Music: Listening to AM Stereo Radio

It is well-known that many FM radio stations broadcast in stereo, and most people own at least one receiver capable of this. However, it is also possible to listen to some AM radio stations in stereo, if you live in the right area and have the appropriate equipment. Here are some more details on AM stereo receivers and broadcasts...

RECEIVERS: Not very many receivers are capable of AM stereo reception, but some are still being manufactured. According to amstereoradio.com, the AM stereo-capable Sony SRF-A300 portable receiver and the Chrysler RAZ car radio are still being produced. A search on eBay doesn't bring up any SRF-A300 radios, but does show that a Sony SRF-A100 portable receiver sold for just over $195 on June 5th, 2007. At least three pocket receivers of this type appear to be available used; the Sony SRF-A1 and SRF-AX15, which turn up when searching on eBay, and the Sony SRF-42, which is mentioned on the front page of amstereoradio.com. An AM stereo tuner called the Meduci AMX-2000 is available from meduci.com for $150 (as of 06/07/07). I can recall seeing a radio with this capability in a Radio Shack catalog some years ago, but their website doesn't appear to list it anymore. Other more obscure models from various brands can also be found on occasion.

STATIONS: Although they make up a relatively small portion of all AM radio broadcasters, a fairly substantial number of AM stereo stations exist in the United States and other countries. Meduci.com features a list of AM stereo stations currently broadcasting throughout the world. The list shows quite a few in the states of California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Iowa. It lists thirty-eight states with at least one such broadcaster, as well as many stations in countries like Canada, Japan, and Thailand. Outside of North America, it appears to be most common in eastern Asia, southern Africa, and Latin America. The list also indicates that a few stations only broadcast in stereo during the day. Another list of these broadcasters (foreign only) can be viewed by clicking here. Although many regular AM stations provide news, talk, or religious programming, AM stations of this type broadcast music more often than not.

Overall, listening to AM stereo allows you to gain improved sound on some radio stations, if you live in an area with stations of this type, but radio receivers with AM stereo capability are somewhat hard to find and fairly expensive.