Hi!
I've spoken to a friend of mine who now has one of these radios and can
provide the following information and I hope to be able to link to a
review of the radio shortly.
The Sangean HDR16 is - as far as we know - the only portable HD radio
set available in the US and - by all accounts - its a true bargain to be
had for under $100.
there are many things I like about the company Sangean, one of which is
their desire to use standard type cabinets across the range of radios
they sell. This means that - if you've ever seen a Sangean PDR15 or
DPR26 - then you'll know exactly what the HDR16 portable HD radio looks
like as they all use the same cabinet.
The HDR16 is a stereo receiver with 2 2.5 ench speakers either side of
the control panel - quite a standard layout for a Sangean portable one
could say -.
Don't let the size of the speakers put you off, they sound remarkably good.
On the left hand side of the unit is a range of connections which
include headphones, line-in and line-out.
The HDR16 has both FM and AM HD bands.
I'm told that when you tune to an AM broadcast the HD locks in
automatically so you've no idea what the standard analogue AM signal
sounds like if that station is broadcasting in HD, the set just locks on
and that's it.
The tuning is incredibly selective - scan 10KHZ either side of the
station and you've no idea the station is there -, nice filtering.
If you tune to a standard AM signal the set sounds reasonable, no band
width filter unfortunately.
The HDR16 is incredibly senstive on the AM band but no surprises there
as most Sangean radio sets these days are.
HD on the FM band is superb apparently though there's another qwirk with
the radio that one has to get used to.
When you tune to HD FM broadcast the radio plays the standard FM
broadcast signal for around 5 seconds before locking onto the HD signal.
When the radio has locked on the jog dial can be used to select the
extra HD stations pertaining to the main FM broadcast.
The FM band's sensitivity and selectivity is very good but again, no
surprises there as its a Sangean set after all.
So that's all I know thus far and I envy Tom who has this radio <smile>,
I could get one too but unfortuantley it wouldn't be too useful in
Australia though at least the radio has sensitive AM and FM even though
I wouldn't be able to make full use of the HD portion.
