SiriusXM and B&O Unleashed sound quality

[RamblinMan]

There has been other posts about the sound quality of the B&O Unleashed system. It seems to be a love/hate type of thing. I am one of the people that is very disappointed with the sound. Thus far I’ve only listened to SiriusXM in the truck, no other music sources. It seems the sound is only coming through the center speaker in the dashboard. As a test my wife connected to the stereo via Apple CarPlay and used the SiriusXM app. It sounded great! I could hear sound from all of the speakers. When we stopped using CarPlay and used SiriusXM in the truck again is sounded like garbage even playing the exact same station. As previously mentioned, it seems that all the sound is only coming through the center speaker. I know the quick fix is to just use SiriusXM on my phone but that’s not an option since I’m on a shared family data plan and can’t be using data every time I’m in the truck. Is there a setting for SiriusXM that could possibly fix this? Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems very strange that the sound quality is so different for the exact same SiriusXM station depending on the source (truck or Apple CarPlay)

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[snoshuu]

There has been other posts about the sound quality of the B&O Unleashed system. It seems to be a love/hate type of thing. I am one of the people that is very disappointed with the sound. Thus far I’ve only listened to SiriusXM in the truck, no other music sources. It seems the sound is only coming through the center speaker in the dashboard. As a test my wife connected to the stereo via Apple CarPlay and used the SiriusXM app. It sounded great! I could hear sound from all of the speakers. When we stopped using CarPlay and used SiriusXM in the truck again is sounded like garbage even playing the exact same station. As previously mentioned, it seems that all the sound is only coming through the center speaker. I know the quick fix is to just use SiriusXM on my phone but that’s not an option since I’m on a shared family data plan and can’t be using data every time I’m in the truck. Is there a setting for SiriusXM that could possibly fix this? Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems very strange that the sound quality is so different for the exact same SiriusXM station depending on the source (truck or Apple CarPlay)

SiriusXM compresses their audio, so it will rarely sound as good as most anything you stream.

 

[RamblinMan]

SiriusXM compresses their audio, so it will rarely sound as good as most anything you stream.

Understood but there is something else causing this. My wife's 7 year old Acura has SiriusXM and it sounds WAY better than my F150. She just plays SiriusXM through the stock radio. It's frustrating because I've heard the capability of the B&O system via CarPlay. It should sound a lot better using SiriusXM in the Sync4 system. Also, why the sound is mainly only in the center dashboard spreaker is beyond me. It's why I asked if there is a setting somewhere (besides fade).

 

[snoshuu]

Understood but there is something else causing this. My wife's 7 year old Acura has SiriusXM and it sounds WAY better than my '21 F150. She just plays SiriusXM through the stock radio. It's frustrating because I've heard the capability of the B&O system via CarPlay. It should sound a lot better using SiriusXM in the Sync4 system. Also, why the sound is mainly only in the center dashboard spreaker is beyond me. It's why I asked if there is a setting somewhere (besides fade).

I agree, it should sound a lot better for the price. The equalizer controls are seriously lacking. My '17 Explorer Sport had better sound and equalizer controls with the factory Sony system than my F150. I can only guess that your wife's Acura has a better amplifier to compensate for the low bitrate Sirius transmits.

I only have the regular B&O system, not the Unleashed. However, I definitely can hear a difference between Sirius and streaming via Bluetooth from my Android on YouTube Music and Amazon Prime Music, which both sound noticably better than SiriusXM. I haven't even tried FM or HD radio yet.

I wish I could suggest a solution instead of observations.

 

[Merccat]

I have never been happy with the sound quality of SiriusXM. Maybe my ears are just sensitive to the compression but to me it sounds like everything is underwater, even in my Wifes Acura.

 

[daemonic3]

There has been other posts about the sound quality of the B&O Unleashed system. It seems to be a love/hate type of thing. I am one of the people that is very disappointed with the sound. Thus far I’ve only listened to SiriusXM in the truck, no other music sources. It seems the sound is only coming through the center speaker in the dashboard. As a test my wife connected to the stereo via Apple CarPlay and used the SiriusXM app. It sounded great! I could hear sound from all of the speakers. When we stopped using CarPlay and used SiriusXM in the truck again is sounded like garbage even playing the exact same station. As previously mentioned, it seems that all the sound is only coming through the center speaker. I know the quick fix is to just use SiriusXM on my phone but that’s not an option since I’m on a shared family data plan and can’t be using data every time I’m in the truck. Is there a setting for SiriusXM that could possibly fix this? Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems very strange that the sound quality is so different for the exact same SiriusXM station depending on the source (truck or Apple CarPlay)

I know what you mean, that center dash speaker absolutely dominates the mids. I had to fade 1-2 ticks to the back, it is the only thing I could do other than slide the mid slider down more.

