The following samples provide comparison of the Silicon Chip DAB+/FM tuner with an analog tuner, in this case a Tivoli (“Henry Kloss”) Model 1 radio (which are reputed to have an excellent analog tuner section).
I set up the Model 1 and the DAB+/FM tuner together and alternated using the same rabbit’s ears antenna. Each tuner was operated on its own (with the other tuner switched off). Recordings were made of some ABC Classic FM program from each tuner.
You can clearly hear the differences between the tuners.
The DAB+/FM digital tuner exhibits noticeable noise/distortion artefacts. These artefacts include a kind of “noise ringing” which occurs after a loud section. They sound like some kind of digital filtering artefacts perhaps?
The Model 1 analog tuner is much cleaner by comparison.
Click here for a mp3 sample of audio from the DAB+/FM Tuner.
Click here for a mp3 sample of audio from the Tivoli Model 1 (analog) Tuner.
Because these artifacts appear only in stereo mode, I’m wondering if they’re a side effect of digital decoding of the stereo signal?
One other interesting observation was that when the DAB+/FM Tuner was switched on, it caused a great deal of digital hash from the Model 1, which suggests that the DAB+/FM tuner is broadcasting a lot of digital RF noise.
Please address feedback to paul (at) tdgq.com.au