Great video. I have the Sony on my main audio/visual set up in my living room. I'm looking at a 2 channel only set up for my area up stairs. I have an amp and a CD player, but was thinking about getting the Sangean as a tuner. Now - hard call! Also - thanks for listing the antenna. Most people miss that!
If you ditch the splitter (ie-direct connect to the HDT20), does the HDT20 still suck? Said another way, I wonder if the Sony adapts better to the splitter impedance. Thanx.
The only difference honestly is a 3.5dB reduction in signal and a bit a insertion loss so that does not explain it. If anything removing it would make the Sony better.
Yes, there's virtually no change with the Sangean when it's fed directly from the same antenna without a splitter. Of course the flip side of that is the Sony would probably perform *better* without the splitter.
Yes. KRVM 91.9 is Adult Album Alternative and the only station in this market in HD.. Their HD2 is "modern music". KNRQ 103.7 is Alternative. KZEL 96.1 is classic rock. There are others.
Seriously what is up with that batch of Sangean tuners? They all sound like that on fringe stations. The HDT-1 was close to the XDR-F1HD... but ALL the newer Sangean tuners (HDR-20, 18 & 16) have the same flawed reception that sounds all muddy like that on fringe stations. I think they messed something up.
I got a Sangean HDT-20 from Amazon and the FM RX was terrible. Sent it back for a refund. It was worse than my Denon receiver. I ended up getting a customized XDR-F1HD from the XDRGuy. Not cheap but the receiver is amazing.
@@thejojolopez3419 and mine is heavily moded by the XDRguy. Added cooling, audio amp and a whole lot more; www.xdrguy.com/modifications---upgrades---repair.html
The Sony may be more sensitive for fringe but I replaced a well regarded Yamaha TX-950 with the Sangean HDT-20 and the Sangean is more sensitive and sounds great. My station is 20 to 30 miles away. Anybody need a Yamaha TX-950?
I've had the same experience. Interestingly the older Sangean HDT-1 performs much better than the HDT-20. The HDT-1 is much closer to the XDR-F1HD for me, but still... nothing can touch it the Sony. Why has no other company decided to pick up where Sony left off and make something comparable and affordable for us hardcore DX'ers yet?
Yes it's a shame they cold not incorporate the same DSP chip into a more fully featured fi fi type tuner and market it as great for FM DX etc - if you get the F1 converted to use with the excellent Konrad GTK software you be will even more blown away btw
I just uploaded a video like this one comparing my Sony XDR-S3HD (which has the same DSP chip as the F1HD) to my Sangean HDT-1X. The HDT-1X seems to do better than the HDT-20, but the Sony can still maintain stereo separation on much weaker signals.
HD Radio doesn't sound that great. It sounds tinny and compressed like crazy. Satellite Radio is not any better in sound quality. I prefer a strong Analog FM Stereo. Those HD sub stations are even worse in quality.
For HD1, we'll have to agree to disagree on the audio quality. HD2 etc are a crapshoot. Stations have many options for allocating bandwidth to their HD channels and they don't always make good choices. Some stations sound bad because they're doing it wrong. In terms of audio quality, I'm afraid satellite radio is a joke.
I DONT REALLY BELIEVE THIS COMPARISON BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE THE ANTENNA SET UP ON THE HDT-20 AND BOTH OF THOSE TUNERS ARE AS GOOD AS THE ANTENNAS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THEM ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF STUFF SITTING ON ON TOP OF THE HDT-20 THAT CAUSES RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE
@@uploadJ He has a point, as the Sony heats up, which they notoriously do, can put out RFI if placed on top of the Sangean. Just stating an improvement would be to move them side by side.
@@lblerg re: "as the Sony heats up, which they notoriously do, can put out RFI" >> Nope. I'm a ham, operate in close proximity to my Sony every day and have NEVER noticed noise coming from my Sony. Where do you people come with these ideas anyway? Are none of you are trained engineers or technicians? Do you have any measurement equipment like a spectrum analyzer or wide-range receiver?
@@uploadJ Sorry, I thought this was going to be a discussion, not a flaming session. You are probably a troll on QRZ like this as well. You pulled the "i am a ham card", LOL. You probably should realize most watching this vid are amateur operators well. Do you want a cookie? Do you operate on FM broadcast frequencies too?
@@lblerg re: " I thought this was going to be a" Shut up and learn something for a change. The Sony is one of the better shielded consumer radios I have seen. Troll my azz. You are reason why the internet is going down the tubes. Take your licks like a man - you bring NOTHING in the way of facts or DATA - only, "it gets warm and emits RFI". No, it does not.
The Sony Xdr fi hd is pretty hard to beat, great FM tuner!
Great video. I have the Sony on my main audio/visual set up in my living room. I'm looking at a 2 channel only set up for my area up stairs. I have an amp and a CD player, but was thinking about getting the Sangean as a tuner. Now - hard call! Also - thanks for listing the antenna. Most people miss that!
great video, thx! i'm very happy with the modded xdr you built for me. someday, i'll put up an outdoor antenna on my apartment's terrace.
Great comparison test !! Thank you for posting
Nice video! I've received the HD signals from KLVP, KKRZ and KOPB from Central Washington.
Great Review, good technique. Thank you for the posting.
Well done. I entertained the idea of buying the HDT-20, but no longer. Not Sangean's best effort.
why does the sanfean sound worse than the fm radio on my walkman that doesnt even have an external antenna?
If you ditch the splitter (ie-direct connect to the HDT20), does the HDT20 still suck? Said another way, I wonder if the Sony adapts better to the splitter impedance. Thanx.
The only difference honestly is a 3.5dB reduction in signal and a bit a insertion loss so that does not explain it. If anything removing it would make the Sony better.
