HD Radio First Impressions

[howeird]

The JVC radio in the car find the HD programs in the same scan as analog programs, so I am able to keep my eyes on the road, push the scan button and listen to the channel for a bit and guess whether I am hearing HD or analog. Most of the time HD is clearer audio, better high frequency response, better subwoofer separation and uses all 6 speakers. However, there is at least one analog channel which sounds as good as HD, and at least two HD stations which are obviously using analog source equipment.

The biggest diff is just what I get every day at work testing HD vs. SD TV. Analog will play some sound, even if it's white noise, as long as it gets a signal. Digital is silent if it loses signal, and with an intermittent signal it skips like a scratched CD.

Most of the Bay Area HD stations are broadcasting two programs (HD1 and HD2) on the same frequency. They are always different content, sometimes even aimed at a different audience. One of the Spanish channels has English content on HD2.

Edit add: The new radio is more powerful and has better sound quality all around than the old one

Deleted comments to this post and the other post about HD radio because the bozo who started the comment thread keeps a locked LJ with all comments screened and unread - an LJ site set up solely to harrass people who say anything nice about HD radio.