blitz wrote in message ...
Radio Ronn writes...

No, HD offers better fidelity capability than analog. (The radio is a
seperate story.)

Capability is one thing, but the tuners don't use
it.

Well, let's not do away with the capability.

That's not what I said.

Whatever.

No one expects hifi on AM, so it's not as
noticeable.

People's expectations are increasing all the time. It would be nice to
attempt meet them...instead of leaving the status quo.

The status quo is (or was) that cheap AM tuners kept lowering people's
expectations.

Wrong, everything is better quality now, from Ipods, cell phones, cable tv,
FM, internet streaming.

People expect more better quality...why keep things at the status quo?

Not that good ones weren't/aren't out there, but who's
spending a hundred dollars (or five hundred for the new Polk!) for a
table radio?

Who will spend $100 for a radio? people who want to find a favorite format
that is not viable on the main channels.

Like folk music? A 1-time $100 purchase will get it for you for free.....

Like Jazz? $100 will get you the format endlessly. For that you get the
added benefit of increased AM fidelity and functionality.

It's not that simple. If a desired format only comes through two tin
cans and a string, people will buy them.

And that's why they will buy HD radio's if they are made aware of the
formats available.

make AM talk and news sound like NPR on FM.

Who cares? If it comes in clear on analog, it will *probably* do the
same on AM.

Wrong, in test with the public, people notice the differnece in fidelity
between the talk programming of NPR and the talk programming on analog AM.

Of course they can. FM generally sounds better than AM. That's not the
point.

The point is that the public notices the difference..and news and talk on FM
has exploded.

AM can sound just as good.

It also removes some (all?) of thecomp[ression that was necessary for AM
analog....and adress listener fatique that occurrs with too much
processing/compression, etc.

Name a station that doesn't use compression most of the time.

On their analog signal? They all use it almost all the time.

On their HD streams? Few do.

Talk radio people aren't looking for FM sound.

NPR's audience numbers have exploded in the last 10 years...while AM's
numbers are decreasing.

Well, yeah, I said that already.

Thats an improvement.
Why is NPR on FM stations mostly? ANd why are most NPR talk stations
broadcasting in stereo?
(because people expect it....)

I suppose after 20 years or more, yeah, they've come to expect NPR at
the low end of the FM dial. So?

Does the low end of the dial affect fidelity? Not that I know of.\

Of course it doesn't.

Then your "lower end of the dial" argument is invalid.

Maybe, but people like jukeboxes, if the jukeboxes are playing songs
they
like.

Got any ratings on those jukeboxes?

No, we don't have any radio's...how would there be listeners?

No HD radios? Most sales graphs do indeed look like none have been
sold, so, yeah, how would there be listeners?

Thanks for proving my point.

Have you checked the ratings for XM/Sirius jukeboxes?

Yes. Less than 1% of all listening is done on satelite radio.....and that
1% is spread out over all the channels.

I already said they're struggling.

Have you proclaimed them a faiilure?

XM/Sirius has channels that are virtually jukeboxes.

And a bunch of niche formats that don't make it to broadcasting
towers.

That's what HD is doing, bringing formats that could not survive on their
own, back into the market.

Not so much, besides NPR. Confirm it for yourself.

I have. Folk, Gay Pride, Jazz, 70's, ethnic music, extended talk, community
programming.....all available on HD.

HD will never be able to compete with satellite's diversity.

Why not? If a market has 20-25 FM stations...and they are all offering an
extra channel or 2...why can't it match the diversity of satellite?

It can, but it probably won't- largely because it hasn't worked in the
past.

Satelite radio hasn't "worked in the past"...does that mean it "probably
wont" work?

There's not enough ad money now to support the main channels. I
can't feature a station starting up a niche format guaranteed to draw
fewer ears.

#1.) Most stations in the major markets are making a profit. (Not as much as
they'd like, but definitely a profit.)

#2.) Very little ad money is needed to support the niche formats...they are
relatively cheap to operate.

I just want/wanted something interesting. Radio lost me in the 80s.

Is it any wonder that the offerings of HD radio don't interest you?

HD FM tuners (under $5000) roll off the highs. The sound stage is
distorted. Maybe they'll straighten it out in time, but what
generation chip are we on now? Third? Fourth?

And getting better all the time.

You simply can't concede that HD tuners mess with the sound, can you?

Everything "messes with the sound", speakers, antennas, microphones,
recievers, room ambiance.

Technical parameters suggest it's not better (and I believe you
already know that), and listening confirms it.

Technical measurements suggest it is better...andoffers more
functionality...and more choices. All pluses...and reason's why it's not
going away.

Consumers will decide that.

No, broadcasters will continue to use HD even if there are very few
listeners. It's simply "added value".

And you're clearly an industry shill if you can't admit the sound
doesn't faithfully reproduce the original.

No, far from it. I just am tired of all the DX geeks living in the momma's
basement who complain that they can't DX AM and are ready to proclaim HD a
failure.

Analog isn't going away, so that will be available for a long time ot
come...HD simply adds more funcitonality.

Do consumers care? Most don't, but that still doesn't clean up the
sound.

Most consumers are not aware of it...so it's hard to judge if they care.

*Maybe* that's a station or setup issue, but if it is, lots of
stations aren't doing a good job.

Thats a whole differnet argument.

Not if you're talking about better sound.

Well, there are thousands of stations across the country...each one can be
set up adjusted the way they want.