Location, location, location!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
Location, location, location!
Can anyone tell me where specifically the Sirius antenna is, and if it can be upgraded/replaced/moved to improve reception? I mean honestly, I was driving under some single lane overpasses and getting dropout about five times longer than I was under concrete. It's friggin' ridiculous and I'd like to see about fixing the problem! (Googling the problem found a solution on Yahoo! that included fixes for aftermarket head units and aftermarket FM transmit units, and that said if it was a factory head unit you were out of luck. I don't believe that with this group's wisdom at my disposal!)
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
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GL450
As much as I enjoy our truck, I haven't been as impressed with some of the electronic goodies especially compared to my civic hybrid. I also lose sat radio signals passing under trees. I'm not talking about tree lined streets. Even on wide open San Francisco streets with a couple large trees on one side, it fades out. Civic XM radio worked fine except in tunnels and deep garages. I stopped using the ipod integration kit because the sound quality is much worse than cd's or sat radio (when I have a signal). The nav is slow and clumsy to operate. Rear seat entertainment is tough to operate if your rear passegers are toddlers.
No car is perfect though. I love the front and rear parking sensors and rear veiw camera. Love the MB cruise control controls. I will always pay extra for illuminated door sills from now on. Who knew such a little feature could give so much pleasure : )
No car is perfect though. I love the front and rear parking sensors and rear veiw camera. Love the MB cruise control controls. I will always pay extra for illuminated door sills from now on. Who knew such a little feature could give so much pleasure : )
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: MA
13 SL550, 14 E63 Wagon, 15 S550, 11 M3, 08 F430 Spider, 12 ML350
Yeah, the Sirius reception is probably my only legitimate gripe with the GL. Everyday on my ****y commute home I finally get on to some nice relaxing backroads for the final 5 miles and then I lose reception in the same 10 or 15 spots along the way, no bridges, just trees.
I end up using my iPod or FM. Seems like a lot of people with the same reception problem so yeah Steve must be the antenna so maybe we can figure out something here.
I end up using my iPod or FM. Seems like a lot of people with the same reception problem so yeah Steve must be the antenna so maybe we can figure out something here.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 71
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From: Dallas, TX
GL320 CDI, SL550
I have only noticed a drop of a second or two when going under a large overpass, like a 6 lane freeway; otherwise I've had no issues with sat reception.
Regarding the iPod sound quality, I played with the EQ settings on the iPod itself and found that the sound quality can be improved greatly if the EQ setting is on Loudness. Before I found this EQ setting the quality was horrible, now it is acceptable...
Regarding the iPod sound quality, I played with the EQ settings on the iPod itself and found that the sound quality can be improved greatly if the EQ setting is on Loudness. Before I found this EQ setting the quality was horrible, now it is acceptable...
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Can anyone tell me where specifically the Sirius antenna is, and if it can be upgraded/replaced/moved to improve reception? I mean honestly, I was driving under some single lane overpasses and getting dropout about five times longer than I was under concrete. It's friggin' ridiculous and I'd like to see about fixing the problem! (Googling the problem found a solution on Yahoo! that included fixes for aftermarket head units and aftermarket FM transmit units, and that said if it was a factory head unit you were out of luck. I don't believe that with this group's wisdom at my disposal!)
STP
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I plugged in my iPod mini yesterday and I thought the quality was pretty good. I have a tin ear though...:-)
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13 SL550, 14 E63 Wagon, 15 S550, 11 M3, 08 F430 Spider, 12 ML350
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by jpeardm
Nevada maybe you have a tin ear but you've got a body of steel and I'm sure a heart of gold 
Jack - how much you paying him? I will do it for cheaper
Jokes aside, Jack for President.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by Wigwam
Regarding the iPod sound quality, I played with the EQ settings on the iPod itself and found that the sound quality can be improved greatly if the EQ setting is on Loudness. Before I found this EQ setting the quality was horrible, now it is acceptable...
