As part of this desk de-clutter I ned a smaller DAB radio. At the moment I have this Sony...
reviews.cnet.co.uk/i/product_media/39043928/image1/440x330-xdrs10_dark.jpg
Measures... 27cm wide, 12cm deep & 14cm high.
I need one about half the size... I was thinking I might have seen a cube shape one in the past? Still needs to sound OK and will be on mains all the time. I might have it between a run of books on the new shelves I'm putting up.
Any ideas?
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 19 Jan 11 at 09:49
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I have this Roberts which I think is the size you are after.
Sound is as good as could be expected.
Should you wish to use it as a portable, it will recharge AA rechargeable batteries, which is quite clever, or you can use ordinary ones.
But DAB radios eat ordinary batteries, so rechargeables are a good option.
The radio also has FM.
www.comet.co.uk/p/Portable-DAB-Radios/buy-ROBERTS-ECO1BK-Portable-DAB-Radio/558389
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>> I have this Roberts which I think is the size you are after.
>>
>> Sound is as good as could be expected.
I have one and it's excellent.
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tinyurl.com/sonydabc4p
Very good when mains powered, but significant criticism when using batteries (life, or lack of!).
We have 2 - no real problems but I find the user interface a little non-intuitive.
SWMBO seems to react badly to the near silent push button clicks, when using in the bedroom at night:)
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...but I find the user interface a little non-intuitive...
Good point
I 'went DAB' in Iffy Towers and at the caravan a couple of years ago, so have a few sets of different types dotted around the two properties.
One thing they all have in common is a less than intuitive user interface.
I have a supposedly good quality Onkyo mini-hifi (£250 plus speakers) on which the DAB is verging on the impossible to use.
The Roberts portable is the best of my bunch.
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We have a Pure Evoke (a fine dab radio) and the user interface is really good.
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The user interface on my PURE mini system is very good, however the CD player stopped working after 18 months and now 12 months on the radio loses all memory overnight (sometimes) - both issues other people report in the Amazon reviews. PURE have washed their hands of these systems, I'm not a happy camper and won't buy PURE again.
Pity as the UI and functionality are top notch.
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...We have a Pure Evoke (a fine dab radio) and the user interface is really good...
My similar Pure Tempus has a grid of 11 identical small oval buttons on the front, some of which are pre-sets, the rest control other functions.
The buttons are all evenly spaced so there is nothing to distinguish them.
Older Evokes were very similar.
The classic Sky remote control is an example of better design, many of the function buttons are different shapes and dotted around the handset.
It also uses colour to good effect.
tinyurl.com/5rw85wj
tinyurl.com/6gatbuq
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>> Older Evokes were very similar.
It has a volume knob, and a tune knob. You turn the tune knob, the stations display in the display, and you press the tune knob to select the station
Whats complex or unintuitive about that?
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>>>www.car4play.com/redirect.php?http://www.revo.co.uk/digital-radio/revo-pico-dab-plus.php
That's the type of shape/dimensions I was thinking of Zero. Bit expensive and I guess only mono. However I see it has a stereo RCA outlet.... this radio will be just 1.5m from my hi-fi so I could connect it in there to massively improve the sound.
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Not sure how up to date it is, but there's a list of DAB radios with pictures here which might provide some possible candidates:-
www.radioandtelly.co.uk/dabreceivers.html
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>> That's the type of shape/dimensions I was thinking of Zero. Bit expensive and I guess
>> only mono.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revo-Pico-DAB-FM-Portable-Splashproof-Radio-/320644755339
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>> One thing they all have in common is a less than intuitive user interface.
>>
>
Eh?!
Does that mean you can't read the dials clearly and what the knobs (!) do isn't clear?
Gawd! Computer speak... yuck!! ;-)
(Better known as "The controls are not easy to use!")
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...Gawd! Computer speak... yuck!! ;-)...
Hands up to that one, although I was picking up on the phrase as used by the previous poster.
So blame him. :)
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I use one of these as a travel radio. It has FM and DAB, presets, sleep and alarm modes for really boring days if it was be used as a desk radio. It is supplied with a mains lead. I see that it is a superseded model but I saw one in Tesco a few days ago.
www.sony.co.uk/product/por-portable-radios/xdr-s50
Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 19 Jan 11 at 11:27
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Thanks all. Some interesting ideas but the more I looked the more I realised something to fit in a run of books was perfect so the cube type won. The hi-fi connection aded an extra possibility so just bought the Revo Pico as mentioned by Zero (from their Ebay outlet store).
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 19 Jan 11 at 11:34
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The Revo Pico arrived today... thanks to Zero for pointing me at it. Same as this...
www.revo.co.uk/digital-radio/revo-pico-dab-plus.php
but at the outlet price £65 less than retail.
