by EWBrown » Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:35 am
I've never tried HD radio, I'm too far away from the "major city transmitters" for reliable reception. I figured it was basically MP3 over the air, and the only part I would have found interesting might have been the so-called "extra channel" that some stations carry.
As far as I'm concerned, AM HD radio is a total waste, and it eats up too much bandwidth in the process. WBZ, on 1030 around here, is the big clear channel AM HD broadcaster, and their signal wipes out the spectrum at least 20 KHz to either side of their carrier.
Besides, they're "news talk", so why bother with HD. The same station went "AM stereo" several years back, once again, why bother...
The best sound is still pure analog, there is nothing like a good clean, unprocessed, uncompandored FM signal, and a tube FM tuner to listen.
Some of the nicest audio I've heard is the local classical station WCRB, when they broadcast live BSO concerts, and most of NPR music programming, WGBH FM around here has one of the best quality FM signals I've ever heard.
/ed B in NH
Real Radios Glow in the Dark