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"Sony rolling out HD Radio products" USAToday

P

PocketRadio

"Sony rolling out HD Radio products" USAToday

"The HD Radio alliance projects that more than 1.5 million HD Radio devices will be sold in 2007, as prices have dropped significantly from the time the first products debuted more than two years ago at about $800."

http://tinyurl.com/2kkeph

Remember, consumer comments are covered under the First Amendment ! :D

"Internet Radio Outpaces Satellite, HD Radio In Latest Bridge Study"

"Bridge says that HD Radio is the "most disappointing" media covered in their study, as consumer awareness grows but interest in it is slowing. When asked about HD Radio, respondents said they had "little or no interest at this time" as their top answer, followed by "don't see a need" and "not aware of its benefits." Bridge has also adjusted its predictions for HD Radio, expected no more than 500,000 users by the end of this year and just over a million at the start of 2009."

http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=396533

Someone here is fibbing - perhaps, the HD Radio Alliance just read the previous Bridge Ratings for HD Radio ! :D Why, would an excellent company, such as Sony, invest in a failng technology ?
 
PocketRadio said:
Why, would an excellent company, such as Sony, invest in a failng technology ?
Click to expand...

1. Because it is not failing.
2. Because other giants like Samsung have entered the HD market.
3. Because most of the major fabs and manufacturers were waiting for FCC approval of the system.
 
It is stalled. With no interest outside of broadcast professionals and tech groupies. The average person could care less. If the average person hears HD, it will probably not even be obvious and not for a few years if/when it happens to be stock in some new vehicle or in a new stereo system.

I'm waiting for them to attempt to make a portable work. Between the battery life and reception issues, it should be quite interesting. Just today I had an Accurian set up for WABC Rewound. The unit had a more than useable AM analog signal, but kept trying to go to HD and would not lock the audio, instead freezing with no audio in limbo (something it has done before on FM's, this was my first experience with it on AM today). After a few attempts, I just gave up and on went the Y-600 Transoceanic, which had no issues whatsoever.

MY two biggest beefs with HD are obviously the technical flaws on the AM band... and the fact that I don't trust and piece of consumer electronics made today worth a damn... the Accurian has it's bright points, but all in all, the locking up, poor audio via built in speakers... poor design make for a less than stellar radio. Even "high end" today is garbage compared to budget from 25 years ago. People have forgotten how to design and manufacture a radio, the lack of quality shows and none of these radios are worth the price tags that accompany them.

I don't need software to pick up a radio signal, process my audio, run or lock up my console... especially when said software has not been properly fleshed out.
 
More new stations all the time.

More MULTICAST formats all the time.

More RADIOS all the time.

More manufacturers all the time, including the very biggest (Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Alpine, Yamaha)

More retailers all the time, including the very biggest...Wal Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, Radio Shack.

Yeah, it sounds "stalled".

Sony being "on-board" is big, VERY BIG. But not as big as it once would have been, because Sony isn't the "Sony" of the Trinitron, Walkman, CD era...the company that went from strength-to-strength. There have been TONS of mis-steps and failures since the "glory days" of Sony.
 
Mike Walker said:
More new stations all the time.

More MULTICAST formats all the time.

More RADIOS all the time.

More manufacturers all the time, including the very biggest (Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Alpine, Yamaha)

More retailers all the time, including the very biggest...Wal Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, Radio Shack.

Yeah, it sounds "stalled".

Sony being "on-board" is big, VERY BIG. But not as big as it once would have been, because Sony isn't the "Sony" of the Trinitron, Walkman, CD era...the company that went from strength-to-strength. There have been TONS of mis-steps and failures since the "glory days" of Sony.
Click to expand...

Yea, has it made any difference that Wal-Mart, Circuit City, and Best Buy are carrying HD radios - I'll answer that for you, nope ! Bridge Ratings stated that interest in HD Radio is slowing - it's only the radio-geeks/audiophiles buying HD radios.
 
TheRover said:
HD doesn't have to have big spurts.... just a slow, steady, contunial growth......

Which is what we're seeing anyways.

As more stations take chances on something other than consultant/computer drvien "hit" radio.... HD sales will soar !!!! ;D
Click to expand...

http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/slideshow/13113/sony_tunes_in_to_hd_radio

Sony's new table-top is just another, ugly, clunky, non-seller HD radio - it looks like a shoe box ! Just as Bridge Ratings predicted - sales of HD radios will soar ! :D
 
Mike Walker said:
More new stations all the time.

More MULTICAST formats all the time.

More RADIOS all the time.

More manufacturers all the time, including the very biggest (Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Alpine, Yamaha)

More retailers all the time, including the very biggest...Wal Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, Radio Shack.

Yeah, it sounds "stalled".
Click to expand...

Still doesn't matter if nobody buys the radios. That is yet to be seen. Everyone can make something nobody cared about. Just ask Sony, Radio Shack, Delco, Mitsubishi, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Kenwood, Marantz, Pioneer, Sharp, Sherwood, Sangean, Sanyo, Carver, Denon, Sansui and Yamaha. These guys made AM Stereo units.
 
wgliradio said:
I'm waiting for them to attempt to make a portable work. Between the battery life and reception issues, it should be quite interesting.
Click to expand...

