Coby HDR700 Portable HD Radio System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using the product for a few weeks now. I've noticed that there are differences in performance depending on the situation. I'm not sure if this is due to the product itself or if it is HD radio itself that is to blame. Here is what I've noticed:
1) I primarily listen to AM radio, but when I listen to FM radio, the HDR-700 mostly performs as I expected. There is an easily noticable sound quality difference between the HD and regular radio, but it's not huge. Only stations that are already almost completely static free will come in HD.
2) On my AM radio stations, when the unit locks into the HD signal, the difference is pretty amazing. I can't normally get any AM radio station to be completely static free, but this easily does that and more WHEN IT GETS A HD SIGNAL
There is one major problem. The DC adaptor that powers the until when not in battery mode severely interferes with the radio's reception. Severely. When the unit is plugged into the wall - the reception is so bad that a 100,000 watt station 50 miles from my house does not come in at all. However, as soon as it is on battery power, it works great.

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Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, yes, this is a tuner, NOT a radio, and Amazon should correct that! Also, HD radio is NOT High Definition radio. The HD stands for Hybrid Digital. So don't assume you'll have better sound in HD than analog radio! That said,
I have been interested in getting an HD radio to try out the format. Being an audiophile, I checked several audiophile review sites for the Sangean tuners, and they weren't getting too good of reviews. Also, their price is $200-250.
Then I came across a review for this tuner, and how much better it is, saying the FM analog portion alone is worth the price.
I have to agree, the FM tuner is much better than the tuner in my $1000 PrePro! Analog reception picks up more stations and the sound is great! Haven't heard analog FM sound this good since the 60's! Analog AM is also better than my Prepro (though not by much). Great sound, and only $99 ! This is a steal, grab it before they jack up the price! Audiophie FM tuners go for $200 & up. All this performance, and it's about the size of a car stereo!
There are about 20 FM HD stations here in Chicago, and it pulls them all in great, except for one, which keeps switching between analog and HD. There are some AM HD stations in Chicago. It would show which were HD, but none of them had enough strength to switch the tuner from analog to HD, so I couldn't judge AM HD.
Now for some things that need improving: there are 40 presets; 20 for FM and 20 for AM....not enough for FM and too many for AM. If you want to hear a HD station in analog, there's no way to switch it back to analog, you have to listen in HD. The dial glows like a cellphone, which is great while you're using it, but when you turn it off, it still glows, like a night light in a dark room. When powering down, it should dim. You can dim it down in the menu so it doesn't glow in the dark, but then when you turn it on, you can't read it because it's dark. Who wants to set the dimmer everytime you turn it on and off?
Overall, it's more than worth it.

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Experience more choices, crystal clear sound, and no subscription fees. Enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard with AM stations that can deliver FM sound quality and FM stations that sound like your favorite CDs. With static-free sound and an easy-to-read dot matrix LCD for viewing important information, the XDR-F1HD receiver is the perfect choice for adding HD radio reception to a home audio system. Includes remote control.

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Onkyo UP-HT1 HD Radio Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)This product has a really low star review for no reason except people can't objectively review something. (see rant below review)
It works and works great. The sound quality is amazing, like listening to radio on CD. If you are an NPR listener and your station supports HD, get this! It works, works well with the receiver I have and I have the Onkyo Ipod dock plugged into it too, (which also works flawlessly)
My only caution is to buy a powered external antenna ( I have a Terk that's a few years old). Most receivers will not pick up well enough for HD with the awful FM antenna (aerial to some) supplied, especially if you are far from the source. You've spent the money for an Onkyo HD Tuner, so buy an extra antenna. Hint: Many old TV "Rabbit Ears" will work, new or old.
Overall, a good investment if you like radio and like it clear. Yes, it's pricey, but think it was worth it. Get a good external antenna and you won't be disappointed.
Now, for the rant:
First off, don't give an item a bad review if it's DOA. Send it back, get a new one and then review it. Sometimes, you get a lemon, whether it's a car, appliance or an HD tuner! Yes, it's disappointing, but it happens. Make sure it works with your system before you buy it, the description lists which receivers it works with. If your situation doesn't allow you to return it, that's not the fault of the product, so don't give it a bad rating.
Sorry, had to get that out.

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Sangean HDT-1X HD Radio Component Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)The HDT-1 is an excellent tuner however being the initial offering from Sangean there were some annoyances like the display that could not be dimmed and no optical output. Well these two issues have been addressed in the HDT-1X! Other improvements like forced analog mode; split comparison between HD and analog signals; accurate time keeping; display that goes black when in the standby mode but you can push the INFO button and the time will come on and stay on for a few seconds. The sensitivity of the tuner is superb as I live almost 50 miles north of NYC. While I do not get all the HD stations, I pull in a fair number to cover the various music genres. I am most satisfied and I am not a teckie, but I know a quality item; as I said this is my second Sangean tuner and I am enjoying it! Buy it, but make sure you have a good FM antenna -- I am using an indoor whip antenna and a Magnum Signal Sleuth and I get HD stations -- imagine with a roof or attic antenna (I can't have either as I live in a townhouse). Of course if you live close to a large city like NYC you won't need any elaborate antenna!

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Sangean HDR-1 Table Top HD Radio Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)After owning a Sangean WR-2 clock radio for a year and a half and growing more fond of it, I decided to get another upscale radio for my office, a radio with a remote control so I could avoid computer interference by keeping the radio a good 6 feet away. After reading about HD radio and Sangean's entrance into the market, I decided to take a chance. Worst case scenario, I figured, is that it would be another high-grade radio like my Sangean WR-2. Like the WR-2, the HDR-1 has a high-grade feel, a solid construction, memory presets, a remote control, and strong sensitivity on AM and FM. However, the HDR-1 is definitely an upgrade and you might consider that it has the following advantages and differences:
1. Two speakers instead of one.
2. Easy-to-use (simply plug in) AM external antenna for hard-to-get stations.
3. HD quality is clearly discernable, clear, full, no static, no "birdy," no chirps.
4. Some HD stations have multi-broadcasts.
5. Most functions have to be performed with the remote. For this reason, I don't see this as a bedside radio. Who wants to squint at their remote in a dark bedroom? More appropriate for a bedside radio is the Sangean WR-2 or the Eton Sound 100. But for office or anywhere that requires a distance between you and your radio, the HDR-1 is an excellent choice.
Update: Be aware that in AM it takes a few seconds before the radio "kicks in" to digital mode. The sound is so good it's hard to listen to non-digital AM stations. Even the strongest station in Los Angeles, KFI 640, sounds bad because it's non HD. One last point: I'm more and more in love with the speaker sound. I can't even play them as loud as I want to as I'm working when I have the radio on. But these dual speakers really shine.
Second Update: 1-19-07: After 3 weeks, I've discovered a weakness on AM: Rainy weather compromises the HD signal. This problem is compounded by the fact that the radio has weak conventional AM (much weaker for example than my Sangean WR-2 and my Eton/Grundig S350) so that when it's not in HD mode the AM sounds bad, a constant crackle in the background. FM remains strong in both HD and non HD mode, but Sangean needs to address this AM weakness.

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Sangean HDR-1 Table Top HD Radio Receiver

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