Do you own a Digital radio? [Archive]

JoeP

24-09-2005, 08:25

From my perspective it's fine - having said that I'm not one of teh world's great audiophiles. But it's as good as anything else I lug around the house to get my 'choons' out of. :)

I'd say to my untutored ear CD quality.

Occasionally get the odd drop out in some parts of the hosue where reception's poor.

Less fannying around to listen to Radio 6 on the DAB than on Broadband.

Joe

Ousetunes

24-09-2005, 09:33

I own two: one here in my office (listening to talkSPORT as I type) and one beside my bed which is a cube (with a clock on it).

I think they're superb, offering a whole host of new channels (some like Heart which you can't get on ordinary radios), Virgin (which is only available on MW in this region [apart from the net and satellite] and additional BBC and sports channels. I also like the scrolling text which gives information like what song is being played, or locally, what the weather is going to be like or what the situation on the roads is.

The best thing for me is the fact that you can quickly switch to another channel, which is something I do a lot.

The sound is usually top-notch. Classical music is wonderfully smooth, rock music is punchier; speech is incredibly clear. The plays on BBC4 come to life!

But it's not crystal clear all the time and sometimes you might struggle to get a good reception. Both my radios suffer from occasional 'gargling', an interuption in the digital broadcast which can be a little bit irritating.

But by-and-by, I would definitely recommend digital radio and can only look forward to more channels being added.

That and the fact that I will soon replace other radios in my house with digital ones.

Andy

24-09-2005, 10:02

http://www.digitalone.co.uk/coverage/search/default.asp

Put your postcode into the above site for a list of stations you will be able to recieve.

cgksheff

24-09-2005, 10:28

Yes, it opens up access to many more stations, but to be critical, the best DAB audio quality is not as good as the best FM audio quality.
You may not live in an area that gets the 'best' FM reception and so you get improvement, but all is not what it may seem.

Have a read of Steven Green's submission to Offcom (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/radio_review/responses/sgreen3.pdf).

Just one quote (it seems a bit patronising, but you'll get the drift):

Because listeners are not aware of the trade-offs that have been undertaken by the DAB broadcasters, and because the listeners have a low level of technical understanding of digital audio – not forgetting that listeners tend to trust the broadcasters, especially the BBC – they just accept the audio quality that is provided on DAB and do not question whether it could be better than it is.
All the advertising hype surrounding DAB (some of which I’ve quoted above) tells them that DAB provides superior audio quality, and because of the general public’s low level of understanding of all things digital they believe this.
However, this does not get away from the fact that the largest survey every undertaken into DAB asked for one thing above all else – audio enhancement, and DAB in the UK is now providing something completely sub-standard compared to what was asked for.
This is due to the failure of the regulation carried out by the Radio Authority, and is characterised by the fact that 98% of stereo radio stations on DAB in the UK use the minimum bit rate level allowed by Ofcom, and the UK has the lowest audio quality out of any country that has adopted DAB in the entire world.

boyface

24-09-2005, 13:04

I love my dab radio.

The best thing for me is that it gets the station exactly and there's no messing about.

If I'm using a normal radio with a tuning dial, even when it's spot on, I still think I've not got it "exact" and end up faffing about for ever.

And with DAB I can listen to the complete bigots on talksport spouting their bizarre right wing rhetoric of an evening. Hilarious.

robbie

24-09-2005, 13:06

go mine from argos for £50 and it has a cd player on it. Love it although reception not always great

cgksheff

24-09-2005, 13:11

Originally posted by boyface

The best thing for me is that it gets the station exactly and there's no messing about.

If I'm using a normal radio with a tuning dial, even when it's spot on, I still think I've not got it "exact" and end up faffing about for ever.

All of which can be done with a modern analogue radio with digital tuning.

Yodameister

24-09-2005, 13:28

Originally posted by cgksheff
Yes, it opens up access to many more stations, but to be critical, the best DAB audio quality is not as good as the best FM audio quality.

I'd say Sheffield is very poor for the number of FM stations you can actually get.

As far as I can tell there's BBCs 1 to 4, BBC Sheffield, Hallam FM and not very much else.

If I couldn't get just about any radio station I wanted on the computer then I'd have go t adigital radio by now, and I probably will get one soon, cos its not always practical to listen through my computer.

carcrash

24-09-2005, 13:35

I've had mine for a couple of years. Pure evoke-1. great sound quality, looks good and does the job

boyface

24-09-2005, 13:39

Originally posted by cgksheff
All of which can be done with a modern analogue radio with digital tuning.

yeah but I dont have one :)

JoeP

24-09-2005, 14:14

cgksheff,

I'd agree about quality - we have about a dozen radios here covering everything from standard broadcast band up through all the amateur and short wave bands, topping out with a UHF receiver I use for earwigging on space telemetry....and a well tuned quality FM receiver will get the edge.

