[Digi-G]

Anyone else listening to "High Definition" radio stations?  Our local 'Clearchannel' station, which we listen to on our 15-year old stereo at work, has been touting High Definition Digital Signals.

Now,,, I'm no electrical engineer, but I think they are using the term "High Definition" out of context.  I think it'll just add a layer of confusion to this industry that's not really needed.  I'm sure it's more of a 'marketing ploy' than anything else.

I'm assuming that even if you have a Digital tuner, your quality won't be any better than CD.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.  That's not HD.  That's not SACD or DVD-Audio.

Does anyone know what the quality is?  CD quality?  MP3?

Any comments?

[warnerwh]

You will need a HD radio tuner to pickup the digital signal that runs along side the analog one.  To make a long story short MP3 will be broadcast if  you're lucky. More likely they are breaking down their bandwidth into small ones to make more money. The digital side band has been causing noise on the analog signal in some areas because the engineers aren't used to using the digital broadcast equipment and I guess it's much more difficult to use properly than the analog gear.  The bottom line is that it's Ibiquity selling this technology to radio stations and making big money.

The problem though is that not only do consumers have hardly any digital FM tuners that can pick up the signal, you can't even hardly find any.

Imo I think most people are happy with what they've been using for decades. It's just another plan to reduce quality and make more money. So far it isn't working out too well for Ibiquity. I hope they fold myself.

[Digi-G]

Thanks for the info.  I wondered if it was a bigger deal in different areas of the country.  

I actually did poke around a little on the internet for a digital tuner, but quickly found most looked very lo-fi (I wondered if they sounded better than they looked) and realized I'd probably be happier with my vintage Pioneer unit I'm already using, especially considering how little I really listen to radio at home.