Boston Acoustics Recepter Clock Radio
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- Tuner Type: Digital Tuner
- Display: LCD
- Dual Alarm: Yes
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Welcome to A New Era in Radio
Pros
First consumer HD radio. FREE reception. Quality. Completely static and hiss free. Simple, elegant design.
Cons
No digital or optical outputs. No bass/treble knobs. A bit pricey. 1 year warranty.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Get it if you listen to radio every day, live in an area with at some HD stations you'd listen to, and are an early adopter of new technology.
This is the very first HD Radio on the market. If the HD Radio prevails, this prpduct will be ubiquitous-- it will become a classic-- the Model T of the whole HD radio movement. If not, it will end up being a display at the retro technology museum.
First, what distinguishes the Recepter radio from all other radios is its ability to receive HD radio broadcasts, which are all-digital. For the time being, HD radio has no commercials on some channels. Like Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, you need to have a compatible receiver. Also, there is a single company licensing and promoting the HD radio technology, i.e. Ibiquity. The difference is that HD radio is broadcast, not satellite. It offers fewer channels than Sirius or XM, but the great advantage is there are NO MONTHLY FEES or contracts. Just like TV and radio, as long as you have the machine you can receive all you want for FREE.
Also, don't let the name confuse you. HD radio has nothing to to with HDTV. Although HD radio is an digital improvement over analog radio, and HDTV is a digital improvement over analog TV, they use different technologies and bandwidths. They were developed independently by different companies. They simply do not connect with each other in any way.
SO, HOW IS THE SOUND QUALITY OF HD RADIO?
It's great! In short, the HD radio FM broadcasts, being truly digital, sound closer to compact disc quality. The sound is comparable to Sirius, XM, or Muzak. The biggest effect on your FM sound quality now depends on the quality of your speakers rather than the quality of your FM reception-- which is the way it should be.
The AM broadcasts are also substantially improved, but not as much. The sound quality of HD radio AM is comparable to what you're now used to on analog FM. So AM is much easier on the years than ever before! Radio lovers, you can still pick up distant AM stations at night, but the warbling and fading of AM are gone because the frequency is fixed. You also don't get the crappy ads that are on AM radio. One thing to keep in mind is that AM radio stations don't broadcast in HD during the day because there is concern over long distance interference with other communications, however this may change. Still, most HD stations are FM.
WHAT ABOUT THE RADIO PROGRAMS?
The company advertises "secret radio stations", which probably sounds cool to Gen Xers, but it's a bit misleading. There is no underground scene because there really aren't any broadcasters out there who are solely broadcasting in HD. Rather, some already existing traditional radio stations are broadcasting in HD at this time.
For those stations that have adopted HD radio, they generally broadcast on two channels. The first channel is generally a digital simulcast of their regular shows and ads. The second channel is a completely different channel, broadcasting completely different program material that is for now, commercial-free. For example, some music stations use their second channel for talk shows or for trying out a different style of music. Not all stations use their second channel, and not all that use the second channel broadcast on it 24 hours a day.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHANNELS?
There are already hundreds of radio stations in the U.S. broadcasting in HD. The number of stations that adopt HD radio technology is completely dependent on the aggressiveness of expansion by the parent company, Ibiquity, Inc (see www.Ibiquity.com). Ibiquity controls the technology and its licensing.
Like XM or Sirius, HD radio reception right now is limited to North America. However, the HD Radio broadcasts signals are local to a specific metropolitan area, just like you are used to with traditional radio. The number of HD radio stations varies widely on where you are. There are mostly FM broadcasters, some AM. There are fewer broadcasters than traditional radio, but this is expected to increase as the technology continues to be adopted by more stations. For the most current list of broadcasters, visit hdradio.com and search by state or metropolitan area. If you're in a rural area, it's possible that you may not be able to receive any stations broadcasting HD. Before you buy a Receptor Radio HD I suggest you check the area it will be used in, and how many digital channels are currently broadcasting there.
HOW DOES THE RECEPTER HD RADIO WORK?
The Boston Acoustics Recepter HD is based on an existing well-accepted product: the The original Boston Acoustics Recepter radio (both are often misspelled as Receptor). The most significant difference between the two, however, is that the HD model receives digital broadcasts in addition to the traditional ones. ALso, the original Recepter is a mono, 1-speaker radio, but the more advanced HD model also has a stereo speaker which can be remotely placed. The Recepter radios have pleasant looking displays used for alarm clock and tuning.
