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Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner |  | Brand: Sony
List Price: $99.95
Buy New: $72.08
as of 3/17/2010 00:15 WIT details
You Save: $27.87 (28%)
New (35) Used (6) from $63.99
Seller: ANTOnline
Rating:  222 reviews
Color: BLACK
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.7
Dimensions (in): 6.4 x 7.1 x 2.4
MPN: XDRF1HD
Model: XDRF1HD
UPC: 027242730304
EAN: 0027242730304
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | High Fidelity AM/FM/HD Radio™ Technology | | • | Clear, static-free radio reception | | • | FM Multicasting with No Monthly Subscription Fees | | • | Audio Out Jack | | • | Full Function Remote Control (Included) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
It's the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago. HD-Radio technology enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally - a tremendous technological leap from the analog broadcasts of the past. Enjoy better sound and clear reception. New multicasting options let you get more from your radio for your radio listening. It's time your radio or audio system upgrades to HD-Radio. Sony XDR-F1HD is the accessory to do it! Experience more choices, crystal clear sound, and no subscription fees. Enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard with AM stations that can deliver FM sound quality and FM stations that sound like your favorite CDs. With static-free sound and an easy-to-read dot matrix LCD for viewing important information, the XDR-F1HD receiver is the perfect choice for adding HD radio reception to a home audio system. Includes remote control. No Monthly Subscription Fees - HD Radio programming is free, unlike satellite radio where you have to purchase a subscription. Audio Out Jack for easy hook up to an audio system. Backlit LCD Display - easy to see large, full-dot backlit LCD display has brightness, contrast and display mode adjustments Full Function Remote Control Included Unit Dimensions (Approx.) - 7 1/8 x 2 3/8 x 6 3/8 inches (180 x 60 x 160mm) (w/h/d) not including projecting parts and controls; Weight (Approx.) - 2lb 6.8oz (1.1kg)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 222
 Great FM & HD TUNER May 22, 2008
John Thomas (Chicago, Il United States)
176 out of 177 found this review helpful
First of all, yes, this is a tuner, NOT a radio, and Amazon should correct that! Also, HD radio is NOT High Definition radio. The HD stands for Hybrid Digital. So don't assume you'll have better sound in HD than analog radio! That said,
I have been interested in getting an HD radio to try out the format. Being an audiophile, I checked several audiophile review sites for the Sangean tuners, and they weren't getting too good of reviews. Also, their price is $200-250.
Then I came across a review for this tuner, and how much better it is, saying the FM analog portion alone is worth the price.
I have to agree, the FM tuner is much better than the tuner in my $1000 PrePro! Analog reception picks up more stations and the sound is great! Haven't heard analog FM sound this good since the 60's! Analog AM is also better than my Prepro (though not by much). Great sound, and only $99 ! This is a steal, grab it before they jack up the price! Audiophie FM tuners go for $200 & up. All this performance, and it's about the size of a car stereo!
There are about 20 FM HD stations here in Chicago, and it pulls them all in great, except for one, which keeps switching between analog and HD. There are some AM HD stations in Chicago. It would show which were HD, but none of them had enough strength to switch the tuner from analog to HD, so I couldn't judge AM HD.
Now for some things that need improving: there are 40 presets; 20 for FM and 20 for AM....not enough for FM and too many for AM. If you want to hear a HD station in analog, there's no way to switch it back to analog, you have to listen in HD. The dial glows like a cellphone, which is great while you're using it, but when you turn it off, it still glows, like a night light in a dark room. When powering down, it should dim. You can dim it down in the menu so it doesn't glow in the dark, but then when you turn it on, you can't read it because it's dark. Who wants to set the dimmer everytime you turn it on and off?
Overall, it's more than worth it.
Great radio June 9, 2008
R. Airhart (Virginia)
59 out of 62 found this review helpful
Compared to the current Sangean, the Sony XDRF1HD is smaller, costs less, and gets as good of a signal. I have it on my computer desk plugged into my PreSonus Firebox amp.
