[Markar]

I'm frankly shocked how much of a deal people are making of this. All over this forum people are getting aftermarket tint, aftermarket hitches, aftermarket plastidip, aftermarket rims, aftermarket speakers.

One phone call to a car audio store, and far less than one car payment, and poof! you have aftermarket SXM.

Scratching head over all this fuss. Acura has telematics uploads and knows exactly what percentage of its owners used SXM over the past decade. Not like contacting them is going to tell them something that they don't already know. They needed the sat antenna in prior years to support Acura navtraffic, now with Google builtin SXM has to stand on its own. Some bean counter looked at the telematics and decided the Antenna cost wasnt worth it for SXM subscribers alone.

So... aftermarket.

If Acura wants to be considered a up scale brand and compete with big boys put SXM back in . Look at GM
and what the bean counters did to that company.

 

[dwboston]

If Acura wants to be considered a up scale brand and compete with big boys put SXM back in . Look at GM
and what the bean counters did to that company.

Nothing says "upscale" like a 30-year old technology that the vast majority of Acura's customers don't use beyond the free trial, if at all.

The Google-based infotainment is light-years better than what I had in my previous two vehicles, a 2019 RR Sport and a 2015 Audi A8.

 

[Almatti]

Email sent.

If one is strictly an urban dweller, streaming via phone may be reasonably viable (if not nearly as convenient) alternative to XM radio.

If you routinely travel where cell service is marginal or missing, streaming is worthless whereas XM radio works consistently and reliably.

That Friend is pricely the main point about the removal of the SAT Reciever. You could access Sirius/XM W/O a Cell phone. Well, maybe Acura working with Sirius will provide abaility to Down Load the SXM app to the MDX's Google based system allowing for play with no Phone. I think I have that right? TIDAL, Spotify, Amazon Music are all loaded in my MDX's system allowing me to ask Alexa or Hey Google (I think Alexa works better/faster) to "Play Music from Amazon". She then says.... "here's something you might like"!

 

[Markar]

Nothing says "upscale" like a 30-year old technology that the vast majority of Acura's customers don't use beyond the free trial, if at all.

The Google-based infotainment is light-years better than what I had in my previous two vehicles, a 2019 RR Sport and a 2015 Audi A8.

I find it funny you used the line 30 year old technology here we are still driving internal combustion engine .
I did get your point . SXM is easy to use as I am driving. Drove from West Hartford Ct to Wildwood Fl and my programing taste very greatly SXM covered all for me with a push of a button / icon .

 

[dwboston]

I find it funny you used the line 30 year old technology here we are still driving internal combustion engine .
I did get your point . SXM is easy to use as I am driving. Drove from West Hartford Ct to Wildwood Fl and my programing taste very greatly SXM covered all for me with a push of a button / icon .

I find it funny you think SXM is "upscale".

 

[mdxstang]

Nothing says "upscale" like a 30-year old technology that the vast majority of Acura's customers don't use beyond the free trial, if at all.

I imagine Acura knows that number, i.e. the percentage of customers who use XM beyond the free trial period, and that it likely was a variable in the equation of whether to continue to offer it or not. It'd be interesting to know what the number is.

 

[golftango]

Bottom line, SXM sounds like garbage because it is so badly compressed. The advancements in BT and ACP/AA trump SXM. That is the reason it is gone. IMHO, if you must need SXM, use the app. It's cheaper too.

 

[raceparts]

If Acura wants to be considered a up scale brand and compete with big boys put SXM back in . Look at GM
and what the bean counters did to that company.

If the bean counters made the decision, why install paddle shifters, G force meter ( in a base model; family SUV).... is beyond my comprehension. I don't think SXM cost much of anything for the factory to include, the customer has to buy the subscription.

 

[MaximusMDX]

View attachment 134229
A friend owned a car with a turntable. Used to play 45s on it.

Must have sounded great while traveling over those dirt and cobble stone roads...

 

[MaximusMDX]

Bottom line, SXM sounds like garbage because it is so badly compressed. The advancements in BT and ACP/AA trump SXM. That is the reason it is gone. IMHO, if you must need SXM, use the app. It's cheaper too.

Pandora ,"Free" (Sunset Mix) Channel, sounds incredible and the best you will find out there, on the ELS system. Check it out and tell me I am wrong (but you won't be able to.) Zero distortion at higher levels and it takes advantage of all the speakers and different intervals.

 

[dyonchik]

I'm frankly shocked how much of a deal people are making of this. All over this forum people are getting aftermarket tint, aftermarket hitches, aftermarket plastidip, aftermarket rims, aftermarket speakers.

One phone call to a car audio store, and far less than one car payment, and poof! you have aftermarket SXM.

Scratching head over all this fuss. Acura has telematics uploads and knows exactly what percentage of its owners used SXM over the past decade. Not like contacting them is going to tell them something that they don't already know. They needed the sat antenna in prior years to support Acura navtraffic, now with Google builtin SXM has to stand on its own. Some bean counter looked at the telematics and decided the Antenna cost wasnt worth it for SXM subscribers alone.

So... aftermarket.

