I am considering changing out the radio in my truck, with one that is MP3, and Sirius tuner. I was wondering what some of you guys have, how you like it, and how much was it. I currently have an external XM tuner for mine, but am considering changing over to Sirius. I have 15 CDs in the truck, and would like to get them into MP3 to cut down on the 'rotating' of CDs. Let me know what you guys have. Thanx.

 

I was just looking at new stereo's at WalMart and the one's that are Sirius ready seem to be more expensive. I have no idea what the tuner attachment costs but how much is the ability to listen to Howard Stern worth?

I have a lot of money invested in CD's and a CD player is essential. If I get one that can play MP3's then I can burn my own selections of 70 or so songs onto a CD so who needs a changer? I figure a good unit will cost me $200 byt the time I get all the stuff necessary to hook it up.

Edwin

 

With 180~ channels to listen too, it's not about Howard Stern. I flipped his show on one day. It was every bit as boring as listening to Rush Limbaughs childish tantrums.
The Sirius or XM ready head units at Walmart are satalite radio ready. That means they have the plug recepticle in the back to plug a tuner into. I don't know of any that actually have the tuner built in. I could be wrong but I don't think so. Even my factory Dodge Sirius receiver is high up in the dash on the left side by the emergency brake peddle. I know as I put it there. Santa wife got it for me.

 

I am as interested in Howard Stern, as I am the prostate exam I have to get every year . I want it for the better Country music I have been told they have. I have found a bunch of satalite radio 'ready' units, and even a couple of radios that have internal tuners. If I have to get the external tuner, to go along with the 'ready' radios, I will. But if I can find a "all-in-one" for the same price, I will go that way. That is why I wanted to see what some of you guys paid for your set-up.

 

Now you've got me curious about the head units. It would be nice to have one with the satalite receiver built in for the next truck. If you like country music without someone screaming at you about the latest Toyota deals every few minutes, you'll love channel 60. I like that one and "hair band" channel 23. Full of fuzzy rock ballads. All the channels are very well catagorized. I listen to CNN a lot too. Fox is there as well as some screaming conservative stations and whining liberal stations. I can't stomach either. There's definately something for everyone from righ wing Christian extremists to Howard Stern garbage.

 

My wife bought me a XACT Sirius satellite radio that has a built in FM transmitter. Works pretty good and only $43 at Target. Even came with a remote. I mounted the antenna on the dash against the windshield.

MikeyB

 

Comparing Howard Stern to a yearly prostate exam...... how fitting

Anyway, Currently I am running the stock 01 dodge junk stereo system, which has held up to our extremes of temperature quite well, compimented by a Sirius Streamer GT head unit broadcasting to 88.9 FM. This setup works extremely well for my purposes.

The head unit fits nicely into that waste of space they call a "map pocket" in the dash. I am not sure what good that cubby does otherwise, unless you have a really small buddy that needs a ride somewhere. The head unit, and the switches for my auxilliary lights etc. fit in there just like it was meant to be.

Thats just my setup, maybe it helps, maybe not. But what the heck.

Enjoy listening to anything but Howard.

 

I have a Kenwood KDC-879 in my truck. Got it about 2 years ago and love it. It is Sirius ready, and at the time, if you bought a Kenwood head unit, they threw in the Sirius receiver for free (~$100). I think I paid about $350 for the unit. It plays MP3s, has an aux jack in the back, so you can hook up an external MP3 player or Ipod if you want. The front flips down when the key is turned on and folds up and hides out of the way when key is off, so it looks like a black insert where the stereo is. You can also remove the front face plate if you want. For the best sound quality, get a head unit that is Sirius ready (an external receiver will plug into the back). The FM modulator units are OK, but not as nice sounding as having a receiver hardwired into the unit. When I was looking, no manufacturer offered a head unit that had a Sirius Satellite tuner built in to the head unit (Alpine offered a head unit with an XM tuner built in, but you lost a lot of other features because of the room the built in tuner took up). Things may have changed in the last 2 years, maybe manufacturers are offering satellite receivers built into the head unit AND still retain the high feature capability (like pre-amp outs, aux jack, high power etc).
My model is no longer offered, but they have similar stuff out.


~Rob