Mercedes-Benz Goes HD--Radio, That Is

Mercedes-Benz Goes HD--Radio, That Is
2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK

Enlarge Photo
That spiffy new diesel 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 320CDI you're eyeing will come with HD Radio technology--along with many of its Stuttgart-bred brethren, as Benz applies the new audio tech to its model range.

Mercedes says HD Radio will be offered on much of its 2009 model-year lineup, including all of its U.S.-built vehicles-- the M-, R-, and GL-Class utes--along with the G-Class SUV and E-Class lineup of sedans and wagons.

HD Radio, which has been offered on BMWs for a year, takes local radio station signals and beams them digitally, instead of using analog signals. Some radio stations have adopted HD streams for their existing offerings; others have used the new bandwidth to split their programming into several different new formats focused on everything from motorsports to talk radio.

The new Benz head units come standard with a 6.5-inch display and a six-disc DVD changer, as well as Bluetooth. All can be outfitted with Sirius satellite radio and an MP3 player interface, as well as voice activation and navigation. 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLKEnlarge PhotoThat spiffy new diesel 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 320CDI you're eyeing will come with HD Radio technology--along with many of its Stuttgart-bred brethren, as Benz applies the new audio tech to its model range. Mercedes says HD Radio will be offered on much of its 2009 model-year lineup, including all of its U.S.-built vehicles-- the M-, R-, and GL-Class utes--along with the G-Class SUV and E-Class lineup of sedans and wagons. HD Radio, which has been offered on BMWs for a year, takes local radio station signals and beams them digitally, instead of using analog signals. Some radio stations have adopted HD streams for their existing offerings; others have used the new bandwidth to split their programming into several different new formats focused on everything from motorsports to talk radio. The new Benz head units come standard with a 6.5-inch display and a six-disc DVD changer, as well as Bluetooth. All can be outfitted with Sirius satellite radio and an MP3 player interface, as well as voice activation and navigation.



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Responses (3 total)

  1. By jbirk #1, Posted: 8/4/2008

    So this is just regular radio sounding better? but not Sirius or XM, huh?

  2. By  Marty Padgett #2, Posted: 8/4/2008

    pretty much so - you might get new bands of programming. Our 750WSB in Atlanta uses one feed for the analog programming, others for all-talk, etc.

  3. By Leslie #3, Posted: 8/4/2008

    Well, yes and no. The stations you get in your regular analog, that you are used to getting, are also broadcasting in HD. That means that the FM stations broadcasting in HD sound like CDs and AM sounds like FM. But the coolest thing is that with a digital radio, you can get a bunch more stations that you can't with an analog radio.
    The digital signal can be "broken up" into multiple channels originating from one station. For example, on my HD radio, I listen to 99.5, but I also get 99.5-2 and 99.5-3. These extra channels off of the main station are different formats and commercial free. And you don't have to pay extra for the additional commercial-free channels!
    It's awesome! I was skeptical, but needed a new radio after mine was stolen out of my car. So I bought a JVC with HD Radio. And it exceeded my expectations. I had no idea there were so many channels on that I can now get.
    I love it and tell all my friends about it and show it to them in my car.

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