On 2008-09-10, Jim Lesurf wrote:
I have now put up a page that compares the dynamics and level compression
on FM with that on DAB. The page can be found at
This is an updated and expanded version of a short item that was published
in HFN. The results are broadly similar to the comparisons of FM with DTTV,
but I have been able to give more details of the level compression
behaviour. I've also covered BBC R1/4 as well as R3.
I think you know I agree about "
Newsgroups: uk.rec.audio
From: John Phillips
Subject: Dynamics and level compression - FM vs DAB
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This is an updated and expanded version of a short item that was published
in HFN. The results are broadly similar to the comparisons of FM with DTTV,
but I have been able to give more details of the level compression
behaviour. I've also covered BBC R1/4 as well as R3.
I think you know that I agree (ref. BBC R3) with your "What was most
obvious was that DAB had an audibly wider dynamic range with less
background noise than on FM."
However I also note your "We can see that the sound level on FM during
extended quiet passages of music is being lifted by around 8-10dB compared
with DAB." This is also something I observed.
The ambience of the RAH when listening to the Proms on R3/FM is probably
a "trademark" for BBC R3/FM. It is something I had appreciated and
enjoyed over many years, as a measure of the quality and "realism" of
the broadcasts.
It hadn't really occurred to me until I first listened to R3/DAB that this
R3/FM ambience was always much more exaggerated than it was whenever I
was in the RAH in person. Comparing FM to DAB made me realize actually
that R3/DAB also doesn't get the RAH right either - it actually
under-represents the real ambience.
Nevertheless, the result of my comparison was that I changed my mind
about the warm ambience of R3/FM and began to enjoy the restored dynamic
range of R3/DAB (and now R3/DTTV and BBC4/DTTV).
Even so, I think the human brain's audio appreciation capability is
very adaptive if its pre-conceptions will let it just get on and enjoy
the music.
Dynamics and level compression - FM vs DAB
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