Ever switch sources in your car and feel the sound collapse as soon as you tap over to satellite? We pull back the curtain on why Sirius XM can feel flat and “blanketed,” tracing the problem to low bitrates, legacy codecs, and a hard ceiling on satellite bandwidth that forces tough choices. You’ll hear clear comparisons—48 kbps music channels and even lower talk channels versus 320 kbps streaming and lossless options—and what those numbers mean for stereo width, transient detail, and vocal clarity.
We walk through the tech without the jargon trap: how psychoacoustic encoding decides what to throw away, why the merger ballooned channel count but not spectrum, and how that pushed bitrates down even further. Then we look at the escape hatches. The Sirius XM app can climb to 256 kbps and relieve some pressure, but services built for fidelity still have the edge. Meanwhile, FM and HD Radio remain sleepers in this conversation: with a decent tuner and sane processing, they deliver cleaner stereo, more air, and less fatigue than the satellite feed many people default to on road trips.
From there, we shift to what actually matters for both creators and listeners. Most people don’t notice subtle artifacts unless they A/B sources back to back, which is why convenience keeps winning. But if you care about sound—or you’re building a brand around it—you can own the chain. We share practical steps for producers and broadcasters to protect dynamics, pick smarter encoders, and set bitrates that don’t sand off the highs. For listeners, we offer a simple testing routine and clear guidance on when to pick satellite, HD, or streaming so your setup fits the moment rather than fights it.
If you’re ready to hear more and settle for less mush, tap follow and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Share this episode with the audio nerd in your life and tell us your car A/B test results—what source wins for you, and why?

Send me a text message with your thoughts, questions, or feedback

Visible Wireless by Verizon
Same Verizon coverage, way cheaper bills. No contracts or hidden fees. $20 off for both of us.

Support the show

If you enjoyed the show, be sure to follow Fully Modulated and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app—it really helps more people discover the show.

Fully Modulated is not affiliated with or endorsed by any station, media company, or network. All opinions are solely my own.