GIZMODO REVIEWS ACCURIAN HD RADIO

[vsa]

Gizmodo has a review of Radio Shack's Accurian HD Tabletop Radio - saying, "We haven't been too keen on the whole HD Radio concept, but at $175 the Accurian HD Radio is the least expensive model available, so we bit the bullet and checked it out."

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home...bletop-hd-radio-unboxing-and-grope-212141.php

 

[audiophile.]

Knowing RS' habit of discontining products, how long until this one is found on closeout table?

 

[ElCheapo]

Knowing RS' habit of discontining products, how long until this one is found on closeout table?

Personally I think they need to change the name of the store to Cell Shack. It seems like that's the only thing they're interested in selling anymore. Much to my chagrin, I recently learned they have discontinued both of their outdoor FM antennas. I needed a replacement outdoor omni for my studio monitors and had to order it through a local parts store that sells the Antennacraft brand (which looks eerily similar to the discontinued RS stuff - maybe it was rebranded Antennacraft?)

Anyway...

After seeing the pics of the Accurian I have to wonder if its coming out of the same factory as the Receptor. The remote and rear panel connections just look way too similar. Even the speakers, which you can faintly see behind their grilles look like the Receptor speakers.

I wonder if the lackluster sound the reviewer pointed out might be because this radio lacks the Receptor's DSP?

Whether you love or hate the Receptor's HD performance, it definitely doesn't sound bad for a radio of its size - and I'm sure all of that is attributable to its DSP.

 

[700WLW]

Knowing RS' habit of discontining products, how long until this one is found on closeout table?

Personally I think they need to change the name of the store to Cell Shack. It seems like that's the only thing they're interested in selling anymore. Much to my chagrin, I recently learned they have discontinued both of their outdoor FM antennas. I needed a replacement outdoor omni for my studio monitors and had to order it through a local parts store that sells the Antennacraft brand (which looks eerily similar to the discontinued RS stuff - maybe it was rebranded Antennacraft?)

Anyway...

After seeing the pics of the Accurian I have to wonder if its coming out of the same factory as the Receptor. The remote and rear panel connections just look way too similar. Even the speakers, which you can faintly see behind their grilles look like the Receptor speakers.

I wonder if the lackluster sound the reviewer pointed out might be because this radio lacks the Receptor's DSP?

Whether you love or hate the Receptor's HD performance, it definitely doesn't sound bad for a radio of its size - and I'm sure all of that is attributable to its DSP.

Radio Shack seems to re-package radios, as they have done with their new high-performance AM/FM model 12-150; this radio is basically the same as the Grundig S350, and very poor quality. Yes, I'de say that RS, Circuit City, and Best Buy are only interested in TVs, cell phones, Satellite Radio, computers, etc., but not one bit interested in HD Radio, as the general public. Circuit City has put the Receptor HD on-line only, probably because of poor indoor reception and lack of interest in taking up shelf space with this non-seller. As Mark Ramsey smartly pointed out, Best Buy is getting a lot of free commercial time, with the HD Radio advertisements, but probably knows HD Radio is a dog.

 

[audiophile.]

The Radio Shack FM antennas were built by Antennacraft...

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Gizmodo has a review of Radio Shack's Accurian HD Tabletop Radio - saying, "We haven't been too keen on the whole HD Radio concept, but at $175 the Accurian HD Radio is the least expensive model available, so we bit the bullet and checked it out."

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home...bletop-hd-radio-unboxing-and-grope-212141.php

There seems to be no upgrade port to upgrade the changing HD Radio software.

 

[Tom Wells]

Of course there is no port to upgrade the software.
People would probably try to connect stuff there and hack the works...
It's probably "firnmware" on eproms, or hard-coded into the chipset.
Or upgrades will arrive on the broadcast service itself, just as it is with sat and cable boxes for TV.

Or, no upgrades are expected or possible. Upgrades might only be available by buying a newer radio.
I bet there's no place to couple in a directional, tuned AM loop, either.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Of course there is no port to upgrade the software.
People would probably try to connect stuff there and hack the works...
It's probably "firnmware" on eproms, or hard-coded into the chipset.
Or upgrades will arrive on the broadcast service itself, just as it is with sat and cable boxes for TV.

