Will this Sirius Radio setup sound good?

Question

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/SIRIUS-Stratus-Satellite-Radio-Receiver-and-Car-Kit-SV3TK1/sem/rpsm/oid/162049/catOid/-13091/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

and

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/SIRIUS-FM-Direct-Audio-Relay-FMDA25/sem/rpsm/oid/164589/catOid/-13091/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I am getting a new car, 2004 Dodge Neon SXT and I want to keep the stock cd player in it. Will this setup work and do I need the after market cd player to get this to work?

What would be the best setup and sound quality if that does not work.

Thanks.

So I would be looking at around $110 in just parts and no installation fees with all the parts you listed? Also how is the external antenna listed with the packaged radio?

Answer 1

I've installed very many Sirius satellite radio systems using the FM-direct adapter you linked, and have never had complaints about the sound quality. Using that adapter, the Sirius audio will sound like a very strong FM radio station, which is fine for most listeners in a car.

You can purchase an auxiliary input adapter for your vehicle that will give you a direct link for slightly better sound quality, but it's much more expensive and not worth the price difference in my opinion.

The antenna plug behind the radio in your Neon won't match the input on the Sirius FM-direct unit. If you make the connections behind the radio, you'll need to purchase a pair of antenna adapters: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra-Chrysler-Antenna-Adapter-40-CR10/sem/rpsm/oid/81051/catOid/-13100/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Metra-Chrysler-Antenna-Adapter-40-CR20/sem/rpsm/oid/53053/catOid/-13100/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

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That sounds about right, although if you search you can probably find the antenna adapters much more cheaply than on the CC site. The FM-direct adapter can also be found for slightly less money, as well.

In fact, there's a way to install the FM direct without the antenna adapters. Just about every Chrysler has a junction in the antenna cable, usually in the passenger kick panel area or behind the glove box. If you can find this junction, it's a standard "motorola" type antenna plug, which will fit into the Sirius FM-direct adapter without the Chrysler antenna adapters. However, it's harder to find this connection than it is to get to the antenna behind the stock radio. If you can find the junction you'll save some money.

The satellite radio antenna included with the tuner is similar to that found with just about every other Sirius radio; it's just a low profile magnetic mount antenna, but it works very well when it's installed on the outside of the vehicle. You just have to be careful not to kink or pinch the antenna cable while running it into the vehicle.

Answer 2

Sirius will work with any radio, even factory-installed. Direct connection is the best. I got my Sirius installed in my 2006 Escape. I had it done at HiFiBuys and they hooked it into the factory-installed radio. It works just fine.