Cambridge SoundWorks Debuts HD Radio Device

April 9, 2007 By Digital Trends Staff

SoundWorks Radio 820HD desktop radio is designed to play HD Radio multicast progamming and also has an input jack for support of devices like MP3 players.

Cambridge SoundWorks today said they’d begun sales of a new HD-enabled stereo table radio. The SoundWorks Radio 820HD is priced at around $300 and should be available through various outlets across the country.

The Cambridge SoundWorks Radio 820HD, as the name implies, is a HD Radio device. HD Radio, as Cambridge describes it, "allows AM and FM stations to broadcast digital signals in tandem with their analog signals, providing broadcasters with a platform to offer multiple channels of programming on the same frequency (multicasting). " These extra channels typically come through in CD quality sound, deliver services such as real-time weather and traffic updates, and provide scrolling text and graphics content to compatible radios. There are also no monthly fees associated with this content.

Besides HD Radio support, the SoundWorks Radio 820HD offers features like dual alarms, auxiliary input to connect other audio sources such as an iPod and a stereo headphone jack.

"Now is the perfect time to discover and share the new programming and incredible fidelity of HD Radio broadcasting," said Rob Mainiero, general manager of Cambridge SoundWorks, in a statement. "They say good things come in small packages and our new SoundWorks Radio 820HD is a perfect example."

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D. Zobel at 4:19am 21st April 2007 Just got one. This was supposed to be a Christmas gift but looks like design problems (still not solved) held it up. Radio will not consistently receive either AM or FM HD. My area has at least 12 HD FM stations and only one has reasonably consistent reception. Signal strength improves when receiver is placed in mute. It cannot hold a digital signal no matter what the antenna type or orientation is. Both AM and FM antennas are external. AM is a loop, FM has an installed wip which is difficult to remove and a wire dipole. AM receiver appears to be really hot but as an HD receiver it misses the mark. Mine is being returned for a refund. More design work needs to be done before this is a viable product.