Is music compressed for satellite broadcast?

Satellite radio broadcasters claim "CD-quality" sound. Does this mean that the satellite signal is not compressed all to {censored} like FM radio?

If it is, then it could not possibly be true CD-quality.

It is compressed for broadcast just like conventional radio. Just not as much.

How do you know it's "not as much"?

Have you worked in both FM radio and satellite radio? What would justify this, setting the compressor ratios lower? Just wondering.

I personally would imagine they would try and level everything off so it's consistent, so yes using a compressor is probably necessary. However I don't think compression has anything to do with the quality of the songs; it's more of the medium of which it's displayed. FM comes from analog towers. Satellite radio introduces a new technology which offers better reception and clarity than standard FM Radio, allowing you to recieve the signal in full power rather than recieving it from dodgy towers scattered throughout the state.

That's my guess anyways.

XM limits/compresses dynamics more on some stations than others. They also have a variable bitrate digital encoding scheme that affects this. Sports and News seem pretty squashed dynamically (I can hear pumping sometimes), and their Traffic/Weather channels sound like 8-bit (sufficient for the purpose) digital.

The '60s station, Ethel (loud alternative) seem deliberately compressed, while classical stations, The Loft, and others sound like they have a wide dynamic range.

Less dynamic range=less satellite bandwidth for them, and more bandwidth means more stations.

Different types of compression:

Broadcast radio uses analog compression much the same way we use a compressor in the studio, to decrease dynamic range (helps the radio station keep low volume passages above the high noise floor). This (as we've all experienced) can lead to degradation of the original source.

Satellite radio, being digital, can take advantage of data compression schemes when transmitting to reduce transmission bandwidth, then the receiver can decode the signal and leave the listener with a signal much closer to that of the original than standard broadcast radio (sort of like streaming music over the internet).

Yes and no. I believe they use both types of compression as they serve different purposes. Data compression to save bandwidth as well as audio compression to provide average leveling of the audible signal.

I can't speak directly concerning Xm or Sirius, but the satellite music feed on my direct TV service uses the traditional broadcast technique ensuring levels don't vary between a 60's song and a current one.

You're right, satellite does use amplitude compression as well (because apart from the advantage of maintaining an average level, amplitude compression allows you to fit the information into a smaller bit depth, which translates to smaller transmission bandwidth)- but I don't think they use as much amplitude compression as FM stations.

You can hear it. Others who posted after me have explained it quite well.