Stiletto Premium Sound Questions ???

me_rubin · 07-31-2007, 07:31 PM

Now that I finally got the updated ZAP, and now that the stiletto will support the better sound, once the Premium works, I think I'll sign up for it.

For you Premium Sound Experts, I got a couple questions about the premium service.

1. Does it work for all your Sirius internet ID's? for the $2.99 a month or only one id. - I'm guessing it's per internet account

2. If the Stiletto is not your master account, how do you tie the premium to it? - I would guess the id that is for your stilettto.

3. Which sound should sound better, The the 128K bit rate from the internet or the sound using the Satellite? - If the Satellite is better what is the bitrate? Is this the same if you use the Echo Repeater?

Thanks,

Mike

bclbob · 07-31-2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me_rubin

If the Satellite is better what is the bitrate?

The satellite bitrate on premium quality channels is around 42kbps.

me_rubin · 07-31-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclbob

The satellite bitrate on premium quality channels is around 42kbps.

So, the Premium rate of 128k would be the best sound... I assume it means the recordings take up the most space too.

bclbob · 07-31-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me_rubin

I assume it means the recordings take up the most space too.

no recording over wifi, remember.

SISO · 07-31-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclbob

The satellite bitrate on premium quality channels is around 42kbps.

What?????

It's got to be ATLEAST 64kbps.

papi34 · 07-31-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclbob

The satellite bitrate on premium quality channels is around 42kbps.

Interesting... so the bitrate on the economy SIR (28kbps) is not that far off from the premium quality channels (42kbps) in satellite mode?

...and the premium SIR (128kbps) blows away the premium quality channels (42kbps) in satellite mode?

At what bitrate are the other channels (i.e. non premium) broadcast in satellite mode?

snakester · 07-31-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SISO

What?????

It's got to be ATLEAST 64kbps.

You have to remember that Sirius is using the PAC codec, which is a lot more efficient than most codecs at low bitrates.

bclbob · 07-31-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SISO

It's got to be ATLEAST 64kbps.

Based on what?

bclbob · 07-31-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi34

At what bitrate are the other channels (i.e. non premium) broadcast in satellite mode?

I'd have to look per channel - the easiest way is to record a song using an S50 then find out the resulting file size - from there you can calculate the bitrate.

snakester · 07-31-2007, 08:20 PM

Hey, if you have some spare time, can you figure out what the bitrate of the Punk channel is? It sounds a lot lower than most of the other channels.

me_rubin · 07-31-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclbob

no recording over wifi, remember.

That's if I record it from my stiletto. My PC records just fine...
Better yet, the MP3 that it recorded can be played back in the stiletto.

I was just wondering which would be the best to record.

SISO · 07-31-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclbob

Based on what?

Based on my ears listening to Sirius then a song at 64kbps. haha

idioso · 07-31-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me_rubin

Now that I finally got the updated ZAP, and now that the stiletto will support the better sound, once the Premium works, I think I'll sign up for it.

For you Premium Sound Experts, I got a couple questions about the premium service.

1. Does it work for all your Sirius internet ID's? for the $2.99 a month or only one id. - I'm guessing it's per internet account

2. If the Stiletto is not your master account, how do you tie the premium to it? - I would guess the id that is for your stilettto.

3. Which sound should sound better, The the 128K bit rate from the internet or the sound using the Satellite? - If the Satellite is better what is the bitrate? Is this the same if you use the Echo Repeater?

Thanks,

Mike

didn't seem like anyone answered your questions but here are some answers....

1. One SID per premium account upgrade. If you have multiple subs it only applies to one of them (unless you want to shell out more monies)

2. You have the option to make any of your subs have premium access. You should just pick the SID of your stiletto.

3. Satellite in my opinion sounds much better. The premium feed via their website sounds tinny in my opinion but whatever, we're all entitled to our opinions) I still haven't saved the money for the repeater (may not need it as I am moving at the end of the month.)

If they get it working right it'll be worth the money. Instant SIRIUS party at any house that you go to with wifi...seems like a no brainer! do it but only after it gets the bugs worked out.

**DAB** · 07-31-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by me_rubin

So, the Premium rate of 128k would be the best sound... I assume it means the recordings take up the most space too.

Mike I think you'll have to let your ears be the judge of that. Bitrates can sort of be deceiving with sat radio due to the codecs and compression used. To my ears the 128kbps feed sounds better than the Sat feed, but then at other times I'd have to say just the opposite.

I also find that sometimes the 128kbps feed will seem to drop down and sound like crap and then pick up again. Not sure if this has to do with the bandwidth at my location, though from all indications I should be able to run 128kbps feed with zero issues. But I do have locations where with all the net traffic it can cause the SQ to tank a bit.

Overall the SQ is more stable on the Sats, just my opinion.

snakester · 07-31-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAB

Mike I think you'll have to let your ears be the judge of that. Bitrates can sort of be deceiving with sat radio due to the codecs and compression used. To my ears the 128kbps feed sounds better than the Sat feed, but then at other times I'd have to say just the opposite.

I also find that sometimes the 128kbps feed will seem to drop down and sound like crap and then pick up again. Not sure if this has to do with the bandwidth at my location, though from all indications I should be able to run 128kbps feed with zero issues. But I do have locations where with all the net traffic it can cause the SQ to tank a bit.

Overall the SQ is more stable on the Sats, just my opinion.

Listening to the Premium Stream today, I have to say that it seems to be much wider in it's stereo separation. Other than that, however, it seems to be about the same, if not a little better as the more popular channels, and a LOT better than the lower bitrate music channels.