Ask voice assistant to change station, was the only solution mentioned so far in other threads. Doesn't sound ideal

 

Yeah, when you have 25 presets for XM not a very fluid way. Not sure why XM or Acura doesn't have any work around.

 

It's the only gripe I have so far. I'm the same used to flip XM channels. I think I'm just going to change the way I listen to music with more Youtube Music / Spotify playlists as they have an app in Google Built-in (XM doesn't). The Apple Airplay / Android Auto drains too much of my phone battery for me so trying to stick to Google Built-in methods or even back to FM radio where you can actually flip channels via the steering wheel.

 

Agreed. I don't find the battery an issue, but I do like flipping stations....yes, Iguess I"m old and set in my ways. My kids have XM in their cars and say they never use it, they use Spotify etc and think I'm a dinosaur.

 

You can steering wheel flipping using the left wheel button on Android Auto, if the developer implemented it. Similarly you can switch stations by name if the developer implemented it.

My wife uses youtube music and I use Pandora, both work by wheel or voice. Siriusxm is confirmed to work by voice, has anyone tried by wheel? Even 2018-2024 mdxes could test the wheel control. I cancelled my siriusxm sub otherwise I would try myself.

 

were you able to download the Pandora app onto the car or are you using it on your phone/apple car play? I am not finding pandora much more user friendly then the sirius XM app. Neither seem ideal!

 

Wheel does not work to change stations either pushing or holding over. It will advance a song. Similarly you can't change playlists on YTM with a hold of the wheel, that would be ideal.

 

Maybe I am not understanding this, but on my 22 tech, I programmed favorite XM channels and then can access them with the left thumbwheel. Once XM is on, the wheel will scroll through the favorites by clicking it left/right. The control on the console will scroll through all the XM stations

 

Pretty sure the 2025 software is different than 2022 to 2024 … reading this I am happy I have a 2024 😉

 

Just picked up a 25 MDX Advance. First Acura and really love the MDX. But the SXM thing drives me crazy!
To me this is a big oversight by Acura. Including a SXM tuner in the car cannot be that costly, and I imagine it is subsidized by SXM as it would allow them to get subscriber revenue for many years.
CarPlay / Android Auto is a good but not great solutions. Cannot "channel surf". I like to go between channels or presets with the steering wheel or dash "seek" buttons.
The CarPlay / Android Auto app treats SXM more like Spotify / Pandora (create custom stations) and I use SXM in the car more like FM radio (with nationwide broadcast range).
I think the best solution (without a SXM tuner) would be a SXM app for Android Automotive (the OS the infotainment system runs) downloaded from the Google Play store.
When I first set up the car and my profile I was prompted to download Waze and Audible to the MDX. A SXM app downloaded to MDX that functions like built in SXM and runs off the data connection is an attainable fix for this situation. Android Automotive OS on the new MDX provides a platform where apps, features, and benefits can be added to the car for years as new services become available. And is a better experience than mirroring apps from your phone.

 

Put in a feature request with Sirius. I agree that would be helpful to have an app within Google Built-in not having to use android auto. I feel like Sirius is maybe seeing their actual satellite use is so lightly used (and confirmed that with polling my friends/family) they are strategically going away from the physical satellites and moving to just a streaming service? Only a guess.

 

Acura used to use SiriusXM traffic for their prior Here/Navteq Navigation. Now that they dropped that for Google Nav, I don't think they can justify hardware tuners any longer given the % of owners that use SiriusXM (they have telematics to know when it is used on prior model years).

Honda also dropped SiriusXM when they switched to google builtin. There are some aftermarket tuners that supposedly seamlessly work with these new Honda head units. Maybe they will also work with the 25 MDX?

 

I'm beginning to look into that as I now contemplate leasing a new 25 MDX A-Spec ADvance, in lieu of buying my 22 MDX Advance at lease end for $38,500 with 22.7K miles on it.... I would use a Used Car loan form A Credit Union at 5.89% for 5 years (with penalties for partial or full prepayments). THe new B&O stereo and the lack of a SAT Radio head unit, gives me Pause on the consideration. I intend to take an extended test drive today and make a final determination on my decision. I realize as an Old Timer, that New Cars have an "allure" to suck you in. Gotta keep the Brain in control of the heart.

