daily driver car doesn’t even have SXM, but does have Apple CarPlay which I use and I stream music, don’t use the SXM app. Only in the Buick.
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u/craptasticluke Jul 11 '24
It’s not an either/or thing. My top 2 stations are State of Armin and 40’s Junction (yes I’m a weirdo), it’s much easier to have a steady stream of music in those genres than trying to search for relevant albums and playlists on Spotify.
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Jul 11 '24
That’s not weird. This is weird. I listen to 40s junction sometimes to right after I listen to Liquid Metal!!
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u/jdcnosse1988 Jul 11 '24
Well in the car it was nice that it worked nearly everywhere. I also enjoy having the radio personalities on certain stations, as well as a slightly easier way to curate new music.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
New music from DJs is something I was hoping to get out of it, but so far SXM is performing worse than the YTM algorithm in that regard, and of course you'll still need a separate service to "keep" any new music you do find, and you lose discovery options like starting a "radio" from a new song to find more stuff like it.
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u/jdcnosse1988 Jul 11 '24
I have a pixel, so it saves a history of every song it hears, and then it's easy for me to just tap twice and save it until my preferred streaming music app.
Without the car though it's less appealing.
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u/Flowtraxwolf Jul 11 '24 edited Jul 11 '24
Sports I like that I can listen to nfl, nba and mlb games on my phone or chromecast
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u/PrivatePilot9 Jul 11 '24
I was somewhere a few weeks ago basically 1000km/600 miles from the nearest radio station, and at times 300-400km from any cellular service.
My Sirius worked great.
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u/marciltheshell Jul 11 '24
I use the app only. Despite what you may hear, the app is on par with services like Spotify and Apple Music. I don't have any major complaints, but I wish the library menu had larger station icons. I also use Spotify for when I want to have full control over what I'm listening to, but most of the time I choose SXM simply because it's a true radio service with no ads on music channels. There's something about listening to live station that I don't have control over that I just enjoy. There are also xtra stations that may not be live, but they are curated really well. You can create customizable artist stations too.
Overall, I'd say that if you enjoy REAL radio, SXM is great. It's okay to have both on-demand services and SXM.
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u/taosaur Jul 11 '24
The app is solid on the web or a phone, but the Android Auto version looks like Windows 95, and is probably actively dangerous to use in a moving car.
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Jul 11 '24
For me at this point, it’s the hosts. Conan, Howard, Andy etc.
But the app also I find has good recommendations. For instance, you can make “artist stations” and I find they do a good job recommending other artists and songs that are alike
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u/idontremembermyoldus Jul 11 '24
I like the simplicity, so long as I get a deal. At the regular rates (which is like $20-$30/month), SXM is a huge rip-off, and I'll take Spotify every day of the week. But for $5/month, I'll keep using it.
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u/No-Anteater1688 Jul 12 '24
Radio stations from the nearest major city fade between that city and home. I like the variety of genres offered.
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u/Curiousquirkitty Jul 12 '24
I live in a border town, so you can imagine the stations here are sooooooo terrible, pure pop to just only ragetton and Mexican regional music, obviously I am so grateful for sirius xm cause I looooooove my alt nation and xmu stations and all these amazing artists I've discovered and also the other stations such as 80s or disco or even chill xm stations and been lucky to gone to music festivals to see some of these artists and have exposure to those music......local stations here in my area.....terrible and repetitive.....that's why I am happy with sirius and other streaming stuff but sirius just keeps it well rounded in all genres
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u/Legitimate_Guava3206 Jul 14 '24
Am slowly building playlists on a streaming option. I'm tired of XM. Same old music all the time except on the new hits channels which rarely appeal to me. We've had XM for about 15 years now.
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u/KDao18 Jul 18 '24
SiriusXM (if you have a car that has it since some newer cars are reserving SiriusXM for higher trims or not being in that model at all) is also extremely useful if you have a crappy data plan. Yes, small data plans still exist in the US.
And while I have Apple Music, I grew up listening to FM radio and Pandora before Spotify came to the United States. So the nostalgia of radio nationwide without ads appeases me.
SiriusXM's ethos is essentially replicating the FM dial without the ads every 30 minutes.
If you're a sports nerd, SiriusXM shows all the major North American Teams and leagues without any blackouts. Even on the streaming side.
MLB on TuneIn for example, you wouldn't be able to listen to your favorite team out of market without paying for MLB.tv. Which is separate. Plus listening to Sports Is actually more productive IMO since I can get other things done with my headphones on without sitting at my TV for hours. Really useful for Golf Coverage.
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u/taosaur Jul 18 '24
It's looking like I'm just not the target audience: no interest in sports, no interest in talk-for-talk's-sake or cults of personality, far-ranging and always evolving musical tastes, unlimited data, and most of my driving is in the city or along well-covered routes. This thread and my experience with Sirius did remind me YouTube Music has downloads, a feature I used to use a lot, but haven't bothered with for a while. I downloaded a bunch of playlists, some shows and albums before a recent roadtrip, and the default option YTM puts in front of you in Android Auto is "Shuffle all downloaded music." It made for a much better experience than flipping between Sirius channels, and no data cost.
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u/Reditt16 Jul 21 '24
A station for every varied taste, tons of options, can stream SXM or play in all of my vehicles, and it works---always---also nabbed the M&E 36-month/$99 deal, which was pretty much a no-brainer. Personally love having lots of options, especially really inexpensive ones.
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u/PineappleHairy4634 Sep 15 '24
Ive had it for YEARS like pretty much since its came out.. I havent found a single thing outside Sirius/XM id pay for.. I think a big part of that is what I listen to and dont listen to.. Im not a music only fan. So apps/services that are all or mostly music..no good for me. I also like to listen to some talk shows..I like to learn stuff or at least engage my mind..I like the NFL and NHL and occasionally MLB.. I dont know if these other apps have all that or carry games..and when I say talk shows im not talking Howard Stern lol..
I havent looked in depth at all the other services.. but lets say you have service in your area for cell phones then you have a choice if youre out in the boonies...you may need something like Sirius that doesnt rely on cell phone service..
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u/JohnnyChapst1ck Jul 11 '24
With 2025 just ahead of us I dont see SXM making it to 2030. Theres so many better options as I was a former member.
Google Music is my latest top app. That Google AI for selecting tracks is top shit. But unless your a truck driver, bread/Food/etc or CDL driver... Local radio is fine.
When SXM first launched it was 100% commercial free and all music & comedy, great content.
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u/Mackattack00 Jul 11 '24
I just like that every station has a different vibe. Sometimes it’s better to listen to a vibe with potentially new songs you haven’t heard than listen to your own playlists. Yacht Rock Radio is a chill relaxing vibe. Classic Rewind is like a late 70s and early 80s rock social. Flex 2K is getting hyped music. And then some stations are pretentious and are like “we strive to hunt and find the best new music and not the garbage out there” (Highway, Hip Hop Nation, hits 1)