[BC] RE: HD Radio -- Folks we have to get it right!

[Robert Orban]

At 07:11 AM 10/18/2005, you wrote:
>Subject: [BC] RE: HD Radio -- Folks we have to get it right!
>To: broadcast at radiolists.net, David at translantech.com
>Message-ID: <cd.33199d55.308615ed at aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
>
>Lest we forget, IBOC FM's 96kbps becomes 48kbps each for two programs when
>you go into multiple stereo program mode. Right?
>
>At that point, IBOC's codec quality becomes even more critical (as if it
>weren't at 96!)
>
>Can IBOC's codec equal or beat the best AACPlus (and therefore XM) has to
>offer?

For a given bitrate, HDC is not quite as good as aacPlusV2. However, I find 
the 48 kbps HDC streams to be of "entertainment quality." That is, the 
artifacts, although certainly audible, do not prevent me from enjoying the 
content. From a business perspective, I don't think that the quality of 48 
kbps HDC is going to drive away the mass audience.

Bob Orban