HD Radio

[Shinigami_senpai]

While they audio quality will change, how much will you be able to tell a difference in your dashboard speakers? And, of course, it won't change the quality of the content of your local radio station.

Does anyone have it?

Does anyone see a point?

[Sancrist]

My thinking is that unless you are playing the HD radio through high quality Bose speakers you prolly won't hear a difference, esp. If you're running it through factory car speakers.

[Doug]

My thinking is that unless you are playing the HD radio through high quality Bose speakers you prolly won't hear a difference, esp. If you're running it through factory car speakers.

I think you will hear a difference, but will either need to have a quiet environment or crank it. I find much better stereo separation on music played from a CD than you'd hear on standard FM.

I've not tried HD radio, but I can definitely compare playing CD's on the car's system vs listening to an FM station, and there you can hear a difference.

[Sancrist]

I've not tried HD radio, but I can definitely compare playing CD's on the car's system vs listening to an FM station, and there you can hear a difference.

Good point. My thought is still that the signal is traveling through the air and interference to get to your speakers. I just can't see how the quality could be that good given all the variables. *shrugs* I could be wrong though, wouldn't be the first time.

[Shinigami_senpai]

My point was not so much the quality difference, but that regardless of the quality, you're still getting RADIO.

I dunno, maybe you have good stations where you live. I haven't heard one since about '95.

[Doug]

I dunno, maybe you have good stations where you live. I haven't heard one since about '95.

Good point. I don't think there are any good *commercial* stations left. It's pretty plain to hear the formula being followed, at least from our local classic rock station here in Montreal. One in 5-8 songs is one of the songs being pushed by the labels, usually one in the playlist is tied to a promotional item (upcoming concert, new release...). For an artist that has a song in the new rotation, usually that song is played 1/3 times, and the other two will go back to previous singles.

Anyone in the biz know how much revenue comes from what's played?

Probably a naive thought, but I would like to think that a *good* station would still be commercially viable on the airwaves.

[Demorgue]

Maybe it's just a conspiracy just to get people interested in radio again. rather then "My lawn looks better", or "I have a bigger TV" it's just some other way to gloat. "I have HD radio".

[Spender]

From Wikipedia:

HD Radio technology is a system used by AM and FM radio stations to digitally transmit audio and data in conjunction with their analog signals. This system enables AM and FM radio stations to simulcast both digital and analog audio within the same channel (a hybridized digital-analog signal) as well as add new FM channels and text information. Although HD Radio broadcasting's content is subscription-free, listeners must purchase new receivers in order to receive the digital portion of the signal. As of October 2008, 1,800 stations covering approximately 84% of the United States[1] are broadcasting with this technology.

"HD Radio" is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel (IBOC) technology, which was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2002 as a digital audio broadcasting method for the United States.[2][3] According to iBiquity's website HD Radio is simply a brand name, although their earlier whitepaper documents refer to "Hybrid Digital" radio technology.[4] There is no connection with high-definition television (HDTV), except in the sense that both HDTV and HD Radio are digital formats.

The HD Radio system is officially known as NRSC-5, with the latest version being NRSC-5A.[5] Other digital radio systems include FMeXtra, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM+), and Compatible AM-Digital (CAM-D).

The FCC has not indicated any intent to phase out analog radio broadcasts like it has with analog television broadcasts [2]. Thus, there is no deadline by which consumers must buy an HD Radio.

[schphil]

I just dont get it! Its Like putting wheels on a tomato... time consuming and a waste of time. But Hey what do I know. ?