A very nice quality feeling unit with more intuative controls and a better display than the Sony DAB we've had for a while. Mono sound not quite as good as the Sony which is stereo. OK on BBC radio but a bit shouty on Planet Rock. However..... connected a lead from stereo phono sockets on the rear to our hi-fi and it makes a very acceptable DAB tuner source. It has rechargeable internal batteries too for a few hours listening if the mains go off.
Planet Rock have just treated me to Jack & Dianne (another hi-fi shop demo track of the early 80s) and that sounded good out of the hi-fi with the wick well up.
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>>
>> Planet Rock have just treated me to Jack & Dianne (another hi-fi shop demo track
>> of the early 80s) and that sounded good out of the hi-fi with the wick
>> well up.
>>
Same here :-) Only recently found out it's the late Mick Ronson playing the acoustic guitar on that track. After using my DAB mini system for 3 years I've finally connected it to a proper aerial, which has banished the 'boiling mud' completley.
Last edited by: spamcan61 on Mon 24 Jan 11 at 10:20
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Yes I think Mick Ronson did a lot more work with different folks that isn't widely known... arranging/inspiring/producing as well as just playing the guitar.
Did your DAB mini system have aproper aerial connection or did you tie a bit of wire to the aerial or something? I ask as the only downside to my plan for the Revo to sit in a run of books on shelving is the telescopic aerial... you can't extend it in that position so for now the radio is on my desk. I'm going to experiment with some wire taped to the retracted aerial hidden behind the books... or perhaps see if the steel shelf racking itself will act as an aerial with a short lead connecting it to the radio??
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The mini system has a proper aerial connection, I used it with just a 3 foot length of wire taped vertically to the window for ages, that was OK apart from a 2-3 second burst of boiling mud about once very 20 minutes.
Last weekend I finally got round to fitting an aerial socket in the wall and running a cable up into the loft, where I'm using an FM aerial mounted vertically. 100% mud free now.
The DAB portable in the kitchen is a whole different ball game, that just has the normal telescopic aerial, it descends into boiling mud on anything except the BBC mux every minute or two, drives me nuts. As a last resort I might try feeding the loft aerial to it and using an induction coil to get enough signal into the telescopic aerial. This method was discussed over on uk.tech.digital-tv a while back IIRC, I'll try and find the thread and have a go.
It would be nice if they'd turn the power up to give better DAB indoor coverage, but I don't think that'll happen until someone agrees to stump up the cash for the upgrade.
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I wonder where our DAB comes from because I have 100% signal strength on this new radio on its own aerial in 80% of this room... only drops to 75% if I move it into corners and hold nearer the floor.
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Fenlander,
The optimum length for a telescopic DAB aerial is about 30cm, due to the wavelength.
This may help you make a neater installation.
On many sets the telescopic aerial can be unbolted - it's an 11mm spanner size hex nut.
This allows the connection of something else.
You may find a T-shaped wire aerial is superior, but you will have to tape or blu-tack it to the wall.
Spammers' remarks about reception are spot-on.
I had to have a roof aerial fitted to get decent reception in the kitchen.
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>> I'm going to experiment with some wire taped to the retracted aerial
>> hidden behind the books... or perhaps see if the steel shelf racking itself will act
>> as an aerial with a short lead connecting it to the radio??
>>
It's worth a go, RF signal behaviour is unpredictable and all sorts of lash-ups work, usually only over narrow frequency ranges, but you might get lucky.
The most important factor for DAB is that your 'aerial' is vertically mounted not horizontal, as unlike most broadcast FM, DAB is only transmitted in a way optimised for vertical aerials.
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Ahh that's good... my steel shelf risers are 1m long and vertical... I reckon a hookup to one may do the trick.
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I have 70-90% signal quality, with very low bit rate errors on my Pure Evok in the kitchen, just using the telescopic aerial (not fully extended)
The sony music centre has its dab fed by a single thin wire fed through the closed window, to a home made dipole (two lengths of metal coat hanger cut to length, screwed into a choc bloc connector, screwed to the window frame)
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Just found out why the reception is so good here. Hadn't realised DAB is transmitted from Morborne tower 8mls away.... which I can easily see from the upstairs windows as there is nothing much above ground between us.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 24 Jan 11 at 11:29
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OOOhh Planet Rock now on hold because postie has just delivered my hybrid CD/SACD copy of The Dark Side of the Moon - a fiver from Play.com. I don't have an SACD player but maybe one day I'll get to hear the 5.1 mix.
The uncharitable might wonder how I can call myself a rock fan when this is the first time I've owned Dark Side on CD!
I'm 18 miles West of Rowridge IoW BTW.
