Vais Technology Xm radio kit installed

[shepsvettes]

I just installed the Vais Technology Xm radio kit. It dunds great. Hardest part was hiding the wires.

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[d7602002]

Nice! I kind of have that in my truck. My wife has Sirius XM in her car so I just use the app on my phone and then listen to it through the car speakers that way.

 

[Toddman45]

I just stream Sirius/XM via Bluetooth from my S22 Ultra sounds great can't even tell the difference when I plug my phone in with the USBC cable via Android Auto. Still sounds better than all of my Fords that have had XM tuners from the factory.

Something about Ford's tuners just sound horrible, whereas all my GMs that have had XM from the factory sound three times clearer.

 

[Jeff D.]

I just stream Sirius/XM via Bluetooth from my S22 Ultra sounds great can't even tell the difference when I plug my phone in with the USBC cable via Android Auto. Still sounds better than all of my Fords that have had XM tuners from the factory.........

I've read that the audio quality from streaming Sirius XM via your phone is actually higher quality than the signal from the satellites. My ears can't hear a difference, but some say they can.

I do like the extra channels I can get thru my phone. My main beef with streaming via the phone is the inability to quickly/easily change channels. I've unlimited data, so that part doesn't lean me either way.

Plus when streaming, I don't loose signal when passing thru tunnels.

 

[Toddman45]

I've read that the audio quality from streaming Sirius XM via your phone is actually higher quality than the signal from the satellites. My ears can't hear a difference, but some say they can.

I do like the extra channels I can get thru my phone. My main beef with streaming via the phone is the inability to quickly/easily change channels. I've unlimited data, so that part doesn't lean me either way.

Plus when streaming, I don't loose signal when passing thru tunnels.

I just have the stock XLT head unit on my 24, so no fancy sync for me like the lariats and I can and change the station from the display screen with my phone connected over Bluetooth only or connected it to the USBC using Android Auto.

I don't have the best ears either being a 46-year-old Union ironworker for 26 years but I still do have surprisingly good hearing and it's definitely better than the stock Ford XM tuners. Night and day for my previous f-150s as well as my current 2019 explorer Platinum with Sirius XM built in. Even my wife notices the difference in sound quality and I think she's deaf. Or maybe that's just what I'm talking to her.

Exactly I hate when going under overpasses you lose the signal with the XM tuner, where as streaming there's no issues losing the signal at least not for me on T-Mobile.

 

[Joester]

Nice! I kind of have that in my truck. My wife has Sirius XM in her car so I just use the app on my phone and then listen to it through the car speakers that way.

That's what we do too.
BTW: when your monthly bill comes due, make a phone call to XM. You can save a lot of money if you ask about an annual fee instead of monthly.

 

[Mark Adams]

I've read that the audio quality from streaming Sirius XM via your phone is actually higher quality than the signal from the satellites. My ears can't hear a difference, but some say they can.

I do like the extra channels I can get thru my phone. My main beef with streaming via the phone is the inability to quickly/easily change channels. I've unlimited data, so that part doesn't lean me either way.

Plus when streaming, I don't loose signal when passing thru tunnels.

Someone should create an app that will put a button for favorite channels on the phone's screen. Sirius XM used to have a favorites feature, but dropped it a while ago.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I've read that the audio quality from streaming Sirius XM via your phone is actually higher quality than the signal from the satellites.

I think that is true. I remember several years ago when I activated the SXM radio in my Acura, I was pretty disappointed with the sound quality compared to terrestrial FM radio. To me, the SXM broadcast was worth it, but I would say the compression is something like a 128kbps MP3 at best... Not great.

For the last year I have used the app in my truck, and if anything the sound is probably better than the FM radio.

That's what we do too.
BTW: when your monthly bill comes due, make a phone call to XM. You can save a lot of money if you ask about an annual fee instead of monthly.

I didn't know until I got my Maverick that SXM also offers a streaming-only plan. You can still prepay 12 months in advance, and you do still have to threaten to cancel every year to renew your "special offer" before the rate goes up 300% - but it's perfect for us since none of our vehicles have built-in satellite radios anymore.

 

[Justin says...]

I just removed this kit from my Maverick since I sold it. Will be listing for sale here in the next day or two if anyone is interested.

It worked very well and of course reception is highly dependant on where you mount the XM antenna. I had mine on the roof.

New these are $350, I'll be selling mine for about $220.

 

[Awesemann]

I have this system works great overall. Have to get a firmware update done to fix a couple of things.
I do use the XM app at times, only thing with it is that on road trip it will loose connection and stop playing, so I go back to the Vais system which uses the satellite and not the cell towers. So nice to have backup.

 

[edin702]

I manage my parents account and always stream it through carplay even in my previous car. So it costs me nothing thankfully. XM keeps spamming my phone calling I guess trying to get me a subscription as my free months is about to expire. And yeah it 100% sounds better streamed, but having XM in a fringe area/rural driving is nice though.

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