HD Radio (TM) Update

Polk Audio has its  iSonic Entertainment System. This tabletop-sized radio packs a lot of features into its small size as it includes not just and HD Radio receiver, but an XM Satellite receiver and a single-disk CD player. However, you pay for all these features as the iSonic has an announced price of $599 – too steep to be a true consumer product.

RadioShack has done a brisk business sellng its Accurian HD Radio for less than $200. Sangeon's new HDR-1 started shipping last Christmas and I can tell you, from personal experience,it has a very nice sound.  Radiosophy is selling  its entry-level HD100 and hopes to have its new HD200 ready to go in time for this Christmas selling season. The HD200 will be a better (and I hope, less expensive) version of its MultiStream HD.

Visteon is already shipping its tabletop unit, the HD Pulse. This radio has a nice big, bright, six-line display; both manual and seek tuning; 10 memory pre-sets; and digital and analog clocks.

Dice Electronics recently introduced its iTR-100 tabletop unit. It features Station Seek and is multicast capable. There is also an optional add-on speaker for a better stereo effect. The iTR100 has an alarm clock but is promoted as a desktop unit. Dicehas a price of $199 for the radio on its web site, and $49 for the add-on speaker.

Jenson has an interesting unit called the JiMS-525 Digital Docking HD Radio System for iPod.  It boasts a number of features, including  a player and recharger for the iPod;  audio line-in for connecting the iPod shuffle and othe MP3 or digital players; a multi-functon back-lit LCD display; 10 AM and 20 FM pre-sets and, of course, HD Radio (tm) technology.

And last, (as of this writing) but certainly not least, Sony recently announced its  XDR-S4HD tabletop radio which has digital tuning; a nice, big backlit display;  a clock with alarm setting  and a stylish - sort of retro - wood-based cabinet.  The XDR-S4D also boasts stereo speakers with bass reflex sound system; treble, bass tone control and surround sound functions;  and 20 AM and 20 FM pre-sets.

It's sad but true that stations are converting to HD Radio tecnolgoy a lot faster than manufacturers. One "line" I heard recently is that there are 1,100 HD radio stations and 1,100 HD technology radios.

Things are a bit brighter in car audio systems. Kenwood offers two HD Radio tuners that are compatible with a number of its in-car units. Alpine, Panasonic and Sanyo sell in-dash automotive head units that can handle HD Radio technology and Eclipse has a black box unit that can be used with Eclipse automotive receivers to give their in-dash units HD Radio sound.

Probably the best deal available as of this writing is the JVC unit available through Circuit City for about $150 - and with free installation.

HD Radio Stations

There are now more than 1,100 radio stations broadcasting HD Radio signals. Ibiquity, the creator of advocate for HD Radio says, "Thousands of radio stations are upgrading to digital HD Radio technology. Approximately one new HD Radio broadcaster goes on the air each day, reaching every major U.S. city and 60% of all listeners. By 2008, more than 90% of the U.S. population will be reached by HD Radio broadcasters."

So, if there is no HD Radio in your area, be patient. It should be there soon.

HD2 Channels

There are also now stations in 100+ top  markets that arebroadcasting HD2 channels. These are "subchannels" made possible by the fact that HD Radio technology is digital radio. Broadcasters could, theoretically, add up to eight of these subchannels but so far, most seem to be sticking to a single onel. If you have an HD Radio, you will see these HD2 channels as something like 99.4 HD2 or 99.4 HD3. In other words, they are subchannels of the primary frequency, in this case 99.4.

Most of the stations broadcasting HD2 channels are using the channels to either complement their existing programming or are offering something completely different. For example, one of our local station's primary format is Hot AC , with Jammin' Oldies on its HD2 channel. To get a complete list of HD Radio stations and HD2 channels by city, click on this link:

http://www.hdradio.com/hd_digital_radio_format_list.php

HD Radio technology enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally. These digital broadcasts provide listeners with radically improved audio quality, more radio channels through multicasting, and new data services.