sat radio in 2007 mazda 3

[g19fan]

Been considering the factory option for sirius, but not sure if that is the best way or most economical way to get the best sound. Anyone done an aftermarket stereo/satellite install and installed the modules to keep the steering wheel controls? And has anyone installed just a basic XM/Sirius radio and gone in through the FM modulation? If so, how crappy is the sound versus going with a Mazda factory kit? I am serious about my sound quality, so not looking to cut corners. Just looking for the affordable way to get what i want. i know it cheaper isn't better, but my dealer wants $385 for the Sirius kit which is way more than online Mazda parts houses i have found. For $400, i can put in a nice Alpine or Sony head unit that is Sat ready, along with the Sat tuner and probably some new speakers. Crutchfield has a module to keep the steering wheel controls which i have fallen in love with since i bought this car and really don't want to lose those...

any help is appreciated.

 

[jbiird317]

well i have the xm going through FM transmitter. It is a very non-glamorous setup, but it is all wired and contained within my center console (armrest area) and hidden from plain view. It came with a remote, so I didnt bother trying to figure out how to wire it through the steering wheel controls. Both the remote and the FM transmitter work with the lid to the armrest closed and as far as I can tell the sound quality is no worse than the normal radio (definitely not CD quality tho).

I'm sure this isnt the technical response you were looking for, but I though I would present an economical method as well.

 

[g19fan]

answers a part of my question. i am looking for the CD quality it should be. So, apparently FM modulation is not the best route for sure...

thanks,

 

[icspots]

Well if you're looking for CD quality then satellite isn't what you want. Satellite radio is actually a worse signal than FM.

Anyway why worry about going through an FM transmitter/modulator? You have a 2007 model which has a 3.5mm auxiliary input in the center console.

 

[g19fan]

apparently you have never listened to FM in Louisiana.....90% of the stations don't get to 40 year old LP quality over a single mono speaker.

but, i guess the 3.5mm jack would give me a decent input to the radio. I was just trying to compare the sound quality from the factory, FM mod, or other means (ie: aux jack, etc). i spend about 15 hours a week commuting, so my stereo is important to me. I have done multiple stereo systems in previous vehicles, just never attempted satellite radio before. I have XM through my Direct TV service, and i love the variety of music so that is what has me interested in it for my car. I have a buddy who has XM through his factory stereo in a Chevy Silverado, and it is a very good quality signal. That is why i have the question in hook up methods. appreciate the advice though...

 

[jbiird317]

Well if you're looking for CD quality then satellite isn't what you want. Satellite radio is actually a worse signal than FM.

Anyway why worry about going through an FM transmitter/modulator? You have a 2007 model which has a 3.5mm auxiliary input in the center console.

there is one problem with wiring it through the aux input with some radios. If you have a sat radio that can also be used as a handheld, when it is plugged into the aux jack you lose the ability to use an external antenna unless you have a docking base. If you are able to fit a base wherever you are mounting it, you will notice a great improvement in sound quality over FM modulation.

 

[major error]

Another consideration is the output power of the handheld device.
Since it's designed to drive headphones, there's the possibility of needing a small amplifier.

 

[Abaddon]

Well if you're looking for CD quality then satellite isn't what you want. Satellite radio is actually a worse signal than FM.

Ummmmmmmm... thats not exactly right.

Satellite radio is a digital source, and the sound quality varies from station to station.

The system has the capability and bandwidth to transmit DVD-Audio in a streaming format, however, with the large number of channels, the bandwidth for each channel drops significantly.

Many channels (the popular channels) have near CD quality audio, surpassing almost all FM stations (there's always that ONE station in a large city that always sounds great...). However, there are some channels that are lower bandwidth (the talk stations) that fall on the lower end of the Dynamic range spectrum. However, with no static, you will still most likely perceive it as a higher quality signal.

BUT... with that being said.. don't look to Satellite radio as a "high end" audio source. That's not what it was designed for.