The HD model also can display any text information that is broadcast simultaneously with the music (such as artist and song information). None of the broadcasters in my area are broadcasting text at this time but if listeners request it, this feature will probably be more used in the future.
When you tune in to station on the HD, you will hear it immediately in analog FM or AM. Then, if the station is also broadcasting in digital, it will switch over to the digital format automatically. If that station also broadcasts on its SECONDARY channel, the display will indicate that and you can switch over to the station's secondary channel to hear its alternate programming.
HOW IS THE SOUND QUALITY OF THE RECEPTER HD MODEL?
Very smooth! Boston Acoustics (BA) is known for its high fidelity. The construction here is solid, and the sound is rich.
The general BA philosophy is "purist"-- to reproduce the original sound as authentically as possible, rather than design a unit that tries to enhance the sound. Although I'm an audio buff, I personally disagree with this approach. I believe that even if the speakers can reproduce sound with 100% fidelity, room acoustics and ears are imperfect. For example, my father hears sound differently than I do, we each have different sound preferences, and even these vary depending on we're listening to. I will hear sound differently when I am his age, and my musical tastes will have changed as well. So I don't believe that one sound fits all. I like to be able to shape sound to some extent.
Well, BA only put a Bass control on this radio, no treble! And the Bass doesn't even get its own separate knob, but shares that control with another feature. Even my mom's Fisher table radio from the 60's had its own knob for adjusting "tone"!
BA's position is that they engineer their electronics and speaker design to be as natural sounding as possible. Presumably they also wanted keep the number of control knobs to a minimum (there are only two), which I admit creates a very clean, sleek look. So it looks elegant, not geeky. But geeks will still appreciate this radio for its high-technology guts.
HOW ABOUT ITS FEATURES?
The Boston Acoustics Recepter HD, like the original Recepter radio, can be a table radio, a kitchen radio, or a glorified clock radio. It is not big enough or powerful enough to be a component in your hi-fi or home theater system. Nor does it have the connectivity options to do that. But it is small, beautiful looking, and the brushed platinum color (plastic) will coordinates well.
It would be perfect for a high-end bedroom radio. It's not too big for a nightstand. One speaker can be put on the other side of a bed, and there are even twin alarms. (However all of the controls including Snooze are only on the one side- think about it.) But if you had always wanted to hear magnificant sound in your bedroom, and couldn't justify the price of the Bose Wave radio, this will satisfy you.
It is a stereo radio and could certainly function as a high end clock radio. It doesn't play CD's, MP3's or cassettes but any of these devices such as an iPod could be attached via the mini-jack. There is also a headphone jack.
There is a backup feature for the alarm and preset station settings. They are automatically stored on a non-volatile chip, so you will never need to change a backup battery with this radio.
REMOTE CONTROL
There is a nice remote which is very slim. It holds a generous 20 presets. The plastic template of the remote is very easy to wipe clean if you decide to put your unit in the kitchen.
The remote is intuitively designed with 4-position buttons. It doesn't have its own display, but the station and preset information is displayed on the main unit as you change them. The remote controls are basic: power, tuning, mute and volume. It takes a user-replaceable CR-2032 button battery which lasts for years and can be found for a few dollars in any chain store that sells watch batteries.
SHORTCOMINGS
- I really was disappointed not to see some sort of digital line out or optical output. After all, this is a digital radio. I'd like to be able to make some all digital MP3's or CD's, but the only output is a mini headphone jack. It's possible to make fine recordings from that, but it's kludgy and not true digital. This is really a big disappointment for a digital audio product from a hifi company with such strong engineering as Boston Acoustics.
As a results, the product ends up being more of a clock radio than a stereo system component.
- There are no speaker outputs other than the headphone mini jack. You won't be able to drive 4 ohm or 8ohm external speakers with it. Speaker wattage isn't provided in the detailed specifications, but it can't be more than 20W.
- Separate bass/treble controls would be nice. Also there is an optional external wire antenna and jack, but a built in FM antenna would be nice.
- Adjustable brightness of backlit display for the bedside, or if placed in a sunny spot would help.
- Finally, digital technology is new and changing. A user upgradable firmware, such as using a PC would greatly help this unit from becoming obsolete.
