False Advertising HD Radio BMW models

[TSL2]

http://bimmeraddiction.com/hd-radio-standard-in-2011-bmw-models-312

"There are around 2,000 radio stations broadcasting digitally providing better audio quality among other nifty features!"

This looks like false advertising.

Like Fox News says, let's be fair and honest.

"Honest" Currently there are about 2000 stations broadcasting programming in HD!
And if you drive from Maine to California, you might actually hear most of them.

FAIR/HONEST:You will not hear all 2000 HD radio stations sitting in your driveway.
You might only hear 10.

Digitally providing better audio quality.

"Honest" The system uses a digital footprint to deliver audio.

FAIR/HONEST: The acceptable minim for digital compressed audio, known as MP3
is 128 KBPS. Compressed rich CD quality is closer to 192 KBPS.

HD radio streams 96 KBPS/ and broadcasters can split the signal so the listeners may only enjoy
48 KBPS.

"Honest" Improved quality is a personal perception or understanding.

FAIR/HONEST HD radio can deliver improved sound so long as the user remains stationary.
While being mobile, users will experience seconds of audio dropouts or silence. The radio will continually sync from HD to analog causing a noticeable and annoying difference in audio quality.
User will also notice an echo like effect while syncing.


Honest: Other nifty features.
Artist and album information is available.

FAIR/HONEST: RDS also provides the same content free on most standard FM radios.

 

[tomservo]

"Honest" Currently there are about 2000 stations broadcasting programming in HD!
And if you drive from Maine to California, you might actually hear most of them.

FAIR/HONEST:You will not hear all 2000 HD radio stations sitting in your driveway.
You might only hear 10.

Speaking of honesty, do you really think people are so stupid that they'll assume all 2,000 stations are available from their driveway, when they've only ever gotten 15 or 20 stations before? That's a pretty lame position to assume. BMW drivers may often live up to the stereotype of being arrogant self-centered jerks, but I doubt they're all that stupid.

FAIR/HONEST: The acceptable minim for digital compressed audio, known as MP3
is 128 KBPS. Compressed rich CD quality is closer to 192 KBPS.

HD radio streams 96 KBPS/ and broadcasters can split the signal so the listeners may only enjoy
48 KBPS.

"Honest" Improved quality is a personal perception or understanding.

"Compressed rich CD quality" is something of an oxymoron. If you're going all audiophile on us, the only CD quality is uncompressed PCM, 1411 kbps or whatever it is. Not all digital compressed audio is MP3, and 128 kbps is no one's idea of acceptable minimum, at least no one I know of. If they find 128 kbps MP3 as any way acceptable, they have no business discussing anything audio related.

Don't get me wrong, HD radio does NOT get a pass from me on audio quality. Even at the full 96 kbps, it has its problems. BUT, since you admit that improved quality is a personal perception, you have to understand that the digital does offer some benefits over the analog. Lower noise floor, the elimination of some types of interference like multipath, etc.

After having had XM satellite radio for several years (up until Uncle Mel ruined it via takeover) one thing I missed was how during silent spots (like on speech radio, NPR, etc.) it was just quiet. HD is also that way. And even if I don't drive a well insulated $60,000 jerkmobile, I can still hear the difference.

FAIR/HONEST HD radio can deliver improved sound so long as the user remains stationary.
While being mobile, users will experience seconds of audio dropouts or silence. The radio will continually sync from HD to analog causing a noticeable and annoying difference in audio quality.
User will also notice an echo like effect while syncing.

Only in weak signal areas, which is why all car HD radios should come with an easy to use digital lockout switch. My personal experience has been mixed, with some metros having more than adequate coverage and others having coverage issues in town. But then FM stereo started out with receivers all having forced mono switches. Even my bedroom home theater receiver still has a forced mono switch, which is good because I get nothing, not even locals, in stereo well here. I don't see anyone throwing class action lawsuits around or dedicating entire threads to disparaging FM stereo, but it simply does not work when mobile either. I know, I used to drive a GM work truck whose radio had a piss poor blend feature. Talk about noisy reception, it was awful!

No, maybe in the future if HD doesn't strangle itself with its own ineptitude, the technology will evolve a little and the problem with constant syncing will be abated a little.

I can't help but think some of the reception problems are being created by the overworked engineers who let sync and audio levels slip away. Engineers seem to be against this change overall, so why wouldn't some do a half-arsed job with it as a way of sabotaging the product? I wouldn't put it past them, especially when I as a consumer know there are pieces of equipment that will eliminate the sync issue for good, especially designed for HD radio.

 

[TSL2]

The problems with HD/Analog sync are all but ignored by management or engineering because nobody is listening. If the number one big 100k FM was flipping one and off like HD syncs heads will roll.

HD isn't considered a value by the very people who operate the licenses.

HD was originally created to compete against satellite radio. Claiming 2000 HD stations is a marketing ploy to confuse or sound like satellite radio, that has no subscription fees

It's marketing, that the average consumer might be gullible enough to believe, even for a little while.

Their marketing doesn't say less multi-path or clearer sound. It says near CD quality, the name HD implies high-def, like High-def TV. Over promise and under deliver isn't good..

 

[Tom Wells]

But in these modern times we all know marketing is more important than performance.

Who cares if there's any steak, as long as we can write off "selling the sizzle" as a business expense?

When minivans race, everyone loses.

Iboc is not about improving radio from any aspect, it's about making money for ibiquity.