[Magnus]

Hello,
    Since there will be a new classical music station in town soon, I'm interested in finally buying a good HD radio. Is there a good one that audiophiles here enjoy? Optimally, I'd like something good, but not too pricey (aka hundreds of dollars. $100-150 would probably be fine.)

Your help is appreciated!

Sincerely,
Steven

[Scott F.]

Hi Steven,

Welcome aboard

My HD tuner is built into my Integra 9.8 pre/pro so I won't be of much help.

Tell you what though, hopefully electricbear (Tim Simpson) sees your post. He's got good experience with most of the new models and will be able to make a solid recommendation for you.

[kentj1948]

I spent some time looking for an HD radio also.  The only one I found that was reasonably priced and available was the Coby HDR650.  I paid around $100.  It seems to pull in the St. Louis HD stations very well with its built-in antenna (the only one that can be used with it.)  The Sony that Sam Tellig wrote about has gone through the roof price-wise.  There is also an Onkyo, I believe, that is supposed to be good but it can also only be found used.

If you would care to hear the Coby, or try it at your location, let me know. 

Kent 636-399-8053   

[electricbear]

You know that I'm never far away Scott. I'm always checking up and making sure you guys are behaving.
Steven are you looking for a standalone radio or a tuner that can be added to existing equipment?

[Magnus]

I have an older Rega amp, so I'd prefer to stick to a stand alone unit that could plug into it. Realistically, it would probably only be for the classical stations in town, but I've realized that if it's enjoyable enough listening, I'd be spending more time with the other genres I like, too. I guess it opens up a new world of listening.

Thank you for the welcome!

Sincerely,
Steven

[Mr Peabody]

If there are any still available I know where to get a Denon tuner with a HD radio module for around $350.00, this unit retails at $999.00 because it's got like 3 or 4 tuners with separate outputs, I forget the model, it's physically as big as most receivers.  A bit more than what you are looking for but I thought I'd mention it.  If any one is interested, email.

For just a stand alone I'd do a search on Amazon.  Seems HD radio is fading instead of growing, I think people are gravitating to internet tuners.  The license must be expensive or something, auto manufacturers are even slow to introduce them.  Or, maybe contracts with satelite radio prevents it. 

[doug s.]

not sure why you would want an hd radio, if reception is not a problem.  a good wintage standard fm tuner will far exceed the performance of any hd tuna, and you can pick up literally dozens of different models for <$150.  many <$100.  these will sound better than even the mega-spendy sequerra hd tuners...

i have one of the no-longer awailable sony xdr-f1-hd's, that used to sell for ~$100-$150.  now they typically fetch $200 or more.  folks rave about 'em cuz they're so sensitive.  and they are sensitive!  i'd get one of those, if i absolutely had to have an hd tuna, but i can tell you it doesn't sound as good as a good analog fm tuna, even a digitally synthesized analog tuna.  the xdr-f1-hd is good for background listening only, omi.  it's ok for serious listening only w/a tube buffer inserted between it and the preamp.  or, spend ~$250 on it for audio mods.  at that point, tho, you can get a quality wintage tuna, spend $300 for mods and refurb/alignment, and have something close to the best sonics at any price...

doug s.

[Mr Peabody]

The hook to HD radio is the extra stations you can't pick up on an analog tuna.  I can't imagine any one actually "seriously" listening to FM today, you'd have to be brain dead.  In addition, analog today offers not that much better sound as most use mp3 from a hard drive and St. Louis stations particularly sound horrible for the most part.

[G Georgopoulos]

  I can't imagine any one actually "seriously" listening to FM today, you'd have to be brain dead.

Hi digital...

[electricbear]

I agree with everybodies comments about typical sound quality through an HD tuner but unfortunately if you want to listen to classical music via the airwaves in St Louis then you have no choice. Insignia make a few standalone receivers as does a few other dubious brands. For a tuner I would keep my eyes peeled for the Sony. I remember selling them when I was at The Sound Room for $99. Sangean also made two units that weren't bad.  Remember that the " HD" in HD Radio does not stand for high def but for hybrid digital.

