1941 Zenith v. Three HD Radio Receivers

The tuners on three HD radios tested seemed to have mediocre sensitivity, which made it difficult to lock into analog and HD channels. MP3 Newswire compared them between three analog-ony radios including this 1941 Zenith Model 520 kitchen radio. We tune into WCBS AM in New York first on the Zenith followed in order by the Accurian HD Radio, the Boston Acoustics Recepter RadioHD and then the Polk I-Sonic Entertainment System.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• HD
• Radio

[MP3newswire]

Hi,

For the record the Zenith used its internal antenna when I recorded this, while for the HD units I used the external wire loop AM antenna, which came with each of the three contemporary radios. Theoretically, the HD units had the slight advantage with regards to the use of external antennas, though I don't think much of those wire loops that came in their boxes.

[jburgie]

Since the early 1970s, radio manufacturers have been putting less and less effort into the AM tuner sections of their radios, and this video demonstrates this quite well.

[odakueffect]

The old one sounds far nicer.

[jburgie]

@lrd9999 Right -- It's asking a lot for a teeny antenna like that to pull in a wave that's about 400 meters long.

[MIKON8ERISBACK]

@jburgie I think the real decline in the quality and selectivity of radio tuners started in the late 1990s. The best high end stereo systems with radio tuners were made in the 1980s.

[silverbird58]

quality really went in "before" the name went on....

[balboapension]

Agree - newer car radios have really bad AM. If you get near some power transformers, or some electric motors or pumps, you're in trouble. (Gas stations, car washes, water towers, power lines..)

[spunker88]

@lrd9999 I have used a radio in a 2010 Toyota RAV4 and it was really nice on AM and FM. There was little to no background noise on AM like on cheap radios. And of FM selectivity was great. I could pick up stations next to my local 100kw.

[billace90]

Zenith, a high quality American made radio, still kicking butt. They just don't make them like that any longer. What an American icon.

[lrd9999]

@jburgie True, though some models are targeted for people who value AM reception. I've found that car radios continued to have good AM reception until I bought my '05 Accord. It was just about useless at night; most stations faded out too often. But it's fine now that I replaced the 6" "John Holms Junior" rubber roof antenna with an 11" one. The reception is still good for FM and XM too. I guess the radio chassis was fine all along.

[bodryn]

I thought HDradio FM would be easier to receive than the old FM. Now I find out that you have to be closer to the transmitter than before. What are they thinking??? Looks like the best way to go is on-line radio. I had XM radio but the commercials on some stations became VERY OBNOXIOUS.

[funktron4]

Old analog radios: Sound is alive, sound is powerful, sound is clear and fidelity is supreme.

New digital sound: S-T-E-R-I-L-E.

I'm sure Betojoven would rather listen to a computerized drum machine than a session drummer too. New isn't always better.