Red Sox Games In Mono on FM Stereo

[beantownradio25]

I know that the Red Sox Radio Feed is in Mono, could it change to Stereo anytime soon? I understood when WEEI was stuck on 850 in Boston, but now that they're on 93.7, the games would sound way better in stereo!

 

[LibertyNT]

Why would Stereo matter for talk?

 

[jlehmann]

Why would Stereo matter for talk?

Patriots games have sounded great for years, with the way they mix the crowd noise in stereo. Maybe they'll get set up for stereo for next season? It's probably going to take some work, not just the flip of a switch.

 

[beantownradio25]

Why would Stereo matter for talk?

It isn't just talk. There are many background elements such as the crowd, the ball hitting the bat, etc. All of which would sound better in Stereo on the FM Stereo signal that 93.7 provides.

 

[LibertyNT]

Oh Duh, why did I forget that.
Down here in DFW our games have been on Stereo FM long enough for me to have gotten used to it.

You know I wouldn't be surprised if the Stereo was shut off at 93.7,
But agreed the stereo on the games for crowd noise, ect does sound good.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

How many people besides those who post on radio boards like these would notice?

 

[mgpt6]

BCN plugged the Pats in stereo bigtime when they first started doing the games in stereo back in the 90s. Entercomm will probably rewire fenway and link to Brighton for stereo next year. But most road games will probably be in mono.
I think home Bruins games were in stereo on 98.5 this past year. When NBA lock out ends hopefully Celts home games will be in stereo on 93.7 FM

 

[ned]

How many people besides those who post on radio boards like these would notice?

A lot of people would notice the difference. Its much like watching TV in HD or standard definition. When the Pats went to stereo, it really made the game sound more exciting on radio.

 

[Laurence Glavin]

What does choking sound like in stereo?

 

[raccoonradio]

We might find out, if they switch to stereo!

Some FM talk stations stay in mono like WNIR in Kent/Akron OH I believe. But sports events can
be enhanced with a stereo broadcast, and hopefully the board ops will catch any foul language
from the stands at Fenway that go through the crowd mike! I guess such noises become a lot
more noticeable in a sparsely attended game (which the Sox usually don't have)

 

[cjf68]

The Sports Hub is in stereo, all the time including the fox sports

network. WBZ 1030 is in stereo too. As of right now WEEI-FM is in mono. This

is based on listening through my internet radio at home. I would think that if

WEEI was going to do this change over, they would have gone all out.

 

[raccoonradio]

"We like to think of it as high definition" Ordway etc has said. If he means you won't get interference
when you go under power lines, then fine. They also have mentioned it's stereo but prob aren't
aware (or if they are they're faking it) that it's mono.
Stereo would appear obvious on some music beds. I don't think they'd use Beatles Back in the USSR
for a bed but if they did you'd clearly hear guitar on one spkr, piano on other. But yup prob mono

(and now...in stereo!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c66NZDB_1tc

Oh: and another one gone, and another one gone...another music station goes away tomorrow, in
Wash DC as 105.9 is to switch from classic rock to conserv. talk, // WMAL 630 (who once had a talker
named Michael Graham)

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

As of right now WEEI-FM is in mono.

93.7 staying in mono might not be such a bad idea, as its signal would stay a bit clearer in its fringe coverage areas (don't forget that FM stereo is accompanied by a bit more backgroung "hiss").

Besides......we're talking about ball games and loudmouthed people who think they know something about sports. Does anybody REALLY want to hear "Frank from Gloucester" in STEREO???... ;D ;D ;D

 

[reelyreal]

I'm sure all previous production has just been mixed down to mono in the past, but the facilities are all there for stereo. It honestly doesn't make a huge difference, but crowd noise does sound a little more realistic. Honestly, it's not a big deal. Nobody's going to choose The Sports Hub solely because it's in stereo.

 

[HHH]

I remember in the 1960s, WHDH (the original 850) simulcast the Red Sox games on WHDH-FM (94.5) in mono. I never could figure out why they bothered to drop the stereo pilot on FM, until much later when an ex-engineer told me that many of the other Red Sox affiliates in RI, NH, Western Mass, Cape Cod etc, got the feed directly off the air from WHDH-FM. Mono allowed that extra signal to reach fringe areas.