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From: KLUDGE@AGCB1.LARC.NASA.GOV
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Why they are killing the dynamic range?
Message-ID: <5915@uwm.edu>
Date: 24 Aug 90 13:44:32 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Lines: 29
Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

Radio stations overcompress things:

1. So the level controls on the mixer do collect dust.  DJ's are usually
   not too good at gain riding.  Most stations have things set up so you
   just bring the slider up to the mark and leave it there.

2. To increase range.  If the overall modulation level (the effective
   loudness of the signal) is lower than the noise floor, you'll hear
   noise.  By keeping the peak modulation level as high as possible,
   your signal will be above the noise floor even when the noise is
   higher.  This is important in fringe areas, and in cities where
   reflection is a major problem.  (In actuality, reducing power down
   an order of magnitude or two will eliminate reflection problems in\
   cities and not really reduce the range in the downtown area much
   at all... but stations seem to think that more power is better).

3. To increase the perceived loudness of the station.  Since people only
   listen to one station for 2.3 minutes on the average anyway, and
   since as they flip across the dial, they tend to stop on the loudest
   stations, it's important to make your signal louder than anybody
   else's.  Some stations (like KPRT, Los Angeles) add deliberate
   second-harmonic distortion to give their station a 'characteristic
   sound' so that people can identify it as they turn by.  Much like
   the horrible reverb chamber that Radio Moscow uses.

Commercial radio and high fidelity are not even remotely related.  
Big money and commercial radio are much more tightly connected.
--scott