Why doesn't AM radio play properly?
 

It sounds like crazy interference whenever I listen to 680 news. Gets even worse under an overpass. I didn't have this problem with my stock deck, only with ALL my aftermarket decks. Anyone else have this problem? Any fix? Doesn't happen with FM radio or anything else (CD, AUX, Changer)

my alpine is absolute garbage for AM. You'd think a company that makes high end decks could be a bit better with am.

If you find a fix for it, let me know.....

I have found that all of my aftermarket decks sounded worst then the stock when it came to radio (am or fm).

However, I also noticed that after upgrading my speakers, of course the sound becomes a lot clearler, therefore, the hiss and lack of clarity in the radio signal becomes even more prononced especially in zones of lesser reception such as over passes.

i got same thing on both stock and aftermarket, so i did in my previous car . i think it's just an AM thing, it's sensitive to interference is all.

AM doesn't have the Frequency Width that FM Does, and does not amplify well either.

Get Serious and get Sirius.

I listen to 680 most of the day, ranging from Niagara Falls to Peterborough to Barrie and Orangeville. The reception varies a lot over that entire area....and you'd be surprised where the signal is really good IE: out near Kitchener on the 401, and where it really sucks IE: on the Gardiner Expressway....:dunno:

And yes I have noticed this in all my aftermarket decks as well as a few friends.....I'm starting to wonder if the signal strength of the station is getting weaker or just gettting drowned out by all the radio and cell phone transmissions in this area.....:laugh:

HTH

If you listen to AM, You shouldn't be driving :)

limitation of AM radio
 

The poor quality of AM radio is due to many factor such as its susceptibility to interferance, the quality of the receiver, the limited bandwidth (10KHZ BW in US) and the modulation frequency which is lower than FM frequencies. In cities the signal can be highly disrupted due to concrete buildings and other electrical interferences.