If you’ve never had hd radio in car, or if you don’t know what it is and how to use it, here’s a brief guide. HD radio is broadcast technology developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation, and it allows FM and AM stations to broadcast a higher quality audio signal than analog. It also adds additional channels, allowing them to broadcast more content such as news, talk and sports.

To receive an HD Radio signal, your radio must have an HD tuner. You can find out if your radio has HD capability by looking at the manufacturer’s website or checking in at a specialty mobile enhancement retailer such as Crutchfield. The good news is that, although HD radio isn’t offered in all new cars (BMW is a notable exception), it’s readily available in aftermarket head units and can easily be added to your existing vehicle.

The simplest way to do this is to replace the current stereo in your car with an HD-capable unit. Many aftermarket manufacturers offer HD Radio-capable models, including Sony, Kenwood and Pioneer. You can also add an HD Radio to your vehicle by replacing the factory receiver with one that has an integrated HD radio tuner.

During the first few days of listening to an HD Radio station, you may notice some sound fading or blending in and out. This is normal, as the broadcast is switching from analog to digital and back again.

The HD Radio technology transmits a digitally encoded audio signal at a rate of 24 to 120 kilobits per second (Kbps). This is just under CD quality and well above the bit rate used by Spotify, the free streaming music service. The result is crisper, clearer and more dynamic sound than what you hear on traditional analog AM and FM broadcasts.