[Mr Peabody]

The Denon unit I was talking about is the TU-604.  It has modules for HD radio and satelite radio.

I have a table top unit Radi-osophy HD100 that cost around $100.00, no remote and only output would be headphone.  It has a nice sound quality for listening through the regular speakers.

[doug s.]

The hook to HD radio is the extra stations you can't pick up on an analog tuna.  I can't imagine any one actually "seriously" listening to FM today, you'd have to be brain dead.  In addition, analog today offers not that much better sound as most use mp3 from a hard drive and St. Louis stations particularly sound horrible for the most part.

your comment indicates you are the brain dead one, mr peabody.  either that, or you are totally clueless about what quality fm is, and you like talking about stuff when you don't know anything about it.  sorry that st louis is such a cesspool, if what you're saying about it is true.  but, please don't extrapolate for the rest of the world.

regarding the "hook" from hd offering stations you can't get on analog tuna, you can have them.  the data compression is usually even worse than the main hd channel.

i have three fm stations in my area that broadcast quality programming and a decent enough signal so that fm is my prime listening source.  and it sounds as good as my winyl and digital sources.  and my system is plenty-enough rewealing, so it's not like it's "masking" the differences.

doug s.

[Mr Peabody]

I know you are AC's FM advocate but it is I who am, sorry for you, if your other sources aren't any better than FM.  You have your position but if FM was even remotely as great as you claim audio manufacturers would certainly be taking the opportunity to sell tuners and they are all but dead, so you better hang on to yours. 

It's a fact that radio programmers feel most listeners only listen about 20 minutes on average so they program with that in mind, FM is repetitive and very limited as to what gets on the air these days.  Compound that with the lack of any independent stations left and you get a product that may only be good for 20 minutes, if that.  So even if decent sound was achievable, what's the point.

[doug s.]

I know you are AC's FM advocate but it is I who am, sorry for you, if your other sources aren't any better than FM.  You have your position but if FM was even remotely as great as you claim audio manufacturers would certainly be taking the opportunity to sell tuners and they are all but dead, so you better hang on to yours. 

It's a fact that radio programmers feel most listeners only listen about 20 minutes on average so they program with that in mind, FM is repetitive and very limited as to what gets on the air these days.  Compound that with the lack of any independent stations left and you get a product that may only be good for 20 minutes, if that.  So even if decent sound was achievable, what's the point.

why do you feel sorry for me?  i have excellent independent stations in my area that broadcast fine sounding signal.  i listen to jazz, classical, folk, latin, caribbean, african, electronic, and then some.

believe me, it is not because my sources are lacking in any way, that fm is as good.     do i need to list my equipment in order to "prove" that i have highly resolving source/amplification/speakers?    if you ever heard a quality broadcast on a quality tuna on a quality system, you would not feel sorry for anyone when they say it is as good as their other sources.     by your statements, it is clear you are simply ignorant.

again, it's unfortunate that there is a "lack of any independent stations left " IN YOUR AREA. but what makes you think your area is like everywhere else?     what's the point of speaking about stuff you clearly know nothing about?   

doug s.

[electricbear]

Mr Peabody is actually correct about the status of music available via tuners in the St Louis area. Most of the stations ( there are one or two exceptions ) play mindless pulp that has been compressed for the benefit of commuters. There was a great classical station that unfortunately went off air a couple of years ago. To be able to get classical music in St Louis now you have to use an HD tuner.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Exactly.
Doug, with all due respect..... telling someone in STL about how great FM is, is wasting your valuable time at the keyboard.
Your arguments are falling on deaf ears. You could say we're ignorant, you could say we've moved on. Whatever.
Suffice it to say, that you're not going to convince us that FM has anything to offer, whatsoever.

Bob

[thunderbrick]

I agree 100% about STL stations, especially since KFUO sold its soul. Pun intended.

I travel a lot for work, and find most of the FM dial to be compressed pablum, regardless of genre.  I'm lucky enough to have a few college stations in the area that sound good, but that is the exception.

[doug s.]

