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Sony's XDR-S3HD and XT-100HD gets your home, car into HD radio
Internet connectivity and SiriusXM ain't it for new radio, folks, don't discount HD radio. Well, Sony hasn't anyway, what with its fresh new XDR-S3HD and XT-100HD HD radios. The classic looking XDR-S3HD table radio does AM / FM and HD with a backlit LCD display; it'll run you $200 in July. The XT-100HD is intended for your car, jacks into your Sony head unit and feeds track info; it'll run you $100 in July. Click on for a pic of the 100HD, car radio nuts.
Onkyo's new receivers feature both XM and Sirius satellite radio
Onkyo has the loot for you if you want to hear Oprah and Howard back-to-back, with announcements of five receivers featuring both XM and Sirius satellite radio compatibility. The TX-SR575, TX-SR705, TX-SR805, and TX-SR875 models all support both formats for your radio jones, while the high-end TX-NR905 model also adds support for HD Radio digital broadcasts and an Ethernet jack for Internet radio and multimedia streaming. The receivers all have the usual collection of video ins and outs, and sport 1.3a HDMI connectors with Deep Color capability for switching between sources up to 1080p resolution. No pricing or dates were announced for the TX-SR575, but the TX-SR805 will ship in May for $1099, the TX-SR875 in June for $1699, the TX-SR705 in July for $899, and the TX-NR905 in August for $2099.Read - Onkyo THX Certified ReceiversRead - Onkyo TX-SR575
First $99 HD Radio announced
Despite Ibiquity choosing to name next generation terrestrial radio after the ever so popular HDTV, it hasn't been widely accepted yet. The initial cost of HD radio tuners has been a big reason and Radiosophy is hoping to change that at NAB, by introducing the first $99 HD Radio, which makes it half as much as the next cheapest model. Like most radios today, it has a few more tricks: it's an alarm clock, has an external antenna connection, as well as the latest must have for any device with speakers, a line input for your MP3 player. According to the release you have to act now to get the $99 price, as those who wait until after July 30th will have to pay $119.99.
Current crop of HD radios worse than analog models?
We noted last week that the FCC's official approval of HD radio was good news for embattled terrestrial broadcasters, but Richard Menta of MP3 newswire clues us in to a dirty little secret on the consumer side of things: most of the hardware on the market today sucks. Specifically, Menta put three current models (Boston Acoustics' Recepter Radio HD, Polk Audio's I-Sonic Entertainment System, and the Accurian HD Radio from Radio Shack) up against three analog units he had lying around the house (his car stereo, a cheap Sony shower radio, and just for fun, a 1940 Zenith tube radio), and much to his surprise, even the crappiest of the latter group was able to pick up analog stations better than the most expensive HD device. Furthermore, the HD models did a terrible job picking up the digital stations they're meant to highlight in signal-rich central Jersey, as they were only able lock in one of the 13 channels promoted by the HD Radio Alliance with any regularity. Luckily this poor performance seems due to the lack of sensitivity in the tuners these radios are built with -- an issue that's easily solved -- so the real question is whether manufacturers have the will to start tossing better parts in. If not, things don't look very good for HD Radio, so all that NAB can really do is hope that its anti-merger smear campaign is gaining some ground
It's on: HD radio gets FCC blessing
We have to wonder what the mood is over at NAB headquarters right now, in light of the fact that the FCC has finally given HD radio -- the promised savior of terrestrial broadcasting -- the green-light. On the one hand, radio stations will now be able to offer to multiple streams of higher-quality, digital programming to the commuting public -- good news, indeed -- but on the other hand, XM and Sirius now have another example to wave in front of regulators who will argue that their proposed merger stifles competition. The new sources of revenue, however, combined with a technology that is said to be superior to satellite delivery, probably outweigh any potential effects on the merger, meaning that Clear Channel and friends are likely partying it up as we speak. As you probably know, HD radio allows stations to efficiently divide their spectrum in as many as five (and possibly more) streams, a move which advocates hope will increase programming diversity but detractors fear will just bring more of the same crap. Regardless of whether the increased capacity brings about more non-Top 40 stations, though, this ruling is definitely a plus for consumers; because even if the new content is just as lame as the current stuff, at least we gadgetheads now have an excuse to go out and buy a whole slew of fresh gear.Update: Just to clear things up, yes, certain stations have been broadcasting in HD for some time now, but those were special cases requiring FCC permission. This new ruling allows all certified terrestrial broadcasters to begin the switch over to digital, meaning that we'll soon see a nationwide rollout.
Directed Electronics intros HD Radio add-on for car stereos
Directed Electronics looks to be doing its best to help out the HD Radio Alliance in its big-budget efforts to raise awareness of the fledgling HD Radio standard, introducing the DMHD-1000 HD Radio add-on unit to bring those digital broadcasts to existing car stereos. Unlike previous HD Radio add-on devices from the likes of Kenwood and Alpline, Directed Electronics' unit will work with any old car radio, using either the built-in FM modulator or RCA output, with a separate control panel catering to your station selecting needs, displaying the relevant information on its "multi-line" backlit display. While it is an add-on, the device unfortunately costs about as much as most are likely willing to pay for a standalone radio, setting you back an even $200. If that's not too much for you, you should be able to get your hands on one now.
