Sunday, February 05, 2006
HD digital radio-DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
HD digital radio fails quality and reception tests a few miles away from the broadcasting stations, even with an external outside antenna!
I saw the Boston Acoustics radio today at the Radio Systems show in South Jersey.
AM was picking up WPEN very clear, they were obviously running HD with the sidebands, but it would not give us more than the call letters on the display (no HD audio). Obviously, with a very useable AM signal in analog, digital was nowhere to be found. WIP was lost in a sea of noise. We were using a loop antenna outside.
NOTE: WIP 610 AM is 14.2 miles, and WPEN 950 AM is 15.7 miles from Radio Systems in Logan Township, NJ 08085. DIGITAL RECEPTION FROM EITHER 5000 WATT STATION TOTALLY FAILED!
The AM seems to mute when the signal falls below a certain level.
PROBLEM. Basically, the AM sucks and again is the bastard step-child.
I don't think it's worth $500, I don't think it's worth $300. Really, this is a $99-$149 radio AT BEST when you factor in reception and their idea of sound quality. I'm just thankful I was able to see a demo and that I didn't buy this "thing".
Link to full revue:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=648033&Board=hd
I saw the Boston Acoustics radio today at the Radio Systems show in South Jersey.
AM was picking up WPEN very clear, they were obviously running HD with the sidebands, but it would not give us more than the call letters on the display (no HD audio). Obviously, with a very useable AM signal in analog, digital was nowhere to be found. WIP was lost in a sea of noise. We were using a loop antenna outside.
NOTE: WIP 610 AM is 14.2 miles, and WPEN 950 AM is 15.7 miles from Radio Systems in Logan Township, NJ 08085. DIGITAL RECEPTION FROM EITHER 5000 WATT STATION TOTALLY FAILED!
The AM seems to mute when the signal falls below a certain level.
PROBLEM. Basically, the AM sucks and again is the bastard step-child.
I don't think it's worth $500, I don't think it's worth $300. Really, this is a $99-$149 radio AT BEST when you factor in reception and their idea of sound quality. I'm just thankful I was able to see a demo and that I didn't buy this "thing".
Link to full revue:
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=648033&Board=hd
