Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy

Remember that first-ever portable HD Radio prototype we peeked back in May? Turns out Best Buy just let loose the real-deal, today announcing immediate availability of the Insignia NS-HD01. Needless to say, the big box retailer and supporters of HD Radio alike are hoping that this subscription-free player will finally put some much-needed wind behind the sails of the format, and while it's pretty simple in nature, the sub-$50 price tag could place it squarely in the "impulse buy" category. The relatively brief specs list includes a color LCD, rechargeable Li-ion battery, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, a bundled armband and ten user-selectable preset memory channels. You can catch the full release after the break, and the player itself in your nearest Best Buy.

Insignia NS-HD01: first-ever portable HD Radio on sale at Best Buy

Best Buy® Releases First-Ever Portable HD Radio Receiver

Insignia™ HD Radio™ Portable Player Provides Digital HD Radio Broadcasting On the Go

MINNEAPOLIS – Today, Best Buy announced the launch of the Insignia™ HD Radio Portable Player, a first-of-its-kind product innovation, which will be available exclusively at Best Buy on July 12.

HD Radio technology is transforming the radio experience in ways never thought possible. It enables FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally, ensuring that listeners will experience clear reception with no audio distortion. Digital broadcasting allows listeners to access – for free – new HD Radio channels and more programming than ever before.

As the first-ever portable HD Radio player, the Insignia HD Radio Portable Player will make it easy for listeners to take the exceptional HD Radio experience on the go. The player offers new and extra FM HD Radio channels with crystal-clear, static-free sound, allowing listeners to take
the ultimate sound experience to the gym or for a jog anywhere there is an HD Radio signal.

"The sound quality and LCD screen features of the Insignia HD Radio portable are phenomenal," said Mike Dahnert, Insignia Portable HD Radio product manager. "Best Buy is proud to be the first to bring such a unique and quality product to our customers."

"We applaud Best Buy for setting a precedent in the audio entertainment marketplace by offering the first-ever portable HD Radio receiver," said Bob Struble, President and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer of digital HD Radio technology for AM/FM audio and data broadcasting. "With new HD2/HD3 digital channels, crystal-clear sound, no subscription
fees, and now, thanks to Best Buy, the ability to take digital radio on the go, it's a total win for the consumer and one more indication that the HD Radio momentum is continuing."

The built-in, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery on the Insignia HD Radio Portable Player ensures long periods of continuous listening and entertainment, and a full-color LCD screen makes it simple to program your favorite preset stations at any time. A stylish armband and a 3.5 mm jack output make it easy to use the player on the go or in your car. Set up to 10 user-selectable preset memory channels to save and enjoy your favorite stations wherever you go. For a full list of HD Radio stations, visit http://www.hdradio.com.

MSRP – $49.99

Features:

• 10 station presets
• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (up to 10 hours of playing time)
• 3.5mm output (can be used with car stereo [cable not included])
• Full color display
• Displays radio station, artist, and song
• 1.5" LCD screen

Accessories included:
Earphones, Armband, USB cable for charging

Package contents:
Earphones, Armband, USB cable, User guide and Quick Set Up Guide

[BruceM Posted Jul 12th 2009 1:14PM]

You know what?... That makes sense, and I completely agree with you. Things that can be charged off of low-current/voltage USB should use that connector. There should also be a second _standardized_ charging adapter for devices which require much higher current/voltage (i.e. power tools).

[mildoath Posted Jul 12th 2009 2:08PM]

holy fuck, has a passionate disagreement just been defused by openness and reasoning? /on Engadget??/

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 4:12AM]

Plenty of HD stations in DFW. I'll get this, bad photoshop be damned!!!

[Godfather Posted Jul 12th 2009 7:04AM]

Rush Limbaugh in FM quality, and All Things Considered in CD quality.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2009 7:11AM]

The Sanza slotradio has a HD radio in it. Thats what they say on the website anyway.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 11:50AM]

I guess by "available today" they mean through bestbuy.com. Which, by the way, does not even have a picture of the device. I put in several zip codes into the product locator, and it comes back with bupkis.

[TRAFFICBLOWS Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:02PM]

no memory slot for my music? no thank you!

[Shane Posted Jul 12th 2009 1:50PM]

The prototype had a micro SD slot for media playback but this function appears to have been dropped from the retail model. Probably to keep the cost under $50, I assume...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:10PM]

I agree with TRAFFICBLOWS (lol nice name btw)

this should have doubled as an mp3 p[layer and provided a slot for a miniSD card..

I think dedicated radio devices, even in HD, are outdated.

[albundy Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:14PM]

Radio? it still exists? wow! Thanks but I have every song ever made on my pmp! Why would anyone need radio? :P

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:18PM]

I don't understand why they didn't include a gig or memory and add mp3 playback functionality. It would have been much more useful of a device with that added.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:17PM]

FM Tuner only? Some of us do liek AM radio you know. An AM tuner would be nice too!