Microsoft and Clear Channel team up on MSN Direct HD for HD Radio
Microsoft and Clear Channel are teaming up to have MSN Direct deliver data like weather, traffic, movie listings, sports scores, and stock prices to HD Radio receivers. The new service, which will be known as MSN Direct HD, should start showing up in compatible HD Radios next year.
BMW offers up HD Radio in its entire fleet of 2007 vehicles
Yeah, we're still anxious to find out what this bizarre looking thing is too, but BMW is making waves again, and this time it's crowning itself as the first automaker to offer HD Radio receivers as a factory-installed option on its entire fleet of vehicles. Yep, this spring you'll be able to get HD Radio loud and clear without yanking the factory head unit on the 2007 BMW 3-, 5-, 6-, or 7-Series model, as well as the firm's X3, X5, and Z4. The company also noted that its receivers would support HD Radio multicasting, and stated that the option would cost folks a cool $500 if they deem it worthy.
Sangean announces HDT-1, HDR-1 HD radios
Like any relatively nascent sector of the gadget world, things generally start out being expensive and then pretty much follow some version of their own Moore's Law, dropping in price and increasing in value. The new Sangean line of HD Radios is no different -- the company is giving its competitors a high-def run for their money. Now if you're saying to yourself, "but this tabletop HD radio isn't really going to fit in my home entertainment altar," Sangean has another product for you, its HDT-1 Component Tuner (peep the mock-up on the next page). It'll stack nicely with your pyramid of other devices and includes a line-out (RCA), but many of the other features (even its weight?) remain "undisclosed." What is disclosed, however, is the price, which Sangean is putting at "under $200" -- that's PR-speak for $199. The slimmed down (and more expensive, at "under $250") version is the HDR-1 Tabletop Radio (pictured above), which is a good $100 less than the last tabletop HD radio that we saw. It's got all the normal features that you'd expect on a radio of this caliber, including S/PDIF, aux-in, multi-cast capability, and something called an "Alarm w/Humane Wake System." Most editors here at Engadget are woken rather inhumanely, so we'd love to find out what Sangean's created. Sadly we'll have to wait until the company discloses more information about the radios' availability, as all it's said for now is that they'll be available "for the 2006 holiday season" -- we're counting down to Black Friday.Read - HDR-1Read - HDT-1
Cambridge SoundWorks 820HD radio premieres at CEDIA
Cambridge SoundWorks has thrown its hat into the HD Radio ring with its 820HD, which debuted last week at CEDIA. HD Radio, the new digital radio format, for those of you keeping score at home, is now available from about 1,000 stations who are simulcasting in HD and in traditional formats -- which is still less than 10 percent of all American radio. Furthermore, the price of a new HD radio still remains significantly higher than a pocket or tabletop analog radio. How much higher? Well, this newest offering will set you back $300 when it becomes available in November -- and that little $20 "transistor" radio your Mom gave you in 1987 still works great, doesn't it? So yes, we're still listening to National Public Radio and baseball games in analog, thank you very much.[Via PC World]
Polk Audio ships I-Sonic XM/HD Radio combo system
It's not quite an XM / Sirius combo unit, but Polk Audio's new I-Sonic system is nonetheless a first of its kind, combining XM and HD Radio capabilities along with a CD / DVD player for good measure. For those who still enjoy rocking it 20th century style, it'll also pick up plain old AM and FM radio stations. The unit itself measures a countertop-friendly 14.5 x 9.75 x 4.75 inches and packs two sets of auxiliary inputs that'll let you jack in just about any audio device you like (like, say, a Stiletto, perhaps?), as well as S-Video and composite video outputs in case you want to do more than just listen to DVDs. List price is a hefty $599 US, but Polk knows you're good for it.[Via Talk Radio Nation]
HD Radio to get $200 million advertising and retail push
We haven't heard much of HD Radio lately, perhaps due to the stealthy force of ninja assassins from Sirius and XM that dispatch the proponents of the standard, or perhaps because there ain't a lot going on. Hopefully things will spice up soon, since the format is about to get a major push from the HD Radio Alliance, who have plans to land compatible receivers in stores along with a $200 million budget for advertising and promotion. HD Radio equipment should be making it to 100 stores nationwide soon, and in-store education will be offered for consumers and employees. We sure wouldn't mind if prices dropped a bit for the receivers, but we guess availability is a good start, and you can't get much cheaper than free for the subscription cost.
What can possibly be HD about radio?
We all know how great HD is, if we didn't love it then we wouldn't be here at HDBeat. HD is taking the world by storm and starting to hit critical mass. It's no wonder that some marketing departments have tried to latch on to take advantage, but HD radio? What could possibly be considered HD about radio? HD or High Definition as defined by answers.com is "The clarity of detail in an optically produced image, such as a photograph, effected by a combination of resolution and contrast." or "The degree of clarity with which a televised image or broadcast signal is received." As you can see this has nothing to do with sound, the worst part is that sound has it's own high quality designation; Hi-Fi, but unfortunately for us and the iBiquity's marketing department that term is so 1970. Regardless of the correct terminology HD Radio is here to stay and the worst part is the sound quality isn't even close to be as good as the audio from HDTV. It is better than AM or FM, but does it deserve to be tagged HD? So if you have something to market in the consumer electronics world don't forget to either put a 'i' in front of it(iRadio?) or call it HD or it won't succeed.
