A big boost for listening quality ...

I'm thrilled that the XHQ stream is back and just as good as I remembered. What a brilliant Christmas present! Thank you Radio 3.

Just listened to 'Free thinking' debate on religion. Not really impressed. As usual with these things, the debate takes place between secularists, and those who's spirituality is based on some unprovable 'faith' - ie on adherants to Islam, Christianity, usually Judaism as well. What about the non-faith based forms of spirituality? Most forms of Buddhism are not faith centred, witness the Dalai Lama advising people to stay in the religious tradition of their culture, witness the modern pagan ethos 'each to their own path' (a sentiment which is meant to be inclusive of Christians, etc, much thanks do we get). Also many forms of (the ultimately pagan) religion, Hinduism are not based so much on faith as analysis. All these religions (Taoism as well) set out to provide a spiritual/philosophical FRAMEWORK, not a fixed set of beliefs which must be adhered to at all costs - 'taking refuge' (as it is termed) in a form of Buddhism does not imply that one accepts all its ideas (or any of them, famously Zen - if you see the Buddha, kill him), but that one uses them as a constructive framework for ones own inspirations. Perhaps this kind of 'thinking' is too 'Free' for a discussion based in a culture which consistently and constantly confuses the concepts of 'spirituality' and 'faith', personally I am a pagan/Buddhist/atheist 'All religions are fantasies - but some fantasies are more useful than others' would be my own personal precept.

Also very pleased to see the return of 'XHQ' in time for Christmas, the 'Genius of Mozart' and the rest of R3's 2011 schedule as it unfolds in 'technicolor' HDsound. From my listening so far the stream has been very reliable. With much appreciation to you all for bringing this through!

Is there any chance the HD stream will be made available to listeners outside the UK (in my case, the US)? I understand and sympathize with the argument that UK license fee payers have first claim on the service, but I, and I suspect many others here, would be more than willing to pay a subscription fee for the improved sound quality. I've read that the BBC plans to make its streamed television programming available abroad for a fee, and hope the same will be true of BBC 3's HD stream.

Its terrific. The quality improvement is tangible indeed. Thanks BBC for delivering. Shame the message boards have gone. I am really unhappy about that and can't find out any explanation anywhere as to what happened to them!

Your Radio HD sound is great and well done for having it on a permanent basis.





For an interim period, prior to going permanent, the 320kbit/sec stream was available on my squeezebox via Radio 3 Live on the iPlayer. This is now reduced to 128kbit/sec. I understand why you don’t want the HD sound on the normal standard sound iPlayer link but it would be extremely useful to have some other similar link as before which doesn’t go via a webpage or use the Flash player.





The HD stream can be obtained from the PS3 by going to the webpage but this is a poor second choice to a Squeezebox non computer type device for Hi-Fi listening.



Regards

The best news from the BBC in ages! Now can we have the bit rate doubled again and all radio output on all the BBC channels in this form?????? Oh yes and all listen again in HD also!

I'm a huge fan of using technology to deliver excellence. One small problem however. I live in the USA and 99% of my listening is to BBC Radio 3, and wish there was a way we could pay to access High Definition quality streams as well as television streams. Is this a possibility at some stage?



Many thanks,



J.

"Shame the message boards have gone. I am really unhappy about that and can't find out any explanation anywhere as to what happened to them!"



Most of us are now over on the new Radio 3 Forum https://www.for3.org/forums/index.php . Hope you'll join us!



On topic - yes, the HD Sound is brilliant.