I got to demo a Boston Acoustics Recepter HD radio. I ran it into a very sweet sound system instead of using the on-board speakers. Some HD stations sounded amazing...far superior to their analog signals. Others were lackluster at best.
The most amazing difference was on University of Central Florida's Jazz 89.9-WUCF. The analog signal was dull and almost 2 dimensional. When the radio locked on the HD signal the sound quality was beyond belief! The highs were crisp and clear and stereo separation exploded. On WUCF there was no comparison. The HD AQ blew the analog signal away!
Cox's AC 98-9 WMMO has always sounded great. When it comes to analog AQ, WMMO is probably one of Orlando's best sounding radio stations. Their HD signal is even better! Not the startling difference noticed on WUCF, but it sounded like switching from a good sounding radio to a CD.
The difference between analog and HD on Cox's Classic Rocker 96.5-WHTQ was less noticeable. HD sounded good but the difference between analog and digital was harder to distinguish.
In spite of heavy audio processing, Cox's Rhythmic CHR Power 95.3-WPYO has always sounded good in analog. The HD signal sounded cleaner but still heavily processed.
CBS Radio's 102 Jamz-WJHM was the least impressive in HD. I could barely tell the difference between the two modes. If it weren’t for the fact that the delay between the analog and HD signals isn't timed quite right on 102 Jamz, you might never know the radio has switched to HD. Both signals are muddy and lacking a clean high end.
No one is Orlando is running a HD-2 signal so I still haven't gotten to hear the AQ price that a station must pay for running two HD channels, but HD-1 sure can sound great if done correctly.<P ID="signature">______________
Deano</P>
The most amazing difference was on University of Central Florida's Jazz 89.9-WUCF. The analog signal was dull and almost 2 dimensional. When the radio locked on the HD signal the sound quality was beyond belief! The highs were crisp and clear and stereo separation exploded. On WUCF there was no comparison. The HD AQ blew the analog signal away!
Cox's AC 98-9 WMMO has always sounded great. When it comes to analog AQ, WMMO is probably one of Orlando's best sounding radio stations. Their HD signal is even better! Not the startling difference noticed on WUCF, but it sounded like switching from a good sounding radio to a CD.
The difference between analog and HD on Cox's Classic Rocker 96.5-WHTQ was less noticeable. HD sounded good but the difference between analog and digital was harder to distinguish.
In spite of heavy audio processing, Cox's Rhythmic CHR Power 95.3-WPYO has always sounded good in analog. The HD signal sounded cleaner but still heavily processed.
CBS Radio's 102 Jamz-WJHM was the least impressive in HD. I could barely tell the difference between the two modes. If it weren’t for the fact that the delay between the analog and HD signals isn't timed quite right on 102 Jamz, you might never know the radio has switched to HD. Both signals are muddy and lacking a clean high end.
No one is Orlando is running a HD-2 signal so I still haven't gotten to hear the AQ price that a station must pay for running two HD channels, but HD-1 sure can sound great if done correctly.<P ID="signature">______________
Deano</P>