2009 Silverado Radio Sound Quality

[jwichman]

I have a 09 Silverado reg cab with the AM/FM/CD and XM radio. Sound quality on XM is great however CD's and FM sound horrible. There is a buzzing noise heard at the end of words from talk radio and music sounds very tinny. It is almost as if a speaker is damaged, but again it is not heard during XM radio.

I've had it to the dealer several times. They've replaced both front pillar speakers and just yesterday they replaced the radio itself. No change. We found another similar pickup with the same radio system and it produced the same poor quality sound on FM. Anyone noticed this with their radio?

Thanks,

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by jwichman

I have a 09 Silverado reg cab with the AM/FM/CD and XM radio. Sound quality on XM is great however CD's and FM sound horrible. There is a buzzing noise heard at the end of words from talk radio and music sounds very tinny. It is almost as if a speaker is damaged, but again it is not heard during XM radio.

I've had it to the dealer several times. They've replaced both front pillar speakers and just yesterday they replaced the radio itself. No change. We found another similar pickup with the same radio system and it produced the same poor quality sound on FM. Anyone noticed this with their radio?

Thanks,

If the noise and distortion is when the engine is running this may indicate an ignition failure. arcing will generate radio freq. noises. these can enter the 12volt supply or antenna of the unit to cause this.

try another dealership with a vehicle like yours , see if it is just in your vehicle. cd and fm is not common in amplifier circuitry. xm sat radio would be digital. fm analog..cd is a digital to analog converter to then create sound power. analog circuits can pick up RF interference.

[jwichman]

Originally Posted by j cAT

If the noise and distortion is when the engine is running this may indicate an ignition failure. arcing will generate radio freq. noises. these can enter the 12volt supply or antenna of the unit to cause this.

try another dealership with a vehicle like yours , see if it is just in your vehicle. cd and fm is not common in amplifier circuitry. xm sat radio would be digital. fm analog..cd is a digital to analog converter to then create sound power. analog circuits can pick up RF interference.

Thanks for the reply,
The distortion/noise occurs all the time, ignition off or on, engine ruinning or not.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by jwichman

Thanks for the reply,
The distortion/noise occurs all the time, ignition off or on, engine ruinning or not.

Lets say you have a separate audio amplifier that is not part of the am/fm/cd unit. this amplifier maybe defective.

[jwichman]

Originally Posted by j cAT

Lets say you have a separate audio amplifier that is not part of the am/fm/cd unit. this amplifier maybe defective.

I had that same thought; there is a distinct difference in volume level between AM/FM/CD and XM. I suggested the external amp theroy to dealer, he said some have and some do not have a external amp, he didn't know whether mine did or did not. Seems they should know this information or at least have the ability to find out.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by jwichman

I had that same thought; there is a distinct difference in volume level between AM/FM/CD and XM. I suggested the external amp theroy to dealer, he said some have and some do not have a external amp, he didn't know whether mine did or did not. Seems they should know this information or at least have the ability to find out.

2009 with all the radio packages I bet crutchfield would know. ask them about this. state that the sound quality is poor with your OEM system.

With any electronic devices. even some simple electrical devices the dealerships just don't know ,or in most cases unwilling to help.

I don't have a shop manual on your vehicle . the dealership does. they just don't want to spend the time.If I had this I would look it up.

I would repost with your issue . ask if anyone knows if your radio/xm system has a separate audio amp.

[manshooter]

As I understand it, only the Bose systems come with the external amp located under the center console on the Silverados. All the others do not. That is what I was told by my top tech anyway.
I agree however that when it comes to radio noise most techs don't want to even bother with it, as it pays squat to do so.
If you complain enough however they will sometimes upgrade you to the better radio head just to get rid of you, and that may solve the problem. If not contact Chevy directly, and they will make them look into it and fix it for you.
Good luck.