I have test both of these services and the results are suprising. XM is like a bunch of radio guys in a room playing their favorite turntable hits. The quality is great. However the spoken word programmming blows. ABC and BBC World Service sound like a bad 5 k voice circuit. The other news and information programs are re-transmissions of tv audio.
Sirius on the other hand sounds just great. The WRN feed of international radio stations is awesome. BBC WS is studio quality as well. It's worth paying extra for. But looking at the modifications I can make to the Grundig YB 400 to make it a DRM machine, well I don't think either of these two services are worth it. XM blew out 90 people last week.
And can you belive the CC wants to do to UK radio what it's done in the US. No more nightime or all night talent for starters and then the total blanding of stations like Capitol 1 and Capitol Gold.