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.

wrote in message
oups.com...
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.


In my opinion, I think the preferences for Radio 3 listening are in the
following order:-

1) A good FM antenna and decent tuner. Distribution from BH to the
transmitters is currently a 13 bit NICAM link, so pretty transparent.

2) Satellite receiver. If you have an external DAC, I would use the digital
output in preference to the analogue.

3) Freeview box. You can buy a new one for £ 40+. If you have an external
DAC, I would use the digital output in preference to the analogue.

4) DAB. This, in my view, is the last resort, given the bit rates currently
in use.

All methods of delivery are, or will be very shortly, processed during the
day. Evenings are still clear of processing, but this may change at any
time.

S.

Serge Auckland wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

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.



In my opinion, I think the preferences for Radio 3 listening are in the
following order:-

1) A good FM antenna and decent tuner. Distribution from BH to the
transmitters is currently a 13 bit NICAM link, so pretty transparent.

2) Satellite receiver. If you have an external DAC, I would use the digital
output in preference to the analogue.

3) Freeview box. You can buy a new one for £ 40+. If you have an external
DAC, I would use the digital output in preference to the analogue.

I read an article in one of the audio mags last week that argued the
case that actually, DVB-T (i.e. "Freeview") provides the cleanest,
highest-resolution radio around right now - even compared with FM. Of
course, you may find it's easier to find a 'decent [FM] tuner' than a
decent DVB-T box, and especially one with a digital output.

It certainly seems that DAB is the worst option, though, unless the
station(s) you want aren't available elsewhere.

S.

Best Regards,
Alex.

In article .com,
writes
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.


FM hands down. But!!!, get a good aerial, not one of those poxy Halo
things. You can DIY if you are in a good signal area. An Antiference or
Triax multi element both available from www.cpc.co.uk

Tuner?, simplest and best bet is the Denon TU260 MK2 less than 100 notes
from richer sounds. Or look on e-bay for a second-hand REVOX 261 or best
of them all an Audiolab T8000..


Sit back relax.. Enjoy)
--
Tony Sayer

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

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article , Serge Auckland
wrote:


All methods of delivery are, or will be very shortly, processed during
the day.

Can you say what your source for the above is? Perhaps give a reference to
it? So far, my experience is that R3 DAB/DTTV tends not to be level
compressed during the day in the same way as R3 FM.

Also, since DAB includes the ability to provide user-optional DRC, do you
have reason to think the BBC will *not* make any level-compression a 'user
option' if they apply it to R3 FM?

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

On Thu, 2 Mar 2006 13:32:35 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

In article .com,
writes
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.


FM hands down. But!!!, get a good aerial, not one of those poxy Halo
things. You can DIY if you are in a good signal area. An Antiference or
Triax multi element both available from www.cpc.co.uk

Tuner?, simplest and best bet is the Denon TU260 MK2 less than 100 notes
from richer sounds. Or look on e-bay for a second-hand REVOX 261 or best
of them all an Audiolab T8000..


Sit back relax.. Enjoy)

No. The problem with FM is that it is more or less heavily processed -
dynamics are squashed - depending on the time of day. It is anything
but a clean feed.

For the best quality, satellite and Freeview are the way to go. They
both get a clean,non-compressed feed. DAB is not desperately bad on R3
- certainly better than FM.

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

In
I read an article in one of the audio mags last week that argued the
case that actually, DVB-T (i.e. "Freeview") provides the cleanest,
highest-resolution radio around right now - even compared with FM.

Don't believe all the bollox thats writ by supposed Audio Jurnos
Of
course, you may find it's easier to find a 'decent [FM] tuner' than a
decent DVB-T box, and especially one with a digital output.

Freeview is "clean" there is no doubt about that, but it does have that
metallic artificial digital sound to it that I find very irritating.
Course if the BBC was a pro outfit they'd be on satellite at 256 K/bits
or more but sadly their not. Other European broadcasters seem to be able
to do that!..

--
Tony Sayer

In article , Don Pearce
writes
On Thu, 2 Mar 2006 13:32:35 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

In article .com,
writes
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.


FM hands down. But!!!, get a good aerial, not one of those poxy Halo
things. You can DIY if you are in a good signal area. An Antiference or
Triax multi element both available from www.cpc.co.uk

Tuner?, simplest and best bet is the Denon TU260 MK2 less than 100 notes
from richer sounds. Or look on e-bay for a second-hand REVOX 261 or best
of them all an Audiolab T8000..


Sit back relax.. Enjoy)

No. The problem with FM is that it is more or less heavily processed -
dynamics are squashed - depending on the time of day. It is anything
but a clean feed.

Yes they are processed a bit during the day but backed off for much of
the evening...

For the best quality, satellite and Freeview are the way to go.

Satellite would be if the bitrates were high enough, but as you well
know Don, they aren't

They
both get a clean,non-compressed feed. DAB is not desperately bad on R3
- certainly better than FM.

Beg to differ. Don't you notice the artefacts?. Not that I've anything
at all against digital transmission but if they do use an outdated codec
and chuck away information then what do you expect?.

Ever heard German or French radio via sat?...

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

--
Tony Sayer

On Thu, 2 Mar 2006 14:10:31 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

In article , Don Pearce
writes
On Thu, 2 Mar 2006 13:32:35 +0000, tony sayer
wrote:

In article .com,
writes
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.


FM hands down. But!!!, get a good aerial, not one of those poxy Halo
things. You can DIY if you are in a good signal area. An Antiference or
Triax multi element both available from www.cpc.co.uk

Tuner?, simplest and best bet is the Denon TU260 MK2 less than 100 notes
from richer sounds. Or look on e-bay for a second-hand REVOX 261 or best
of them all an Audiolab T8000..


Sit back relax.. Enjoy)

No. The problem with FM is that it is more or less heavily processed -
dynamics are squashed - depending on the time of day. It is anything
but a clean feed.

Yes they are processed a bit during the day but backed off for much of
the evening...

For the best quality, satellite and Freeview are the way to go.

Satellite would be if the bitrates were high enough, but as you well
know Don, they aren't


I guess it depends on what bothers you. I find even the tiniest bit of
dynamic compression immensely irritating - much more so than the
little glitches from satellite bitrates, which frankly I have to
listen for.

They
both get a clean,non-compressed feed. DAB is not desperately bad on R3
- certainly better than FM.

Beg to differ. Don't you notice the artefacts?. Not that I've anything
at all against digital transmission but if they do use an outdated codec
and chuck away information then what do you expect?.

Ever heard German or French radio via sat?...


I would dearly love UK DAB to be simply turned off, and relaunched
with real, up-to-date codecs, together with the assumption that all
future radios will be soft, so updates over the air are the norm.

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com