Best way to install Sirius for best sound quality?

S

scott78945

Member
I was tinkering around the board and I have installed my Sirius Sporster Replay the boring way, via FM wireless transmitter. I find that I get a lot of static and I have to use the included additional FM antenna to get clear sound. But, I am not happy with the sound quality still. It almost sounds AMish, sort of like talk radio. So I found that an FM modulator is another way to go but I will need to get to the back of the radio for the FM antenna for the Runner and that doesn't seem too easy to do. Then I read something about a PIE adapter which I have no idea what it is. So I found the link on how to get the radio out of the dash so I can get to the back of it. If I am going this far, what is the best way to get the best sound quality? And if I am going as far as taking everything apart, should I be getting a different radio to replace my factory one? I see many have put the Scion HU in their Runners. I have the JBL single CD player and wondering if I should get the Toyota 6 disk off of Ebay or something as I am unsure if the Scion will work with my JBL. Sorry for the long post but I want to install the Sirius the right way. Thanks.
 
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Actually, I just found that I cannot use the Scion HU with my JBL system, sucks to be me. Anyone out there with the JBL upgrade their system?
 
I will have to check but I believe it has a headphone jack. I guess I will have to read up on it to figure out what exactly I need to do. Thanks for the reply and link.
 
I have the single disc JBL synthesis in my '03 4runner. I hooked up Sirius using the USA-Spec auxiliary box ($60) which was fairly easy to do with the dash removal instructions found in the other forums. The sound is a lot better with this hard wire option versus using the FM methods. Satellite radio in general sounds a little tin can-ish, and is more noticeable on the talk channels.
 
What did you buy to connect the Sirius receiver to the USA spec box? The USA spec box only accepts RCA inputs correct, so what did you buy that converted the Sirius to RCA inputs?

Thanks
 
Yeah, that's pretty much it. You need a cable that has a mini-pug on one end and rca's at the other. I tried to go with a high quality cable to get the best sound possible. I've heard of some people having interference and engine noise issues with the $8 cables. Monster has a cable for $20-25 at Circiut City. I think you can buy a Belkin cable at Walmart for about $15. I picked up a cable from the Magnolia home theater department in Best Buy. It think it was about $25-30, but I needed a longer cable with the 90 degree mini plug for my installation (sunglass holder area).
 
I forgot to mention that Radio Shack has the inexpensive ($8-10) mini to rca cables, if you're trying to keep the budget down.
 
I installed a one of those PIEs to use with my iPod and it works great. But the quality is not great when used with a SIRIUS. In fact, I think it sounds the same as using the frequency on your radio. Maybe I did something wrong, but I wasn't impressed. Like you said, it sounds AM-ish.
 
I'll post my results after I have everything installed. The parts won't be here for a couple of weeks as the USA Spec Aux Interface is on back order until this Friday. I will post pics and results when completed.
 
molocono said:
I installed a one of those PIEs to use with my iPod and it works great. But the quality is not great when used with a SIRIUS. In fact, I think it sounds the same as using the frequency on your radio. Maybe I did something wrong, but I wasn't impressed. Like you said, it sounds AM-ish.
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Hmmmm, I was thinking the lack of sound quality coming from the PIE adapter connected to my Sirius was because of the radio model I had. I didn't use high quality 3.5mm jack to RCA cables but it still should sound a heckuva lot better than it does. Mine sounds as if there is always frequency interference and I can't seem to get the high quality digital sound out of it. The Sirius receiver actually sounds better if I use its built in FM wireless modulator.
I felt as if I wasted my money on the PIE adapter. I'm going to try the 3.5mm jack/RCA combo with my portable DVD to see if it sounds any better before yanking the thing out.

As a matter of fact, I may just try to get my hands on a 2006 Scion radio which already has the 3.5mm input jack.
 
You might try a higher quality cable to clean up the sound before ditching the PIE adapter setup. A ground loop isolator from Radio Shack can eliminate engine and electrical noises as well. Sirius does not sound CD quality no matter what how clean your connection is. FM quality sound with no static/interference is about the best you can achieve right now with satellite radio's bandwidth and compression. Some of the news and talk channels sound ridiculous. Listen to ESPN - ouch! It sounds like they are broadcasting from a fish bowl.
 
mikeb said:
You might try a higher quality cable to clean up the sound before ditching the PIE adapter setup. A ground loop isolator from Radio Shack can eliminate engine and electrical noises as well. Sirius does not sound CD quality no matter what how clean your connection is. FM quality sound with no static/interference is about the best you can achieve right now with satellite radio's bandwidth and compression. Some of the news and talk channels sound ridiculous. Listen to ESPN - ouch! It sounds like they are broadcasting from a fish bowl.
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Anyone try this ground loop isolator? My PIE adapter has the engine buzz static coming through. Sounds terrible. Shut the engine off and the static goes away.
Also, anyone know if the Eclipse Nav will work with the PIE?:arrow: Looking like this will be the next mod. I hate not having Nav!
 
molocono

I installed the PIE adapter thinking that I would better sound quality than the FM modular, but no perceptible difference. A good think though, is no interference from other users on the same frequency.
 
There's been a few posts in here recently regarding this very subject and the consensus around here seems to be that Sat radio sound quality is NOT as good as CD sound quality and is NOT as good as fm sound quality. The compression kills the bandwidth.... but, the SQ is noticably better when using the direct link to your stereo as opposed to the FM mod.
 
atomic punk said:
There's been a few posts in here recently regarding this very subject and the consensus around here seems to be that Sat radio sound quality is NOT as good as CD sound quality and is NOT as good as fm sound quality. The compression kills the bandwidth.... but, the SQ is noticably better when using the direct link to your stereo as opposed to the FM mod.
Click to expand...

Absolute Truth! Recently made the change from FM modulation, to ground loop isolator plug using the Aux Jack in the center console. Huge difference, though still not CD quality.
 
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