Pontiac Repair: Scratchy FM reception, fm radio reception, vibe fm

Question
Traded my 2003 Matrix in on a 2009 VIBE. FM radio reception with Matrix was perfect but with Vibe I get scratchy reception but only with live voice transmissions (news, etc.) on one local fm station. Music comes through just fine. Station is in my town. This is not a signal strength problem.

GM replaced the radio but problem remained. Yes, this does suggest that the problem is with the station and not the radio but
I never had the problem for 5+ years with the Matrix. I didn't have the problem the day I traded the Matrix in but I had it as soon as I drove the Vibe off the dealer's lot.

All other FM stations are fine. That' what is so odd.

Live voices have a scratchy,distorted sound to them at the high frequency end. The sound is similar to that which you might get if you had a bad speaker.. But the speakers are fine and, of course, CD sound quality is A-OK as is sound from other FM stations.

I'm lost. The "bad" station happens to be the one station I love to listen to 90 of the time.But the scratchy sound is killing me!
I'm even thinking of getting a Satellite radio to overcome the problem.

Thanks,
Ian

Answer
Did you try to change the auto tone? there are options for talk/pop/rock classical etc... it makes a difference in the way the sound comes through the car. If that is not doing it for you try to adjust the bass and trbbile to an acceptable level. The radiaos are completely differnt from the 2003 to the 2008 Models which is when the car changed to the latest design. I have not hurd of this issue before. If you get a satellite radio with am FM modulator in it you may have issues also. You just may have a "tuned ear" where to soemone else they wouldn't hear what you hear. There is not much you can do about it the fm modulator XM radios can have the same issue you have now if it's just talk radio the radio processes the sound the same way wether it's satellite or over the air and I can tell you an Fm modulator can distort the sound as well and you loose the "crisp" digital sound when you go that route. I do not recommend changing the complete radio because the Onstar will not work with an aftermarket radio in this car. Good luck :0