DAB radio?

[Grumpy]

Looking for some helpful advice about DAD please.

Thinking of going digital radio and I'm  looking at one of these - anyone have one or heard reports about them please?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RRP-199-DGTEC-DG-DAB888R-DIGITAL-FM-DAB-RADIO-RECEIVER-NEW-/170809030087?pt=AU_Radios&hash=item27c502f5c7

 

What Ariel do I need,  will an indoor one that I use for my analogue radio now be ok?

Edited May 6, 2014 by Grumpy

[Grumpy]

Please disregard the link above. I've just read some on-line reviews and they are not very favorable.

[firefly0071]

Good price! It should come with an antennae.

 

It's looks  like a "no name" brand to me.

 

 

I have one portable and has the metal stick antennae and other that plugs into my component system and uses a ribbon wire.

[betty boop]

Grumpy. Please do not under any circumstance buy that radio. Photos of its insides have been posted on the net and it is a death trap. Accident waiting to happen. Not sure how it got through our Australian electrical approvals.

Two things for dab+

Do a search for reception maps abc have on their website. Will tell you if you have reception. If not in a reception zone don't waste your time.

For antennas. I have line of site of towers and wire antenna supplied don't even have to unroll. If have a f type connector can connect up a $10 whip antenna from sangean. I don't even bother extending these antennas.

If want better reception just use a T connector to T off your TV antenna. That's it.

Many decent affordable dab+ units around from pure to sangean, iriver in portable radios that can plug into your hifi. There are relatively affordable component sized units. Plus a unit called 'plum'

I'll post some more info when get a chance. But good to know your budget plus type of unit ie digital or analog connectivity, portable or component style ?

[Grumpy]

Thanks fellas. I did edit my post regarding the link  - Yep! lots of bad talk about that radio.

My budget - Only cheap as I don't listen to the radio a lot so I was willing to spend the $70-$80 on the eBay one as a toe dipping exercise.

As to connectivity I'd like both digital and RCA outs .

Component unit is what I was looking at.

Think I might have to save a bit longer.

[Art Vandelay]

DAB+ is a joke anyway. 

 

With most music stations offering no more than 80kb/s, and some as low as 48kb/s, the sound quality is pathetic, and coverage is generally poor too, due to power imposts from restricted license areas. 

 

With so many internet stations to choose from now, it's a format with no future.   

Edited May 6, 2014 by Art Vandelay

[betty boop]

Thanks fellas. I did edit my post regarding the link - Yep! lots of bad talk about that radio.

My budget - Only cheap as I don't listen to the radio a lot so I was willing to spend the $70-$80 on the eBay one as a toe dipping exercise.

As to connectivity I'd like both digital and RCA outs .

Component unit is what I was looking at.

Think I might have to save a bit longer.

Grumpy I'll give you some suggestions when get home, I'm an early adopter and have owned quite a few units from portable to component to even in car so can give done good suggestions

[DAMO 1147]

Yeh gads - Gold Coast not even inthe digital area- and i was planning to upgrade the car stero to digital so i could get the new double j channel for oldies.

 

So that means no go?

Edited May 6, 2014 by DAMO 1147

[surprisetech]

Check the coverage maps to see what sort of signal strength to expect.

http://www.digitalradioplus.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1003

 

In my case, in Melbourne Eastern suburbs ("Very Good Reception") my Philips portable gets all the stations on its internal antenna, but is useless at home out in the hills.

At home ("NO reception"), my NexttWave DAB-390 connected to the TV antenna gets all the stations on 2 of the 3 multicast frequencies.

 

If you're in an area with borderline reception, generally speaking, models with no Wifi capability are a little more sensitive than the models with Wifi (for Internet radio), so would probably give a better result.

 

Any TV antenna that covers VHF Channel 9 should give very good results, but can be improved by orienting it vertically instead of horizontally.

 

There's a couple of SNA threads that have some recommendations:

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/54088-best-dab-radio/?hl=sangean#entry905688

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/39471-digital-or-analogue/?hl=sangean#entry778911

[betty boop]

DAB+ is a joke anyway.

