DAB radio

[evdok]

Thinking of buying one of these, never had a DAB radio do you guys recommend them?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAB-digital-r...ryZ96955QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[glojo]

I would also like to eaves drop on this thread as it is something I'm considering. Is it better to go for a good brand name, or is DAB reception pretty standard throughout the modern popular radio's?

Regards
John

 

[evdok]

i think digital is good no matter the make especially for £28!:bannana:

 

[robert.saunders]

I have a DAB radio at home, you don't receive all channels that you may expect and you have to have a good signal and fully extended aerial generally - and if you get a loss of signal, it's a complete drop-out.

I don't find the listening quality any greater than a decent FM unit but of course the channel availability is somewhat wider.

As for the make, not one I would touch with the proverbial bargepole but you pays your money etc...

However, I would wait for DAB+ which should be better all round - but as I understand, not backwards-compatible.

 

[evdok]

i suppose it will be a cheap way to find out! if pleased with the product maybe nag the wifey for a digital xmas

 

[television]

The front end on a DAB radio will be the same on any make, so not much difference in what you receive.

The quality of the sound is something else, if the output stage is poor, then it will sound lousy, the same goes for the loudspeakers and how they are fitted and to what they are fitted to

The ease of use and selecting of stations is equally important.

Mind you I am fussy

 

[renmure]

I have listened to expensive models and very cheapo models here at home. Both received the same channels and both sounded fairly similar to my ear (ok, I am not a music / hifi buff) I only bought one for the 5live sports extra channel and also to get the local AM station with better quality sound than the usual AM hissssssss. I would get a cheapish one since I think you would be hard pressed to know the difference.

 

[robert.saunders]

i suppose it will be a cheap way to find out! if pleased with the product maybe nag the wifey for a digital xmas

Agree - but once DAB+ is broadcast (2008?), DAB sets will pick up nuffink

 

[television]

I have listened to expensive models and very cheapo models here at home. Both received the same channels and both sounded fairly similar to my ear (ok, I am not a music / hifi buff) I only bought one for the 5live sports extra channel and also to get the local AM station with better quality sound than the usual AM hissssssss. I would get a cheapish one since I think you would be hard pressed to know the difference.

This confirms what I said, re the sensivity, but a good output stage makes a huge difference, having spent most of my life in the sound business I could never listen to something that I knew could sound better

 

[glojo]

This confirms what I said, re the sensivity, but a good output stage makes a huge difference, having spent most of my life in the sound business I could never listen to something that I knew could sound better

Wow,
I'm one of those that doesn't know an f-sharp from a d-flat and as long as it sounds like music, and I can seperate the different instruments then it works for me. So what is the portable DAB radio that you have please?

Regards
John

 

[television]

Wow,
I'm one of those that doesn't know an f-sharp from a d-flat and as long as it sounds like music, and I can seperate the different instruments then it works for me. So what is the portable DAB radio that you have please?

Regards
John

We cant have DAB in Lyme Regis

Funny you should mention D flat, as the only pop group or solo artist that used it were the Australian "Seekers" where Judith Durham was the singer.

Do you know if its possible John where you are to receive it

 

[glojo]

We cant have DAB in Lyme Regis

Funny you should mention D flat, as the only pop group or solo artist that used it were the Australian "Seekers" where Judith Durham was the singer.

Do you know if its possible John where you are to receive it

Good question I have no knowledge about whether it works and you have made me curious. No sense buying something that won't work, we still cannot receive channel 5.

John

 

[television]

Good question I have no knowledge about whether it works and you have made me curious. No sense buying something that won't work, we still cannot receive channel 5.

John

I can post you one down to try if you wish

 

[television]

http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/coverage_maps.htm

Its not a new one its something that someone threw away in bits

 

[glojo]

I can post you one down to try if you wish

Hi Malcolm,
Thanks very much indeed for the offer but I would be terrified it got damaged in the post..

If the DAB signal is capable of being received in this area then hopefully we should be able to get it.

kind regards
John

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm,
Thanks very much indeed for the offer but I would be terrified it got damaged in the post..

If the DAB signal is capable of being received in this area then hopefully we should be able to get it.

kind regards
John

The map in the link above doe show where you live and the signal quality

 

[television]

I have just taken the thing into my office (Grundig) and it works like a dream,its quite good and better than FM for selectivity without the pilot tone hiss thats spoils weak FM stations

Downstairs nothing

 

[Banjo]

A couple of years ago I bought what was at the time a cheap portable Grundig DAB set (£40 from Comet on Special Offer) and it has been great. My mum uses it mostly in the garden during the summer, never had any problem with reception, that might be because its London.

Aside from the price, the 2 things that attracted me to this particular portable was firstly Grundig! German engineering and secondly it was the only set upto about £90 which had stereo (i.e. two) speakers built in.

 

[Ade B]

I have the Pure mono portable clock radio thingy - aside from dropping it and breaking the tip off the aerial and bending the tuning knob, its been excellent.

The sound is crystal clear and surprisingly good for a titchy single speaker - but then again its only used for relatively quiet listening to stuff first thing in the morning.

Not sure how this would translate to a car stereo.

Ade

 

[Ted]

I have a roberts radio Gemini 27
I was unsure when I bought it as I had heard reports that DAB wasn't as good quality as FM.
I have found that the sound is crystal clear even on low bitrates.
This radio is the first radio/hi-fi I have ever heard where I could actually believe that there is someone talking in the room - it really is that good.
If you can get the channels, then I would definitely recommend going DAB, but remember that as with most things, quality does not come cheap.

Now, go on - you know you want to.....