Ok so I got the new system and the sound quality of the radio is poor.. but its the radio what do you expect? Does XM have a better sound to it than FM radio? I heard its compressed music and sounds worse than FM.

Yes it is compressed, but the quality is similar to high quality MP3. Far superior to FM, but not as good as CD, assuming you don't use the RF adapter. If you use the RF adapter it will be slightly better than FM, but similar and the wireless RF just plain sucks ass! I know because I use that in my Freightliner. Very poor quality and irritating as hell trying to find one station to tune into.

So yeah, excellent sound quality from XM, but how you hear it depends on how you have it hooked up. Best way is to get a proper SAT ready head unit and the proper SAT tuner. That's how muy X is set up and it totally kicks ass compared to the Freightliner setup with the wireless RF.

Yeah I was looking into the XM Direct Connect Box. So yeah the RF. As long as it sounds better than FM, thats all I need. Thanks!

My wireless MyFi XM kicks ass. After read up on it I thought that I would need a direct connect but after actually hearing it. It rocks. I don't know about the other xm systems but MyFi gets 2 thumbs up.

Isnt that the XM2Go?

I have the Sirius satellite radio in my Xterra, my truck, and in the house. Great sound. No distortion with the wireless unit, but I am in a rural area. In a metro area you will get some bleed thru on the settings, so then a direct connect unit is best. FYI: Radio Shack has a Sirius unit for $50 on sale...........

and XM is having a 2 for 1 sale: buy any xm reciever (skyfi, roady, myfi) and a get a free Roady2.

Best invention since the, "Hi-Fi."

Yep. Best $300 I have ever spent. It seems expensive but it come with all the crap you need to connect to everything instead of having to buy several kits AND it has it's own built in antenna as well as a crappy portable antenna. It sucks for jogging unless you are jogging in one direction but fantastic for hanging at a campsite or the beach. It has a 5 hour battery life and it can record 5 hours of programming...which is kinda neat.

Real dumb question, does it work indoors if I am at the gym?

I have a Sirius wireless. I unscrewed my FM antenna from the hood of the X and I have no problems with sound quality.

beefums, the MyFi will work at some locations indoors. I can pick up repeaters at one gym in Atlanta, but not the other gym I also go to. If you live in a larger city, most likely you will get the signal indoors. If not, you could always record 5 hours worth and listen to that.

How do I avoid the horrible FM Modulator and hardwire to the back of the stock X radio. Must the radio be pulled? Guess I'd need a radio shop if so.

The myfi's fm modulator is quite good but there is a direct connect strait to the antenna and rca outs....I don't think the stock x had rca ins though...

I have the roady 2. Using the wireless transmitter built into roady 2 I get great sound. = cd quality and far better than the fm signals.

Hope to install XM in Xterra sometime soon. Will use FM modulator to direct connect to antenna. Previously had this connection in Liberty and sound was OK for me. This part appears easy enough. Need input on how to route XM antenna. Would like to place on rear roof. Any ideas. Thanks

Well, you're local to me, so I could help you with all the panel removal.

I wouldn't put the antenna anywhere the rack could interfere with it. I mounted mine in the roof basket on an L bracket... wire down the windshield channel, into the cab through the passenger side grommet.

I'm sure we could find a good place for your '05

Also remember to check out the Southeast Xterra Frontier Club http://www.sxfc.org

We'd love to have you come to our events!

Thanks Adam. I will try front side. Did not see easy way to route via windshield. May take you up on panel removal help. Will try to get pics when I install. Going to Tsali this weekend - will not attempt install until next weekend. Thanks for heads-up on sxfc.