Dab radio in Aldi today. Would this be a decent buy?

Banjo String · 31-07-2014 9:57am #1

Not that knowledgeable on DAB radios etc, so unsure if this would be a bargain, or if argos/Amazon etc would have something cheaper or better spec.

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thursday-31st-july/products-detail-page/ps/p/vintage-style-dab-fm-radio/

Mrs String has been asking for a decent radio for the kitchen now for quite some time, so I noticed this in an Aldi flyer and thought I'd ask for opinions.

Kinda thinking this looks nice, but if something is out there better specced (internet radio for example) I'll go there.

As my dad always says, if you're not sure. Ask.

L1011 · 31-07-2014 9:58am

Only any use if you actually have DAB in your area - that's basically the larger cities and the North East for the RTE service, Dublin for the Dublin trial and Waterford for the Total Broadcast trial.

You don't get a huge amount more than without DAB. Lyric may be slightly higher quality than FM, the rest are the same as solid FM if you've got good DAB signal.

Banjo String · 31-07-2014 10:01am

I'm just outside Naas MYOB.

i'd guess there wouldn't be much dab coverage here, no point in buying it at near 50 euro if an Fm radio would suffice?

Staplor · 31-07-2014 10:05am

I'm in Maynooth, DAB has about 8 stations, the RTE's and a few randomers I've never hearad of before Ri-Ra is one of them.

I don't even bother with it anymore and just use the FM.

The radio does look well though.

nuttyboy79 · 31-07-2014 10:09am

Its a nice looking radio but from my experience DAB in Ireland is rubbish, like Staplor posted not an awful lot of choice and certainly no different to an FM radio.

lindtee · 31-07-2014 10:10am

Argos have this one which gets mostly positive reviews and is €27.99. Looks to have similar specs to the Aldi one

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1414798/Trail/searchtext%3EDAB.htm

Also worth a look in Tesco as they often reduce the DAB radios to very little.

sweetie · 31-07-2014 10:27am

get an internet radio, DAB is pretty much dead

Banjo String · 31-07-2014 10:27am

Thanks lindtee

Banjo String · 31-07-2014 10:27am

sweetie wrote: »

get an internet radio, DAB is pretty much dead

Seem to be very expensive though.

L1011 · 31-07-2014 10:36am

Banjo String wrote: »

I'm just outside Naas MYOB.

i'd guess there wouldn't be much dab coverage here, no point in buying it at near 50 euro if an Fm radio would suffice?

You'd probably get the RTE stations (the normal ones plus Gold, Pulse, 2XM and Junior) but that's it.

That Argos radio is deaf as a post reception-wise - I bought it and returned it as it couldn't get signal indoors in Maynooth whereas my three Pure units can.

sweetie · 31-07-2014 11:00am

Banjo String wrote: »

Seem to be very expensive though.

Any good bluetooth speaker like the cambridge minx or the logitech ones that are often reduced on bargain alerts and a smartphone with tunein app gives you a plethora of internet radio. Or see what they have on special in the richer sounds forum.

blastman · 31-07-2014 11:07am

sweetie wrote: »

get an internet radio, DAB is pretty much dead

Internet radio isn't going to replace DAB (or FM) any time soon because of bandwidth issues. As usual, RTE were way behind the curve in implementing DAB, so people have been slow to take it up as there are so few options available. I'm lucky in that I have good DAB radio coverage at home and it's a great service.

m8 · 31-07-2014 11:26am

I bought a DAB radio when there was a bargin but have it in my camper, never picked up one station on it on DAB but it also has FM so it's ok.

Banjo String · 31-07-2014 11:40am

sweetie wrote: »

Any good bluetooth speaker like the cambridge minx or the logitech ones that are often reduced on bargain alerts and a smartphone with tunein app gives you a plethora of internet radio. Or see what they have on special in the richer sounds forum.

Yeah, was actually thinking on this option earlier.

Gonna check out Argos / Amazon.

former legend · 31-07-2014 11:46am

I saw this in the Aldi flyer, can't say I'm very impressed with either the price or the product. It appears to have only a single speaker, so crystal clear radio in mono? Somewhat defeats the purpose I'd have thought.

And unrelated to the BA, I think DAB will go the way of Betamax, Mini Discs and HD-DVD; superior technology that never took off.

Joe Doe · 31-07-2014 12:00pm

The Aldi one doesn't appear to have stereo speakers, {unless there is two speakers hiding underneath that grill}, a 'mono dab' would be pointless.

Another very important thing to look for is 'headphone out' socket, as this can be used as a 'line out' to a proper hifi/stereo (most hifi/amps have 'aux or line in' facility).
The 'line in/out' wire or even headphones themselves on some models will also act as an antenna so a 10ft line cable will help to pick up more channels.
Digital presets and remote control are also ideal features.

JDxtra · 31-07-2014 12:00pm

Agree with above - DAB has been badly managed in Ireland. You'll have more choice on FM.

jeffk · 31-07-2014 12:04pm

DAB WAS great,the Da got one years ago and got loads of stations on it.
Then one day he says to me I can only get RTE on it and its been the same ever since.

AlanS181824 · 31-07-2014 1:24pm

I thought DAB was internet radio?

How does this work?

Cerco · 31-07-2014 1:52pm

From the user's point of view it works the same as a normal FM radio. They have a standard telescopic aerial. The difference is that the signal is a digital. Think about the old analogue TV and now we have digital TV. As an earlier poster said, the quality is better but it is only available in certain areas.

ei9go · 31-07-2014 2:02pm

There is an app call "Tune In" Google it.

