ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Current Thumb Drive = PNY 512GB -- That placed into the outlet in the OPPO 103 (What I call the Audio Swiss Army Knife) via HDMI on to the Marantz -- Using one of the Marantz DAC's -- Then on to the Parasound Amp then on to Vandersteen Trios & JL Audio Sub Woofer The Marantz is also via HDMI plugged into the Sony TV which when switched to "Home Entertainment" displays what's on the Thumb drive allowing me via the Oppo remote make my choices

I'm REAL sure a 10+k Turntable plus Tube Amps plus whatever else & 20k++ speakers will for sure sound better -- BUT my stuff in an outstanding room sounds excellent if not "good enough"

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Vandersteens are plenty “good enough” - excellent loudspeakers - my son has a pair.

So to the topic of HD radio, you have a couple of paths. One is a dedicated FM HD tuner as a source. The other is to use internet radio plus a good quality external DAC. First, let me say, I have no use for MP3 for critical listening - fine for an IPOD or other portable music, but you’re missing the top and bottom octaves and the dynamic range (something UHH members are certainly critical of in photography). A good DAC is equal or better than CD or SACD quality, which is as good a source as you can hear. An external DAC (digital to analog converter) plugs into a USB port and its input is a digital data stream. Its output is analog audio to drive either your headphones or home stereo system. Until recently, most music streaming services (including Apple were MP3, but now Apple, Tidal and Amazon music, among others, are offering high definition music in a minimum of CD quality (16 bit, 44KHz sampling) and often better - 24 bit 192/384KHz or higher and MQA, making them a viable substitute for CDs/SACDs for critical listening and a great way to listen to HD radio from your computer, tablet or phone.

When Apple made HD music available recently, I ordered an external DAC - a THX Onyx - normally $199 and $149 on sale and have spent the last few days testing it against other sources on a high end stereo with tube amps. I can tell you that from A/Bing identical tracks of all sorts of music from Bach to The Dead, that it is at least as good as CDs, and sometimes better. So going forward, while I’m keeping my three 200 disc changers, I now have an external DAC hooked to my preamp with a 15’ USB cable to my listening position so I can plug in my IPAD or laptop into my system, and my high quality music library just expanded dramatically.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Good "sound" information !!! --
We also have & use XM/Radio which works on the in-home system & can be connected up to the Car's audio --
As for audio quality, at least the version we have is NOT Audio Quality -- We are receiving analog mono quality -- We keep using XM only for its content, not its audio quality & like really using it in the Auto since you can stay with the same station from the West Coast to the East Coast -- Which we have done -- Really like it's Blue Grass Station --
Do use some streaming services -- Pandora for free & Tidal @ a subscription

One note: I can configure the Oppo to play an SACD disk & forward the digital signal on the Marantz DAC as DSD
-- I cannot tell the difference in audio quality between the SACD or its downloaded 192hz counterpart

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Interesting. I listen to Bluegrass as well, and my son plays mandolin. In fact, I recently replaced a driver (with an OEM unit) in his Vandersteens - the surround had disintegrated - they are really nice loudspeakers. He has a Hsu sub, but doesn’t use it often. I listen on a pair of reverse taper transmission line with SEAS drivers of my own design and construction and a pair of quad KT88 amps that I designed and built.

Btw, I can’t hear any difference between Tidal’s and Apple’s high res streams and I’m still trying to decide on Tidal’s MQA. I did notice that the resolution on Apple’s high res stream varies depending on the artist (and popularity?). Tom Waites and The Alan Parsons project were at 44KHz (or Ksamples), but The Grateful Dead’s Terrapin Station was at 192.

Cheers.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Waites and Parsons' works were probably transferred from original CD masters. OF COURSE the Dead's work has been remastered. Dead heads are into HiFi.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Like 3D TV, HD radio seems to be something that they tried, but it never got off the ground. I rely on Internet radio via a Grace radio.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I love my HD radio that came with my Ford Focus. It also has XM satellite, which I quit after renewing the trial subscription two or three times, because like you said, it was too expensive. When I drove a truck it was almost a necessity! After throwing out scores of "come back to us" mailers I finally couldn't pass up the offer - 3 yrs for $99 and no penalty if you cancel early. I listen to everything from jazz and news to classical and old radio shows that would have been popular when my mom was young :)