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Still No HD on Costly Bose Waveradio

B

Barry

A new update of the expensive and heavily promoted Bose Waveradio has been put on the market. This third version, like the past ones, retails for about $350 (the basic model without the CD player), yet still does not offer HD. However, the new model does have an RDS display, and optional iPhone and bluetooth adapters.
If a costly and well regarded receiver such as this does not have HD capability, it would seem to be an indication that table radios with the technology will continue to be scarce.
A while back, I was at a Bose store and inquired why the Waveradio does not have HD. The salesperson replied that HD radio technology does not meet their quality standards.

The Cadillac of Table Radios: http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/wave_systems/wave_radio_iii/index.jsp
 
I too have thought the same thing: If HD is so wonderful and everybody wants and needs it, then why isn't it in every radio from the cheapest to the high-end sets?
 
The problem is that many HD subchannels are run at low bitrates and even in mono. Just listen to staitons like WVIP HD-3. It sounds like an old cassette tape. I can understand why Bose would not want people listening to that - they would probably return the radio thinking it's a hardware problem.
 
I haven't been able to take Bose seriously as anything other than a packaged loudspeaker manufacturer.

Especially since the introduction of the Wave radio and all its spawn, where intentional design
has resulted in completely useless and unacceptable performance of the AM sections.

I know some folks have no upper hearing left, but I do not wish to EVER listen to AM in hearing-damaged mode, thank you.

The difference in audio response between FM and AM is so great, I still can't believe they offered it for production that way!

And then you can't even analog tune them off to the side to get more-upper end response.
At this point I consider it a sabotaged by design, and not worthy of my consideration.
 
You would think a $350 radio would have HD. Even if licensing fees make it cost $360, that price difference won't turn away consumers who would buy the $350 radio. Bose doesn't want to take the blame for HD radio's shortcomings.
 
I am glad the Bose has held the line on prices for their radios. In 1997 a bought a table radio without a CD player for $350 which is the price that Barry mentioned at the start of this thread.

Bruce
 
I'm sure it's a huge profit margin, which makes inflation seem tiny compared to their profit per unit. The audiophiles will continue to buy them.
 
The version of the Bose Wave Radio sold in the UK market does receive DAB (digital) stations. This seems to reflect the significantly larger, and growing, audience of DAB stations in the UK as compared to their HD counterparts Stateside.
 
MarkO said:
The version of the Bose Wave Radio sold in the UK market does receive DAB (digital) stations. This seems to reflect the significantly larger, and growing, audience of DAB stations in the UK as compared to their HD counterparts Stateside.
Click to expand...

I think in a country roughly the size of a couple of our states here, HD might work a lot better. Spread it out over an entire continent and its just the wrong tool for the job.
 
I believe that there are no longer any table or boombox type HD radios available at major retailers anymore in this area. There may be some that can be ordered online. A company called Radiosophy, which only made HD radios, went out of business some time ago.
Perhaps HD sets would have a chance of decent sales if the marketing emphasis was on their digital circuitry which provides excellent reception of regular FM signals, and an RDS display. The HD signals could be mentioned as a feature, but not the main reason for buying the receiver. They should also have a way to totally turn off the HD, so that weak HD signals don't go in and out.
 
The version of the Bose Wave Radio sold in the UK market does receive DAB (digital) stations. This seems to reflect the significantly larger, and growing, audience of DAB stations in the UK as compared to their HD counterparts Stateside.

I think in a country roughly the size of a couple of our states here, HD might work a lot better. Spread it out over an entire continent and its just the wrong tool for the job.
Click to expand...

UK DAB isn't IBOC, it's on band III 217.5 - 230 MHz. Each "station" is part of a multiplex 3MHz wide signal. So everyone has the same signal strength, no matter the station.

And yes, it's a bit easier to fill in the UK with multiple repeater sites.
 
Digital radio in the UK has also benefited from a few other factors which aren’t as prevalent in the U.S.: (1) more ‘format gaps’ among offerings from traditional UK terrestrial radio broadcasters which have triggered a greater demand for the diversity of formats available on new digital-only stations, (2) unified UK nationwide availability of digital radio stations as audio channels on satellite/cable TV platforms, which means that new the digital stations aren’t solely reliant on DAB and internet listenership when building an audience and generating respectable ratings, (3) coordinated longstanding promotional and technical support for digital broadcasting from the BBC and the major UK commercial radio groups, and (4) the UK has no satellite radio service comparable to Sirius XM, which in the States has creamed off higher-end listeners who might otherwise be likely to invest in HD receivers for their vehicles and homes.
 
Another indication of apathy towards HD radio:
There are no more DJ's on K-Rock, 92.3 HD2. It is now just a jukebox, with an occasional liner.
I recall that the comments on this board about the K-Rock HD2 dj's, when they were on, were rather negative. But at least there was an attempt to have some local personalities on an HD2 rock station. They had a weekly program showcasing local rock bands, and a daily 90's alternative show. These are probably gone.
Of course "my'RXP" on 97.1 HD2 disappeared at the end of April, as part of the fallout from 98.7 becoming ESPN radio.
So the only commercial modern rock station with DJ's left in New York is 104.3 HD2. They carry a Clear Channel national feed.
Probably even very few rock listeners care, at this point.
 
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