There are now two chipsets that make a portable totally feasable with good battery life. With Samsung entering now that the FCC has approved HD, with a 9mm efficient chipset to be shipped in Q1 2008, there are plenty of opportunites for portables of all sizes.

Reception is a function of the receiver design, and that will improve, too. The current digital power levels are, in fact, higher than those used in Great Britain, were digital does work.
 
PocketRadio said:
TheRover said:
HD doesn't have to have big spurts.... just a slow, steady, contunial growth......

Which is what we're seeing anyways.

As more stations take chances on something other than consultant/computer drvien "hit" radio.... HD sales will soar !!!! ;D
Click to expand...

http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/slideshow/13113/sony_tunes_in_to_hd_radio

Sony's new table-top is just another, ugly, clunky, non-seller HD radio - it looks like a shoe box ! Just as Bridge Ratings predicted - sales of HD radios will soar ! :D
Click to expand...

I noticed the display on the Sony is showing "Last Child" by Aerosmith.
I don't know whether to be shocked or awed.
Is someone trying to be funny?

And as far as spurting, when radio was first developed, it was so popular, a large percentage of people made their own.
THAT'S the kind of popularity HD needs to foster. But the tech is way beyond most people.
Now, if they'd design an ibiquity box that takes the 10.7 mhz or 262.5 khz or 455 khz from MY radio, THEN demodulate, I would
have some interest. That way I'd have all the advantages of a real tuner with a tuned RF amp, and wouldn't have to see an LCD screen.
Sooner or later, I would think someone is going to make an HD radio that doesn't look a cross between Fisher-Price and lab equipment.
How 'bout one that looks like a radio?
 
DavidEduardo said:
wgliradio said:
I'm waiting for them to attempt to make a portable work. Between the battery life and reception issues, it should be quite interesting.
Click to expand...

There are now two chipsets that make a portable totally feasable with good battery life. With Samsung entering now that the FCC has approved HD, with a 9mm efficient chipset to be shipped in Q1 2008, there are plenty of opportunites for portables of all sizes.

Reception is a function of the receiver design, and that will improve, too. The current digital power levels are, in fact, higher than those used in Great Britain, were digital does work.
Click to expand...

The low-power chipsets are still vapor-wear - what ever happened with STMicroelectronic's big announcement last year, in trying to do the same thing:

"STMicroelectronics Teams with iBiquity to Develop Optimized HD Radio Receiver SoC"

http://www.st.com/stonline/stappl/cms/press/news/year2006/t2093.htm

So, what makes you think portable HD radios will sell - portable DAB radios in the UK start at $100. HD/IBOC reception is a function of both receiver design and the low-power 1% digital saddlebags. DAB is a mess in the UK and they are thinking of scrapping DAB for DAB+ - see for yourself:

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?action=search2

"DAB 400W L-Band Transmitter System - DAB-TX4000L"

http://www.uniquesys.com/products/broadcast/dab/dab-transmitter-system.html

Wow, each transmitter is only 100 watts less.

"DAB Digital Network"

"DAB Digital Radio uses a network of local transmitters covering particular areas of the country – transmitters which are designed to work together, unlike current AM, FM and TV transmissions."

http://www.mediauk.com/the_knowledge/i.muk/Radio_platforms#DAB_Digital_Radio

DAB uses a whole network of transmitters, but reception is still problematic.
 
HD Radio isn't failing. HD tuners aren't something that people are going to start buying and using overnight. Technology like this can take quite awhile to adapt to (sometimes up to 10 years!). You look at history, FM radio didn't start off with a bang. People at first didn't see a need for FM radio because there was already AM radio. You look at these days and almost everyone listens to FM now. HD Radio isn't that old. Radio stations are still experimenting and learning, people are starting to hear more about it. As soon as more stations become more familiar with it, more and more tuners will become available and prices will slowly drop.

HDTV too took awhile for people to start using because not only were they expensive when they first came out, but people were satisfied with analog TV. But you look at HDTV now, many people have it and soon all stations are going digital and there will be no more analog television.

So maybe the same thing will happen w/ HD Radio. HD radio still has a long way to go but if more stations give in, I see it having some potential, especially when they become cheaper...

Eventually, maybe even factory systems will start having HD.

As of now, HD isn't that popular as of now but perhaps in four or five years it'll gain some more attention.
 
EggsOverEasy87 said:
HD Radio isn't failing. HD tuners aren't something that people are going to start buying and using overnight. Technology like this can take quite awhile to adapt to (sometimes up to 10 years!). You look at history, FM radio didn't start off with a bang. People at first didn't see a need for FM radio because there was already AM radio. You look at these days and almost everyone listens to FM now. HD Radio isn't that old. Radio stations are still experimenting and learning, people are starting to hear more about it. As soon as more stations become more familiar with it, more and more tuners will become available and prices will slowly drop.

