106.5 HD1 Sound "quality"

[Timmy]

We just bought a new VW Passat that has an HD radio. I've never experienced HD before and for the most part, I'm impressed! Better stereo and higher highs and lower lows. For the most part, the audio is clear and clean without any horrible artifacting. I understand they are basically compressed audio streaming channels. The one channel that sounds horrible in HD is 106.5. I know that there's an HD2 and the bandwidth is split, but other channels that have HD2 and even HD3 (I think NonCom theres a station or two with HD3) don't sound as bad.

To me, it sounds like a low 24bit mp3. Just tinny, hollow and artificial. Is 106.5 not using their IBOC correctly?

Would I get anywhere emailing them directly? The other CC stations sound great in HD, as well as Cumulus and Bonneville.

My wife, who mostly drives it wondered if I could selectively turn off HD on just KOSY. I looked and it's all or nothing for HD. She said she likes how the other channels sound in HD so she's willing to leave it on. My guess is she just won't listen to KOSY except on Showtunes, which, interestingly enough sounds better through her iphone's iheartradio app through bluetooth to the stereo.

I live in American Fork but she commutes up to Draper to work and it sounds just as bad up there.

What are your thoughts?

[CAwasinNJ]

It's funny but I was wondering about something similar yesterday. I was listening to Rock 99.1 on the translator and thought it sounded awful. It's a fill-in translator, so I don't know if they have to pick up the digital signal off the main or if they can get it directly from the studio. Anybody know what they do?