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Walnut Creek, CA
2022 GLE 350; 2016 BMW 428i gran coupe; 2014 Audi Q5 tdi
I agree that the GL sat radio is very disappointing. We decided not to continue the subscription after the initial free six months because of the frequent reception drops, etc. The ipod sound quality is also not very good. My aftermarket Dension ipod connection on my bmw is much better than the Mercedes unit.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 88
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From: Southern, CA.
2007 CL550 Black/Savanna Cashmere, fully loaded; 2006 Navigator; 2005 Corvette (Sold)
Can anyone tell me where specifically the Sirius antenna is, and if it can be upgraded/replaced/moved to improve reception? I mean honestly, I was driving under some single lane overpasses and getting dropout about five times longer than I was under concrete. It's friggin' ridiculous and I'd like to see about fixing the problem! (Googling the problem found a solution on Yahoo! that included fixes for aftermarket head units and aftermarket FM transmit units, and that said if it was a factory head unit you were out of luck. I don't believe that with this group's wisdom at my disposal!)
STP
STP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,189
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Has to be pretty far rearward to be compatible with the roof luggage boxes Mercedes offers as accessories, I'd think.
It's also a "triband" antenna, as it does cell phone and navigation gps, too.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
My 2 cents...I had XM Radio in our last vehicle and never had the number of dropped signal events I experience with Sirius. Even in my "home territory" traveled daily, the increased number of events is really annoying and noticable. So I too hope the Forums braintrust can solve this one
Maybe the fact that it's tri-band and taking care of GPS and cell phone as well puts it at a disadvantage. Wait, what cell phone does it do? Not bluetooth! Are we talking the wrench, info and SOS buttons?
This is madness. (Softball underhanded joke setup, waiting for reply.)
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Surely you understand that in some cities XM and Sirius have "terrestrial" broadcast capability? That is, same as FM or AM radio?
This would explain it working in a parking garage.
The Sirius antenna on your GL is designed to receive both signals.
The cell phone the antenna does is when you install your whatever in the cradle, i.e. not Bluetooth adapter. I'm using our old V60. And, yes, tele aid.
This would explain it working in a parking garage.
The Sirius antenna on your GL is designed to receive both signals.
The cell phone the antenna does is when you install your whatever in the cradle, i.e. not Bluetooth adapter. I'm using our old V60. And, yes, tele aid.
Last edited by lkchris; Sep 19, 2007 at 01:59 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
GL450 (Alabaster White/Black Interior)
I too am very disappointed in the Sirius system and the overall sound quality of the stereo in general. As I have posted before my wife's sound system in her Honda Odyssey is every bit as good or better then the GL's sound system. I also agree that the Ipod sound quality is marginal. Regarding Sirius, I lose reception in about three locations on my way home. I guess the reception in the northwest part of town (Jack's area) is better then the reception in the southwest part of town where I live. To add insult to injury, the Sirius renewal costs are about twice what they were for my wife's XM renewal (she got it for $77 for a year). I asked the Sirius rep what gives and was basically told "take it or leave it". I think I am choosing to leave it.
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Posts: 377
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From: .
08 GL450
In my current experience, Sirius has inferior sound quality and drops out a lot more vs XM, esp after XM's recent fidelity upgrade which really enhanced low frequencies and soundstage . Neither sound as good as a clear FM signal, but XM is getting close . Sirius as usual,still sounds tinny. There are lots of boards that go into the technical , satellite ,repeater aspects of why there is a performance and reception difference between XM and Sirius , content totally aside.
Of course, once the Sirius takeover of XM is completed, those of us who enjoy the choices we now have with satellite programming on our long drives to our weekend homes will have to settle for higher subscription prices, even tinnier more compressed dynamics , and 100 channels of Casey Kasem top-forty style clones and clowns , i.e., current sorry state of " free" FM radio .
