Alright forum members.... [Archive]

Toxis

10-19-2004, 01:26 PM

Kenwood has a Sirius home based tuner kinda like this one for XM. I just don't understand why you'd want this over the portable one. Sure I bet it sounds WAY better but wouldn't you want to have Sat. radio in the car as well without having to pay for two monthly services?

Even better... I just use my iPod and can get whatever kind of music I want and I know I'll like. Seems like everytime I find a station on either company's programming that I love, they change it in a few months to something that's utter junk. Maybe it's just my tastes...

dorokusai

10-19-2004, 01:29 PM

Why? Because I can.

Kenwood? Nope, don't like the styling, and I am already an XM subscriber.

If I wanted to tote the portable unit around, from car to home to car....I would, but I don't want to since it's hardwired into my vehicle. How is that convenient anyways?

If I wanted an Ipod, I would buy an Ipod....but alas, I don't listen to MP3's and don't plan on it.

Tour2ma

10-19-2004, 02:31 PM

The demo at BDT's Polk-mania-fest was pretty impressive, but I don't need the added monthly, so I'll pass and live with my Music Choice on DirectTV for background, geez-I-haven't-heard-that-in-ages, time tripping...

As good a choice... no, not SQ-wise anyway, but I'll get by...

Y'all have fun...

Vr3MxStyler2k3

10-19-2004, 03:58 PM

One thing good about not being at my Dads in 2 months, I havnt heard anything Country... (He plays Music Choice 24/7 on Digi Cable)

That XM tuner is impressive, as much as I listen to the radio, that would be useless to me...

amulford

10-19-2004, 10:44 PM

I'm gonna hold out for the 2nd generation. I got a peak down at Troy's, and me likey likey. But there's some controler issues I think are going to be resolved in the redux.

SQ is excellent, BTW. And it looks better than the pictures, IMHO.

audiobliss

10-19-2004, 11:44 PM

VR3, no country?!?! Come on!! ya can't live without Alan Jackson, George Strait, The Tractors, ......

Man, some people.....:p

PolkThug

10-20-2004, 12:36 AM

Anyone know the frequency response of XM radio??

Thanks,
PolkThug

Tour2ma

10-20-2004, 08:06 AM

Probably in here (http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/XMTunerManual.pdf) ...

bknauss

10-20-2004, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by amulford
I'm gonna hold out for the 2nd generation. I got a peak down at Troy's, and me likey likey. But there's some controler issues I think are going to be resolved in the redux.

SQ is excellent, BTW. And it looks better than the pictures, IMHO.

Those issues have been taken care of. You must have seen an older development model. We just played around with a batch of units yesterday that were more or less exactly what is going to be in stores... we haven't found any problems yet after lots of testing :)

As for frequency response, the audio hardware is better than 20-20kHz (can't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head), but there will be rolloffs due to the compression/decompression of the XM signal.

madmax

10-20-2004, 08:25 AM

I was going to get one for myself for Christmas but ended up going into debt on my plasma. Once that is paid off I'll get one. The real downside for me is that I currently have the Sony portable model with a sleeve in the car and another in the house. I hate paying an extra fee for a second receiver. I think adding a second one is only $7 a month but I am pretty cheap when it comes to monthly payments on anything. Lets see, $10 for the first one plus $7 for the second one. That is $204 a year. Really not a bad deal considering what you get.

"That XM tuner is impressive, as much as I listen to the radio, that would be useless to me..."

MX, Big difference between "XM" and "Radio". They play real music on XM.

amulford

10-20-2004, 10:25 AM

I was discussing it with some folks. I'm not saying the model now has any issues, It did sound like that and I'm sorry.

The model going out now is first class. Better than anything out there as far as SQ, build quality, output levels, asthetics, etc. etc.

We were discussing some things that would have been nice to have, most all of it to do with the remote. I was told there is a second model under development now, and they were going to look into adding them to the package, that's all.

bknauss

10-20-2004, 12:51 PM

amulford, that's A-OK :) Its definitely hard sometimes to get the correct emotions or whatever through internet typing.

There is an optional remote in the thought process right now. I think we want to finish up the tuner itself and make sure that's pretty much taken care of before we start off with that project.

Who was representing Polk at the get together?

amulford

10-20-2004, 01:12 PM

Paul and Al.

