Version: 2008
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$200 HD Radios compared

John P. Falcone John P. Falcone, Senior Editor February 29, 2008

Until recently, it's been hard to find affordable HD Radio (Hybrid Digital) hardware, even as more than 1,000 stations in the U.S. now broadcast in the all-digital format. But that's finally beginning to change. Once Sony's XDR-S3HD hit the $200 price point, competing models from Cambridge SoundWorks, Sangean, and Boston Acoustics were soon to follow. But the problem remains: even at a discount, is HD Radio worth it? Having tested several models, we think the jury's still out; the digital format hasn't consistently delivered on its promises of better quality and greater choice (at least, not in our New York City testing area). If those good ol' analog FM and AM stations aren't serving your musical needs, we'd recommend Internet radio (many HD stations are available online for free) or ponying up a few bucks a month for satellite service (XM or Sirius) instead. Don't want to take our advice? Any one of the four tabletop HD Radio models will do a good job of getting your local HD stations, but we found the Cambridge SoundWorks to be the best overall combination of design, features, and performance.

See more great digital-music gear in Living With Technology: Music tunes into tech.

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Product name
Price $139.99 Check Prices $179.77 $155.75 to $249.99
CNET editors' rating
Average user rating 0 stars 0 stars
Review date September 14, 2007 May 14, 2007 September 07, 2006 January 25, 2008
The Bottom Line The Sony XDR-S3HD lowers the price for HD Radio without compromising on quality. The 820HD is a top-notch tabletop clock radio with support for the latest all-digital HD Radio format. The Recepter Radio HD adds digital reception and stereo sound to Boston Acoustics' classic AM/FM radio. The Sangean HDR-1 is a capable tabletop HD Radio, but its lackluster controls and dearth of extras leave only its retro wood styling to distinguish it from the competition.
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