Google is NOT completely built in. There is a partial Play Store, but doesn't have the SXM. You need a phone for that, even if car has its own data plan. The issue for me is the driver distraction to change stations. Almost every decent car has controls on the wheel...and they work. I am also amazed at all the discussion of music quality on SXM. IF you want quality music listening...stay home . This is on the road information and entertainment in an imperfect vehicle listening environment. Supposedly the after market from VAIS works and with the wheel controls, but they run another antenna under the trim and out the tailgate and snake a power wire to the fuse box....not what I would expect to do to a 2025 MDX S-type.

 

[MaximusMDX]

Google is NOT completely built in. There is a partial Play Store, but doesn't have the SXM. You need a phone for that, even if car has its own data plan. The issue for me is the driver distraction to change stations. Almost every decent car has controls on the wheel...and they work. I am also amazed at all the discussion of music quality on SXM. IF you want quality music listening...stay home . This is on the road information and entertainment in an imperfect vehicle listening environment. Supposedly the after market from VAIS works and with the wheel controls, but they run another antenna under the trim and out the tailgate and snake a power wire to the fuse box....not what I would expect to do to a 2025 MDX S-type.

I actually thing it was SXM no longer offering it to Acura for free or actually paying them.

 

[raceparts]

Pandora ,"Free" (Sunset Mix) Channel, sounds incredible and the best you will find out there, on the ELS system. Check it out and tell me I am wrong (but you won't be able to.) Zero distortion at higher levels and it takes advantage of all the speakers and different intervals.

And you can change your selections and choose this App with your hands on the wheel?

 

[2005MDXMAN]

I have a 2025 SType. Traveled from MN to AZ and back. Listened to XM throughout the trip. No steering wheel controls but you can change stations with voice commands or use the touch screen.

 

[hondo164]

Not necessarily true, maybe if you are in extremely remote region… I live in western NJ and traveled 250 miles southeast of State College, PA which is not urban for a trout fishing trip and was able to listen to Sirius XM all the way there and back.

I thought it would be an issue but don’t find it to be hell I am no youngster and adapted to slightly change my habits. I didn’t buy the car just for the SiriusXM radio. I bought it because I’ve been a Honda/Acura owner since 1984

 

[mcmillonbe]

If the bean counters made the decision, why install paddle shifters, G force meter ( in a base model; family SUV).... is beyond my comprehension. I don't think SXM cost much of anything for the factory to include, the customer has to buy the subscription.

I love paddle shifters! With the mountains nearby, I appreciate the additional transmission control. I had them in my Forester XT and Honda Ridgeline, and I used them every day coming down from Alta. I still have to show my wife how to use her paddle shifters in her new RDX.

A manufacture would probably gain a lot of customers if they offered at least 3 years SXM coverage.

 

[bregan507]

I'm frankly shocked how much of a deal people are making of this. All over this forum people are getting aftermarket tint, aftermarket hitches, aftermarket plastidip, aftermarket rims, aftermarket speakers.

One phone call to a car audio store, and far less than one car payment, and poof! you have aftermarket SXM.

Scratching head over all this fuss. Acura has telematics uploads and knows exactly what percentage of its owners used SXM over the past decade. Not like contacting them is going to tell them something that they don't already know. They needed the sat antenna in prior years to support Acura navtraffic, now with Google builtin SXM has to stand on its own. Some bean counter looked at the telematics and decided the Antenna cost wasnt worth it for SXM subscribers alone.

So... aftermarket.

Well said. I simply don't see the big deal. If you must use satellite, I found this: Acura OEM Factory SiriusXM Radio Controls. It looks really easy to install...but save your money and use Android Auto/Apple Car Play instead.

 

[Tim B]

Email sent.

If one is strictly an urban dweller, streaming via phone may be reasonably viable (if not nearly as convenient) alternative to XM radio.

If you routinely travel where cell service is marginal or missing, streaming is worthless whereas XM radio works consistently and reliably.

Your comment is spot on. The XM app works if you have a Cell signal. I just made a cross country trip and tried using the app. It cut in and out pending available cell signal. Switched to streaming my own music from the phone.

 

[mdxstang]

I just made a cross country trip and tried using the app. It cut in and out pending available cell signal. Switched to streaming my own music from the phone.

Another thing people can try if the app version is cutting in and out but other streaming apps don't - try changing the SXM app settings to stream at a lower quality. I know the true audiophiles here would be aghast at that but it really doesn't make a difference if one is streaming talk or sports or to most of us whose ears really aren't that great. Streaming at a lower bit rate would make it less likely the sound will cut out if on a tower that's bandwidth challenged for some reason. I haven't used the SXM app but from reading online it appears to have a setting for 'quality'.

I've streamed more than most of you when doing my cross country road trips across the top of the country, the very bottom, many routes in between, more remote areas, etc. and I'm surprised by how good connectivity is nowadays. Of course there'll be some areas when off of freeways that have no service but surprisingly few areas unless one is very remote and surrounded by mountains. My experience has been with the ATT network.

 

[Macallan1]

If Acura wants to be considered a up scale brand and compete with big boys put SXM back in . Look at GM
and what the bean counters did to that company.

Why does Acura force on the customer things they don't want and take away things they want and like. Bean counters and fuzzy brains strike again and again.