 

I pitted Sirius XM against Tidal and found I have an easier time if I'm not having to flip through a bunch of SXM stations to find a song I don't hate whenever such a song comes up. I use the artist / song station feature on an artist or song I like and let Tidal build a Playlist for me. From time to time, go into Tidal from home and block songs or artists I don't like so I don't have to skip them on a drive. Tidal is cheaper, too... About $18 with tax for a 5-seat family plan. I did use the SXM app for a spell and agree that they could use to make it more car-friendly for us proletariat who don't own SXM receivers, though.

 

Question for the group (maybe a dumb one, so go easy on me) … I have several song lists created in Pandora and listen to it when biking, walking, and also when connected to the ELS via bluetooth … is the broadcast quality of XM better than that of Pandora?

 

I have a 3rd Gen and wasn't impressed with SXM. I could hear all kinds of compression artifacts. Bluetooth quality depends on the codec in use, so if you really want quality sound, your best bet is the CD player. Or else use the line-in and a headphone DAC from your mobile device.

My hearing isn't the best, so Bluetooth is good enough for me. Anyway, with road noise and whatnot, there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to music in the car.

 

Bluetooth is basically just as good as any other audio in a vehicle these days, I remember when you could actually hear a difference. The only thing Bluetooth lacks against other audio transmission methods is latency performance, which you can see if you ever try to watch a video on your phone with audio over the car speakers.

In a quiet listening room, Bluetooth isn't as good as digital or wired transmission, but a car is not a quiet place.

 

Carplay/Android Auto have higher capacity than bluetooth since they use wifi (after the bluetooth pairing process).

So the limiting factor is how good the audio comes in from the streaming provider or how good the music files are stored on your phone.

Pandora has a high quality mode if you are on a paid plan. I am not an audiophile but do notice the improvement when I select this mode. Web forums say flac files on your phone or Tidal streaming is the best quality. Don't know about SiriusXM quality.

 

Thanks … I have a paid subscription to Pandora and also to XM … do you think there’s any difference between the audio feed quality of them? My reason for asking is that to my untrained ears the XM seems to have a little better sound quality.

 

Under profile/advanced in Pandora, did you enable higher quality audio? I cancelled my xm sub a decade ago so no idea of its quality.

 

Ahdunno… gonnahavtachek. Thx

 

I don't think a car is the penultimate of audiophile environments, so less concerned with the audio quality, just want an easy UI to adjust the music. Sirius is worked themselves out of my rotation because of that.

 

Through 9 Acuras, this is my hierarchy on available sound quality in the vehicle...yes, it's subjective...

1. CD
2. Spotify (via corded iPhone)
3. Pandora (via corded iPhone)
4. Spotify and Pandora (via Bluetooth)
5. SiriusXM

 

Don't you dislike when the automakers make changes to tried and true features? This is somewhat similar to not realizing that my 22 MDX Advance did not have a CD player any longer or to the much appreciated Hard Drive like my 2019. Now they are eliminating Sirius/XM radio in the 25s. IMHO, this is just a new measure to force new car owners to use Streaming for everything. Next will be total elimination of AM/FM radio (for free anyway).
Per the Steering wheel controls, I use them alot, especially with HUD in my Advance which takes some of the "ouch" from the TTIP.

 

Has anyone tried the Crutchfield plug in the back antennae thing that then allows you to use all the buttons in the car and then not have
To use car play at all? It’s about $350 which is annoying after all the money I just spent on the car but better than going back and forth between all the screen as was described in an other post.

I’d just like to know if it actually works like it says it does

Actual name is Acura SiriusXM Radio OEM Factory Stereo Add-on Kit

Thoughts

 

There is also a similar kit sold by SRS Satellite Radio Superstore that is also called
Acura SiriusXM Radio OEM Factory Stereo Add-on Kit
I too wonder if this works like it says it does.

 

I will +1 this thread...picked up our '25 and no XM. We are Apple users so added the XM app to the phone to play through CarPlay. Two problems to this...1) we live in CO with these things called mountains where phone signals drop, so makes the app useless and 2) we road trip and not every road we are on has a signal. Our use cases are perfect for a true sat radio so we are sad about this option...I guess we are one of the few that uses XM still 🤷🏻‍♂️. This is more than a software update too...seems like the antenna on the '25 is not equipped to pick up sat radio so a tuner would require a separate antenna.

