HD Radio Gear: The Good and the Better
There's AM, FM, shortwave, satellite, Wi-Fi -- and now HD.
HD Radio is the broadcasters' answer to
XM
(XMSR)
and
Sirius
(SIRI) - Get Report
-- digital streams of music and talk that are broadcast on the FM dial -- along with the stereo analog signals we've listened to for years.
(There's HD AM broadcasting too, but since the AM band is mostly for speech, and not music, HD AM doesn't really matter at the moment.)
HD was supposedly created to improve the quality of FM reception and give listeners a bigger choice, as well as give broadcasters a new way to make money. FM stations broadcasting HD signals alongside their normal stations can split the new digital signal into two or more programming/revenue streams.
Officially, the technology is called "In Band, On Channel" or IBOC.
But, squeezing multiple digital streams on a frequency could mean lower fidelity for each "station." You can split a digital signal only so many ways before each stream begins to suffer.
HD Radio is a U.S.-only broadcast standard. The rest of the world (including Canada) uses the Eureka 147 standard known as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting).
HD stations sound different from their analog relatives. There is usually less background noise and much less interference that can be heard. That's because the receiver "locks in" on the station's digital component. In simple terms, just like digital TV broadcasts, a digital signal is either good or bad, on or off. If it's not tuned in properly, it's usually not enjoyable at all.
That said, digital HD radio signals can be more difficult to receive than their analog counterparts. Many listeners complain that they can receive their favorite FM station -- but can't "lock in" on the digital signal.
On the other hand, I live near WFUV-FM from Fordham University in the Bronx, which I cannot listen to at home because of interference. But, with an HD Radio tuner, it's received perfectly.
Overall, I've found that the sound quality of a station's digital signal can be slightly less full-bodied than the equivalent analog broadcast. Maybe it's because I'm used to an old-fashioned analog FM sound, but all three tested FM tuners (they plug directly into your home hi-fi system) highlight that difference. Not to the same extent, though.
Sangean HDT-1X
Sangean makes all kinds of radios, not only under its own name, but also for other well-known brands. This AM-FM tuner is actually the company's second try at an affordable HD tuner. The first, the HDT-1 (no X) was well received. But audiophiles -- and specifically tuner-philes -- played with the tuner and emphatically told Sangean what they liked and didn't like.
Sangean actually listened. There's now a digital output (so you can use your own digital processor) and a less obtrusive front panel display (it dims and turns off) and slightly better specs. The result is a better tuner. Sound quality is good. Especially for a component tuner that lists for $249.99 and can be found for around $200 if you do your homework on the Web.
The HDT-1X is a plain-looking black box, but it's a great way to add HD Radio to your hi-fi system. Recommended.
Rotel RT-1084
Next step up the ladder (and it's a giant step) is Rotel's sophisticated AM/FM/HD/Sirius tuner. The over-the-air tuner sections are standard equipment. You can add as many as three (optional) Sirius satellite tuner cards inside. There are separate analog and digital ins and outs for each section. Perfect for multiroom setups.
In addition to the big step-up in price, the Rotel provides listeners with a huge increase in perceived quality. The Rotel is a beautiful piece of audio jewelry, as well as a great-sounding tuner.
There's less of a difference in sound quality between the analog and digital versions of the same station when you're listening on the Rotel. In addition, this tuner seemed to have an easier time of locking-in on a digital signal.
Overall, the Rotel is easy to listen to -- and even easier to fall in love with. It's my current favorite. The RT-1084 carries a suggested retail price of $899. This component is very highly recommended.
One last note: The RT-1084 is user updatable via files you download from the Rotel Web site. You have to use a special cable that comes with the tuner -- and a Windows XP computer (it won't work with a Vista PC).
DaySequerra M4C
David Day is the undisputable king of FM tuners. He is the Day of DaySequerra, manufacturers of what some experts consider one of the best (and expensive) FM tuners ever made.
These days David is a big proponent of HD Radio. His company makes nearly all of the HD tuners that FM radio stations use to monitor their output. Therefore, David knows how good HD Radio can sound.
At the bottom of his product line is the $1,595 M4C tuner. It is the table-top version (that means you don't have to mount it in an equipment rack) of the units that chief engineers use to monitor their stations' signal.
As you might guess, the M4C is one heck of a tuner. I haven't actually played with the latest ungraded version, but the version I had sounded direct, forceful and produced a lot of very high-quality radio playback.
In this group of HD tuners, the DaySequerra produced the least difference between similar analog and digital radio signals -- a testament to David's continuing quest for great FM sound. Very highly recommended.
One last thought: These tuners may improve FM sound, but they won't do anything to improve what music radio stations actually play. Programming quality (or lack thereof) is the fault of the companies that own the radio stations.
Gary Krakow is TheStreet.com's senior technology correspondent.