Why does music sound better on the Radio? Or is it just me?

Why does music sound better on the Radio? Or is it just me?

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james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
On Radio 2 this morning, Chris Evans played "Layla" - a great track (IMO), but on the radio, it just seemed to sound better than how it sounds on my iPod.

I realised (well, I have done before) that a lot of the tracks that are on my iPod sound better on the Radio but I've not worked out why (Hotel California is another example) - is it just me that thinks this?

tank slapper

7,949 posts

282 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
It's very much the reverse. Radio is invariably compressed horribly to remove the peaks and troughs in volume levels, to cater for the wide variety of radios it will be listened to on.

It might sound marginally better on a small portable, but you will get hugely better dynamic range and contrast playing it from CD or audio file on a half decent pair of headphones or hifi.

Edited by tank slapper on Monday 21st February 13:47

The Nur

9,168 posts

184 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
Are you using standard ipod headphones?

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
This is on my car Stereo...

I notice it even over DAB - maybe it's the Radio "ambience" and/or experience that I'm enjoying...

carter711

1,849 posts

197 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
I think it's just you. The best way to make music sound better without upgrading your system is a little smoke of cannabis, I've been told.

adycav

7,615 posts

216 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
james_tigerwoods said:
"ambience"
That reminds me of something, can't quite figure out what it is...

ad551

1,502 posts

212 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
Radio sounds awful on any decent headphones or speakers, as it is so compressed.

You might find though, if your car is noisy, that the compression is bringing in things you wouldn't normally here from your iPod as they are too quiet.

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
ad551 said:
Radio sounds awful on any decent headphones or speakers, as it is so compressed.

You might find though, if your car is noisy, that the compression is bringing in things you wouldn't normally here from your iPod as they are too quiet.
Maybe that's it - I have permanent tinnitus, so I do notice quiet more whereas there's less of that on the radio.

My stereo has been upgraded from the OEM one in the Golf to a far better Clarion HU...

The Nur

9,168 posts

184 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
james_tigerwoods said:
This is on my car Stereo...

I notice it even over DAB - maybe it's the Radio "ambience" and/or experience that I'm enjoying...
Ahh I see, I thought you were comparing radio through you car stereo to the same tracks played on your Ipod.

Being a bit of a 'Tard.

Charlie Foxtrot

3,041 posts

214 months

Monday 21st February 2011
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adycav said:
That reminds me of something, can't quite figure out what it is...
The Donkey show in Clerks II?

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
adycav said:
james_tigerwoods said:
"ambience"
That reminds me of something, can't quite figure out what it is...
It's Welsh for 'atmosphere'.

biggrin



OP - I know what you mean, but find it sometimes works both ways wobble i.e. there have been tracks on an album that I have initially disliked, but then later liked it after hearing it on the radio, and vice versa.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

197 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
adycav said:
james_tigerwoods said:
"ambience"
That reminds me of something, can't quite figure out what it is...
rofl

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
The Nur said:
james_tigerwoods said:
This is on my car Stereo...

I notice it even over DAB - maybe it's the Radio "ambience" and/or experience that I'm enjoying...
Ahh I see, I thought you were comparing radio through you car stereo to the same tracks played on your Ipod.

Being a bit of a 'Tard.
I was - as when I then played Layla back from the iPod through the car stereo (line in, as opposed to aux in), it just seemed a little flat....

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Monday 21st February 2011
quotequote all
1. Too much lossy file compression on the MP3 (or whatever format is in use). Try to use a lossless format if you care about the particular track. It makes a fecking HUGE difference from 128kbit or whatever Apple use as standard. Don't expect purchased downloads to be lossless quality.

2. The Apple codec and drive amplifier isn't the best. A great deal can be done by using an external pre-amp, but if the quality ain't there, it ain't there.


aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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Could it just be that when you listen to music in the car it comes from multiple speakers from different angles and fills the car with sound rather than when you listen on headphones when sound is directed sraight into your ear?

I tend to find that CDs have a warmest fullest sound than MPs as on average at 128kpbs music is compressed at a rate of more than 10:1 and radio is the absolute worst for sound quality even when supposedly its on stereo+RDS mode which should indicate strong signal.

dave

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
aka_kerrly said:
Could it just be that when you listen to music in the car it comes from multiple speakers from different angles and fills the car with sound rather than when you listen on headphones when sound is directed sraight into your ear?

I tend to find that CDs have a warmest fullest sound than MPs as on average at 128kpbs music is compressed at a rate of more than 10:1 and radio is the absolute worst for sound quality even when supposedly its on stereo+RDS mode which should indicate strong signal.

dave
It could be that - I always balance the sound slightly to the rear and slightly to the left so that the sound comes from all sides - maybe that's it?

Thin White Duke

2,333 posts

159 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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I think it may be psychological. You hear a song on the radio that you enjoy and know that other people are listening to it. It may have been requested by a fellow listener, therefore creating a live performance atmosphere that takes the song to a high.

james_tigerwoods

Original Poster:

16,287 posts

196 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
Thin White Duke said:
I think it may be psychological. You hear a song on the radio that you enjoy and know that other people are listening to it. It may have been requested by a fellow listener, therefore creating a live performance atmosphere that takes the song to a high.
Wow, that's deep....

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
quotequote all
Having done a live session on BBC (local biggrin) radio I got a bit of an explanation from the DJ. They played out one of our home recorded tracks which sounded much better on the radio, mainly because they use very nice compressors and EQs which can make stuff that's recorded with a large dynamic range sound good and loud. That makes it sound "punchy" in the car, which is pretty much what FM is all about.

Uriel

3,244 posts

250 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2011
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Probably the same way that I've watched Tremors maybe a dozen times on TV and loved it every time. If it comes on or I catch it half way through, I simply cannot do anything but sit and watch to the end. I have had the DVD for years and it's still on the shelf in it's cellophane.