Consumer Reports HD Radio with disclaimer

[PocketRadio]

"HD radio: Our first tests"

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/hd-radio-amfm-goes-digital-306/index.htm

A couple of problems:

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

"Exceptions may apply if you’re now in the market for a new luxury car or high-end audio receiver. With those purchases, the incremental cost of adding HD-Radio capability might be relatively small. Still, before spending any extra for HD-Radio compatibility, you might want to check the station list at www.hdradio.com to find out which stations, if any, are broadcasting digitally where you live and what they’re programming. And try out the reception with the new gear where you live--or check that you can return the equipment if you can’t get your favorite stations in HD Radio."

Great incentives for consumers !

 

[Mike Walker]

What part of that wouldn't have applied to, say a wireless router in an area where broadband wasn't available, or to AM or FM when those technologies were new? What part of it doesn't apply to HDTV NOW, after a decade? That was a POSITIVE review. If that's the best you can do for "bad news", it must be a pretty sad day for you.

 

[clouseau]

"HD radio: Our first tests"

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/hd-radio-amfm-goes-digital-306/index.htm

A couple of problems:

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

"Exceptions may apply if you’re now in the market for a new luxury car or high-end audio receiver. With those purchases, the incremental cost of adding HD-Radio capability might be relatively small. Still, before spending any extra for HD-Radio compatibility, you might want to check the station list at www.hdradio.com to find out which stations, if any, are broadcasting digitally where you live and what they’re programming. And try out the reception with the new gear where you live--or check that you can return the equipment if you can’t get your favorite stations in HD Radio."

Great incentives for consumers !

Unlike your post, this review is over a year old. Also fairly complimentary. There are twice the number of stations there are when it was written. Also MANY new radios have appeared. When this was written, there were two home products.

"It offers better sound quality. "
"
HD Radio lived up to its promise of improved sound"

"AM stations were in stereo, with audio quality comparable to standard analog FM radio, minus the background noise"

"Programming is more varied."

"the subchannels are bringing welcome diversity to the airwaves"

"You get more information. "

Clouseau

 

[IBOCRocks]

"HD radio: Our first tests"

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/hd-radio-amfm-goes-digital-306/index.htm

A couple of problems:

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

"Exceptions may apply if you’re now in the market for a new luxury car or high-end audio receiver. With those purchases, the incremental cost of adding HD-Radio capability might be relatively small. Still, before spending any extra for HD-Radio compatibility, you might want to check the station list at www.hdradio.com to find out which stations, if any, are broadcasting digitally where you live and what they’re programming. And try out the reception with the new gear where you live--or check that you can return the equipment if you can’t get your favorite stations in HD Radio."

Great incentives for consumers !

Unlike your post, this review is over a year old. Also fairly complimentary. There are twice the number of stations there are when it was written. Also MANY new radios have appeared. When this was written, there were two home products.

"It offers better sound quality. "
"
HD Radio lived up to its promise of improved sound"

"AM stations were in stereo, with audio quality comparable to standard analog FM radio, minus the background noise"

"Programming is more varied."

"the subchannels are bringing welcome diversity to the airwaves"

"You get more information. "

Clouseau

I'm telling you: Pocket Sound (formerly 700WLW, AnalogAMForever, etc) is doing more to help HD Radio than any of us could ever do. That was a great review, and as someone else pointed out, the conditions are even better than they were at the time of the initial review.

I'd never thought I'd say this, but thanks!

 

[PhilJSmith67]

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

I read reviews on the Sirius Stiletto, and several were blazingly fantastic. But wait... That receiver wasn't free, so I guess my wife had to "get new gear" too, to the tune of $350. Then, she found out this thing can't get reception indoors, even sitting on a windowsill, or with the headset antenna connected (also on a windowsill). And, when it's using alternative WiFi reception by sucking bandwidth from our ISP (via which only half the stations become available), the sound quality is putrid. Oh, and to make it actually work in the car, you have to shell out another big chunk of change for the "mobility kit" (something like $60 or $70) otherwise you can't power it, nor get reception. Then there's that $13 bill every month.

I don't even remember what point I was trying to make.


Oh yeah...

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

And after all that, the audio quality remains inferior. Meanwhile, anytime, I can flip through a variety of FM HD Radio stations with excellent sound quality that are receivable indoors. Yeah, the market-entry receiver wasn't cheap, but my total post-purchase cost is about $5 worth of antenna materials, which I already had lying around (nothing proprietary like with the highly-unique antenna input/power jack on the Stiletto).

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

Flashback: Compact Disc players

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

Flashback: CrO2 and Metal cassette players with Dolby-B NR

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

Flashback: Reel-to-reel tape decks

"The sound is clear, but you'll need new gear."

Flashback: The record player

It's a good thing the naysayers didn't have their day when the record was introduced as a compact, high-fidelity alternative to wax cylinders played on the Victrola. I'm sure they were out there, considering that all their cylinder media and equipment would soon fall into obsolescence.