New Car Radios....a sorry state.

[BruceB]

While shopping for a 2025 Compact SUV,
I tried most of the major brands. What I was dismayed to find was how poor the FM-AM radios are.
Now the sound systems are great. 180w or 200w with 6 to 8 speakers. SiriusXM, ApplePlay, Android Auto and a USB port for up to a 1 TB flash memory stick.
All sound great but the radios in these new cars are appalling. Tinny sound with little base and distorted vocals.
On the Honda I chose, music on AM sounded about the same as FM.
And reception? As they say in NY, "fuhget about it" Those "shark fin" antennas will picket fence on all but the strongest stations.
If this is how these car manufacturers are going to treat radio then the demise will come even faster than we have been expecting

 

[tvnut]

My litmus test is if I can sit in my driveway in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and pick up WLW 700 at midday. Not that I test drive the car that way, but it's what I hope for. And currently have.

 

[Don CT]

Is the problem the car radio or just everything else in the way.

 

[radiofan2023]

Just get an aftermarket radio

 

[kwthom]

Just get an aftermarket radio

Hasn't been a practical solution for about a decade with the integration the system has built-in.

 

[radiofan2023]

Hasn't been a practical solution for about a decade with the integration the system has built-in.

Oh ok, my car is about that old so I figured there were still universal aftermarket infotainment systems being made, but maybe not.

 

[kwthom]

Oh ok, my car is about that old so I figured there were still universal aftermarket infotainment systems being made, but maybe not.

It's not a 'radio' (there's that word again...), but an entertainment/information system that happens to have a few bands of reception built-in.

 

[BruceB]

Is the problem the car radio or just everything else in the way.

It's not just the reception but the sound quality. The music from the flash memory drive sounds great also from my phone but I have data limits so that is not a good option.
Otherwise I would play radio from the iHeart app.

 

[Don CT]

It's not just the reception but the sound quality. The music from the flash memory drive sounds great also from my phone but I have data limits so that is not a good option.
Otherwise I would play radio from the iHeart app.

Is it possible that the speakers are so good that the radio quality sounds like crap.

 

[BruceB]

Is it possible that the speakers are so good that the radio quality sounds like crap.

I've been a "hi fi buff" since the 60s.
It's just a poor radio. Honda just doesn't think people listen to the radio so they don't care.
The Nissan and the Mazda were the same.
Cheap radio. They think everyone is listening through their phone. And honestly most people will.

 

[Don CT]

I've been a "hi fi buff" since the 60s.
It's just a poor radio. Honda just doesn't think people listen to the radio so they don't care.
The Nissan and the Mazda were the same.
Cheap radio. They think everyone is listening through their phone. And honestly most people will.

How does SXM sound.

 

[kwthom]

How does SXM sound.

Okay, but I'm not one to pay for audio. Now, I will listen to it when offered for free; some channels area okay, others you can simply hear the lower bitrates.

 

[BruceB]

How does SXM sound.

It's ok but as you know thats a chip set separate from the AM/FM tuner.
What's funny is I joined a Honda forum which is all over the world and they are raking me over the coals for griping about the radio.
They are saying "who listens to the radio?"
So it's easy to see why these auto manufacturers don't think this matters.

 

[BruceB]

How does SXM sound.

My whole point is if this is the attitude of big auto companies like Honda, Nissan and Mazda, this is bad for the future of radio here in the US.

 

[Don CT]

My whole point is if this is the attitude of big auto companies like Honda, Nissan and Mazda, this is bad for the future of radio here in the US.

I’m wondering if it’s the head unit that’s bad or just the “radio”.

 

[Deus Ex Machiato]

It's not a 'radio' (there's that word again...), but an entertainment/information system that happens to have a few bands of reception built-in.

Yep. I follow a few car reviewers on the YouTube. Mostly millennials, and when they get to the thing in the middle of the dash, they don't call it a "radio." It's the "infotainment." Most of them don't care if it gets FM (let alone how the AM signal sounds) but rather if it has wireless Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Physical volume knobs are still popular, but tuning knobs? Not so much.

 

[BruceB]

I’m wondering if it’s the head unit that’s bad or just the “radio”.

I'm assuming the head unit has the pre and power amp which is fine because other sources sound good.
My guess is Honda includes a AM/FM chip set to be in compliance with US regulations.
On the forum, guys in Europe say their Hondas have DAB .

 

[Don CT]

I'm assuming the head unit has the pre and power amp which is fine because other sources sound good.
My guess is Honda includes a AM/FM chip set to be in compliance with US regulations.
On the forum, guys in Europe say their Hondas have DAB .

How much of it is the quality of the antenna. The whips are long gone.

 

[radiofan2023]

Is it possible to add an antenna amplifier to the shark fin antenna, or not?

 

[BruceB]

How much of it is the quality of the antenna. The whips are long gone.

The "shark fin" is definitely part of the problem. But even flamethrower WHKO K99.1 sounds crappy.