2. music
  3. 155024-2319

Any thoughts or experience on the current and future of FM radio?

A bit of "thinking out loud" here.  I have enjoyed and learned much from radio in my life.  First AM rock and roll and then FM Jazz.  My question is where do things go from here?  Broadcast FM, internet music, FM stations with an internet site and anything more you can think of.

I, like most on this site, have the sound quality and as close to the original recording as possible being my pursuit.  I am more on the consumer side and would have interest in hearing anyone's take on what the future may have in store.  From LPs to 8-tracks and cassettes and various digital discs, redbook sacd etc, I have traveled the road most of you have and am hopeful that the future has an old term in mind "high fidelity". 

whatjd
tablejockey
3,771 posts
 
Radio is alive and well in my home. Long live radio? My 64 Mac gets a daily workout.

I just hope it hangs on while I'm still on this planet. The public Jazz/Classical stations are likely going to be 100% public before long, since they're minimally funded by govt. I'm ashamed to say, I'm a freeloader, not donating to the cause.

Something about the necessity of being "connected" turns me off with streaming. Is the SQ equal to the broadcast of the same station?


R&R stations are awful. I sure do miss the AOR stations, playing an entire side, after the DJ would enlighten the listener about the music.

Jeff Bezos should fund a 24 hour/commercial free record broadcast. The operational cost would be nothing to him.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,741 posts
 
I should mention we donate to public radio in both Seattle/Tacoma and San Diego - well worth the small cost IMO


elliottbnewcombjr
5,108 posts
 
a great TUBE tuner, with dedicated fm antenna (mine McIntosh mx110z):

I cannot imagine streaming sound to come close. However, I only listen to WBGO Jazz, my antenna pointed directly at Newark, NJ. 

It get's lots of other stations, but I don't listen

I have but no longer use Carver AM/FM, a terrific SS tuner, but I prefer the sound of the tube tuner.
whatjd OP
1,139 posts
 
tomic60 makes an excellent and important point.  Many of the best radio stations in the U.S. are public radio, meaning public funded.  Most of you have likely gone through the drag of a "funding drive", but that is the public part of public radio.  If you have a station you enjoy, please make regular donations.  Even ten dollars a year is meaningful.  I have donated what I could when I could and peaked at a famous Danish designer chair when I owned a Scandinavin furniture store.  It was such a heart warming event when the chair brought more in the auction than I sold it for in my store and rightfully so. 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,741 posts
 
Yes!!!!! Public Radio out of Tacoma plays 2 nites of All Blues every weekend- curated by working musician ( bass )!John Kessler - dial in !!!

Elliot - I also listen thru my 1965 MX-110z
which is a fantastic sounding bit of gear...
More to discover