Quote: Originally Posted by
krnpimpsta 
Mixer scenarios:
One device is on, one device is off: Mixer receives 1 signal, mixes it with nothing. you get the 1 signal you were looking for.
that would be fine if it worked that way, but it doesn't...
the problem is the signal that comes out of the mixer is not the same as the signal that went in. a mixer is designed to
mix two inputs together, to do this is has to attenuate each signal to keep the now combined signals from overloading the amplifier input. both signals are attenuated regardless of whether or not the other signal is on or off. to compensate for the signal loss, the amplifier would have to be turned up louder. the louder the amplifier has to be turned up to compensate for signal loss, the worse it will sound.
the other issue is that sonixtacy's XM signal is always on, whether it's being used or not. thias wouldn't be an issue when listening to XM, but both signals would be on when listening to HD (unless power to the XM tuner was cut). the only way to avoid this problem is to switch between inputs or cut power to the XM tuner when not in use (which would require a switch anyways). for these reasons a mixer is not a good option.