[billav Posted Jul 12th 2009 12:58PM]

What ever happened to portable stereos (or whatever they're called)? They're stuck in the '90s, with the only update being the ability to play mp3 CDs. Why aren't there portable stereos with HD radio receivers and hard drives (or flash RAM) in 'em?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 1:05PM]

I want one so I can get FM at home through my pc and then I can plug it in my car stereo and get it on the road.
Radio staions are what made many musicians and bands well-known if not famous, Ipod's? They are just a very small part (nothing) of a worldwide phenomenon known as "the local radio stations", which have been around since KCBS first started broadcasting audio in 1910.
Remove them all and you are left holding your dick in your hands, not your ipod. Go stick a pc or tv in your ear and see how that works for ya.
My only concern is the amplifier, and of course, Insignia's site is just short of a bag of garbage sold daily in santi alley. They also sell one for twice the price which looks similar to a standard home receiver. The only difference is the optical/coax ability and more presets ??
Why are ipods about the only handheld devices I know of (that do anything) which also have decent amps??

[Pingles Posted Jul 12th 2009 1:22PM]

I think perhaps the world is changing. IMO for the better. I truly do not believe that teh folks choosing what songs get played on todays music sations have the same motivation that they had in the past.

The world of radios driving music sales is slowly disappearing just as the "album" model is being replaced by iTunes singles.

While I don't doubt that most of today's music had its origins in radios broadcasting it for us to hear I don't foresee that as the future.

Just look at the way Radios are in homes. Growing up we had a Stereo which regularly played radio stations in our living room.

Today I have clock radios which wake me up and then from then on it's a radio-free house.

I am afraid the days of a radio-free car are not too far in the future as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 2:23PM]

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Let's see if it matches it's hype.

http://www.renogeek.com

[bhsx Posted Jul 12th 2009 2:40PM]

bhsx @ May 14th 2009 12:16AM

Insignia at Best Buy....
You heard it here first!
What do i win?



Above was posted by me on the linked Portable HD Radio Prototype...
So, uh, what do i win?

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 12th 2009 4:22PM]

Nowadays I can stream almost ANY radio to my i910 Omnia.

Wunder Radio
Resco Pocket Radio
Pandora

All through my (truly) all you can eat data plan.

I don't really rove out of data areas so it works out great for me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 7:18PM]

I Just bought one. The antenna is week. I wish it had a built in transmitter for the car

[RAMz Posted Jul 12th 2009 10:24PM]

HD radio? I'll stick with the casette to 1/8" adapter with my iPhone for now thanks...oh yeah and the regular radio.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 16th 2009 6:52PM]

Does it have a speaker or ONLY earbuds??

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 19th 2009 1:37PM]

After placing an order locally, I found the NS-HD01 at
ONE Best Buy. I have been trying it out this morning and
have to say this is one little wonderful gadget. The color
screen gets high marks. Tuning is absolutely simple — you
seek tune and then can use the UP/DWN buttons to scroll
through the available HD subchannels. Reception sensitivity
here in the DC area is superb — playing it through my home
multi-speaker setup yields excellent sound, great volume.
I have experienced no fading or breakup of local HD channels.

Now — for my purposes, I would make this recommendation
to Best Buy/Insignia — put an audio output on the radio — this
would enable recording of signals in addition to just being able
to listen. And the next obvious step would be to incorporate a
solid state recording capability, with say a 2 GB minimum capacity.
If they are really smart they would design the next version of this
along the lines of the CC Witness which enables use of both internal
and SDHC card recording as well as a multi-event timer.

But that’s for the future — the Insignia just shows that you don’t
really need to get a large HD receiver if you want to take advantage
of the new technology.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 28th 2009 10:46AM]

I hope this is not a bad sign but mine seems to have died today after only a week and a half. When I plugged it in to recharge it the screen came on for a few moments and then nothing. It will not turn on and it will not charge. I am very disappointed because it is not in stock at my local Best Buy. Has anyone else had this happen?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 13th 2009 10:49AM]

Yes. Mine is dead too. The screen is lit but nothing displays, it's just black. Doesn't charge and hitting reset doesn't do anything. Bringing it back to Best Buy tomorrow.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 11:56PM]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but the Insignia model is NOT the first portable HD radio. The author is incorrect.

The first portable HD radio was the Coby HDR-700, which came out around 1 year ago.

The Insignia model is FM HD only. It does not provide AM HD (or even AM analog). The Coby model, however feature both FM HD and AM HD. Therefore, the Coby HDR-700 is still the only portable FM HD and AM HD radio.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2009 3:01PM]

I would not be so quick to ditch this little Portable HD radio.

When I head the adds for the Zune HD I became all excited.

When I found out it wasn't out yet and it was going to cost me as much as an iTouch I was disappointed.

So yesterday I bought the little HD radio.

For what I paid for it it is very nice.

Reception of HD stations are limited inside of a building.

But when the power for HD is increased from 1% things will probably get better.

My main reason for getting is not the sound quality.

I just want to know the name of the song and the artiest.

I like to guess. Now I know I'm not as good as I thought that I was.

And now I will have money for my Verizon iPhone.

[Gryffyn Posted Sep 30th 2009 8:22PM]

I picked up one of these last weekend, took it for a spin and was disappointed. I didn't pick up a single HD station in Annapolis, MD. I know there are some around here. Maybe closer to DC or Baltimore, but if they're transmitting with the same wattage as their analog counterparts, I should have picked up something.

I made sure the headphones were plugged in and held my hand up in the air and all that.

If you live in an area where you can get a signal, then this is probably a great unit. I had to take mine back, though. Guess I need to just get a proper car stereo with HD and hope my car's antenna does a better job with reception.