In article .com,
wrote:
Opinions please.

First, I should mention that I am a bit of a vinyl junkie: my prefered
music source is my Linn LP12, although I also enjoy CDs played on my
Linn Ikemi.

My options for getting Radio 3: 1. I could have a VHF aerial placed on
the roof of my house, and probably upgrade my tuner; 2. The digi-box
that supplies cable TV also gives radio: connecting it to my amplifier
gives music that is at least not unpleasant. At the moment the signal
has a long and indirect route between digi-box and amplifier, but this
could be changed; 3. I could buy a new DAB tuner.

So I would welcome your opinions and experiences about which option is
likely to prove most satisfying for me.

Until recently, my primary recommendation would be to have an excellent FM
tuner and antenna, and use that. It still is a method that can deliver
excellent results. I can't comment on 'cable' or 'satellite' systems as I
haven't tried them. However...

During the last couple of years I have been trying DTTV. This seems to me
to often provide excellent results. One advantage being that it seems to
avoid the same amount of 'level compression' as R3 FM during the day. Also
avoids the limited noise floor, nonlinear distortions, and possible
multipath of FM. I use a Nokia 221T and a Meridian 283 DAC for this.

In recent months I have also been trying DAB for R3. Although the quality
on some other stations on DAB is ahem 'poor', I find that on DAB it can
be quite good. Comments re avoiding the limitations of FM as above. In this
case, now using a Pure 701ES tuner and a Meridian 563 DAC.

If you find the level compression or multipath or noise floor of FM a
problem, then you may prefer DTTV or DAB. This now seems to me - for R3 -
to be a matter of 'swings and roundabouts' when deciding which is preferred
as DTTV/DAB have limitations that differ in kind from FM.

FWIW despite being a fan of R3 FM for many years (and having made many
recordings of concerts over 20+ years) I now tend to prefer listeing to and
recording R3 concerts via DAB or DTTV rather than FM. The dynamic range
simply seems more 'natural' to me, and the sound seems to avoid some of the
nonlinearities of FM.

My comments/comparisons are based on using a Yamaha CT7000 and a Quad
FM4 tuners for FM. These both give good results, but I've now ended up
preferring DTTV/DAB although this preference is regarded as 'heresy' by
many, I suspect. :-)

Above said, a decent FM system is capable of excellent results, so you may
find that it provides you with results that you find very satisfactory.
Also, I would not recommend DAB for some of the other stations on it, which
sound quite dire. Hence the above comments are specific to R3.

Slainte,

Jim

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