HD Radio technology isn't a subscription service, like satellite radio. It's the same, free radio we're used to listening to — only better. Better sound, better features, and a better experience await you, the listener, when you purchase a receiver with an HD Radio tuner. Let's look at some of what you'll enjoy once you make the step up to HD Radio.

Clearly better sound

With HD Radio broadcasts, more information is transmitted to your receiver in the same radio wave. That means you'll enjoy higher quality sound — sound so good that FM broadcasts rival the sound of CDs. That's a big improvement from the current FM standard. And that annoying static you're so used to on AM broadcasts? It'll be a distant memory.

While AM broadcasts won't approach the CD-quality signal of HD Radio FM, the boost in sound quality is significant. So when you tune in your favorite news, sports, or talk programs, you'll hear AM that sounds like current FM-quality sound.

More info on the screen

In the digital age, we expect a lot of information about the music we're listening to. HD Radio's Program Service Data (PSD) puts song title, artist name, station ID, and guides to secondary and tertiary channels onto your receiver's screen — especially useful if your receiver has an LCD screen display.

More listening options

Many HD Radio stations feature HD2/HD3 channels. These provide different content than the main channel. You'll be able to experience deeper album cuts, news feeds, or alternative music programming without changing stations. It's like getting three stations to listen to on one frequency.

Compatibility with your iPod®

What if you're a radio listener but still enjoy listening to music on your iPod or iPhone®? Wouldn't it be great if there were a way that they could work in concert with each other? iTunes® Tagging makes that happen. When you're listening to an HD Radio station and your iPod's connected to the receiver, you can save data on songs you like to your iPod with the touch of a button. When you plug your iPod into your computer later, the songs you've tagged will be ready for you to buy at the iTunes store.

More things to love about HD Radio

Want even more useful features? Some HD Radio receivers will let you pause live broadcasts, or even bookmark a song or program. The Artist Experience feature displays content tied to what you're listening to — with extras like album art, special station announcements, or the latest gigs by your favorite bands or artists.

If you're fighting traffic on your daily commute, look for navigation receivers that feature HD Radio enabled traffic services. You'll get real-time traffic information on delays, accidents, and road conditions, delivered much faster than from other sources.