Of course, once the Sirius takeover of XM is completed, those of us who enjoy the choices we now have with satellite programming on our long drives to our weekend homes will have to settle for higher subscription prices, even tinnier more compressed dynamics , and 100 channels of Casey Kasem top-forty style clones and clowns , i.e., current sorry state of " free" FM radio .
Last edited by MKW; Sep 19, 2007 at 02:26 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
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2007 GL450
Garbage In = Garbage Out
Hi Everyone,
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Hi Everyone,
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
The "tin ear" thinks this sound is pretty terrific...
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: .
08 GL450
Hi Everyone,
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
All of these formats are so digitized and so compressed it's ridiculous. I am an audiophile and was engrossed in the literature when CD's were first introduced and the sampling rate of 44.1kHz was feared to be way to low!! Now when you add MPEG compression of any type, your file size is so small it looses quality. It can't be at "CD Quality" as Apple likes to state. Then add the fact that you are listening on a car audio system and you are not going to have great sound.
Listen to quality audio at home with your CD"s. Be happy you have so many choices of music in your car for entertainment.
Our kids, the MPEG generation, will never understand quality audio, because it is all about convenience now, which mean small file sizes.
Remember the days of an analog dial AM/FM radio in the center of the dash with a 5 by 9 inch oval speaker on the top of the dash. I do. I am amazed and satisfied with what the engineers have managed to put into the GL for entertainment, AM/FM radio, iPOD, satelite radio, DVD players, 6 CD changer, game ports!
My 2 cents.
Gordon
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
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2007 GL450
MKW,
I agree with you to some degree. Be careful using the terminology "true audiophile."
We don't want to get into the "Golden Ears" arguments where guys say they can hear the difference between different interconnects in the system, which is bulls__t as we know.
There are still good and bad things about great analog systems.
Personally I really enjoy my system with SACD disks. I great format that never got a large following. I consider that audiophile digital quality.
Gordon
I agree with you to some degree. Be careful using the terminology "true audiophile."
We don't want to get into the "Golden Ears" arguments where guys say they can hear the difference between different interconnects in the system, which is bulls__t as we know.
There are still good and bad things about great analog systems.
Personally I really enjoy my system with SACD disks. I great format that never got a large following. I consider that audiophile digital quality.
Gordon
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by gordongl450
You know I always chuckle when the forum gets into the discussion of the poor sound quality of satellite radio and the iPOD integration. My question is poor sound quality compared to what? Another car, at home, what?
Originally Posted by MKW
My home reference system won't allow any digital source -only LPs.
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GL450
I've been comparing sound quality to the cd player playing the same tracks as the ipod. I know there are audiophile nuts out there. I'm not one but I know when something doesn't sound good enough.
I played with various ipod settings when I first got it. Pop and rap songs just don't have as much punch. I'll try loudness next. In my civic I use the headphone jack on the ipod and connect it to the auxilary plug in the civic and notice no difference in sound quality compared to cd's and the pc card slot.
I played with various ipod settings when I first got it. Pop and rap songs just don't have as much punch. I'll try loudness next. In my civic I use the headphone jack on the ipod and connect it to the auxilary plug in the civic and notice no difference in sound quality compared to cd's and the pc card slot.
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2007 GL450
we should at least get same fidelity
I was following your line of thought about audio in a car until you said "we should at least get same (did you mean some) fidelity regardless of source."
Define what you mean by fidelity. Do mean equal quality and representation of all relevant frequenices in the music, close to the orginal event, that is high fidelity recording and play back.
Or did you simply mean equal dynamic range or volume as you switch between sources. I agree with that, I have to turn up the volume on the iPOD to match the volume of the rest of the sources. That's a dynamic range matching problem since the iPOD has it's own internal volume control and recording adjustments. I have differnent volumes between songs on the same playlist.
In any event, my basic point is high fidelity discussions are difficult with car audio and severe digital compression formats are not in the realm of high fidelity.
Gordon