HDTV too took awhile for people to start using because not only were they expensive when they first came out, but people were satisfied with analog TV. But you look at HDTV now, many people have it and soon all stations are going digital and there will be no more analog television.

So maybe the same thing will happen w/ HD Radio. HD radio still has a long way to go but if more stations give in, I see it having some potential, especially when they become cheaper...

Eventually, maybe even factory systems will start having HD.

As of now, HD isn't that popular as of now but perhaps in four or five years it'll gain some more attention.
Click to expand...

HD is not failing... it's just not a relevant technology anymore... it's adding whip cream to a t**d pile.

Why is it that they always bring up the 'FM' thing of the past? YES FM was a big improvement over AM and plenty of stations migrated to FM for the great sound (some differ on this), but this isn't a leap from FM to 'YM' or 'TM' or some other acronym.. it's just FM with clearer sound, and people just don't care about this improvement because the content is still the boring yawnish nonsense of the past... who listens, the guy with the IPod in his ears, or the office worker tuned to the internet, or the lady listening to XM or Sirius in their cars?

You people in broadcast just don't get it... the technology isn't going past the few radio geeks on these boards... NO ONE I know except the guy in my building has an HD reciever here in Tampa.... That's it!

The cheaper HD radios get the more XM and Sirius radios will be free (subscription still paid), by the time HD radios get to be about $25, WIFI internet radios will have taken over...

HD will wind up the way of the AM Stereo DODO.

Radiopilot
 
Try "sometimes up to 40 years". That's how long it took FM to reach audience parity with AM.

As with all radio (and tv) technologies, only the "geeks" will buy because it "sounds better", or "it's the latest thing". The "Big Spurt" will be programming driven...driven by programming that's so compelling you better not miss it, and ONLY available on HD.
 
To me, a tabletop radio and a car adaptor doesn't sound like much of a commitment. Sounds more like "me too" and bet hedging. I would think that if Sony was really enthused over HD-R we would see a whole range of consumer products for home and car as well as personal products.

As it is, if HD-R tanks (like the Elcassette did in the 70's) Sony won't have lost too much. And with only two products, there's also less of a commitment on Sony's part to promote HD-R.

db
 
Mike Walker said:
Try "sometimes up to 40 years". That's how long it took FM to reach audience parity with AM.

As with all radio (and tv) technologies, only the "geeks" will buy because it "sounds better", or "it's the latest thing". The "Big Spurt" will be programming driven...driven by programming that's so compelling you better not miss it, and ONLY available on HD.
Click to expand...

Yep, the first FMs went on the air before WW II, on the 47 mHz band. It was not until the late 60's that a significant number achieved profitability. And it took an FCC mandate to stop simulcasting to "force" original programming on FM, around 1967. By 1977, the FM band had more audience than AM.
 
We mention FM radio, because that is the speed at which new technologies are adopted.

It cracks me up that people with satellite radio think they're "setting the world on fire" (and I'm an XM subscriber). Both services COMBINED have less than 15 million listeners, compared with TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY MILLION listeners to terrestrial radio. Talk about "irrelevent". Other than the music formats, the vast majority of what XM and Sirius do is duplicate programming produced by terrestrial broadcasters. We're the damn dog, THEY ARE THE TAIL...hell, they're less significant than that. They (satellite radio) are the FLEAS!

Fact: SIXTY PERCENT of people who buy new cars with satellite radio don't renew when their trial subscriptions expire.

Terrestrial broadcasters have the programming people want (and PAY FOR on XM and Sirius), FREE OF CHARGE! Yeah, I think we can launch a new service with those numbers! Facts are fascinating things!
 
DavidEduardo said:
Mike Walker said:
Try "sometimes up to 40 years". That's how long it took FM to reach audience parity with AM.

As with all radio (and tv) technologies, only the "geeks" will buy because it "sounds better", or "it's the latest thing". The "Big Spurt" will be programming driven...driven by programming that's so compelling you better not miss it, and ONLY available on HD.
Click to expand...

Yep, the first FMs went on the air before WW II, on the 47 mHz band. It was not until the late 60's that a significant number achieved profitability. And it took an FCC mandate to stop simulcasting to "force" original programming on FM, around 1967. By 1977, the FM band had more audience than AM.
Click to expand...

"From the Desk of Dave Van Dyke... February 2006"

"Some people drifted away; those who continued tuning in did so more from lack of an alternative than any desire to listen. Consequently, major radio groups grew even as the radio audience as a whole shrank. Although 240 million people still tune in at least once a week, the number of ears listening every day has slowly slipped to about what it was in 1994. The audience of 18- to 24-year-olds, a demographic particularly beloved by advertisers, has fallen nearly 22 percent since 1999. Fearing advertisers will start moving their dollars elsewhere, Wall Street has cooled the radio sector with stock prices stagnant at about a third of their 2000 level... 'Music radio is broken', says Barry Ritholtz, chief market strategist for the Maxim Group investment bank..."

http://www.bridgeratings.com/dvd_letter.TelecomAct.2.01.06.htm

Ah, sure wish I could live back in the 1960s/1970s, with you David !
 
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