 

You are NOT the only one to use and enjoy Sirius/XM Radio!! I retired in 2021 (73 YO now) and after commuting was nullified by COVID Hibernation at my POE on March 17, 2020, [The only benefit of Work at Home was no more commuting - but Hated It due to several factors not for this Thread] I drove primarily on local Suburban trips with the 2X a month longer haul to visit Family. So, while driving I either listen to AM radio or switch to XM as desired. In my 22 MDX Advance....easy Peasy. I just Bit The Bullet" - took the trade in (lease expired now) of the 22 MDX, and leased a new 25 A-Spec Advance. I can post my initial feelings about the new one in anotjher thread. I am LIKING IT - But I am Bummed about not having that SAT Radio !! It's PIA now streaming it. Hoping to get more user friendly Info here on this Thread.

 

We just picked up our '25 and subsequently found out no satellite radio. Hard to believe as all cell towers, cable and the rest will be replaced by Star Link soon. Getting back to the issue, the dealer wasn't forthcoming about not having an XM app. They said that XM was supposed to have an automotive app ready but it's not. Soon to come? Larger issue is that the '25 antenna isn't Satellite capable (the thing that looks like a shark fin on the top of the car) there is an aftermarket device sold by Crutchfield and the Satellite Superstore. Has anyone tried one of these?

 

With the elimination policy employed by Acura (No XM Radio in the 25s), and the increases across the board on Prices, is it no wonder Acura Sales are in the toilet. Several On Line reviewers of all cars, have posted sales numbers - Acura is far down the list. Having a 22 MDX Advance which I truly enjoy and has beeen trouble free for over 3 years of leasing it, it is discerning to see this. It is apparently Acura's pricing policies, vs the likes of the New Mazdas, and others, that could be interpreted as the market's response to $$$$$$ vs comfort features. Forcing me to obtain a Sirius/XM Radio headunit, and antenna for $350+ is an outrage and a petty move.

 

So I'm stuck with a new MDX without a usable radio. (Live where cell phone and FM radio is totally unreliable). I have purchased a device from Cruthfield (Vais Technology GSR-HD08) satellite tuner that works with the factory radio. Item # 936GSRHD08.

Supposedly works with the steering controls and installs without radio removal. Will update this post as I work through the installation.

 

So I'm stuck with a new MDX without a usable radio. (Live where cell phone and FM radio is totally unreliable). I have purchased a device from Cruthfield (Vais Technology GSR-HD08) satellite tuner that works with the factory radio. Item # 936GSRHD08.

Supposedly works with the steering controls and installs without radio removal. Will update this post as I work through the installation.

When XM Radio 1st hit the scene - we had a new MDX (whatever year that was ....2001-2002?) had an after market XM installed. Was a totally separate screen but if I recall that small screen showed the channel and interfaced with the factory radio in what was the AUX setting. Also a small pod antenna that sat on top of the dash. Worked OK + used it on a motorcycle. Had OEM XM in every car we've owned since then. Cost now is about $70/yr/car regardless of what they think they'll get if you don't ask.

Fast forward, although I never owned a second gen NSX (more than a few 1st gen) Acura made XM Radio an optional dealer installed option (no shark fin on those cars w/o XM) from 2017's to the 2nd gen's demise in 2022. Got to say it was one of the reasons I didn't buy one and went to 911's. Side story a friend of my Wife's told her how much she liked the looks of her 2024 Tech. When she found out no XM in the '25's decided no way was she getting one w/o XM. BTW the new '25 RDX still has the touchpad + XM.

Acura seems to listen to their own drummer.

Here's what it looked like.....

 

We have a new 25 MDX- just download the SXM app & access it either through Apple Car play, Android auto, or the app itself on the car. The SXM app is much better than using the built in factory SXM that I have on my 19 Ford Ranger Lariat. You can pause, start/stop wherever you left off, unlike in my truck. Also, the subscription is much cheaper.

 

how did you get the app on the car? my 25 mdx doesn't have it nor does it show up in the google store

 

Streaming a music app is just like streaming a movie. If you have good internet... you will have a connection. In a car you can stream music in the city or on an interstate because you probably have internet/cell service. The issue is... if you don't have cell service...

If you don't have an internet connection you have nothing. Contrast satellite SXM music... it works anywhere,... in the mountains in the countryside. No cell service? Who Cares...

Give me the choice to push one button and enjoy my preferred music ... with both hands on the wheel.

 

Just received the device. Only two wires, unswitched power and a USB cable to plug into the MDX dash. This device $300 must be a Satellite reciever? Supposedly will allow stations to be changed with OEM controls. Intend to mock it up with a radio shack 12v power supply and plug it in to the dash. Hopefully will try tonight.