Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner
by Sony
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Our Price: $499.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner
Customer Review: Good things come in small digital packages
Summary: 5 Stars
As I type, I'm in Los Angeles listening to KUSC, a great classical fm station that fades in and out on most of my radios and stereos around the house. This little radio has it locked in, it sounds stunning, It made me think of my Dad, who died two years ago. He had an old tube hi-fi built in one of those big wooden cabinets with the turntable on top. It looked funny but the sound from the big single speaker was so warm. I never forgot what that sounded like. Unfortunately, most radios and tuners are technically well built and designed, but they don't sound like the old tube radios.
This tuner brought me back to my father's brilliant tube hi-fi. I am so happy.
On the technical side:
My unit runs warm but not hot, put some bigger feet on it and it will cool down.
I consider myself an audiophile and the sound from this tuner is amazing. I've spent more money on connectors than I did for this radio. Anyone complaining needs to go get his ears checked.
I'm not usually a fan of Sony, but they hit a home run with this radio.
Customer Review: I Love This Tuner!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have wanted to get into HD Radio since I heard about it a couple of years ago but the "entry fee" has been about $200. When I saw this Sony for just under $100 I snatched it up. This is a very sensitive tuner; as soon as I took it out of the box, I laid the included FM dipole antenna on the kitchen table and picked up the low-power, non-profit stations I wanted. I am very happy with the variety and the reception in my city. (I do live on a hilltop in an urban area.)
Before you buy, check hdradio.com to see what stations are available in your area.
Downside? The function buttons are on the top of the tuner. I can't use them because I have it on a high shelf. The remote is just fine, though. If you like to impress your friends with big rack mounted stereo equipment, this tuner may not be for you. It is very compact at 7" wide by 2 1/4" high.
As far as I know, this is the cheapest way to try HD Radio, however, I would not call this a cheap tuner. I have owned it about 2 months and am very happy with the quality and reception. Highly reccommended!
Customer Review: Perfect for the suburbs
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently, my favorite classical station (WQXR, New York) got sold to the WNYC public radio corporation, and as part of the deal, it lost its premium frequency. Instead, it was relegated to a band with about 1/10 the power. I live about 50 miles away from the signal source, and in a valley. I could hear the station, but with much noise. This year, my wife got me the Sony as a gift, and I was delighted. I installed it in about 15 minutes, and anxiously tuned it to the HD band provided by WNYC. All I got was music. Clear, detailed music.
I realize that others have had some issues with the unit, but I had previously installed a cheap FM antenna from Radio Shack ($18) in my attic. Prior to the ownership change of WQXR, that was adequate, although not stellar. So, I was hesitant to try HD radio being on the fringe of the signal, but when I head the difference, I was thrilled. I recommend this unit to others who were affected by the change in ownership of WQXR.
Incidentally, the Sony is recognized by the Logitech "Harmony One" universal remote.
Customer Review: A bare essential
Summary: 5 Stars
This product basically looks out of place in my audio-visual system. It is small and silver-colored while everything else is black and about 17 inches wide. Not to mention that the bright LED display is larger than that of any other component. But, what the hey, I don't have to squint to read the time. If I have a complaint about that, it is that the display does not have enough contrast--the numbers and letters are not dark enough, at their darkest, to read clearly from a distance.
What is essential is that it picks up every nearby radio station clearly, and many that are not so close. It brings in one HD radio station from Jacksonville, about 90 miles away. AM radio reception is better than the high end NAD tuner that it replaced. Mind you, I have a rooftop TV antenna and I used a FM-TV splitter to bring the signal to the Sony Radio.
HD classical music from NPR is like listening to Sony's wonderful SACD in five-channel sound. Because the radio delivers great sound, I could care less about its size, color or visual oddities.
Customer Review: HD Radio Not Only Feature
Summary: 5 Stars
This radio does a wonderful job TUNING stations. I have many radios by panasonic,coby,and sony. My mission has been to tune in a specific fringe station broadcasting new music that is good. This fringe station is received in monophonic sound on some radios(which sounds better) or stereophonic sound on other radios (which has much hiss). This radio receives my pesky fringe station better and clearer than all of them!
I have placed an antenna outside, inside, and all around to get rid of the hiss. I have used rg-59,rg-6, and rg-6 quad shield.
Bottom line is one must have the correct placement of an antenna and a great tuner to get fringe stations or HD radio. This radio is the best of the tuners out there (regular or HD).
To improve reception beyond this tuner, get an anntena amplifier to improve signal to the radio.
To save some money, buy self amplified computer speakers which accept RCA output cables (which this radio has). This way there is no need to run it through a home theater system.