"Randy Yates" wrote in message
...
I'd like to get feedback on the following product idea: a very
high-end FM radio.
Here are some things that would set this radio miles apart from
the usual:
1. Included and an integral part of the design, an adaptive antenna
array and associated multidimensional equalizer that would greatly
improve performance.
2. All digital implementation, from front-end to output. A zero-IF
architecture would be used.
3. High-def as well as standard FM broadcast.
Price: not cheap ($5k?). Whaddya' think?
--
% Randy Yates % "The dreamer, the unwoken fool -
%% Fuquay-Varina, NC % in dreams, no pain will kiss the
brow..."
%%% 919-577-9882 %
%%%% % 'Eldorado Overture', *Eldorado*, ELO
http://home.earthlink.net/~yatescr
I see the main limitation for a high-end FM tuner is today's seeming
impossibility of high-end transmissions. As far as I know, *all*
transmissions today are processed to provide easier listening in cars,
offices and kitchens, where a wide dynamic range is undesirable, and a wide
frequency response unlikely, so the transmission boosts both ends of the
spectrum for maximum impact, not accuracy.
This means that however good your receiver, the result will be limited by
what's being transmitted.
The prices being obtained for good FM tuners these days on Ebay indicates to
me that there is now little interest in FM as a quality music source.
Technically, you may be able to produce the world's best FM tuner, but the
audible results will be as poor as an ordinary tuner.
As for HD radio, the USA is in a similar position to the UK. Here, we have
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) on Band III, and digital radio broadcast
along with television on DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television and Digital
Satellite. All platforms, but especially DAB, are hampered by broadcasters
choosing to fit as many channels into the bandwidth as possible, rather than
a few channels at high quality. The most often used is 128kbps MP2 joint
stereo, with a couple of the better stations at 160kps MP2. Considering that
MP2 was considered good quality only over 256kbps, you can see why over
here, digital radio is not a high quality medium. Oh, and the audio is still
processed to within an inch of its life, because they can! From what I know
of the US IBOC system, data rates are also inadequate, and stations process
heavily.
If you had asked your question in 1968, I would have given you a much more
enthusiastic answer as FM then was as transparent a medium as the engineers
could manage. Sadly, no longer.
S.
--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com