Audio system

[Jbellah]

I’ve only had my 2019 4Runner a month but just started listening to the free satellite radio. I have the jbl speakers and noticed the system sounds better when listening to satellite radio over pandora , Spotify. Anyone else notice this. It’s like the jbl really stands out and actually sounds good while listening to satellite radio but anything else it’s decent.

 

[Jay Nice]

I’ve only had my 2019 4Runner a month but just started listening to the free satellite radio. I have the jbl speakers and noticed the system sounds better when listening to satellite radio over pandora , Spotify. Anyone else notice this. It’s like the jbl really stands out and actually sounds good while listening to satellite radio but anything else it’s decent.

The reason you notice a difference is because the quality of streaming on Spotify & Pandora is only between 64-192 kbps. Satellite will be high def & 320 kbps or higher. The low quality is to prevent people from recording live streams for free.

 

[Elite130]

The reason you notice a difference is because the quality of streaming on Spotify & Pandora is only between 64-192 kbps. Satellite will be high def & 320 kbps or higher. The low quality is to prevent people from recording live streams for free.

What does FM come across as? I feel like FM radio is clearer and sound is more defined. Satellite seems to be a not as clear.

 

[Jay Nice]

What does FM come across as? I feel like FM radio is clearer and sound is more defined. Satellite seems to be a not as clear.

Depends, FM is usually around 128 kbps. Our speakers handle different frequencies better than others. You also might be someone who prefers analog sound over digital, who knows lol

 

[cascadiarunner]

You can change spotify to stream at 320kbps if you have premium. I'm not an audiophile but I can tell the difference, after 320kbps I can't though. I think the factor could also be bluetooth though, in many vehicles I've noticed bluetooth audio quality is poor compared to a direct USB connection.

 

[ridetime]

The reason you notice a difference is because the quality of streaming on Spotify & Pandora is only between 64-192 kbps. Satellite will be high def & 320 kbps or higher. The low quality is to prevent people from recording live streams for free.

Actually Spotify can stream 320 if you choose that option. But you are correct that the bit rate is tied to sound quality. FM radio transmission is compressed and loses dynamic range as a result which is why its sounds average at best.

 

[Jbellah]

I have premium I’ll have to try that. I never use Bluetooth I’ve noticed it also doesn’t sound good over being connected to USB. My bmw M4 sounded good with Spotify and pandora and it was the factory speakers. I put after market speakers in an accord I had and it never sounded crappy either. I know satellite is HD but it’s almost like your listening to after market speakers listing in HD and Spotify sounds like a crappy factory system.

 

[hawthornearms]

Spotify sounds better than XM. XM's processing sounds like poo to me.

My guess is either you've got the stream setting on Spotify set low, there is a funny output EQ/preset on the phone, or the phone has low quality Bluetooth.

My LG G7 sounds fantastic. I used the Tidal MQA offline most of the time.