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Thread: TUNER Sony XDR-F1HD

  1. #1
    Senior Member Skywave-Rider's Avatar
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    TUNER Sony XDR-F1HD

    The Sony XDR-F1HD has excellent analog performance. It has a hot, selective front end, and even on analog signals, got rid of my horrendous multipath problems (I live in Manhattan.)

    Used to have to move my antenna for every station to minimize multipath distortion. Now, one position of the stock dipole is all I need. Amazing.

    Downsides:
    1-It will automatically detect and enable "HD" or digital reception if present on signal. This works well, but the analog signal may sound superior on a lot of stations. The "HD" signal will be quiet, of course, but the high end will be mp3 like, as u prob. know.

    2-No mono button.

    Upsides:
    1-Go to link for user mods to add a "force analog" button and mono button.
    2-Fine sound quality.
    3-Amazing front end.
    4-99 bucks -- there's a $50.00 rebate for a limited time. So $50.00
    5-Sleep timer for those of you listening to "Echoes" in the wee hours. Hahaha.

    Go here for mods and superb tech review:
    http://www.ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

    Echoes:
    http://www.echoes.org/

  2. #2
    Senior Member BMWCCA's Avatar
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    $50 Rebate (ex. 9/29) form is here: http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/rebate.php

    I've seen the tuner as low as $72 on-line.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Skywave-Rider's Avatar
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    Since I'm laid up and sitting in front of the computer too much, I've been running the tuner a lot. It does get very warm! No problems to report, but be prepared to keep air around it. This was noted in the review:
    http://www.ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

  4. #4
    Senior Member Skywave-Rider's Avatar
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    When you go to mono on an "HD" station, u will hear all kinds of phasing and distortion. Similar to doing same on lower bit rate mp3s. Not the fault of the tuner. I'd say mono is only good for analog stations. So after the "force analog" mod is done. Thinking of removing the low pass filter as well -- see link below.

  5. #5
    Moderator hjames's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCCA View Post
    $50 Rebate (ex. 9/29) form is here: http://www.hdradio.com/rebate/rebate.php

    I've seen the tuner as low as $72 on-line.
    if anyone sees the tuner that low again, please post it or PM the link to me!
    2ch: WiiM Pro; Topping E30 II DAC; Oppo, Acurus RL-11, Acurus A200, JBL Dynamics Project - Offline: L212-TwinStack, VonSchweikert VR-4
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    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    HD radio comments

    No mods at this point, but sound quality when there multiple sub-channels
    is ... ok for non-critical listening.

    Local classical station with single digital sub-channel is much more listenable in HD mode than the multiple sub-channel stations, and is also quite
    reasonable compared to analog transmitted/received version of the same
    recording.

    Local jazz station in analog comes in quite nicely on Sony unit
    when compared to my MR-78. I'm not calling one better than the other, as I
    haven't spent much time with the Sony unit yet. It would have been very
    nice if Sony had included an HD/analog switch as part of the stock unit.

    ... still waiting on HD-radio rebate

  7. #7
    Senior Member Skywave-Rider's Avatar
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    Cool Grumpy.

    The HD stations can only sound as good as the medium, but it's much better than multipath distortion, which is a big issue for me. I find on the Jazz station here (WBGO) that the digital signal is much more dynamic.

    I have not done mods yet either. Doesn't it run very warm? I'll wait a while, don't want a meltdown after I've cut solder traces.

    It's pretty "hot" (sensitivity) on both AM/FM.

    Let us know if you go all out and do the mods, etc..

    Thanks for the rebate reminder!

  8. #8
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    yes, it runs warm... unreasonably warm for a consumer product. Then again
    the product instructions classify it as a "portable product" so perhaps no UL
    or CSA testing was performed.

    I raised it up about 1/4" more and have nothing on top, which will hopefully
    promote a bit more convective airflow. An external supply/chassis might be a
    good mod to add to the list.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Skywave-Rider's Avatar
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    Passed smoke test

    Updating...the unit is still running no problems. The "HD" stations I listen to have changed their processing dramatically since I first bought this, and now the digital signals are better than the analog. Glad I got it.

    PS: I never did any mods.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Audiobeer's Avatar
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    I love mine, have had it for 4 or 5 months now. The comparison between the reciever's tuner and the HD tuner is like night and day. Great seperation and aside from picking up a lot of commercial free listenig stations, I get a lot better reception on the regular stations. I'm dumping my XM account.

  11. #11
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    Does anybody know what the "HD" in HDRadio stands for ?
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  12. #12
    Senior Member BMWCCA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SEAWOLF97 View Post
    Does anybody know what the "HD" in HDRadio stands for ?
    Wikipedia:
    "HD Radio" is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel (IBOC) technology, which was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2002 as a digital audio broadcasting method for the United States.[2][3] According to iBiquity's website the "HD" is simply a brand name and has no meaning, although in its early whitepapers,[4] iBiquity used the original name "Hybrid Digital". That was later dropped. There is no connection with high-definition television (HDTV), although like HDTV the HD Radio specification provides enhanced capabilities over the old analog format, such as 5.1 surround sound.
    ". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers

  13. #13
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    They sure wud like you to assume....the HD is Hi-Def ....and I have heard the service advertised that way ..just a name

    as are my "hotfingers" gloves...found out the hard way yesterday that its just a name
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  14. #14
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    Still under $80...

    I get Macmall's flyer automagically:
    http://www.macmall.com/p/Sony-Portable-Audio/product~dpno~7873485~pdp.fgegfgj

    Several other places sell it for similar prices, this one was shipping free w/UPS.
    Watch out or refurbs...even Sony is selling them for $100.

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