- The 20 presets is pretty generous, especially since most people won't have 20 all-digital stations to choose from. My wishlist would also divide the 20 presets into 2 separate banks-- such as one for pop and classical, or one for music and one for talk-- or public and commercial radio, etc.
For more information on this radio go to:
http://bostonacoustics.com
For official information on HD radio developments go to:
http://www.hdradio.com
First, what distinguishes the Recepter radio from all other radios is its ability to receive HD radio broadcasts, which are all-digital. For the time being, HD radio has no commercials on some channels. Like Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, you need to have a compatible receiver. Also, there is a single company licensing and promoting the HD radio technology, i.e. Ibiquity. The difference is that HD radio is broadcast, not satellite. It offers fewer channels than Sirius or XM, but the great advantage is there are NO MONTHLY FEES or contracts. Just like TV and radio, as long as you have the machine you can receive all you want for FREE.
Also, don't let the name confuse you. HD radio has nothing to to with HDTV. Although HD radio is an digital improvement over analog radio, and HDTV is a digital improvement over analog TV, they use different technologies and bandwidths. They were developed independently by different companies. They simply do not connect with each other in any way.
SO, HOW IS THE SOUND QUALITY OF HD RADIO?
It's great! In short, the HD radio FM broadcasts, being truly digital, sound closer to compact disc quality. The sound is comparable to Sirius, XM, or Muzak. The biggest effect on your FM sound quality now depends on the quality of your speakers rather than the quality of your FM reception-- which is the way it should be.
The AM broadcasts are also substantially improved, but not as much. The sound quality of HD radio AM is comparable to what you're now used to on analog FM. So AM is much easier on the years than ever before! Radio lovers, you can still pick up distant AM stations at night, but the warbling and fading of AM are gone because the frequency is fixed. You also don't get the crappy ads that are on AM radio. One thing to keep in mind is that AM radio stations don't broadcast in HD during the day because there is concern over long distance interference with other communications, however this may change. Still, most HD stations are FM.
WHAT ABOUT THE RADIO PROGRAMS?
The company advertises "secret radio stations", which probably sounds cool to Gen Xers, but it's a bit misleading. There is no underground scene because there really aren't any broadcasters out there who are solely broadcasting in HD. Rather, some already existing traditional radio stations are broadcasting in HD at this time.
For those stations that have adopted HD radio, they generally broadcast on two channels. The first channel is generally a digital simulcast of their regular shows and ads. The second channel is a completely different channel, broadcasting completely different program material that is for now, commercial-free. For example, some music stations use their second channel for talk shows or for trying out a different style of music. Not all stations use their second channel, and not all that use the second channel broadcast on it 24 hours a day.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHANNELS?
There are already hundreds of radio stations in the U.S. broadcasting in HD. The number of stations that adopt HD radio technology is completely dependent on the aggressiveness of expansion by the parent company, Ibiquity, Inc (see www.Ibiquity.com). Ibiquity controls the technology and its licensing.
Like XM or Sirius, HD radio reception right now is limited to North America. However, the HD Radio broadcasts signals are local to a specific metropolitan area, just like you are used to with traditional radio. The number of HD radio stations varies widely on where you are. There are mostly FM broadcasters, some AM. There are fewer broadcasters than traditional radio, but this is expected to increase as the technology continues to be adopted by more stations. For the most current list of broadcasters, visit hdradio.com and search by state or metropolitan area. If you're in a rural area, it's possible that you may not be able to receive any stations broadcasting HD. Before you buy a Receptor Radio HD I suggest you check the area it will be used in, and how many digital channels are currently broadcasting there.
HOW DOES THE RECEPTER HD RADIO WORK?
The Boston Acoustics Recepter HD is based on an existing well-accepted product: the The original Boston Acoustics Recepter radio (both are often misspelled as Receptor). The most significant difference between the two, however, is that the HD model receives digital broadcasts in addition to the traditional ones. ALso, the original Recepter is a mono, 1-speaker radio, but the more advanced HD model also has a stereo speaker which can be remotely placed. The Recepter radios have pleasant looking displays used for alarm clock and tuning.
The HD model also can display any text information that is broadcast simultaneously with the music (such as artist and song information). None of the broadcasters in my area are broadcasting text at this time but if listeners request it, this feature will probably be more used in the future.
