Hey guys. My next project is I am overhauling my sound setup including like getting a new Avic headunit, rearview camera and so on. I just happened to hear another HD radio commercial today and figured that if I am going to be doing all this, I might as well look into it.

It seems the addon adapter to get HD radio is less than $100 for the Pioneer line. So my question essentially is: what do you guys think about HD radio? Is it well worth the $100?

 

HD radio is defiantly worth it if you have a radio station you like in your area. The side channels can offer you more music and less commercials and talking.

 

I am just looking for a HD adapter for the stock radio...

 

IMO HD radio is not worth it. Plug your ipod in. When was the last time something good was on the radio?

Unless you REALLY care about a small upgrade in quality, and have some specific talk show or radio station you love, I'd skip it. If you have the money to blow, do it, but if you're on a budget I wouldn't.

 

First off, a local station to you must participate in HD radio. Not every station does. Second, the signal range is much less with HD radio. So don't count on listening to that local station next time you have to drive someone to the airport 1 1/2 hours away like you can with regular FM.

Lastly, who the hell listens to the radio anymore anyway?! LOL! I'll be damned if I can't choose what I want listen to at what time. I'll also be damned if I dump $2k-$3k into high quality audio equipment then play sub-par signal through it. Sound quality on an iPod is twice as good as even HD radio. (Which isn't really "High Definition" anyway) Same goes for satellite radio at their 128kbps transmissions.

 

I like HD radio, quite a few stations around me, and definitely better quality than FM. I like listening to radio to hear new music that I might like rather than just my own mp3s all the time. Not sure if I would pay $100 for it, 'though. I got HD radio on a cheap in-dash unit on my other car and liked.

 

We have a local station that has a great side channel program. I can here it streamed of the internet, but I would love to be able to here it in my car.

 

what are these "radio stations" you speak of?

 

I have a JVC HDR-1 in my pickup and I like the HD radio. The bad points are the HD stations are shorter ranged as the poster above stated, but if it is the HD1 channel it will just default back to analog if it loses the HD. All you will hear is a slight reduction in sound quality. It is amazing some of the things available on the HD side channels: AM stations simulcasting (and they sound FM), almost or fully commercial-free stations, and more local fair than your typical ClearChannel playlist. Also while they are hard to find, some AM stations transmit in HD. They go from crappy AM sound to FM quality when the receiver locks the HD signal.

My opinion is if you like to listen to the radio it is well worth the extra $100. To find out what stations in your area are transmitting HD, goto www.hdradio.com.

Also most HD stations transmit the RDS information so you will know what is playing and the type of station it is.

 

For those of us who listen to terrestrial radio (sports talk radio, people), yes it is a worthwhile investment.

Unfortunately my current Kenwood HU cannot put both Sirius and HD radio on the same bus with the current adapters on the market so I listen to standard radio.