Every radio station in Ireland is there and probably the world and it's free.

moodrater · 31-07-2014 2:20pm

Problem was dab was advertised as cd quality yada yada, then it came out at low bitrate mpeg 2 and noone wanted it, its been a total flop in the uk to. A better speaker / stereo speakers / connecting it to your hi-fi just highlights the low quality. It would make more sense if someone produced a dvb radio to receive the higher quality / far more widely available saorview/freeview broadcasts.

Joe Doe · 31-07-2014 2:29pm

moodrater wrote: »

Problem was dab was advertised as cd quality yada yada, then it came out at low bitrate mpeg 2 and noone wanted it, its been a total flop in the uk to. A better speaker / stereo speakers / connecting it to your hi-fi just highlights the low quality. It would make more sense if someone produced a dvb radio to receive the higher quality / far more widely available saorview/freeview broadcasts.

Disagree, BBC Radio 6 Music's listening figures have overtaken those of BBC Radio 3 for the first time. An average weekly audience of 1.89m tuned in to the 'digital-only' station over the last quarter, a 5.5% increase on the same period last year.

Superior to FM broadcasts, good speakers/monitors confirm this further and often stations are ad-free.

You can also just connect your freeview tv-radio to an amp also.

moodrater · 31-07-2014 2:33pm

Joe Doe wrote: »

Disagree, BBC Radio 6 Music's listening figures have overtaken those of BBC Radio 3 for the first time. An average weekly audience of 1.89m tuned in to the 'digital-only' station over the last quarter, a 5.5% increase on the same period last year.

I listen to 6 music all the time like most other people via a smartphone/tablet and podcasts how many of the 6 music listeners do you really think are on dab.

L1011 · 31-07-2014 2:34pm

AlanS181824 wrote: »

I thought DAB was internet radio?

How does this work?

VHF Band III using MPEG1 Layer 2 audio encoding.

Joe Doe · 31-07-2014 2:35pm

Anyone who hasn't got unlimited 24/7 broadband with supportive media device, but do have a 'free service' DAB radio?

Onthe3rdDay · 31-07-2014 2:48pm

Joe Doe wrote: »

Disagree, BBC Radio 6 Music's listening figures have overtaken those of BBC Radio 3 for the first time. An average weekly audience of 1.89m tuned in to the 'digital-only' station over the last quarter, a 5.5% increase on the same period last year.

Superior to FM broadcasts, good speakers/monitors confirm this further and often stations are ad-free.

You can also just connect your freeview tv-radio to an amp also.

Loads of Friends in the UK that would be very much into BBC Radio 6. None of them Use DAB. They tend to listen on their Phones, On their computers, on Their WiFi Radio's, On their Freeview TVs and on Satellite. All those are digital and are counted as well as DAB.

Connecting up an Amp to most of those gives you a decent sound. Not the case with DAB. Also The signal is poor to say the least in many places. Perfect FM for BBC 2 and 3 but garbled on DAB, (this is in areas with high population) and even when you can get a signal "it's sounds wrong" not my words but the words of someone who's big into their music.

DAB will continue in the UK because it's a good replacement for AM when it works. Talk Stations such as BBC Radio 5 and Talksport are much improved on DAB. Far less so Music.

It's died a death here as in many parts of Europe, Only half the population can receive it and almost no one knows about it. I have a DAB radio and I never use it. If there was more choice I would. By the time RTE get their act together the world will have moved on, many would say it already has. FM will remain the dominant delivery system here for at least another decade or 2.

Dunka · 31-07-2014 2:54pm

Dab Radio is rubbish in Ireland.. Avoid.

toxicloan365 · 31-07-2014 4:34pm

Dunka wrote: »

Dab Radio is rubbish in Ireland.. Avoid.

Current DAB stations;

RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ 2FM
RTÉ Lyric
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Gold
RTÉ 2XM
RTÉ Junior
RTÉ Pulse
RTÉ Radio 1 Extra

Zenith
Raidio Ri-Ra
Sunshine Radio
UCB

Fantastic ad-free music content on RTÉ Gold, Zenith. Sunshine can be good, as well.

Nice to dip into unusual documentaries and global radio output on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra.

Nice text headlines service from The Irish Times, as well.

Technology is ahead of the curve as they have they capability to braodcast in DAB+ standards, as well.

Onthe3rdDay · 31-07-2014 4:42pm

toxicloan365 wrote: »

Current DAB stations;

RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ 2FM
RTÉ Lyric
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Gold
RTÉ 2XM
RTÉ Junior
RTÉ Pulse
RTÉ Radio 1 Extra

Zenith
Raidio Ri-Ra
Sunshine Radio
UCB

Fantastic ad-free music content on RTÉ Gold, Zenith. Sunshine can be good, as well.

Nice to dip into unusual documentaries and global radio output on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra.

Nice text headlines service from The Irish Times, as well.

Technology is ahead of the curve as they have they capability to braodcast in DAB+ standards, as well.

Small problem there is that this Radio only appears to be DAB. The Technology is dated right now, DAB+ is an improvement but RTE have made no statement about using DAB+ . if they did I'd like to find a radio on sale in Ireland with DAB+. Most that I see only have DAB. Plus the content might be good but the sound quality is poor if you're listening on anything bigger than a portable radio.

Joe Doe · 31-07-2014 4:46pm

RTÉ Pulse + BBC1Xtra both bangin' with no ads,
few other stations along the M1/EastCoast inc. Abs80/90's, PlanetRock, TeamRock, Kiss, Capital and more localised random ones.

DAB'+' is still a way off i.e. next gen...

You can also supplement antenna cheaply with diy 'silver foiled' items as per 'wifi boosting' (see lifehacks).

FM will always be around as it has much lower power drain,
and has uses in interphones, intercoms/monitors
- and most importantly PMR/WalkieT's which should work even after a EMP/shtf type event...

Dab radio in Aldi today. Would this be a decent buy?

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