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

[james_tigerwoods]

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?

[james_tigerwoods]

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...

[james_tigerwoods]

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...

[james_tigerwoods]

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....

[james_tigerwoods]

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?

[james_tigerwoods]

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....