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I don't want NPR's sound. I want the sound of classic FM radio. It seems that many current FM stations don't have great sound quality, and I don't know why. Ba
by musicale 4y ago
I don't want NPR's sound. I want the sound of classic FM radio.
It seems that many current FM stations don't have great sound quality, and I don't know why. Bad EQ and audio processing for the music they are playing? Lossy audio compression? Lower channel bandwidth and/or interference from digital signals or other sources? Weaker power? Distortion and clipping in the music itself? Worse noise pollution?
Good FM radio seems to have enhanced stereo separation, clear highs and midrange, warmer but not overwhelming bass, and some compression on pop/rock stations to make the quieter bits audible in a car.
Bad FM seems more harsh/strident, distorted, noisy, etc..
- TylerE 4y agoMost FM these days is digital and it does in fact sound like shit, because it’s a moderate bitrate mp3, with all the dynamic range smashed out of it for good reason.
- klodolph 4y agoClassic FM radio uses a lot of compression. This has always been true, it's just that the nature of that compression has changed. And I mean a lot of compression. From what I hear, people will just dial up the settings on the audio processing chain at a modern FM radio station.
- Vrondi 4y agoCompressed digital broadcasts would be my guess.