As mentioned in the article, a large proportion of radio listening is done while driving. A car travelling at highway speeds has 60-70dB of background noise. Dy

As mentioned in the article, a large proportion of radio listening is done while driving. A car travelling at highway speeds has 60-70dB of background noise. Dynamic range compression prevents the station from becoming inaudibly quiet or uncomfortably loud in such a noisy environment. BBC Radio 3 (a national classical music station in the UK) uses heavy dynamic range compression during the drivetime peak, but far less compression during the day. This compromise provides a better experience for both hi-fi and in-car listeners. Very heavy dynamic range compression was historically useful for AM broadcasters, because it maximised signal strength.