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Max extension I could get on the aerial in the shelf position I wanted for the radio was the first 6ins. Bared some 17amp car wire at one end and taped it to the shortened aerial. Fed this wire up behind the books in a roughly vertical way to mimic the aprox length of the aerial and I now have full signal strength... and all my coathangers are still in the wardrobe for a future upgrade.
Excellent.
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Got a new DAB radio today as a late Christmas present. A Pure Elan 2. Beautifully designed bit of kit - lovely little touches design wise......good sound - brings in loads of channels - has a very good sound as well, loads of base - a "review" feature as well as an MP3 input adds to its usefullness. Neat box of treats - 60 to 70 notes on Amazon. Nice
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Tesco got Philips DAB radio alarm clocks in this week. About £50 and fairly small.
Edit: It was one of these: tinyurl.com/6462ugz (links to Philips site)
Last edited by: rtj70 on Tue 12 Apr 11 at 21:47
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I recently bought a Pure clock radio for about £35 from either Comet or Currys.
OK, but the display is blocky and not spaced out enough, so it's quite hard to read the time while bleary eyed, or if you glance at the clock radio from across the room.
tinyurl.com/6affpwb
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>> postie has just delivered my hybrid CD/SACD copy of The Dark Side of the Moon<<
Never heard of super audio cd b4 - see!, ya learn something gnu every day on here :)
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My BOSE clock radio has been a bedside companion for 13 years. A mellow sound reminiscent of a valve radio.....has the edge on the Pure for sound quality.
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>>My BOSE clock radio has been a bedside companion for 13 years<<
I could come back on that one Pugley, but I won't seeing as you are a moderator :-D
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DAB is due to be phased out soon, as not enough people are using it and the quality is poor.
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>> DAB is due to be phased out soon,
Is this official or just speculation? Got any links to substantiate?
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>> >> DAB is due to be phased out soon,
>>
>> Is this official or just speculation? Got any links to substantiate?
>>
Just mischievous rumour-mongering, with a slender basis of truth.
I'm conducting an experiment to see how long it takes for a false rumour to come around and self-confirm by repetition. I may regret it if something awful happens, like the suicide of the DAB switchover supremo.
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Isn't the hint of truth that by and large folks have been lukewarm to DAB quality and the superior DAB+ is poised to take over? I understand older DAB radios can't deal with DAB+ so it makes sense to get one of the newer DAB/DAB+ radios if buying now.
I see the Pico Revo DAB radio I bought the other month is now only being sold in a DAB/DAB+ version ready for the upgrade.
Mine is connected to the hi-fi at the moment and flipping from DAB to FM reveals a big jump in quality when you go to FM... DAB sounds like the music is in a cupboard.
I think DAB+ is the world standard we're heading for.
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>>
>> Mine is connected to the hi-fi at the moment and flipping from DAB to FM
>> reveals a big jump in quality when you go to FM... DAB sounds like the
>> music is in a cupboard.
>>
I must admit I've never tried a direct comparison between FM and DAB, probably because the vast majority of my DAB listening is to stations not on FM. Must go and have a bash with Radio 2 or 'The Coast' later.
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>> I think DAB+ is the world standard we're heading for.
>>
I agree with CGN, the installed base of DAB is way too large to consider changing, we're stuck with DAB. Imagine how angry punters with expensive factory fitted in-car DAB systems would be if they suddenly stopped working. Whether it can ever be commercially viable is another matter, I really doubt that the sound quality has anything to do with it either way.
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My in car (aftermarket JVC) DAB switches to FM when out of range of DAB if the station is available on both bands. I don't notice any difference in quality above the din of the 1.9TDI PD though!
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EDIT.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 13 Apr 11 at 10:35
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You just noted the date then?
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>> You just noted the date then?
>>
:-)
There is not enough time to edit sensibly.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Wed 13 Apr 11 at 10:41
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The last I heard was that the FM switch off had been put back to 2017.
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The owners of the 12 million DAB sets in the UK wouldn't be too happy. DAB is here to stay.
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/03_march/14/transmitter.shtml
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>> >> postie has just delivered my hybrid CD/SACD copy of The Dark Side of the
>> Moon<<
>>
>> Never heard of super audio cd b4 - see!, ya learn something gnu every day
>> on here :)
>>
Yep, back around 2000 Sony and Philips decide to define a pointlessly higher than CD quality medium, whilst the world + dog start getting into low-fi MP3s.
Hopefully one day I'll have a 'stereo' capable of playing back the surround sound mix of Dark Side, 5.1 sound is the one useful part of the SACD standard IMHO. Sony's latest generation of Blu-Ray players are SACD compatible, unlike their older ones, so maybe there is some life in the format yet.
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So, I take it that my expensive (back then) Cambridge Audio CD player, mated to an Arcam Alpha 7 amp, wouldn't be able to appreciate these ere Super Audi-o CD's.
