WDRC-FM's audio...

[rickkelly]

Has anyone besides me noticed that it now sounds... distorted? Over driven in some way? it definitely sounds more compressed, but NOT in a good way.

-Rick Kelly
northeastairchecks.com

 

[RadioMan203]

I noticed it, but I hasitated to start (yet) another thread on how crappy DRC-FM's audio quality is. I've heard FM modulators for iPods sound better than they have in years!

The only thing that's going to fix that is if Rick Buckley get's off his dupa and get's Tom Ray from his flagship in NYC up there to fix the audio, otherwise it's always going to be garbage.

I was going to say it sounds like an AM station on FM, but I don't want in insult AM stations, as most sound much better than that.

 

[MarcB]

I agree, but I deal with it. As I have stated here previously my parents can't hear anything wrong with the audio. (I don't know what's up with them. They can't hear any wrong with DRC's audio but they both can tell that the Spanish Christian format on 990 AM is over modulated. Go Figure). I'm not gonna mess with all the levers on my equalizer control on my car radio just for one station I listen to on occasion. BTW I can make HOT 93.7 sound just as bad as DRC by adjusted said levers.

 

[Turntable]

Bill, Marc,

As one of the members of the "I think WDRC sounds like Crap" club, I also think that if nothing has been done yet, nothing ever will be done. A 5-year old could adjust a processor better than what they have done there, and the fact remains that it just plain sounds like crap. Of course, there aren't a whole lot of good sounding stations in CT anyway. Among the best sounding IMO would be WPLR (hate to say it), WEZN (again hate to say it) and WRKI which sounds pretty damn good on most material, probably the best sounding Aphex 2020 I've heard-- by the way, as far as I know DRC is running a 2020 as well.

I just don't bother listening to DRC anymore.

-A

 

[RadioMan203]

A 5-year old could adjust a processor better than what they have done there, and the fact remains that it just plain sounds like crap.

I don't think many will dispute that!

Of course, there aren't a whole lot of good sounding stations in CT anyway. Among the best sounding IMO would be WPLR (hate to say it), WEZN (again hate to say it) and WRKI which sounds pretty damn good on most material, probably the best sounding Aphex 2020 I've heard-- by the way, as far as I know DRC is running a 2020 as well.

PLR and EZN sound OK to me, but nothing all that special. I think Cumulus has WEBE sounding pretty good as I've been able to listen with the dreaded "listener fatigue" that some stations have with their processing chain.

Pete at WRKI has his 2020 sounding sweet. In fact, a friend wanted to try to make his station sound like Pete's and he borrowed my spare 2020 (my spare is a MKI, I have a MKIII that I use on my webstream as a standby) and it didn't cut it. I hate the thought of spending money to upgrade a spare box knowing the return on investment isn't where it should be. I think a lot of engineers has mixed feelings about the 2020, with most of them falling out of love for the box.

I just don't bother listening to DRC anymore.

Now that CBS-FM is playing classic hits I never listen to DRC-FM anymore. Hell, the new challenge is to try to get AM stations that are getting creamed by IBOC splatter!

 

[mister70s]

Dear WDRC listeners...
I hope Ed Brooder closes his eyes for what I'm about to post.....

DRC-FM has not sounded good since the 80's.....There was a time when DRC played CHR and Hot AC Music

If anyone forgot how good DRC sounded please contact me at mr70s@optonline and I will send you an audio sample of some great airchecks that I aquired from an Ex DJ.

It's no secret that WDRC FM has been broke for a very long time...the audio is flat and lifeless....the music is dull and stale...Sorry for being so straight forward...DRC was my favorite station.....they changed !!!!

 

[RadioMan203]

... DRC-FM has not sounded good since the 80's.....

To any long time Connecticut resident who isn't deaf and has listened to DRC-FM this isn't a surprise. The only one it must be a surprise to is Rick Buckley seeing that the station still sounds like it broadcast through a pair of wet socks. I had mentioned somewhere, maybe in a prevous thread, I have airchecks where the air product of DRC-FM actually sounded good, but this was many, MANY years ago! I'm shocked that with fine engineering talent available to Buckley like Tom Ray (the guy resonsible for New York's WOR transition to new studios and AM-HD) that Rick doesn't send him up there to fix things - oh well, it's garbage in, garbage out up in the Hartford market.

I can't understand how Buckley's station in New York sounds so great ... and it's an AM - oh, wait, I just figured it out - Rick must NEVER travel past his offices in lower Fairfield County. If I was the program director, engineer or owner I would be totally embarassed by the air product spewing from the 102.9 transmitter! For me in lower Fairfiend County, CBS-FM's move to classic hits has been a Godsend - I hardly listen to DRC-FM anymore.

Just imagine, if the analog sounds that crummy, I can only imagine how wonderful HD sounds! I can hear the positioning statement now ... "All music is sourced from a Kenner's Close 'n' Play!"