High Versus Low

[richardfinegold]

I've been wanting to ask this for a while, even though it seems like a silly question. I listen to Radio 3 in the States thru Apple TV (ATV).
They offer two options: BBC Radio 3 High and BBC Radio 3 Low.
The music is the same on both. For example, at the present moment both are playing the third movement of Schubert's 5th Symphony.
What is the difference between the two? Does the High vs Low refer to the bit rate transmission? It doesn't seem to be, because if anything "Low" sounds better than "high" to my ears. Can someone please enlighten a poor Continental?

[Bryn]

Within the UK, "High" offers 320kbps stereo AAC-LC with a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, and "Low" provides 49kbps mono HE-AAC with a sampling rate of 22.05kHz. My guess is that out side the UK you only get the "Low" option, whichever button you select. (Those UK test results based on yesterday's Lunchtime "Live in Concert" from Wigmore Hall).

[french frank]

FAQ:"Following a successful trial during this year's BBC Proms, listeners are now able to enjoy HD Sound - an extra high-quality audio stream for live online listening - on all BBC Radio 3 programmes on the BBC Radio 3 website.

"Initially, the stream will only be available for live programmes (not on demand) for UK listeners only. It will be available through pages on radio networks' websites and special event sites, although the ambition is to integrate HD Sound into BBC iPlayer and Radioplayer as the technology develops."

Not sure when this was originally posted.

[Bryn]

FAQ:"Following a successful trial during this year's BBC Proms, listeners are now able to enjoy HD Sound - an extra high-quality audio stream for live online listening - on all BBC Radio 3 programmes on the BBC Radio 3 website.

"Initially, the stream will only be available for live programmes (not on demand) for UK listeners only. It will be available through pages on radio networks' websites and special event sites, although the ambition is to integrate HD Sound into BBC iPlayer and Radioplayer as the technology develops."

Not sure when this was originally posted.

The HD Sound option has been available for all Radio 3 'Listen Again' offerings for over a year within the UK.

A bit OT but I find it rather annoying that of late, the 'bonus items' at the end of "Live in Concert" etc. are omitted from the 'Listen Again' facility once the iPlayer team get round to editing the relevant files a few hours after their original availability.

[richardfinegold]

Within the UK, "High" offers 320kbps stereo AAC-LC with a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, and "Low" provides 49kbps mono HE-AAC with a sampling rate of 22.05kHz. My guess is that out side the UK you only get the "Low" option, whichever button you select. (Those UK test results based on yesterday's Lunchtime "Live in Concert" from Wigmore Hall).

I thought that the "high" vs "low" option must refer to bit rate, but as I mentioned, the low option sounded slightly better to me than the "high". That was probably my imagination and they are probably the same bit rate