Cool fellers. That Paul drinks like a fish...:D

brettw22

10-20-2004, 01:44 PM

Paul said that they were going to offer a remote with a display in the future, but that it would probably be sold as an accessory, not part of the package.

Not everyone wants/needs the extra display on the remote, thus the option.

bknauss

10-20-2004, 01:53 PM

That is correct Brett.

I guess Paul and Al would possibly have the correct info ;)

Phil Dawson

10-21-2004, 10:48 PM

The frequency responce question was great. Does anyone out there know? It is not given in the Polk manual and I have asked several dealers and they go on line to their site and no one seems to be able to come up with an answer. How does it sound? Are the highs and lows all there? How about distortion? Input anyone?
Thanks, Phil

sowen010599

10-21-2004, 11:30 PM

Frequency response......hmmmmm

I image it really doesn't matter that much. I'm sure it's far more capable than the media is.

XM uses a compression system called CT-aacPlus. It is essentially a revamped and more efficient version of MP3, and it's the current reference model for the upcoming MP4. Its algorithms operate in the same way MP3's do in the way sound information is trimmed off and cut out. It bases these removals on the human brain and how it perceives sound. Basically, sounds that the algorithm thinks you won't notice, or miss, are removed. That makes the data required to reproduce sound, well, smaller.....or.....compressed. So, the simple answer is, no, it's not all there.

Algorithm based frequency response is something like this.....
whatyouwontnoticehz-whatyouwontmisstoomuchkhz +/- whateverdb

shack

10-21-2004, 11:38 PM

Originally posted by Phil Dawson
How does it sound? Are the highs and lows all there? How about distortion? Input anyone?
Thanks, Phil
I was very impressed with the SQ. I didn't notice any compression or distortion. Maybe not CD quality but close. Certainly better than any FM I've heard lately and as good or better than any cable music or XM/Sirrus that I've heard. Of course I'm sure it helped that it was hooked up to Troy's Carver Mancave rig... Of course that also means it can hold its own in a really good rig! I liked it and I am seriously considering a purchase (I'm waiting for that BIG Club Polk discount for members with a minimum of 1700 posts :D ).

If you want the actual FR #s send Polk Paul an email....if they are available he should know.

dorokusai

10-21-2004, 11:52 PM

I know the ADA XM home tuner is 20-16....but don't remember the spec on the Polk XM. I agree with Sowen, you won't know the difference anyways, so let's say for now, it's more than qualified.

Sowen - I love that algorithm.

I have been an XM subscriber for a few years, and homebase is DC so my coverage is fantastic. I got in early because I didn't call dibs....they don't like that in XM country.

The SQ of XM, IMO, is like the very best FM station I've ever received.....very, very little background fuzz, but presentation is dead-on. If I didn't have a little fuzz, I might think I was doing something illegal.

OTA media is not going to have "life" per se, like running stuff at home, but it certainly cuts the mustard. Perhaps that's the next step, but I don't really care, I'm onboard. The entire scope of programming is kick-ass, and worth a look.

goingganzo

10-22-2004, 01:11 AM

hell why get this when you can get hi def digital fm same quality as xm but free i mean free.

dorokusai

10-22-2004, 01:47 AM

Gonzo - When you step into reality, let me know.

bknauss

10-22-2004, 10:42 AM

The tuner is spec'd at -1dB 20Hz-20kHz. I just looked at a unit that was better than -.7dB at the high and low end. You then have to factor in the roll off that the compression/decompression adds in. There is a roll off on the high and low, but its not bad at all.

SQ isn't CD quality, but its darn close. It sounds quite nice (an understatement) on Lsi7s :)

LittleCar_w/12s

10-22-2004, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by sowen010599
Frequency response......
whatyouwontnoticehz-whatyouwontmisstoomuchkhz +/- whateverdb
Sure yer not talkin about Sony? j/k

I considered satellite radio, but...
Honestly, I have to admit the biggest reason for having a PC for my music is internet radio. I have a 2-3gbps line, (cable woohoo!) and I can run audio streams down that are 128kbps MP3 based and up. They are working on MP4 streaming ATM, but we'll see. Go to Shoutcast (http://www.shoutcast.com/) to see what I'm talking about. A lot of these people put real effort into providing legal commercial-free music, and if you want to donate to help em cover that grand or so the open-liscence costs from the music industry, you donate to them, not XM or anything.
Just a though - Jerry