Re: [Swprograms] HD radio audio delay problems...

[Joe Buch <josephbuch@xxxxxxxxx>]

Interesting article.  I think the problem may be moot when stations
find out that the only way they are going to make any money from their
digital HD stream is to have alternative programming on the digital
side.

People are not going to buy new FM radios to receive the same program
stream in digital format.  The audible improvement, if any, is too
small to warrant purchase of a new receiver.  

Although the program material could be broadcast with wider dynamic
range in the digital form, the satellite broadcasters have found they
have to dynamically compress because most listening occurs in cars. 
Road noise and wind noise limit how low you can go on level in the auto
environment before the program is under the audio noise. The only other
option would be ruptured ear drums on the up side. So the satellite
guys compress the dynamic range as much as the analog FM guys do.  

XM now has a channel called XM Pops which transmits light classical
music in surround sound.  There is at least one home receiver designed
to demodulate this channel in its fullest glory.  It sounds quite good
on a normal stereo receiver too and I think the dynamic range is
greater than average as I catch myself reaching for the volume control
during soft passages.

Once the need for alternative programming is realized, the NAB will
lobby the FCC to drop the requirement to carry the same program
material on the digital and analog services.  Eventually they will
probably drop the analog program ala what is about to happen with TV.

Joe Buch


--- Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> As if HD radio already wasn't facing an uphill battle, out comes this
> test conducted by a radio enthusiast out of the LA area that shows
> noticeable delays in HD signal reception vs. the underlying analog
> reception.
> 

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