Or, no upgrades are expected or possible. Upgrades might only be available by buying a newer radio.
I bet there's no place to couple in a directional, tuned AM loop, either.

Since it can not be reprogrammed, I guess everyone is supposed to buy new radios again when the analog is dropped from the hybrid HD signals. HD Radio is the most ridiculous and expensive "free" system imaginable.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Knowing RS' habit of discontining products, how long until this one is found on closeout table?

Personally I think they need to change the name of the store to Cell Shack. It seems like that's the only thing they're interested in selling anymore. Much to my chagrin, I recently learned they have discontinued both of their outdoor FM antennas. I needed a replacement outdoor omni for my studio monitors and had to order it through a local parts store that sells the Antennacraft brand (which looks eerily similar to the discontinued RS stuff - maybe it was rebranded Antennacraft?)

Anyway...

After seeing the pics of the Accurian I have to wonder if its coming out of the same factory as the Receptor. The remote and rear panel connections just look way too similar. Even the speakers, which you can faintly see behind their grilles look like the Receptor speakers.

I wonder if the lackluster sound the reviewer pointed out might be because this radio lacks the Receptor's DSP?

Whether you love or hate the Receptor's HD performance, it definitely doesn't sound bad for a radio of its size - and I'm sure all of that is attributable to its DSP.

What gives you the impression that the Accurian and Receptor use different DSPs?
They both must use the same standardized, prototyped, compatible, and approved HD Radio circuit board and software, do they not?

 

[ElCheapo]

What gives you the impression that the Accurian and Receptor use different DSPs?
They both must use the same standardized, prototyped, compatible, and approved HD Radio circuit board and software, do they not?

Not necessarily. They use the same HD Radio chipset I'm sure but the rest - who knows?

The Receptor sounds very good for a radio with 3.5" speakers - very full. Many people have complained that it is too "bassy" which is a complaint you don't often get for radios with 3.5" speakers.

I would assume that sound - rooted in DSP - is the contribution the engineers at Boston Acoustics made to the project.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

What gives you the impression that the Accurian and Receptor use different DSPs?
They both must use the same standardized, prototyped, compatible, and approved HD Radio circuit board and software, do they not?

Not necessarily. They use the same HD Radio chipset I'm sure but the rest - who knows?

The Receptor sounds very good for a radio with 3.5" speakers - very full. Many people have complained that it is too "bassy" which is a complaint you don't often get for radios with 3.5" speakers.

I would assume that sound - rooted in DSP - is the contribution the engineers at Boston Acoustics made to the project.

The DSP is a standard chip in the standardized HD Radio DSP chipset. The software codec used with HD Radio is AACplus from Coding Technologies.
See the iBiquity logo on this page:
http://www.codingtechnologies.com/partners/index.htm
Your assumption makes no sense.
The non HD Receptor sounds great without any DSP (chip). It is when defective HD Radio technology is added that reception goes to hell.

 

[ElCheapo]

What gives you the impression that the Accurian and Receptor use different DSPs?
They both must use the same standardized, prototyped, compatible, and approved HD Radio circuit board and software, do they not?

Not necessarily. They use the same HD Radio chipset I'm sure but the rest - who knows?

The Receptor sounds very good for a radio with 3.5" speakers - very full. Many people have complained that it is too "bassy" which is a complaint you don't often get for radios with 3.5" speakers.

I would assume that sound - rooted in DSP - is the contribution the engineers at Boston Acoustics made to the project.

The DSP is a standard chip in the standardized HD Radio DSP chipset. The software codec used with HD Radio is AACplus from Coding Technologies.
See the iBiquity logo on this page:
http://www.codingtechnologies.com/partners/index.htm
Your assumption makes no sense.
The non HD Receptor sounds great without any DSP (chip). It is when defective HD Radio technology is added that reception goes to hell.

Audio DSP. There is a hidden menu in the Receptor HD where you can access it.

If you actually owned one of these products you guys bash so frequently on the review sites, you might have been able to play with it and see just how effective it is.

I would be willing to bet there is audio DSP in the non-HD Receptor as well, just as there is audio DSP in my analog car stereo.