Stock SiriusXM Satellite Receiver - Absolute GARBAGE in 2007 Ranger

[Jim_Philly]

I bought a 2007 Ranger FX4 L2 a few months ago. I have SXM in my 2015 Mazda and like it. I've been using my phone app to stream in the truck, but I found a way to snag the $5/month Platinum plan deal for a second vehicle and activated it on the Ranger. Man, the audio quality is absolutely horrible. Whatever digital compression they used on the receiver they used makes the news/talk channels sound like AM radio, and the music stations barely sound as good as terrestrial FM. I'm back to streaming from my phone via a Bluetooth receiver board wired to the aux port.

While this is more of a rant than anything -- if anyone happens to know whether there's a newer Ford OEM satellite receiver that uses the same 12-pin connector and is compatible with the OEM Pioneer radios in late 2000's Rangers, let me know. I picked up the "audiophile" stock head unit and am planning to connect my own sub+amp and some aftermarket speakers. I'd rather not modify the dash for an aftermarket unit.

 

[4x4junkie]

SiriusXM audio quality certainly leaves much to be desired for sure, although if you are happy with it on another receiver, then it does sound like there might be an issue with this one.

I don't have info on what units will have the correct connector, but I would definitely suggest trying to find a newer compatible unit if yours pre-dates the merger of Sirius & XM (receivers made before the merger won't be capable of receiving both satellite bands, and won't have all the channels of the combined SiriusXM).