Yes, there's virtually no change with the Sangean when it's fed directly from the same antenna without a splitter. Of course the flip side of that is the Sony would probably perform *better* without the splitter.
Does Eugene have a good commercial Hard Rock, Classic Rock, or Adult Contemporary stations or do you have to get those from Portland?
Yes. KRVM 91.9 is Adult Album Alternative and the only station in this market in HD.. Their HD2 is "modern music". KNRQ 103.7 is Alternative. KZEL 96.1 is classic rock. There are others.
Is there a way to get better reception on the upper frequency’s on the HG -20 my to is fuzzy?
Get a high gain FM antenna for your roof and then hang it vertically rather than horizontally.
My dream tuner, what I don't get is why it was discontinued.
you can find it used
@@dxerkin4 At higher prices :(
Seriously what is up with that batch of Sangean tuners? They all sound like that on fringe stations. The HDT-1 was close to the XDR-F1HD... but ALL the newer Sangean tuners (HDR-20, 18 & 16) have the same flawed reception that sounds all muddy like that on fringe stations. I think they messed something up.
I got a Sangean HDT-20 from Amazon and the FM RX was terrible. Sent it back for a refund. It was worse than my Denon receiver. I ended up getting a customized XDR-F1HD from the XDRGuy. Not cheap but the receiver is amazing.
@@zackschindler8334 me too. That sony is the best tuner I've ever come across.
@@thejojolopez3419 and mine is heavily moded by the XDRguy. Added cooling, audio amp and a whole lot more; www.xdrguy.com/modifications---upgrades---repair.html
really? my hdr 16 does this WAY better than my sony with every FM station at the window
This just a guess but I bet Sangean changed to a different cheaper tuner chipset in the HDT-20. But I'm not an authority on anything from Sangean.
how is it now 2024 nov ???
The Sony may be more sensitive for fringe but I replaced a well regarded Yamaha TX-950 with the Sangean HDT-20 and the Sangean is more sensitive and sounds great. My station is 20 to 30 miles away. Anybody need a Yamaha TX-950?
The Sangean HDT-20 cannot possibly be more sensitive. Something else is going on. :)
I've had the same experience. Interestingly the older Sangean HDT-1 performs much better than the HDT-20. The HDT-1 is much closer to the XDR-F1HD for me, but still... nothing can touch it the Sony. Why has no other company decided to pick up where Sony left off and make something comparable and affordable for us hardcore DX'ers yet?
Yes it's a shame they cold not incorporate the same DSP chip into a more fully featured fi fi type tuner and market it as great for FM DX etc - if you get the F1 converted to use with the excellent Konrad GTK software you be will even more blown away btw
I just uploaded a video like this one comparing my Sony XDR-S3HD (which has the same DSP chip as the F1HD) to my Sangean HDT-1X. The HDT-1X seems to do better than the HDT-20, but the Sony can still maintain stereo separation on much weaker signals.
The older Sony delivered - I have the Sangean HDR-18 HD Radio table unit with antenna - I'm able to get my HD Radio stations well in LA
Joe G. Bear I have the HDR 18 as well with a solid outdoor antenna and RG6, the tuner performs well.
I have the older the older Sangean HDT-1 tuner AND that same Sony that run neck and neck, unlike your newer Sangean.
I love my Sony HD XDR-F1HD tuner...still going stong.
i just repaired one of the RCA output jacks - broken pad to trace connection where the jack is soldered in ...
Too bad the Sony doesn't do C-Quam AM, it would be the perfect unit if it did.
HD Radio doesn't sound that great. It sounds tinny and compressed like crazy. Satellite Radio is not any better in sound quality. I prefer a strong Analog FM Stereo. Those HD sub stations are even worse in quality.
For HD1, we'll have to agree to disagree on the audio quality. HD2 etc are a crapshoot. Stations have many options for allocating bandwidth to their HD channels and they don't always make good choices. Some stations sound bad because they're doing it wrong.
In terms of audio quality, I'm afraid satellite radio is a joke.
both tuners has an different sensitivity and i think the winner is the sony with a better sensitivity
Sony wins makes best tuner
I DONT REALLY BELIEVE THIS COMPARISON BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE THE ANTENNA SET UP ON THE HDT-20 AND BOTH OF THOSE TUNERS ARE AS GOOD AS THE ANTENNAS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THEM ALSO THERE ARE A LOT OF STUFF SITTING ON ON TOP OF THE HDT-20 THAT CAUSES RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE
He uses a splitter, so, both units use the same antenna ...
@@uploadJ He has a point, as the Sony heats up, which they notoriously do, can put out RFI if placed on top of the Sangean. Just stating an improvement would be to move them side by side.
@@lblerg re: "as the Sony heats up, which they notoriously do, can put out RFI"
>> Nope. I'm a ham, operate in close proximity to my Sony every day and have NEVER noticed noise coming from my Sony. Where do you people come with these ideas anyway? Are none of you are trained engineers or technicians? Do you have any measurement equipment like a spectrum analyzer or wide-range receiver?
@@uploadJ Sorry, I thought this was going to be a discussion, not a flaming session. You are probably a troll on QRZ like this as well.
You pulled the "i am a ham card", LOL. You probably should realize most watching this vid are amateur operators well. Do you want a cookie?
Do you operate on FM broadcast frequencies too?
@@lblerg re: " I thought this was going to be a"
Shut up and learn something for a change. The Sony is one of the better shielded consumer radios I have seen. Troll my azz. You are reason why the internet is going down the tubes. Take your licks like a man - you bring NOTHING in the way of facts or DATA - only, "it gets warm and emits RFI". No,
it does not.
Thanks, I now know not to buy the Sangean. 🍻