Exactly.
Doug, with all due respect..... telling someone in STL about how great FM is, is wasting your valuable time at the keyboard.
Your arguments are falling on deaf ears. You could say we're ignorant, you could say we've moved on. Whatever.
Suffice it to say, that you're not going to convince us that FM has anything to offer, whatsoever.

Bob

i fully understand and accept that fm may be a sonic wasteland in st louis.  unfortunately, it is the case in other areas as well.     but to say that: "I can't imagine any one actually "seriously" listening to FM today, you'd have to be brain dead." and "...it is I who am, sorry for you, if your other sources aren't any better than FM."  is pure ignorance and stupidity.

now, regarding st louie, it seems that kdhx and wsie might be worth listening to on a semi-regular basis.  and wlca and kwur have a few shows that might be worth a listen.  and kwmu has a couple decent evening weekend shows on their regular channel that can be listened to w/a normal analog tuna. (including one 2hr classical show - the st louis symphony broadcast.).  so, while it may not be as good as some markets, (especially for classical - it amazes me that a major market cannot support a full-time analog classical station), it seems it is not as much of a sonic wasteland as is being represented.

for those interested in fm in their area, this is a great link:
http://radio-locator.com/

there's lotsa info about the stations awailable here, besides links to their home pages. simply click on the little "" by the station.  there's even cool broadcast area coverage info, like this for wsie:


doug s.

[doug s.]

I agree 100% about STL stations, especially since KFUO sold its soul. Pun intended.

I travel a lot for work, and find most of the FM dial to be compressed pablum, regardless of genre.  I'm lucky enough to have a few college stations in the area that sound good, but that is the exception.

i must agree that the overwhelming majority of commercial radio is a sonic wasteland - both in content and in signal quality.  truly a shame, imo, as it is so nice to be exposed to different music, and it is also nice to let someone else cue up the tunes for a change.  i can only hope that the competition from internet radio will force broadcasters back into quality niche broadcasting, in order to remain relevant...

for those of you who enjoy rock, in any of its iterations, and have a station that has decent programming, if not decent uncompressed signal, i would recommend you explore running a dbx 3bx thru the tape loop of your preamp, as this little box will work quite well de-compressing compressed signals.  (it also works on compressed cd's and winyl as well.)  having it in a tape loop means it does not have to be in the signal path when not in use.  or, if your pre doesn't have a tape loop, and you are only wanting to use it for compressed fm, simply run it between your tuna and your pre...

doug s.

[dcbingaman]

St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU 90.7 FM) provides three HD channels in addition to its analog channel.  HD-1 is basically an NPR / BBC (nitetime) news channel which duplicates the analog channel.  HD-2 is an Exponential Radio channel which plays contemporary music.  HD-3 is a Classic24 channel (Minnesota Public Radio-produced) which plays classical music 24/7 with minimal commercial interruptions.

FM playback quality depends very much on the quality of the station's signal.  STLPR uses an all-digital Axia production system which is very good, and which uses NO signal compression.  (see: http://axiaaudio.com/ for more information)  EVERY commercial station in St. Louis today is using a digital production system and extreme signal compression to maximize their "loudness" which screws up their "analog" signal for ANY serious listener.  Because of this, STLPR's digital signals are likely better than any "analog" signal you can receive in this area.  In addition, the new MPEG-4 codecs that NPR uses are much better than the MP3 codecs which you may have heard in the past......this system's sins are those of omission.

Unfortunately good HD radios, like the pint-size Sony HD tuner, are very hard to find lately.  Fortunately today, many of these stations are also webcast.  With a decent internet connection and a good internet tuner, (like the Logitech Squeezebox products (RIP) or the Grace Digital SOLO), it is possible to pick up dozens of really good classical FM broadcasts from all over the world (eg. BBC3, KUSC, etc.), usually uncompressed at 32khz sample rate and 16 to 20 bit depth. 

It may not be as good as KFUO on a Pioneer or Sansui analog tuner in the good old days, but those days are over.  As a result, HD Radio is MUCH better than any analog tuner picking up the lousy compressed signals common in the analog spectrum today.