...another 'Why is' question....

Posted by: JoexNaim on 26 June 2015

Why is BBC Radio 3 HD on internet radio at such comparatively low volume? It is at a significantly lower volume than every other 360kb stream. I have a recently purchased brand new UnitiLite.

 

Switching to BBC Radio 3 on DAB and the volume is suddenly through the roof. I find I need to +10 the volume on the HD stream and for the life of me can't work out why this is?

 

 

Posted on: 26 June 2015 by cat345

Not sure about this but it may be because BBC Radio 3 HD do not add compression to their brodcast.

Posted on: 27 June 2015 by Aleg

In Holland our classical broadcasts on Radio4 are also transmitted on lower volume levels than other radio channels. Not very much lower but enough to notice a clear difference when commercials or news are being transmitted which are all on the same level for each channel.

 

 

Posted on: 27 June 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Yes if the station signal has less compression, the average signal level will be lower and so appear less loud. DAB receivers often have compression built in, on older sets this was often configurable, on my new DAB receiver in my car this is hard wired on full. ( at least in my BMW I haven't found a way to vary it). I switch to R3 FM for a more natural presentation.. Unless hurtling along at speed and then to be honest the compressed DAB sound is probably the most appropriate.. where there is coverage..

Simon

 

 

Posted on: 28 June 2015 by JoexNaim

Cheers chaps. The lack of compression on Internet HD Radio 3 would make sense.

 

Simon, I haven't checked whether Unitilite is configurable for minimal compression on DAB, so off to investigate!