I'm finally tempted at this price!
$60 HD Radio by Radiosophy (After $40 Rebate - USA)
http://www.radiosophy.com/
From NY Times TECHNOLOGY Thurs May 31, 2007
A Digital Radio That Costs Less Than Half Its Cheapest Rival
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/technology/31radio.html?ex=1181534400&en=489f6265f731aac0&ei=5070&emc=eta1
By GLENN FLEISHMAN
Radiosophy's HD100 pulls in HD Radio signals, a digital format that is
broadcast alongside standard radio by more than 1,200 stations in this country.
-----
A Digital Radio That Costs Less Than Half Its Cheapest Rival
By GLENN FLEISHMAN
The cost of receiving digital AM and FM signals will drop next week as
Radiosophy releases its HD100 receiver for less than $60 with a rebate. The
HD100 pulls in HD Radio signals, a digital format that is broadcast alongside
standard radio by more than 1,200 stations in this country. The next least
expensive digital receiver is $160 with a rebate; most start at $300.
Available at www.radiosophy.com, the HD100 is a 2.2-pound compact receiver
with built-in speakers. It has a play-through auxiliary input, a headphone jack
and an alarm clock. AC power is required.
The radio has an internal AM antenna and a pull-out FM antenna. Both can be
replaced with external antennas. Because digital signals are limited to 1
percent of the power of a stations analog transmission, HD receivers often
need external antennas for clear sound on far-off signals.
A display screen shows station call letters, song and artist details and
depending on the station brief updates on traffic, weather, news and sports.
With its low weight, telescoping antenna and ability to play music from
devices like iPods, the HD100 might have a place on the beach as long as
there is a cord long enough to reach it."
---------------------
Chet adds:
Looks like there's enuf stations in NYC now too
http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station/NY/StnMarket
Check your market here:
http://www.insideradio.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/hdradio_hdstations.htm
What's holding me back from ordering IMMEDIATELY?
See this March 07 Review of the HD scene by MP3 Newwire (The writer is based
in NJ...
"HD Radio Effort Undermined by Weak Tuners in Expensive Radios"
http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/7002/hd-radio2.html
I fear Radiosophy's offering may have the same problem!
He concluded:
"...Early adopters of HD Radio are only getting a fraction of the stations
they should. This is a big problem, because word-of-mouth on HD Radio starts
with them. Already there are signs of consumer indifference to HD Radio,
suggesting the early adopters are not exactly singing the virtues of the
technology. When you spend a few hundred dollars for an HD radio just to get
one or two HD2 stations and mediocre analog reception you quickly question the
value of your purchase. Outdoor aerials will correct this issue, but at added
expense and effort.
The interesting part is it is not the fault of the HD technology itself. This
flaw resides in the choice of tuners inserted into these radios by the
companies building them, tuners which all have weak sensitivity. Sensitivity
that is so weak their analog reception is inferior to that found in a cheap
shower radio and a vintage tube radio. This is inexcusable considering the
price point of these radios. Ultimately, this misstep is undermining the
aggressive effort to launch this new technology.
The good news is that the solution is an easy one. Manufacturers just need to
put more sensitive tuners into these radios.
For the three HD radios we only recommend them with the purchase and
installation of an outdoor aerial or some other antenna set up that is superior
to the few lengths of wire enclosed in the box. One HD radio owner I spoke with
in my area installed an antenna that resides in his attic. He purchased the
Boston Acoustics Recepter HD and he too was disappointed in the initial
results. He told me the addition of a better antenna dramatically improved
reception and he is now very happy with all the new content he is able to
receive on the airwaves. He is quite pleased with the HD2 offerings,
particularly WPLJ in New York, which is broadcasting two HD2 channels along
side its HD1/analog offering. That he finds the new channels compelling is the
best news for HD radio and why the Alliance needs to correct this issue
immediately."
WHAT YA THINK?
Chet Copeland
I note Rob's May 30 post re Sony's offerings.
Rob de Santos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>From the Retail Bridge newsletter today:
"Sony Announces New HD Radio Options For Home, Car
Sony announced its commitment to HD radio technology yesterday, introducing a
new HD-enabled table radio and an add-on car stereo tuner.
"Sony is one of the first leading consumer electronics companies to offer
quality HD Radio-enabled devices," said Steve Haber, senior vice president of
marketing for Sony's Digital Imaging and Audio Division. "We're adding it to a
long list of technologies that support digital music trends."
The manufacturer's XDR-S3HD AM/FM/HD table radio was designed to bring HD radio
to the average living room listener, with a decor-matching cherry wood finish
and backlit blue LCD display. The unit's stereo speakers offer simulated
surround sound, while the auxiliary input allows the user to connect an external
music player or other source to the system. It also includes a wireless remote
and built-in clock radio functions.
The XDR-S3HD will be available in July at an MSRP of $200.
For the car, Sony's XT-100HD HD radio tuner will add HD radio to select Sony car
stereos. The hideaway module connects directly to the head unit's bus interface,
delivering artist and song information, as well as radio station names, to the
stereo's display. The tuner will work with most Sony head units, but a complete
list of compatible stereos is available at: www.sony.com/xplod.
The XT-100HD mobile tuner will also be available in July at an MSRP of $100. "
--
-Rob
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