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Sound quality of HD Radio vs CD vs Streamers??

There are a number of Denver area radio stations that broadcast simultaneously in FM and HD.   https://hdradio.com/stations/

I listen to several including KCFR classical music and KUVO jazz/blues. One night in December last year, I heard the beautiful JS Bach keyboard concerto BWV 1052 - Adagio. I listened to the direct HD radio (Sangean HDT-20) output for a bit and then switched to the output of Audio Research DAC 2. I have connected the digital output of HD radio to DAC 2. I was able to make a direct comparison of the two outputs by switching back and forth.

Depth of the sound-stage and separation of the musical instruments were clearly better with DAC2. However, these differences were very small and I attributed those to the DACs in respective devices (multibit in DAC2 vs Delta-sgma in Sangean). HDT-20 playback sounded more direct and upfront while DAC2 playback was laid back and more revealing.

Then I brought the CD which was played on that day, Bach Keyboard Concertos, by Andrei Gavrilov, Neville Marriner, ASMF, EMI (7640552). During playback, I didn't hear a much big difference between CD via DAC2 and what I heard the other day. Of course, I am recalling this from my memory and I think playbacks were very similar or at least closer in playback. 

I have been debating for a while whether to buy a digital streamer and then I came across this interesting comparison of HD radio playback versus digital streamers. "HD stations don't suffer from audio compression like streaming and satellite radio can. Also noted the impressive sound difference; HD Radio stations had fuller sound with better bass."

Appreciate if you please share your experience of comparing CD sound quality against digital streamers of the same material. Also any thought on HD playback versus digital streamers?

 

pwerahera
pwerahera OP
125 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara I don't see how HD version is so poor compared to FM. In my case, HD sounded so much better than FM and the comparison is not even close. Sangen HDT-20 has both FM and HD and my comparisons show the exact opposite. One of my friends has HD radio in his car and his experience is also similar.

@mahler123 HD Radio, or Hybrid Digital Radio, is a technology that allows radio stations to broadcast digital signals on the same frequency as their analog signals. HD Radio offers better sound quality than traditional AM and FM radio. You can buy either receivers or dedicated tuner with HD. But first check if you have radio stations that offer HD, in addition to FM/AM broadcasting.

HD uses lossy compression that will impact the dynamic range. If the music is played at the same volume level as in most Jazz and rock/pop tracks, then it will not be a big deal. But in classical music which utilizes the full dynamic range, it may become an issue.

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

I used this HD radio to compare the same broadcast signal between HD and FM from KCRW.

Sony's awesome but ridiculously cheap AM/FM HD Radio - CNET

My unit was modded and sounded even better. However, I had 3 other FM tuners that were better, and I did not like the sonics on HD. I gave the HD radio away.

pwerahera OP
125 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara I did checked out the Sony unit, but selectd the Sangean because it has the digital output available whereas Sony didn’t. Even the very best FM tuners can do only so much to reproduce FM signal which is subjected to noise, hizzing and signal strength whereas HD doesn’t suffer from any of these. It also gives far better s/n ratio. HD radio transmitter can range from 24 to 120 kbps.Some stations may be using lower bit rates which may degrade the HD sound quality compared to the FM.

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