jeich182

I looked in the manual and couldn't find this. The HD radio is kind of annoying me. The HD signal is very fickle, comes and goes quite often and when it does the sound quality changes and somtimes not for the better with the "HD" signal as it can be tinny. Is there a way to turn the HD radio off or just not use it on the main channels?

vhtran

I can't confirm it for other cars manufacture, but the HD radio in my Subbie is pretty good on most of my fav stations. I do have couple of stations kick in and out at my work but would be fine near my home. According to a stereo installer that I know, him and his customers don't like HD radio much for such reason.

Sorry for not answering your question. I was just wanna let you know that you're not alone. =)

Stew4HD

HD channels are usually just "HD" versions of existing stations. I tend to switch to the original AM/FM station's frequency (channel) for the same reason you mention. I'd rather they'd have kept DVD-A and ditched HD-Radio.. it's just not that much better then the original station..

Quandry

My driving in the TLX has only been in Toronto and surrounding areas and reception has been perfect except when going into underground parking where the signal is lost. No sound quality changes here, and will only subscribe after the 3-month trial if I get a significant discount.

vhtran

What? You have to subscribe after 3month of trial? That I didn't know.

Stew4HD

HD is different than Sirius/XM. HD is free to receive

Quandry

Oh really, that I did not know, and I thought I had absorbed everything in the manual. Go to try it out and see if there are any HD broadcasts in my areas.

Sorry for the confusion over HD vs SiriusXM

Stew4HD

try Googling HD Radio list for your area

Quandry

That's why I was not aware of it. There are no HD radio station in Canada, not yet approved by the CRTC (similar to your FCC). I will have to check if the HD option exists in the Canadian version.

Quandry

Have to look out for that little * in the Handbook and Navigation Manual that points to a qualification. HD Radio is only on US models.

These distinctions between US and Canadian models is a bit ridiculous. I can understand the HD Radio one as it is about a $200 extra cost. The voice navigation limitation pisses off Canadians, and no winter features (heated steering wheel, headlight washer, heated windshield, larger windshield washer container, windshield washer low warning) pisses of US owners. We also get steering wheel lock.

jeich182

That's what I am doing, listening to the main station/frequency, not the sub-channels. Where a regular stereo FM signal is robust the HD signal goes in and out quite often and the transitions are bothersome.

jeich182

Finally got some time in the car to play with the settings. Fixed it. HD Radio Mode from 'Auto' to 'Analog'. Done. The transitions and tinny sound and echoes/artifacts as it switched were driving me nuts.

tlxsteve

I agree. I wish they kept DVD-A. Once I got the TLX that was one minor disappointment.

Alexboculon

Does anyone know what bit rate hd radio is? I expected it to sound awesome compared to analog, but it doesn't seem to. Certainly the same songs over high bitrate bluetooth or usb sound way better. Even pandora seems like a step up. The only thing lower than hd radio is Sirius xm... Or am I crazy?

Stew4HD

HD in this format is misleading and does not mean 'High Definition". Per WIKIPEDIA:

Alexboculon

I read that more as saying the name is just a brand so it doesn't NECESSARILY mean it's high quality, but nonetheless it also doesn't mean it's low quality (e.g. it cites the ability to send 5.1 surround).


Does this mean that different stations will have different qualities? Or that different songs on the same station will be different qualities?

Stew4HD

Most content they can broadcast is 2 channel (stereo) only. There is very little 6 channel content available, sadly. It would be nice if we could get high quality audio over the air

quintno

No question about it--HD radio is a step down from analog FM. Its only benefit is the ability to carry "sub-channels," but they, like the primary frequency channel, appear to have very limited bandwidth. I strongly recommend tuning to an HD station, then go into settings and change HD Radio to Analog. You'll be surprised at how much fuller the sound is. Same thing is happening in England where all the FM channels were forced to switch to a compromised digital standard. The sound quality, which used to be superb, is now like listening to an MP3.