This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
This radio makes listening to FM great again. HD significantly improves: - Greater dynamic range (no audible compression) - Greater stereo separation - Multipath interference disappears -- HD rides-through conventional FM 'flutter'
I use this as a passenger on a multi-hour daily commute in the Colorado Front Range, where there are about 12 commercial and 3 non-commercial stations broadcasting HD. The battery lasts about 8 hours, re-charged by USB. There is no way to open the case to replace the battery.
Sensitivity is amazing with the headphone cord antenna. On travel in Rock Hill, SC, I received distant stations from North Wilkesboro and Raleigh. However, it DOES NOT give satisfactory reception through the Aux-In system jacks of 3 cars that I tried.
Some features not indicated in the manual: It also receives RDS (giving basic id only). Some stations do broadcast both HD and RDS. When a signal is weak, only RDS will be decoded. When the indicator shows HD1+ or HD2+, that simply means there is another 1 (or 2) more HD program(s) "above" the current one.
Wished-for improvements: 0.1 MHz tuning resolution, for use outside North America. Better local strong-signal rejection. Drilled hole or ring in case for a cloth strap