Do you apply an EQ via your phone? I pre equalize on my phone when it is the source, so any phone source sounds better than FM or Sirius. I wish we could apply EQ per source (or even treble/mid/bass per source). When I crank things I am solo in the car and always use my phone (YT music, Sirius, Alexa) as source, but when family is in the car that's when I use Sirius and the sound quality isn't as important.

If anyone discovers a "developer settings" or some sort of hidden advanced menu for tweaking the B&O unleashed please share! Less center-dash dominance would be nice

 

[Waxer]

I listen mainly to my phone and will probably let Sirius expire, but I felt the same thing about the center front speaker dominating until I moved the fade from between the front seats to just behind the front seats. That seems to open up the speakers above and behind me for a much fuller sound. Since you are happy with your phone sound and not Sirius, this may not help you, but it was an "Ah ha" moment for me about a week into the new truck and my opinion of B&O Unleashed system has gone way up.

 

[wayne]

start complaints to ford. That is the only way to get their attention. For the amount of money you spend on that system it should be much better. Once enough complaints are issued they will do something about it. My Sync 2 by microsoft was junk for the navigation. we got enough people complaining they finally got another better system installed

 

[SonnyDigs]

I agree, it should sound a lot better for the price. The equalizer controls are seriously lacking. My '17 Explorer Sport had better sound and equalizer controls with the factory Sony system than my F150. I can only guess that your wife's Acura has a better amplifier to compensate for the low bitrate Sirius transmits.

I only have the regular B&O system, not the Unleashed. However, I definitely can hear a difference between Sirius and streaming via Bluetooth from my Android on YouTube Music and Amazon Prime Music, which both sound noticably better than SiriusXM. I haven't even tried FM or HD radio yet.

I wish I could suggest a solution instead of observations.

I hope you have tried HD Radio, it's awesome..
I am canceling Sirius Radio tomorrow.
Ridiculous to pay for radio that sounds as bad as it is..
Anyone reading this should never judge B & O Unleashed by what you hear from Sirius..
It should be embarrassing to provide a paid service for such poor quality of audio.

 

[SonnyDigs]

There has been other posts about the sound quality of the B&O Unleashed system. It seems to be a love/hate type of thing. I am one of the people that is very disappointed with the sound. Thus far I’ve only listened to SiriusXM in the truck, no other music sources. It seems the sound is only coming through the center speaker in the dashboard. As a test my wife connected to the stereo via Apple CarPlay and used the SiriusXM app. It sounded great! I could hear sound from all of the speakers. When we stopped using CarPlay and used SiriusXM in the truck again is sounded like garbage even playing the exact same station. As previously mentioned, it seems that all the sound is only coming through the center speaker. I know the quick fix is to just use SiriusXM on my phone but that’s not an option since I’m on a shared family data plan and can’t be using data every time I’m in the truck. Is there a setting for SiriusXM that could possibly fix this? Has anyone else experienced this?

It seems very strange that the sound quality is so different for the exact same SiriusXM station depending on the source (truck or Apple CarPlay)

I've only heard it through the truck, sounds horrible..
Will cancel Sirius tomorrow.

 

[SonnyDigs]

I listen mainly to my phone and will probably let Sirius expire, but I felt the same thing about the center front speaker dominating until I moved the fade from between the front seats to just behind the front seats. That seems to open up the speakers above and behind me for a much fuller sound. Since you are happy with your phone sound and not Sirius, this may not help you, but it was an "Ah ha" moment for me about a week into the new truck and my opinion of B&O Unleashed system has gone way up.

My settings are 2 clicks to the rear and one click to the right/passenger side.
To me from the driver's seat it sounds very balanced. Sounds awesome..
Even at that Sirius sounds horrible..

 

[CRAIGC540]

I gave up Sirius years ago, poor quality and if you listen long enough you can guess the next song. Also gave up FM radio for same reasons plus the commercials, I listen to YouTube audio paid subscription and it sounds awesome to me with no commercials and for YouTube videos and audio. Has anyone tried to play music from the usb. I am going to see if it plays Flac files.

 

[Tony Burgh]

I guess this is what happens when car people buy trucks.
Sheesh.

 

[CRAIGC540]

The USB plays all my np3 and flac music and sound really good.

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