Apparently, the new tactic by the anti folks is now to just alledge things aren't true?
How about REALITY. Like...
rbrucecarter5 said:
Puzzle pieces that tell you "what's so great about HD radio". Here they are:
(1) Affordable radios (where is the $25 HD radio? I think I can still get a $25 C-Quam from Audiocubes) FALSE CLAIM
There are no $25 radios. There are occasional $59.99 radios. I just checked "Satellite Radio" on Best Buy. A single car unit at $109. A Second car unit at $159. Everything else was pushing $300. If you're buying that $25 CQUAM radio, don't forget another $10K-$30K to equip you local AM station. That's after you convince them they should play music.
Compared to Satellite radios or HD prices of a year ago, they ARE affordable. TRUE.
(2) Easy to install (I'm laughing at that one, by they time you finish futzing with the antenna you are one frustrated consumer!) FALSE CLAIM
Again another wrong assumption. Many folks (Like me) brought it home. Unpacked the box. Put it on the table, attached the single plug in wire antenna and haven't messed with it. I installed one as a replacement in my car. I didin't need to install a different antenna like satellite. I didn't need to "Activate" my radio. No phone calls or website visits. You may not like it, but this one is Definitly TRUE.
(3) More local stations (unless you consider HD-2's to be a different stations, how do they claim that) FALSE CLAIM
Well let's see. They have Legal ID requirements. EAS requirements, Some run completely different programming and start and stop actual transmission during the day. If I run "Scan" with an analog radio I get 19 stops. If I use HD I get 22. These aren't additional local stations? Definitly - TRUE.
(4) Fresh new music (how does HD radio introduce new songs by new artists?) FALSE CLAIM
I believe it was RF BURNS who pointed out the "New Music" HD2 in NYC? Here locally we have a VERY obscure jazz HD2. You NEVER hear any of that stuff anywhre else. IS some of it NEW? I don't know. But it sure as heck is "FRESH" for this area. - TRUE
(5) More variety (I'll grant them that, one of the couple of dozen HD-2 formats actually interests me. But that is technically more) TRUE
Truth in Advertising. I love it.
(6) Crystal clear CD sound (oh really - 96 dB signal to noise ratio? At what harmonic distortion level with what digital artifacts?) FALSE CLAIM
Obviously there is no real standard for what a CD should "Sound" like. Only a tech spec. I will say that High Bitrate HD radio playing a decent recording sounds better than any Pop CD I've heard in the last 5 years. IMHO, there is CD sound on HD. Not to be confused with CD Quality sound. And the low noise floor is VERY noticable. TRUE - But oversold.
(7) No fees (beyond the cost of replacing your existing radios with expense HD radios. In the average house, a great big chunk of change.) TRUE - NO SUBCRIPTION CHARGE
Exactly right. NO FEES.
(8) Zip Nada free - WHAT IN THE HECK DOES THAT DOUBLESPEAK MEAN?????!!!!
It means - it's free. It means if you don't send in a check, they will not depermission your receiver. It means if your internet connection doesn't get paid for, it still works. It means that aside from buying the initial peice of equipment, you don't have to pay for it. There's no Double speak AT ALL. Very clearly TRUE.
8 puzzle pieces, only 2 of which are true - more variety and no subscription fees. Enough to motivate me to upgrade my fleet of radios? I think not.
Then don't replace them. You sound very angry and I'm wondering why. You have the product. You USE the product (At least occasionally). You say it provides something to you that interests you. What is the fascination about trashing it?
I'm amazed at the level of enthusiam some of you folks have for attacking this product. To each his own I guess.
Clouseau
I have one HD radio, when I want to hear the format on HD 2 that interests me. It is probably nothing I couldn't get streaming or on satellite, leaving only one advantage: no fees. And that one goes away because of exhorbitant radio costs. $100 for a radio? Give me a break! Come back and talk to me when they are $25 at Walmart. Replacing each radio would pay for a year of satellite per radio!
