Is The FM tuner obsolete?

I foresee the day that the FM tuner will not be included in product offerings.

Most radio stations have a streaming service and services like tunein offer this as well and have a much better quality to boot.

Thoughts?

vanson110-12-2021 12:28am

Showing 2 responses by cleeds

cleeds Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,711 posts 10-12-2021 at 02:47pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete akg_ca FM broadcasts over-the-air is alive and well as evidenced by both (I) the auto industry and OTA station broadcasts in major centres here in NA and (2) also more so in Europe. Annual revenue for radio totals about $10 billion in the US. It's a big business and it isn't going away anytime soon. The DAB broadcast format in the UK is great … a shame it was a stillborn broadcast platform here in NA. The US has never had DAB. We do have IBOC (so-called "HD radio") but that's not the same thing.
cleeds Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,711 posts 10-14-2021 at 06:14pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete akg_ca The OTA direct fm analog signal is a superior high quality and uncompressed reception signal that is CD quality or a notch above depending on atmospheric conditions….IFF you have the quality build equipment to handle it AND proper signal reception through a proper external stand-alone fm antenna . I’m into FM but that is simply mistaken. First, all broadcast signals are subject to some compression, if only to prevent overmodulation. Most stations go far beyond minimal processing, and fine tune things such as Orban or CRL processors to create a unique or "punchy" sound. FM also can’t deliver CD quality because of the 19kHz stereo pilot tone that has to be filtered form the signal. Most FM tuners struggle to deliver above 15 kHz. Don’t get me wrong - I’m among those who still appreciate fine FM sound. But, as with all formats, it has its limitations.

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