I think the main issue for most people isn't necessarily quality, once that's above a certain level. The real issue is the number of signals received and the convenience factor. I think we sometimes get too tied up with quality - most people's ears aren't so good that they can tell the difference between one bit rate and another, except in extremis.

My ears are pretty well tuned to what you might call broadcast quality, having spent some time being responsible for transmitted output for a couple of radio stations, and I honestly think that the quality is more than adequate, except when you get the signal drop outs and 'gargles'.

Joe

Pseudonym

24-09-2005, 14:15

Is there such a thing as a mains/battery (pref. rechargeable) DAB radio with the inbuilt facility to record to mp3 for several hours duration, hopefully including an auto-timer?

I've looked but haven't found one yet, do I have to continue waiting for such a device to come on the market?

EDIT:
Well! Whadya know! I just found an announcement for a set that fulfills all the above requirements and more... Due on the market before Xmas... Gotta write that letter to Santa, pronto!

Andy

24-09-2005, 15:10

In terms of quality, I'm more than happy with it. The station I listen to most on analogue radio is Virgin, which is only on medium wave, so obviously DAB is a big improvement.

The bitrates argument I have seen before, and I have seen postings by said Mr Green on other forums. However, the point is that most people aren't able to tell the difference between FM and DAB, especially if you're listening through a portable radio's built in speakers. I'd rather have the choice of stations at the quality they are, than have fewer stations at higher quality.

The only think I don't like about DAB is you don't get the excitement of picking up far away radio stations like BBC West Midlands.

LordChaverly

24-09-2005, 16:08

Originally posted by Andy

The only think I don't like about DAB is you don't get the excitement of picking up far away radio stations like BBC West Midlands.

I think I can cope with the disappointment

Tony

24-09-2005, 16:33

They are great things, I just wish I had one in the car for 6music.

The only problem is that I tend to have radios on all over the house at the same time, and the digital one is a second or so behind the FM one. It makes for a very strange echo :)

Zinger549

24-09-2005, 17:12

I'm thinkinmg of buying one. A Hifi one with a cd player because are hfi cdplayer in the kitchen is broken I checked that i can get all the stations that I Listen to. From what i no you eather get the staion or you dont there's no in between.

P.s can any body recomend a model must have a cd player

pete_fcs

24-09-2005, 17:24

i think they're grrrrrrrrreat!

best thing about them is the display telling you what channel you're tuned into...

although i'm gonna tune all my preset buttons onto radio 3 'cos i'm an old fart!

:hihi:

Tony

24-09-2005, 17:58

Originally posted by Zinger549
P.s can any body recomend a model must have a cd player
Pure (http://www.pure-digital.com/Products/index.asp) . All ours are from this firm and they manage to pack a nice sound from even the single speaker units.

Designed and made in the UK too!

muddycoffee

24-09-2005, 18:21

I am a big fan of DAB radio. I have a "pure" model at work and a Cambridge audio HiFi seperate one in my HiFi system at home.

I love the fact that I can listen to the Cricket commentary at work on BBC sports extra, when I had a normal radio and I had to listen on long wave, I had real trouble listening sometimes because of the equipment which I woirk on interfering with the signal.

As a musiscian and Music lover, there are some great stations on there, especially BBC radio6 which is basically my record collection, who needs an I-pod.

Also BBC radio 7 is good for archived comedy.

The other rock stations are really good too, although some of them have playlists so it's better to change to a different one after a week and as there are so many it's not a problem.

At last count there were about 40 channels we could recieve.

muddycoffee

24-09-2005, 18:35

Originally posted by Zinger549
I'm thinkinmg of buying one. A Hifi one with a cd player because are hfi cdplayer in the kitchen is broken I checked that i can get all the stations that I Listen to. From what i no you eather get the staion or you dont there's no in between.

P.s can any body recomend a model must have a cd player

It's not a HiFi if it is a single unit with a built in CD player

lookie here > - Richer Sounds (http://ws2.richersounds.com/productgroups.php?cda=productgroups&pgroup=HI-FISEPARATES)

Zinger549

25-09-2005, 09:32

Originally posted by muddycoffee
It's not a HiFi if it is a single unit with a built in CD player

lookie here > - Richer Sounds (http://ws2.richersounds.com/productgroups.php?cda=productgroups&pgroup=HI-FISEPARATES)

ok My bad. I'have a look at some then use kelkoo or dealtime to get the best price

Andy

25-09-2005, 11:50

http://www.digitalone.co.uk/home/default.asp

also has reviews of DAB radios.

Zinger549

25-09-2005, 18:04

Originally posted by Andy
http://www.digitalone.co.uk/home/default.asp

also has reviews of DAB radios.

cheers Andy I'll have a look at that site :thumbsup:

Pseudonym

26-09-2005, 06:44

I could use some opinions... I'm seriously thinking of ordering the 'Pure' Evoke-3 (http://pure.com/Products/Product.asp?Product=VL-60767)

I've heard the sound from the basic model in the range and was very impressed with it...

