Go DAB or not ?

[Mike]

Hi all

I am after a mini system and wondered whether to buy one with DAB. Only listen to a few stations and would like to play an ipod/trip with it (seen the Goodmans 1104 (£80) and wondered if it's extra money well spent ???

Any ideas or comments

Thanks

[Russ B]

The radio station I work on is currently broadcasting on DAB and unless you're after a station which is a bit too far for you to get a good signal from, I really wouldn't bother with the extra expence of DAB......yet. Give it a year or so and I'd think about it then

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Russ D

The radio station I work on is currently broadcasting on DAB and unless you're after a station which is a bit too far for you to get a good signal from, I really wouldn't bother with the extra expence of DAB......yet. Give it a year or so and I'd think about it then

Just read another thread which mentions quality which I had read about. Think I will wait ..........................
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...&highlight=DAB

Thanks

Mike

I have heard some bad reports about DAB. Despite there being a chance of higher capacity on a digital medium, with DAB, they have actually put more stations into smaller frequency ranges, meaning that the quality is not as good as some say.

But if you need the advantage of larger broadcast distances which DAB offers then you should consider it.

Otherwise, I personally wouldn't. If you can already get the radio station(s) via analogue then I don't see an advantage which DAB can offer you, just a disadvantage with the higher cost.

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by Russ D

The radio station I work on is currently broadcasting on DAB and unless you're after a station which is a bit too far for you to get a good signal from, I really wouldn't bother with the extra expence of DAB......yet. Give it a year or so and I'd think about it then

DAB doesn't really offer increased broadcast areas, in fact you're more likely to pick up an analogue transmission with a good antenna if you're on the perifery.

As much as I have heard about the portable ones, they are simply not a real option right now, the quality is poor.

When it comes to static models (as in you dont move them, rather than interference!) these are much better, but you really need a good antenna for the best quality, as the broadcasts are prone to artefacts. This would happen when an analogue receiver would normally hear some hiss or static.

As Chris points out in the link above, the majority of broadcasts are at 128kb/s which to an audiophile is horrible.

£100 will buy you a superb analogue hifi separate tuner, with RDS and all the gubbins. Until you start looking at around the £600 mark for a separate they really don't improve much in their sound quality, and it's simply not worth it to me.

If you feel the need to get more radio channels (most of which are pretty poor, although I do like 6 Music) and are not bothered about the quality, then have a look at the Pure Digital ones, or Grundig have just brought one out which is cheaper again and looks smart. Oh, and have a look at Pure's 'The Bug' I was tempted by one of those 'cos it looks funky!!!