Nice features:
* sleep button
* remote control
Not so nice:
* no volume control from Sony itself (would not matter if my PreSonus amp had a remote control)
* does not remember channels or time after a power outage
If you have HD channels in your area that you enjoy, then this is a good box. I live in D.C. and basically got this box for the extra WAMU channels.
excellent FM in my apartment June 27, 2008
Aaron R. Reed (Brockton, MA USA)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
I bought Sony's XDRF1HD HD Radio based on reviews about its sensitive analog reception and, I must say, lives up to its reputation! On analog FM, the XDRF1HD pulls in distant New Hampshire country station WOKQ 97.5 despite being sandwiched between New Bedford's WJFD 97.3 and Boston area WKAF 97.7. Other (less sensitive) radios in our apartment don't detect WOKQ at all. Same with WRIU 90.3 Providence, RI. Religious 90.5 WSMA from Scituate totally covers up 90.3 on every radio but the XDRF1HD. The XDRF's high sensitivity is what I expect and appreciate.
HD reception is fairly good. Living (south of Boston) in a first floor apartment, a necessity because my wife is handicapped, does keep us from experiencing optimal reception. In spite of that, we get HD signals from WGBH 89.7, WSNE 93.3, WTKK 96.9, WKLB 102.5 but can't get a lock on Kiss 108's HD signal despite a strong 3-bar reading. Seems HD FM stations need the almost 100kw power level of WGBH to adequately get their HD channels into area homes.
Unfortunately, the "empty space" on each side of an HD signal is far from empty. The adjacent space is filled with a hashy sound, byproduct of the HD signal. That "hash" does block reception of many weak, distant stations
and messes up others. I used to get Cap Cod's 96.3 WRZE fairly well here, but not now because of HD hash from 96.1 WSRS Worcester.
As for AM, no problem locking into WBZ-HD. Boston's Radio Disney on 1260 also broadcasts in HD but the Sony cannot log into it. At night at least a dozen HD signals from other states are detected yet none strong enough for a lock. AM HD can work if the FCC lets stations up their power levels. Small stations with 5kw signals can't get their HD content out very far.
One major downside is that all AM HD stations create heavy "hash-sounding" static that wipes out adjacent signals. So now, at night, there's
no chance to hear KDKA-1020 (PA) or WHO-1040 (IA) because of the side hash produced by WBZ-1030.
Over all, despite the disadvantage of a first floor apartment, this Sony provides excellent analog and good HD reception.
However, while I totally adored HD at first, I feel that HD sound quality isn't that different from analog on FM, and that the heavy interference caused by HD stations to adjacent signals is not worth its existence. No radio station should suffer degraded reception due to any technological advancement.
Mind you, this receiver is worth buying for all its reception quality, but HD has to go. The lack of HD listeners and the amount of money wasted on HD by its maker Ibiquity and major broadcasters shows what a failure HD radio really is.
A Good Buy, But it is not a Radio May 14, 2008
J. Battani (Sunrise, FL United States)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
The previous reviewers are right in a sense. The Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio is not a radio. The product title may be misleading. It is a tuner. As a HD tuner, the price is right. I connected the unit to my Pioneer Stereo receiver. Set up was simple. The remote control is a breeze to use. Reception is great and I receive about 20 HD stations in the Miami - Fort Lauderdale area.
Stellar Sony tuner October 3, 2008
Phil Beckman (Naples, FL United States)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This is one amazing tuner. The performance on regular FM is on a par with the most expensive tuners. Superb sensitivity and selectivity. The Sony locks on to the digital carrier quickly, and displays the transmitted call sign, etc. on its bright LCD screen. More on that later. The AM performance is excellent, although a bit narrow-band for my tastes.
What's not as stellar? The bright LCD screen does not dim when the power is off, the tuner 'forgets' its presets if there is a power interruption of some length, it runs hot, and the supplied FM dipole is too long by about 6". Minor stuff, and if you know what you are doing, correctable.
I am in the broadcasting industry and would seriously consider using this tuner in critical applications. It's that good!
Oh... It has a decent manual and a good remote control, too.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 222
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