When you tune in to station on the HD, you will hear it immediately in analog FM or AM. Then, if the station is also broadcasting in digital, it will switch over to the digital format automatically. If that station also broadcasts on its SECONDARY channel, the display will indicate that and you can switch over to the station's secondary channel to hear its alternate programming.
HOW IS THE SOUND QUALITY OF THE RECEPTER HD MODEL?
Very smooth! Boston Acoustics (BA) is known for its high fidelity. The construction here is solid, and the sound is rich.
The general BA philosophy is "purist"-- to reproduce the original sound as authentically as possible, rather than design a unit that tries to enhance the sound. Although I'm an audio buff, I personally disagree with this approach. I believe that even if the speakers can reproduce sound with 100% fidelity, room acoustics and ears are imperfect. For example, my father hears sound differently than I do, we each have different sound preferences, and even these vary depending on we're listening to. I will hear sound differently when I am his age, and my musical tastes will have changed as well. So I don't believe that one sound fits all. I like to be able to shape sound to some extent.
Well, BA only put a Bass control on this radio, no treble! And the Bass doesn't even get its own separate knob, but shares that control with another feature. Even my mom's Fisher table radio from the 60's had its own knob for adjusting "tone"!
BA's position is that they engineer their electronics and speaker design to be as natural sounding as possible. Presumably they also wanted keep the number of control knobs to a minimum (there are only two), which I admit creates a very clean, sleek look. So it looks elegant, not geeky. But geeks will still appreciate this radio for its high-technology guts.
HOW ABOUT ITS FEATURES?
The Boston Acoustics Recepter HD, like the original Recepter radio, can be a table radio, a kitchen radio, or a glorified clock radio. It is not big enough or powerful enough to be a component in your hi-fi or home theater system. Nor does it have the connectivity options to do that. But it is small, beautiful looking, and the brushed platinum color (plastic) will coordinates well.
It would be perfect for a high-end bedroom radio. It's not too big for a nightstand. One speaker can be put on the other side of a bed, and there are even twin alarms. (However all of the controls including Snooze are only on the one side- think about it.) But if you had always wanted to hear magnificant sound in your bedroom, and couldn't justify the price of the Bose Wave radio, this will satisfy you.
It is a stereo radio and could certainly function as a high end clock radio. It doesn't play CD's, MP3's or cassettes but any of these devices such as an iPod could be attached via the mini-jack. There is also a headphone jack.
There is a backup feature for the alarm and preset station settings. They are automatically stored on a non-volatile chip, so you will never need to change a backup battery with this radio.
REMOTE CONTROL
There is a nice remote which is very slim. It holds a generous 20 presets. The plastic template of the remote is very easy to wipe clean if you decide to put your unit in the kitchen.
The remote is intuitively designed with 4-position buttons. It doesn't have its own display, but the station and preset information is displayed on the main unit as you change them. The remote controls are basic: power, tuning, mute and volume. It takes a user-replaceable CR-2032 button battery which lasts for years and can be found for a few dollars in any chain store that sells watch batteries.
SHORTCOMINGS
- I really was disappointed not to see some sort of digital line out or optical output. After all, this is a digital radio. I'd like to be able to make some all digital MP3's or CD's, but the only output is a mini headphone jack. It's possible to make fine recordings from that, but it's kludgy and not true digital. This is really a big disappointment for a digital audio product from a hifi company with such strong engineering as Boston Acoustics.
As a results, the product ends up being more of a clock radio than a stereo system component.
- There are no speaker outputs other than the headphone mini jack. You won't be able to drive 4 ohm or 8ohm external speakers with it. Speaker wattage isn't provided in the detailed specifications, but it can't be more than 20W.
- Separate bass/treble controls would be nice. Also there is an optional external wire antenna and jack, but a built in FM antenna would be nice.
- Adjustable brightness of backlit display for the bedside, or if placed in a sunny spot would help.
- Finally, digital technology is new and changing. A user upgradable firmware, such as using a PC would greatly help this unit from becoming obsolete.
- The 20 presets is pretty generous, especially since most people won't have 20 all-digital stations to choose from. My wishlist would also divide the 20 presets into 2 separate banks-- such as one for pop and classical, or one for music and one for talk-- or public and commercial radio, etc.
For more information on this radio go to:
http://bostonacoustics.com
For official information on HD radio developments go to:
http://www.hdradio.com