With most music stations offering no more than 80kb/s, and some as low as 48kb/s, the sound quality is pathetic, and coverage is generally poor too, due to power imposts from restricted license areas.

With so many internet stations to choose from now, it's a format with no future.

Sorry I disagree, I listen to dab+ every day. Whether on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

It does have limitations, but I do find it a good source of music.

Also net streaming is not for anyone. Certainly got me given net download limits that's a complete impractical suggestion for either while on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

[firefly0071]

Sorry I disagree, I listen to dab+ every day. Whether on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

It does have limitations, but I do find it a good source of music.

Also net streaming is not for anyone. Certainly got me given net download limits that's a complete impractical suggestion for either while on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

 

 

Net streaming in a $200k BMW when driving is  crap! Why buy a car of this expense with an obvious fault?

[Art Vandelay]

Sorry I disagree, I listen to dab+ every day. Whether on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

It does have limitations, but I do find it a good source of music.

Also net streaming is not for anyone. Certainly got me given net download limits that's a complete impractical suggestion for either while on the move, kicking back at home or in the car.

 

I guess I don't have the tolerance level to listen to really bad fidelity. 

 

DAB+ = BAD+ 

Edited May 6, 2014 by Art Vandelay

[betty boop]

I guess I don't have the tolerance level to listen to really bad fidelity.

DAB+ = BAD+

That maybe your opinion and you are most welcome to it. My experience for what my use is am very happy. Am not for one minute suggesting its cd quality, and no one will make that claim. But it's a good step forward from fm with freq response, noise floor, dynamics and separation as far as am concerned. And I say that having directly compared it to cd, iTunes AAC+ and fm on various sources from portable to incar to component units. And in various settings from mobile to incar to my pure analog 2ch bedroom setup, to main hifi rig to my av system. And this has been over a period since day one of launch of dab+ to today driving to work

Note my listening is only to two stations SBS chill & Koffee both if which are pretty good in broadcast and reception wise my comments limit to line of sight of towers out in the burbs to city centre to driving as far as 100km from city centre up in the hills when reception drops off ...

[emesbee]

So far, I haven't bothered to get a DAB+ receiver. The Yamaha mini-system that I bought for my mother has DAB+, and I have given it a listen a few times. Sound quality is so-so, but my main gripe is the lack of (what I would regard as) any decent content. Others might disagree, but I'm hard pressed to find any DAB+ radio station broadcasting anything I would want to listen to (actually, that also goes for AM and FM these days).

 

Only way I can see myself getting one is as an incidental feature on a media server, some time in the future (but I have no plans in that direction).

 

I agree that its best to stay away from that Dgtec model though. I also read the bad reviews.

[Art Vandelay]

That maybe your opinion and you are most welcome to it. My experience for what my use is am very happy. Am not for one minute suggesting its cd quality, and no one will make that claim. But it's a good step forward from fm with freq response, noise floor, dynamics and separation as far as am concerned. And I say that having directly compared it to cd, iTunes AAC+ and fm on various sources from portable to incar to component units. And in various settings from mobile to incar to my pure analog 2ch bedroom setup, to main hifi rig to my av system. And this has been over a period since day one of launch of dab+ to today driving to work

Note my listening is only to two stations SBS chill & Koffee both if which are pretty good in broadcast and reception wise my comments limit to line of sight of towers out in the burbs to city centre to driving as far as 100km from city centre up in the hills when reception drops off ...

 

The answer is that we all have differing distortion sensitivity and tolerance. To my ears, wideband FM stereo through a good receiver is still well ahead of 80kb/s DAB+, and comfortably ahead of 96kb/s.  

 

Fwiw, I'm not the first to complain. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1875424

[betty boop]

The answer is that we all have differing distortion sensitivity and tolerance. To my ears, wideband FM stereo through a good receiver is still well ahead of 80kb/s DAB+, and comfortably ahead of 96kb/s.

Fwiw, I'm not the first to complain. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1875424

No interest in whinge pool, find anything you'll find people finding something or other to whinge about !

Good receiver ... Now there's the key after I have owned many units. The biggest mistake people make is hook up a crappy dab+ tuner over headphone outs to a hifi system and wonder why sounds like rubbish.