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My inexpensive (back then) Marantz does do SACD apparently, not that I've ever tried it. So it wasn't just the preserve of high end kit.
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Just to add - this, on ebay now, is a Cambridge Audio that does SACD, Dog. Currently at 39 quid.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cambridge-DVD89-HDMI-/120710357121
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>> >> Just to add - this, on ebay now, is a Cambridge Audio that does
>> SACD,
>> >> Dog. Currently at 39 quid.
>> >>
>> >> cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cambridge-DVD89-HDMI-/120710357121
>>
>> Good review here:
>> www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/dvd-players/cambridge-audio-dvd89-273259/review
>>
I'm assuming Dog's current unit is a CD player rather than a DVD player, but that one does give plenty of bang for the buck; although the current Sony network capable Blu-Ray players with SACD (and just about everything else) playback are usually on offer somewhere for around 130 quid.
Personally I don't have a 5.1 system, let alone one with the 5.1 over HDMI capabiltity needed for the SACD 5.1 mix, so I'll be listening to my Dark Side SACD in good old stereo for a while yet.
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My Cambridge Audio CD player is the CD4 and about 14 years old,
I'll have to dig out the handbook and see if it mentions SACD.
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>> My Cambridge Audio CD player is the CD4 and about 14 years old,
>> I'll have to dig out the handbook and see if it mentions SACD.
>>
If it's 14 years old it definately won't do SACD, that's only been around for the last decade.
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I use my micro Hi-Fi mostly, it's a Sony CMT-CPZ1 DAB, I think Cap'n Z has one as well.
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>> I use my micro Hi-Fi mostly, it's a Sony CMT-CPZ1 DAB, I think Cap'n Z
>> has one as well.
That's the second name you've given Zero, the first I noticed was Zorro. I like to think of him as Zod. As in Superman 2, "Kneel before Zod".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFyHTU8tg_0&feature=related
:)
Last edited by: corax on Thu 14 Apr 11 at 14:33
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>> I like to think of him as Zod<<
Aye! - he is at times, isn't he.
:-D
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...I like to think of him as Zod...
An intellectually challenged bully who was easily outwitted.
Surely not!
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Didn't Zod (well the actor) also cross-dress in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Can't see Z doing that ;-)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7t9vP9SVwc
But he was also in the Adjustment Bureau....
Back to DAB - didn't spec it for the Passat since I'd rarely use it. Some other future owner can add the DAB module to the satnav/stereo. Fingers crossed I don't have the car when FM is turned off :-)
I wonder if there are any mobile phones with inbuilt DAB. All the phones I've had with radios have FM only. When might they get DAB?
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Dab receivers still have a hunger for power, not a desirable trait in a mobile phone already lumbered with power hungry features.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 14 Apr 11 at 17:21
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We only have two DAB radios. One is a Pure something or other with CD. Not checked power ratings but that probably explains it.
So if DAB is power hungry I guess the future for 'radio' on mobiles might be via web streaming.
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>> I wonder if there are any mobile phones with inbuilt DAB.
I have installed a DAB Player application on my Nokia N8, so yes, DAB is available on some mobile phones. However, I can not use it until I've parted with 50 quid for the special headset/receiver which I need to listen to the DAB. It won't work with the standard headphones.
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So that will be the special headset that is the DAB radio that you plug into the phone. The application will control the DAB radio in the headset.
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If you say so. Haven't tried it yet. This is the headset:
tinyurl.com/2wrnwub
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I have seen it. Its actually a self contained dab radio, not a dab radio for your phone. Its uses the phone to power it (via the USB port) and to control it, but the decoding and audio is all done in the device.
And yes it sucks power from your phone.
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>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFyHTU8tg_0&feature=related
He does that so well. I must get that line in on here somewhere.
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>> I use my micro Hi-Fi mostly, it's a Sony CMT-CPZ1 DAB, I think Cap'n Z
>> has one as well.
Zod has the Sony CMT-SPZ90 DAB
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I have the pre-Dab version of this in the stable... with FM/CD/Casette and 30wpc... great sound balance for an all-in-one at a good price. They were top reviewed by What Hi-Fi too if that adds any cred.
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>>on ebay now, is a Cambridge Audio that does SACD<<
Wow! ... I quite like silver as well, back in the 70's I used to drool over the Marantz section in Lasky's Oxford St.
ended up with Rotel & pie on ear PL12D :)
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Laskys was where my first seperates came from... after a bewildering session on their multi switched comparator.
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The power supply on the radio failed. Complaining via the Pure website resulted in a new one being sent out within less than a week - it looks beefed up. Good customer service from Pure.
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Small DAB radio - Iffy
