Is HD Radio worth it?

[WMSmotorhead]

Today my work car (2001 Focus) had the radio/CD stop working on me.. Checking out the cost of going aftermarket, I was able to order a new HD Radio head unit for only a few $$ more. One of the cars we were fixing had one, and the Baseball game on AM in HD mode sounded WAY better.

Overall, is HD radio a better bet than traditional AM/FM?

Fluke is, after I got the new head unit, I was able to fix the old one for 50 cents... ARRG. I'm planning to go through with the swap anyway, since the stock radio AM reception is horrid. All my other Ford radios are OK to very good... then again they are premium sound.

 

[justinf89]

My cd player in the explorer gave out the other day and I've been looking at head unit's also. I hadn't given hd radio a second thought until I looked at the prices and the same hu with hd radio was only $20 more so I plan to get that one. I decided on the jvc double-din hd radio.

 

[JHZR2]

I have HD in my BMW. I live close to a major metro area and get HD reception. So long as that is the case for you too, it makes sense to do so, IMO the sound is slightly better. It sounds to me like there is just a bit more depth and clarity, kind of like as if the HD radio (which is NOT high-definition) is less compressed or is clearer somehow.

If going with a new radio, Id say to go for it, unless there is something compellingly better in a head unit that does not have HD.

 

[zyxelenator]

I have an HD radio, It's about CD quality sound, but you need to have good signal...

 

[The_Jeff]

Analog AM radio has a really low 6KHz ceiling to the audio. And they took some of that away to squeeze the HD signal on the same carrier. So yeah it's worth it if you can get it.

 

[97f150]

I have used either Sirius or XM sercvice for many years now and have never given thought to HD radio. Since the merger though the playlists have become downright horrid and I am unsure of whether or not I will renew or not, so HD may be my next option.

 

[NYSteve]

HD radio, unlike HD TV, does not mean High Def. It means hybrid digital. Its so stations can send audio and data, ie, song names etc to the radio. I agree that if you are in a major metro area, you might see a difference.

 

[JHZR2]

Right, though HD is not high def, there is an audible difference...

 

[MNgopher]

If you live in an area where there are HD signals to be had, it is nice. I put a JVC unit into my Explorer with HD radio, and I do enjoy it. AM signals sound like FM. Not a huge difference in the FM stations, but many more options in station choices. Most of the HD stations here have secondary HD stations as well. Of note, the quality of the sound is dependent on the quality they are broadcasting. There is one station here in particular that the HD signal sounds like garbage as it is a low quality they are broadcasting. Think about the size of digital music, and how lower sampling rates mean smaller files. Same concept here. Some ears pick up on it, others don't. Many of the HD signals are commercial free still.

If its a few extra bucks (its was $15 at the time I bought mine) and there are signals to be had where you live, its fine. In rural MN, there are not a lot of HD signals at this time though.

 

[EricF]

I have a Dual head unit that has HD capability.
HD station are sligthly clearer and with HD-2 sometimes you can get some pretty cool stations.. like my country station played "classic" country on HD-2, and it was commercial free.
Only catch is, the distance.. if I went to far or over the hill or the moon wasn't in the right position, it'd lose the signal but regular freq. would come in.
the unit would try and reconnect to HD-1 and sometimes would try to hard.
the Dual unit I got was the first HD deck made. (it also has a USB input jack so that was the selling point at the time).
the Dual doesn't sound as good as my pioneer.. but I can have 32gigs of songs on 1 usb stick and an play for hours and hours.
But it's not really worth it.. however, I don't see HD radio going away anytime soon either.
It's not like Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD's..

 

[Norm Olt]

If there even are a couple good stations with strong signals available it is, IMHO, a no-brainer...

The HD radio option is also usually included on the higher quality tuner sections for those brands where there are a complete "line" of offerings.

It does sound better where it is available and no monthly "$ub$cription" to be billed to your credit card!

 

[simple_gifts]

Will mention, as I did in a previous HD thread, if you do not have a good HD signal and the tuner switches between HD and analog, it is quite annoying. (to the point where you will want to change the station)

I enjoy my home HD sony clock/radio. With a pair of rabbit ears, I can pick up WGBH, Boston in HD.

 

[CivicFan]

The difference in sound could be a result of the higher quality of these Hybrid Digital units versus the old school FM radio.

I like having HD radio because if there is a song I like, it's easy to see who the artist is and what the song is called in case I want to purchase the track later.