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Here's my PSA for the day: HD radio sounds awful. Regular FM sounds more pleasing.

HD has a more extended top end, but the problem is that it's distorted and crunchy like an old low bitrate MP3.

When you switch back and forth between the same station on FM->HD, you can tell it gets more "open" and "clear" on the HD version, but the god awful top end is not worth it. It's painful to listen to, like a wall of white noise floating on top of the track.

In comparison, FM's lesser frequency range is actually an advantage because it sounds warmer, more pleasing, more soothing, whatever. It doesn't have that washy, grating top end.

/rant

30th July 2011	#1
scud133 Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 198 Thread Starter	HD Radio sounds like junk Here's my PSA for the day: HD radio sounds awful. Regular FM sounds more pleasing. HD has a more extended top end, but the problem is that it's distorted and crunchy like an old low bitrate MP3. When you switch back and forth between the same station on FM->HD, you can tell it gets more "open" and "clear" on the HD version, but the god awful top end is not worth it. It's painful to listen to, like a wall of white noise floating on top of the track. In comparison, FM's lesser frequency range is actually an advantage because it sounds warmer, more pleasing, more soothing, whatever. It doesn't have that washy, grating top end. /rant