The awful truth of DAB

[Stratmangler]

Radio 4 changes sound every so often for me and I accept the superior quality of Radio 3. Not always my taste in
music though, so I suppose my comments should be confined to Radio 2 and Radio 1.

Is this FM radio or streamed or DAB?
Just for clarification.

BTW, I've just changed to Radio4 (internet stream using Squeezebox), and I'm astonished to hear that The Archers is coming at me in mono. Is this the same on FM, and if so, when did they stop broadcasting The Archers in stereo?

[DSJR]

I don't use DAB.

In the 1970's and early 80's, FM in the UK, both commercial and BBC, used to be world-class, but something went wrong as increased compression and radio-loudness-wars started up. DAB at 256 was deemed good enough, but the powers that be settled on 192, which is bad on some voices and leaves no wriggle-room for distorted source material apparently.

Good radio 3 live broadcasts aside, I really don't think 'sound quality' comes into it these days and my assertion about the compressed DAB feed being syphoned off to the FM feed came from an engineer.

DAB at it's best should sound amazing. But as usual, it's been compromised and has been outdated for some considerable time I understand. My experiences of internet radio are very positive, however and I have very positive vibes about a radio 2 show ACDC's Brian Johnson did a while ago, the iPlayer stream sounding truly excellent on both speech and the wonderful music he played.

[RichB]

We have a Yamaha mini system in the dining room I bought when DAB was still considered the future of Radio. DAB is consistently awful I find, via the FM tuner things are better but the best results I get is by plugging my phone or tablet into one of its aux inputs and streaming Internet radio that way. I just use a radio app like Tunein for any station I want.

[Barry]

Is this FM radio or streamed or DAB?
Just for clarification.

BTW, I've just changed to Radio4 (internet stream using Squeezebox), and I'm astonished to hear that The Archers is coming at me in mono. Is this the same on FM, and if so, when did they stop broadcasting The Archers in stereo?

As a life-long Archers fan (there I've said it - I've 'come out'), I can reliably inform you that on FM (which is the only broadcast medium I use) the Archers is in stereo.

[Stratmangler]

As a life-long Archers fan (there I've said it - I've 'come out'), I can reliably inform you that on FM (which is the only broadcast medium I use) the Archers is in stereo.

Oh the shame of it!
Fount Master & Moderator of AoS admits to listening to The Archers scandal

[Barry]

Oh the shame of it!
Fount Master & Moderator of AoS admits to listening to The Archers scandal