Like any bit if hifi gear. And like any digital source ... It's the quality of Dac, analog stage and power supply that makes the difference .... You get what you pay for ....

I've come to settle on a choice of component for portable, in hifi and in the road am very happy with .... And long since no longer bothered with fm.

[Art Vandelay]

DAB Radio Sound Quality Inferior to FM

 

http://digitalradioinsider.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/dab-radio-sound-quality-inferior-to-fm.html

 

Requirement of high data rate bad news for DAB proponents

The digital radio system DAB+ , needs to transmit high data rate, otherwise there is a risk of poor sound quality. It is one of the conclusions of a research project where LuleÃ¥ University collaborated with the Swedish public service radio (SR). The results are published in the latest issue of the "Journal of the Audio Engineering Society" and has also been submitted to the British Departement of Culture and Media which is expected in mid-December to announce a switch-off year for FM for major broadcasters. 

 

The digital solution, DAB +, is comparable to the existing FM system in the radio down to 160 kilobits / second. During the speed, the performance noticeably. The project that has been ongoing for two years, and in which five people worked, several tests have been done where experienced listeners participated. They have assessed the sound quality according to international recommendations. The tests show that one should select data rates close to the maximum that is possible to get out of DAB +.

 

- If you want to compete with a really good FM system should be run DAB + at maximum 192 kilobits / second in order to be able to maintain the quality of typical sounds that occur frequently in radio, says Jan Berg.

[firefly0071]

The majority of DAB+ radios in Oz also play FM. 

 

Best of both worlds.

[betty boop]

~

Good receiver ... Now there's the key after I have owned many units. The biggest mistake people make is hook up a crappy dab+ tuner over headphone outs to a hifi system and wonder why sounds like rubbish.

Like any bit if hifi gear. And like any digital source ... It's the quality of Dac, analog stage and power supply that makes the difference .... You get what you pay for ....

~

 

this is what I am talking about...here is what is inside the cambridge 650T DAB+ FM/AM tuner

 

 

 

and this is what you get inside the DGtec DAB+ tuner linked to earlier...

 

 

 

if we are talking audio quality which do you think is going to give a better result ! 

 

if thinking its just dgtec that brings out rubbish...here is the inside of the jaycar sold dab+ tuner on the market ! 

 

 

death trap ! 

 

now ART sorry your welcome to your opinion of things, and I simply dont care at all what you might trawl up on the net. Since I know very well for myself in real world conditions what our FM quality is vs DAB+ I listen to.

 

I can tell you FM is nothing like remotely pristine in our country and it is far far from being perfect. hardly some gold standard to be held up for comparison. Atleast with digital its either there or not. but with FM the quality you will receive is anything from OK in my opinion to pure rubbish in this country....it is very variable ! 

 

Now if someone is trying to tell me you need to get 192kbs AAC+ to be equivalent to FM. well I'd stand from the roof tops and yell that they are dreaming ! I can tell you with our own comparisons itunes plus AAC+ which is 256kbs is actually pretty damn good and not actually that far from CD quality. to be suggesting FM radio is even remotely anything like that is plain delusional.

 

I myself have far from being suggesting that DAB+ is anythign like CD quality, infact far from it. however it is in my opinion a step up from FM, and the quality we get with the stations I listen is pretty decent. certainly good enough for purpose I utilise which is generally back ground music in the home, while jogging or while in the car. There are other benefits of digital radio too. ie you can pause, rewind, you have song and artist info as well none of which you get with FM, so its not just about sound quality. 

 

What I have been suggesting is that a big factor in digital radio is infact the radio used...hopefully this is abundantly clear from even the pictures I have posted. and guess what buy a good tuner like the cambridge 650T I have posted pics off and you also get a damn fine FM and AM tuner as well. so if you like either so much more you have a good quality tuner to play them back as well !

[firefly0071]

I am saving up for an Arcam T32 - best DAB+ radio under $2k.

[betty boop]

anyways enoughs enough art, am not going to argue this with you since this thread is about what DAB+ tuner to buy, not a debate on the pros and cons on DAB+ vs other radio formats that perhaps belongs else where.

