Why does FM radio sound better than AM radio?



There are two types of radio broadcasts: AM and FM. FM broadcasts are less susceptible to noise and are easier to hear, but John D. Cook, a mathematics and statistics consultant, explained why.

Why does FM sound better than AM?

https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2024/10/13/why-does-fm-sound-better-than-am/



When radio broadcasting first began, all broadcasts were AM broadcasts, which kept the frequency constant and transmitted audio signals by varying the amplitude of a carrier wave.



FM broadcasting, which came later, transmits signals by changing frequency while keeping the amplitude constant, which is the opposite of AM broadcasting.



People use many devices that generate radio waves in various aspects of their daily lives, and radio broadcast radio waves reach the receiver with various noises due to the influence of the environment, etc. In most cases, noise in the radio waves changes the amplitude, so in AM broadcasts, the noise is transmitted to the demodulated signal.

On the other hand, in FM broadcasting, changes in amplitude do not affect the demodulated signal, so almost no noise is transmitted, resulting in sound that is easy to hear.

You can also check the differences between AM and FM broadcasting in

documents from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Although AM broadcasting has the disadvantage of being prone to noise, it also has advantages such as being able to receive signals with simpler circuits than FM broadcasting and having a longer wavelength, making it easier for radio waves to bend around obstacles.



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