Coby HDR-700 Portable HD Radio System

Comments about Coby HDR-700 Portable HD Radio System:

This is a well built, small HD Radio. The nicest thing about it is the M-Port Jack which accepts the standard 3.5 mm headphone jack from Ipods (and probably other MP3 players). HD Reception is really iffy. I have had this radio for almost 2 weeks. The first day I got it I found 1 HD station, which I lost for the next 11 days. I got by using my Ipod. I finally got the station back today (so far). I read an interesting article that explained the infancy of HD radio (NOT high definition, by the way) that stated the power of the signal is 1/100th of the standard FM signal. Based on the reception I'm getting, I believe it. I almost returned this to B&H (I even got an RMA No.), but then decided that it works great as a speaker (I run it plugged in, but you can use it on battery for about 4-5 hours according to the instructions). So... As an HD radio, it probably works as good as any without a monster antenna (which is NOT very good); As a portable speaker for an Ipod it is very good, but you are paying [$] for a speaker. I wouldn't buy this or any other HD radio expecting to get any kind of reception in the Cleveland Ohio area. Your area might be different, but I would strongly suggest you buy ANY HD radio with a return privilege, so you have a few days to find out if it will pick up your desired station. By the way, I don't notice any difference in sound quality between standard FM and FM-HD on this radio. I would definitely NOT buy this radio for THAT reason.

Comments about Coby HDR-700 Portable HD Radio System:

I wanted to try digital radio and I wanted it to be portable. This one fits the bill. Added features that I like are the battery power and the ability to plug in my iPod. I'm not sure I'm too impressed with digital radio, but this little machine is a good introduction to the technology.

Comments about Coby HDR-700 Portable HD Radio System:

I am a knowledge worker in an office who is very reliant on having a radio. I listen to NPR and was very much interested in the HD channel of WAMC. It turns out, however, that I am too far from Albany to tune into it. I should have realized it before I bought the radio - it's HD, not satellite. In addition, there appears to be only one HD station in my area (New Paltz), and it is a country western station. However, the radio is sleekly attractive and once I moved it around my office, I am pulling in stations that my former radio (a non-HD Tivoli, with an FM antenna) could not pull in. So I am happy. [...]