 

geting back to grumpys original question.

 

Grumps if willing to only want to spend $70-80 sorry I cant think of anything in that price bracket sorry. that sort of money doesnt really buy much in the way of a hifi component.

 

if happy enough with a hand held portable unit. the sangean DPR34+ is a decent thing

 

http://www.sangean.com.au/images/PDF/digital_flyers/DPR-34.pdf

 

if must have a component style unit with analog outs. the only can think off is the plum unit

 

http://www.msml.com.au/msml/Plum_Audio.html

 

 

 

 

its also inside not the death trap other cheapo units can be ! 

 

 

 

could pickup either on ebay under $100 and good for what they do, having owned both can say over analog can do a lot better than either, but might be good for a dip in the water

[betty boop]

The majority of DAB+ radios in Oz also play FM. 

 

Best of both worlds.

 

yes units I have do both formats including AM, so the choice is there regardless.

 

I am saving up for an Arcam T32 - best DAB+ radio under $2k.

 

good basics are what make that a  very good tuner as well....good dac, analog stage and power supply ! 

 

 

Arcam took the very good tuner in the T32 and added DAB+ to it

 

the bargain in all this I still feel is the cambridge 650T, it used to retail at $699, have seen it on sale at times as low as $399 so can imagine if buy one second hand or as a demo how cheap likely buy one for what is a very nice tuner I feel

 

the sangean WFT is a nice tuner too and at time will be able to buy for cheaper if cant stretch to the cambridge

 

http://www.sangean.com.au/images/PDF/digital_flyers/WFT-1Di.pdf

 

CAV I see have on special at $310

http://www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au/?q=node/view/1983

 

grumps either of the two above in the cambridge or sangean is what I'd ideally suggest to anyone looking for a DAB+ tuner

 

a reviews of the cambridge here

 

http://www.eastwoodhifi.com.au/clive.htm

[firefly0071]

anyways enoughs enough art, am not going to argue this with you since this thread is about what DAB+ tuner to buy, not a debate on the pros and cons on DAB+ vs other radio formats that perhaps belongs else where.

 

geting back to grumpys original question.

 

Grumps if willing to only want to spend $70-80 sorry I cant think of anything in that price bracket sorry. that sort of money doesnt really buy much in the way of a hifi component.

 

if happy enough with a hand held portable unit. the sangean DPR34+ is a decent thing

 

http://www.sangean.com.au/images/PDF/digital_flyers/DPR-34.pdf

 

if must have a component style unit with analog outs. the only can think off is the plum unit

 

http://www.msml.com.au/msml/Plum_Audio.html

 

 

 

 

its also inside not the death trap other cheapo units can be ! 

 

 

 

could pickup either on ebay under $100 and good for what they do, having owned both can say over analog can do a lot better than either, but might be good for a dip in the water

 

 

The Plum DAB+ radio is great. I purchased one myself.

 

Great for components. 

Edited May 20, 2014 by firefly0071

[Saxon Hall]

I have 3 DAB+ radios. At work I listen to one all day long. If I get sick of MMM Classic Rock I tune to SBS Chill or Koffee Or Kool. Sometimes I listen to C and W on ABC Country or Buckle. If I want I can listen to 80's music all day long on Mix80's or 90's Music on MIX 90's. Just last week a new station popped up called Double J which has older songs from the original Double J era and newer songs too. ABC Dig has an eclectic range of music that crosses all genres. ABC Jazz is as the name implies. When I read comments about nothing new or interesting I have a good old belly laugh as obviously people who say this do not own a DAB+ radio because it is so blatantly wrong.Another advantage is a lot of these stations have NO advertisements

I have just listed a small selection of radio stations, there are so many more.

I have a couple of  Kaiser Bass brand radios which output a stereo signal from the headphone output so you don't actually need one with RCA outputs, so this will save you money. I am not really willing to get into a technical argument re the merits of DAB+ v FM as I listen to both, but I just enjoy DAB+ for the tremendous variety of  music genres it boasts. Don't listen to the Naysayers Grumpy!

[Catostylus]

I am saving up for an Arcam T32 - best DAB+ radio under $2k.

 

I have one. Do it.