I am considering getting satellite radio for my car. I am pretty sure that I want Sirius because the receivers are much cooler and I hear that the stations are much better. Does anyone have a receiver that gets really good sound quality that is available on the market today? I am not concerned about price, but mainly sound quality. I also don't want it looking like crap either. I like how most Sirius receivers come with the suction cup feature/ car kit, which is good, so it does no permanent damage. I would also like a remote. I saw this picture of a receiver on CarDomain.com and decided that I was going to do mine that way as well. He put the receiver on the far right on the passenger side, by the door. I really like that, and if anyone else has any clever spots to put theirs, let me know. Thanks

 

I have the sirius starmate and it fits perfectly in the gap where the ashtray is. I take it out and flip open the flap and voila. Perfect.

 

On my last car, I mounted it on the console in front of the gear shifter. For my 8, I went with the factory unit inside the dash. I did this mainly because the old one was an FM modulator type of unit and the sound is crap. Lots of static.

Also, there are no exposed wires. My last car had the antenna wire run under the carpet to the trunk and I tripped and yanked out wires. Mazda ran the wires under the head liner.

 

I am debating between 2 models. One has great sound quality, but the other looks as though it was made for the RX-8, with red backlight, silver, and black all within one unit, but does not get good sound quality. The other, still looks good, but does not match the interior. Which do I choose?

 

Dissenting opinion: Sirus sucks.

The content is fine, but it loses the signal at the drop of a hat. I can't drive down a shady tree-overhung street without it losing it all over the place. From what I've read and heard about XM, it's not nearly so bad about that.

 

I has mine installed directly over the rear view mirror. It is completely out of the way. The sirius stations sound great, as clear as cd. There has been temporary reception issues also driving under overhanging trees along the road......But - still worth it for content and sound.

 

I used the Sirius Starmate Replay ST2. Cut out the ash tray a little bit and ran the wires under the center console to the antennae which is on the back deck and a PIE adapter and noise filter. I put velcro to hold it in place. It sits really snug. A very nice fit.
Although the PIE adapter works nicely, the RF modulator (to my surprise on 107.7) worked great. I never had to change the station and it was clear. The advantages of it being hard-wired in are obvious.

If you cut the ashtray, just make sure there is enough room for the audio-out cable so it doesn't "flex". It messes up the audio and can break the insert very easily.

buying it from a reputable seller like Crutchfield makes it easy to return in case any "issues" arise.

 

Krankor,

I have to disagree as well on the Sirius. As I drive under a parking garage on my way to work and don't lose the signal. As for the FM Modulation I have the first generation Starmate ST1 (which i think is the one you are saying matches the interior Zoom Zoom) and the modulation works great. You just need to find a clear station. I am listening to it now in my house using the FM Modulation and from 10 feet away it is having no problem. YMMV, just my 2 cents

 

Sirius Starmate Replay.
I used a dremel and the unit fits perfectly in the ashtray.
I can close the lid, so it is hidden.
I removed the mounting bracket from the suction cup device since it only has 1 screw.
I screwed that into the ashtray and mounted the mounting bracket to it.
I leave the SAT unit in the car since it is hidden.
But, I can pop it out if I want thanks to the snap in/out bracket.

I am also direct-connected via PIE adaptor with Mbus-> mini-jack.
GO direct connect.. skip modulation.
Makes no sense to me to beam your digital SAT music to your radio over FM.
Again.. my opinion.
-BB

 

It's hard to find an unused station with the FM modulator if you live in a larger metropolitan area. There is always some bleed over from a nearby station which causes static. Also, on long drives you must change the FM station and reset the radio to that station, when that station is no longer unused. Driving from Tampa to Jacksonville, I had to reset about 2 times.

I have very little drop out of signal with the Mazda unit. With my FM modulator unit (Audiovox), it would cut out when I was getting gas. Sirius stays on when I'm underneath an overpass with my current radio.