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I love Directv, but the Sonic Tap really sucks.

30K views 141 replies 62 participants last post by  ericknolls 
#1 ·
Been listening to Sonic Tap "8-Tracks" for about two weeks now. Whoever is in charge of programming obviously wasn't even alive during the late 60s and early 70s because they only play a fraction all the great songs that were coming out almost daily at the time. They fill in the rest of the time with absolutely horrible 'filler' songs. Filler songs are all the garbage songs that come with the album you had to buy just to get the one or two hit songs that you wanted.

The record company's dirty little secret was that if a group had several really good songs, the companies would spread them out across multiple albums to make more money. Used to piss me off that I had to buy a whole album just to get the one song I liked. Sure, there were some exceptions with super groups where almost all the songs were great, but they were few and far between. At least now with itunes you can buy just the songs you want most of the time, although I found a few that were only available with the album.

But anyway, the 8-Tracks channel plays all the crap songs that the radio stations of the time would never ever play because they would go bankrupt from lack of listeners. It's probably programmed by some minimum wage kid who was told to just fill up the time with whatever was on an album from back then.
 
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#4 ·
MysteryMan said:
Well, you can always change the channel. :sure:
And likewise you can just ignore the thread if you don't have some meaningful input.

If the threadstarter has access to broadband, then Pandora could prove a better option since it's more customizeable and you can skip songs you don't like.. But, yeah, I agree, SonicTap didn't impress me. I have cable now and I don't use the MusicChoice channels.
 
#7 ·
bidger said:
And likewise you can just ignore the thread if you don't have some meaningful input.

If the threadstarter has access to broadband, then Pandora could prove a better option since it's more customizeable and you can skip songs you don't like.. But, yeah, I agree, SonicTap didn't impress me. I have cable now and I don't use the MusicChoice channels.
I subscribe to Premier, HD Extra Pack, NFL Sunday Ticket, and MLB Extra Innings. That gives me access to over 1000 channels. Do I enjoy or watch every channel I have access to? No. In fact I could care less and do without many of those channels. But unlike the OP and others I don't come here and whine about it as though it were a major crises in my life! :rolleyes:
 
#8 ·
When I listen to any of the music channels, 8-tracks is one of my favorites. The equivalent station from XM days was something like Deep Tracks. It was intended from my understanding to be lesser heard tracks off albums from many of the biggest bands back in the day. Sounds like its doing exactly as its supposed to. Sorry you don't care for it, maybe one of the other classic rock stations would suit your tastes better.
 
#12 ·
I have Sonic on DTV and Sirius/XM in the car. I actually prefer Sonic over Sirius/XM. I especially like Sonic's Malt Shop oldies which is my favorite Oldies channel.

FWIW I am not yet paying for Sirius/XM. It came as a freebie with my new car and has been free for 8 months so far. I will not pay for it as nothing on the service is worth much.
 
#15 ·
bidger;3191029 said:
And likewise you can just ignore the thread if you don't have some meaningful input.

If the threadstarter has access to broadband, then Pandora could prove a better option since it's more customizeable and you can skip songs you don't like.. But, yeah, I agree, SonicTap didn't impress me. I have cable now and I don't use the MusicChoice channels.
Cripes - my wife has sufficient broadband in her new Ford to listen to Pandora.
 
#16 ·
Don't listen much to the music channels, and suspect most of my clients don't either.

I'd like Sirius/XM as an option on DirecTV, particularly the comedy channels, but I don't suppose there is much demand for that.

(I am aware of the internet aspects of the D*, but it is just so much more convenient to just flip to a particular active channel. I'm in a rural area with slow expensive internet access)
 
#17 ·
I stopped listening to the audio channels when they switched to Sonic not because of content (never got that far) but because the sound quality dropped. It was like going from HDTV to a well rented VHS tape....

I haven't gone back to listen since - I assume the audio quality still sucks - or have they upped the bit rate since?
 
#18 ·
CCarncross said:
When I listen to any of the music channels, 8-tracks is one of my favorites. The equivalent station from XM days was something like Deep Tracks. It was intended from my understanding to be lesser heard tracks off albums from many of the biggest bands back in the day. Sounds like its doing exactly as its supposed to. Sorry you don't care for it, maybe one of the other classic rock stations would suit your tastes better.
Exactly, he is complaining about the station doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Here is Sonic Tap's description of the channel:

Deeper cuts from Classic Rock along with some of your favorites. A mix of Classic Rock from the 60's and 70's and unexpected treasures from some of the seminal albums of that time.

The "filler" tracks as the OP calls them is exactly what this channel is all about. If he doesn't want to hear them he should be listening to one of the many other stations that play the "hits" from the 60's and 70's.
 
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#19 ·
My beef with DirecTV's music channels was that they tiered the channels. The music channels are a cheap add-on and should be available in all packages.

However, DirecTV's main focus is TV channels.
 
#20 ·
billsharpe said:
My beef with DirecTV's music channels was that they tiered the channels. The music channels are a cheap add-on and should be available in all packages.

However, DirecTV's main focus is TV channels.
Actually I'd prefer that they make them an optional package you need to pay for. Since Pandora came out I never use the Sonic Tap channels any more.
 
#22 ·
Mike_TV said:
Sometimes I feel like I'm on the witness stand when I post here. There are many hardcore pro-Directv customers and employees here ready to pounce on anything that you post.
Good point above. Followed almost immediately below by proof of said point:

MysteryMan said:
I subscribe to Premier, HD Extra Pack, NFL Sunday Ticket, and MLB Extra Innings. That gives me access to over 1000 channels. Do I enjoy or watch every channel I have access to? No. In fact I could care less and do without many of those channels. But unlike the OP and others I don't come here and whine about it as though it were a major crises in my life! :rolleyes:
:nono:
 
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#23 ·
Some listen to albums. Others, only singles.

It is a personal choice, not a philosophical or religious leaning.

TV entertainment is a similar playing field. Some like live sports, some like serials and yet others favor a diet of blockbuster movies.

If you don't like the way someone handles a genre, work with them directly. The court of public opinion doesn't much matter to the only game in town.
 
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