Nissan Rogue, XM Mono or Stereo?

[webcool100]

I am a proud owner of a 2008 Nissan Rogue, SL AWD with AWD package and leather package. I have noticed that when I listen to XM, I do not see the ST symbol show up on my display that indicates stereo reception. I receive stereo reception when I listen to my local FM channels, but not when listening to XM (I checked all XM channels).

I initially thought that XM was broadcast in mono, but turns out that it is indeed broadcast in stereo. Does anyone else also experience this? Or do you think this is because my factory installed XM radio was not installed properly?

[Derango]

It's stereo. It doesn't show up for CDs and such too. XM is just different from AM/FM radio.

[philipa_240sx]

Funny, my sister had XM sat radio in her Mazda Tribute. She complained of the somewhat 'hollow' sound quality. Regular FM stations sounded better in her opinion. I wonder if was just the install or does sat radio always sound like this?

Anyway, the ST indicator indicates the presence of the FM radio stereo signal. Stereo inputs from non-FM radio sources including CD's, factory sat radio, and the aux input will not light up the ST indicator. Now if you used and aftermarket sat radio with an FM modulator, it produces an authentic FM radio stereo signal just like a radio station. The ST signal would then light up.

[Derango]

The sound quality issue is because of the compression used by XM radio.

99% of the XM channels are highly, highly compressed so it sounds kinda...blah. Especially if you're the type of person that can hear the loss of quality in a 128kbps mp3 file. CD quality it is not, and depending on what was on the channel, FM radio can sound better, yeah.

[philipa_240sx]

I think I will stick to listening free FM radio.

[bill875]

XM is in Stereo. The ST indicator is only for FM radio and just indicates the Stereo Pilot is being received from the FM radio transmission site. And to be fair, Sirius is no better. They both have this silly idea that consumers need a zillion channels. Frankly, I would rather only have 60 channels available, but with much less compression.

FM on my Bose factory head unit is by far the crappiest sounding FM I have ever heard. Do what I do, listen to AM for a few minutes, then turn XM on. It will sound great :P Haha!