Anyone have an "HD" radio in their car?????

Question

I'm thinking of getting an HD radio for my car. I need to get some feedback. Are they worth it?? Thanks. :--)))

Answer 1

Haven't used it. Haven't heard it. Just going by what I've heard - grapevine wise.

Not yet. The system was not well thought out. There are many hoops to go through to get to the stations, the main (sponsoring) stations are not supporting their little HD brothers. And to top it all off, the quality's not that great.

Just what I've heard. Perhaps someone else will have better actual expeirience. But it's possible, excluding the engineers who worked on it, you may be the first to actually want to install one ;<)

Have you considered XM or Sirius. Them I can vouch for.

-a guy named duh

Answer 2

Right at the moment...NO

I don't have one but I participate in a online discussion with people who were some of the first to get it. Unless you are in a major market (read top 100 or so of cities in the US) , you probably won't have a HD signal even around you.

Biggest complaints are distance (as it doesn't get out as far as the analog signal.... On AM, you basically have to live within 15 miles of some stations to receive it on AM) and the choice of stations on the secondary station (A Main signal is broadcast in CD audio quality on FM, But a lower quality second channel is available on the commercial stations and most choices are pretty much lacking currently

Answer 3

I DO have a standalone HD radio but not one for the car.

Just my opinion, but I don't think an HD car radio is worth it.  The sound quality does sound improved, which is about the only positive on it.  I don't know your musical tastes, but based on what is on HD radio in New York City there really isn't anything creative about it.  

Using New York City as an example, aside from filling a few format voids in the marketplace (such as country), "offshoot" formats of the regular SD stations (e.g. 97.1 - Hot 97 on SD is r&b/hip-hop...their HD-2 is throwback (older hip-hop)), simulcasts (102.7 - Fresh is adult contemporary while their HD-2 is a simulcast of 1010WINS, an AM news station), and older formats that were changed (101.1 - CBS-FM SD is oldies now while HD-2 is "Jack"...a couple of months ago, it was opposite)...HD radio is just more of "the same".

Right now it sounds more like a "jukebox" as opposed to a typical radio station since there are no on-air personalities on HD.  Also, unless you are near a major city, HD signals don't travel far and not every marketplace has an HD station.

Your best bet would be to get satellite radio in your car.  You'll have more variety format-wise with no commercial interruptions.  Or, you can wait it out a couple of years.  As long range Wi-Fi and 3GG technology grows, you will be able to get a car stereo that picks up Internet streams (such as stations on Live365).

Not a question of it in the latter case...but when!  Now THAT I am definitely excited for! :)

Good luck.

Answer 4

I have an EZ500 Kenwood HD inmy Expedition, and home radios at home in in theoffice for HD.  It does give better sound on FM, additional channels on fm but on AM it's a waste.  Talk radio sounds harsh, and interfrese with adjacent stations, particularly at night.