I'd like to hear what you think of the build-quality and reliability of this manufacturer, any comment welcome...

Also, as SimplyRadios (http://www.simplyradios.com/pure/e3/index.htm) are the only 'Net dealer I can find who is taking orders for these, has anyone had experience of dealing with them?

Thanks for any info, as you can see, I'm trying to cover all angles here! :D

muddycoffee

26-09-2005, 07:30

Originally posted by Pseudonym
I could use some opinions... I'm seriously thinking of ordering the 'Pure' Evoke-3 (http://pure.com/Products/Product.asp?Product=VL-60767)

I've heard the sound from the basic model in the range and was very impressed with it...

I'd like to hear what you think of the build-quality and reliability of this manufacturer, any comment welcome...

I have an Evoke1 and I know someone who has an Evoke 3. They have very high build quality. I use mine all day five days a week, and when I'm off on holiday my colleague listens to radio6 all week.

The cases are heavy and solid and contain high quality loudspeakers, which give a HiFi quality sound. On mine, there is a large baffle in the base of each speaker. The carrying handles are good enought to be used for a garage door, and the buttons and controls are of good quality and I have had no problems at all in about 2 or 3 years of constant use.

I am a HiFi snob and wouldn't have anything which looked or sounded C**p in the house.

Pseudonym

26-09-2005, 10:05

Thanks for that MuddyC, that's just what I was hoping to hear...

You may well have had a big part in tempting me to part with 200 notes in the near future. :)

BTW, I'm rather surprised that you know someone who has an Evoke-3, they were only announced a few days ago, due on the market in November, maybe it's an Evoke-2 that they have?

muddycoffee

26-09-2005, 10:26

Yes, my friend has an Evoke-2
I made an error.

I have another friend who has one of those round ones on a stalk [Pure - The Bug] which has memory in it designed by that Wayne Hemmingway bloke, they also have a second DAB radio in the bedroom, that is an Intempo one which looks the same in photos but has much inferior build quality to a Pure unit, much less solid and more plasticky.

I am at work with my Evoke-1 now and would like to add that on the back there is a line out as well as a Headphones and extension speaker socket. Which I have plugged into an extension speaker.

Just for reference.
Today there are : -
50 Channels appearing, although some come up if they are reserved. Like Sports extra. As there is no sport at the moment it just changes to 5 live. And parliament channel is a reserved BBC channel and I have never seen it working.

However there are always over 40 channels availble.

There was an extremely cheap Grundig one in Dixons last year, and it looks ok in pictures but in real life it looked really small, cheap and nasty and the sound quality wasn't so good.

The weight and quality of the cabinet on the Evoke models is surely the reason the sound is so good.

Zinger549

26-09-2005, 10:41

Might buy a pure legato saw it in a shop for £300 which is a lot but found it on the net for £230

Zinger549

26-09-2005, 19:25

anybody own a pure legato

Classic Rock

27-09-2005, 12:03

Mine's a Teac hi fi seperate. It's pretty much permanently tuned into Planet Rock.

Whaaaat? What else would I be listening to? :loopy: :cool: :thumbsup: ;)

treeko

27-09-2005, 12:12

I am on a one person mission to convert the world to DAB radio.They are fantastic!!!!.A revolution which I equate to the introduction of video recorders in the late 70's(I still think they're pretty incredible too!!)
The idea of never having to twiddle the dial is a selling point in itself.I have two and now aim to get a mini portable and eventually one for the car but I think I will have to save up for that one!!
Wish they'd been around in the days of FAB 208.

Zinger549

27-09-2005, 13:36

Originally posted by Classic Rock
Mine's a Teac hi fi seperate. It's pretty much permanently tuned into Planet Rock.

Whaaaat? What else would I be listening to? :loopy: :cool: :thumbsup: ;)

Er virgin Classic rock

Zinger549

27-09-2005, 19:30

Noy that planet rock is not good

medusa

27-09-2005, 20:37

Hubby got me a little box that sits on top of the amp in the living room. It uses the existing speakers and stuff and plugs into the aux input. I believe he bought it in Germany (but could have been anywhere in Europe actually- he gets about a bit).

It does the job well enough, but I'm never really about long enough to make full use of it. He has one in his truck too, which he loves as he can listen to talksport over most of Europe. I think he loves his iPod more though (the DAB hasn't been given its own name- the iPod's name's Maria).

Kittenkel

27-09-2005, 20:50

I've got a Pure Tempus-1 DAB radio and I love it!!
It looks good and sounds great. I'm well impressed with the scrolling text - no more frustrating moments of hearing a song you like but not knowing the title or artist, the info scrolls right accross the screen!
My fave digital station is 'Life' - a great mix of old and new songs with hardly any adverts or annoying chat! :clap: