Volkswagen has become the first mainstream manufacturer to fit digital radio, also known as HD Radio, as standard on all new cars sold at Chapman Volkswagen. Digital radio technology is an upgrade from analog radio.  In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized, compressed using formats such as mp2, and transmitted using a digital modulation scheme. The aim of digital radio is to increase the number of radio programs in a given spectrum; eliminate unwanted noise, providing a richer, more vibrant sound; eliminate fading problems in mobile environments; allow additional data-casting services and decrease the transmission power or the number of transmitters required to cover a region.

Digital radio uses the digital signal to bring you other amazing content as well. Volkswagen is currently offering eight vehicles with HD Radio as standard. These include the Beetle, CC, Eos, Golf, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg. The HD spectrum includes features such as program info, which identifies song names, artists, station IDs and other useful information. Even more impressive, drivers can receive images, such as album art, making it a visually exciting multimedia experience. That’s’ not all. If you hear a song you like, you can use “iTunes tagging”, and the radio receiver will save the content information, which can be reviewed or purchased later through the iTunes store. And the 2015 Golf will be the first Volkswagen to include the upgraded “Artist’s Experience” feature on HD Radio, which will deliver station logos as well as artist album cover art and enhanced digital information.

HD Radio gives customers a greater than ever choice of stations for their listening pleasure, from music and comedy to news and sports.  Of course, all Volkswagen audio systems also include AM/FM radio reception too, and the majority of models come with Bluetooth audio connectivity, as well as iPod, USB or aux-in connections.

For more information on Volkswagen’s HD Radio technology, visit Chapman Volkswagen in Scottsdale!