The Cheapest DAB Radios

MSE_Martin · 19 February 2007 at 1:05PM

This is a draft posting written based on Martin's briefing by a member of the MSE team. Martin hasn't seen it yet, so it's provisional, but we thought we'd get it up and running as soon as possible.

What's the deal?

The cost of DAB Radios have plummeted in the last 12 months; you can now grab one for under £40.

Acoustic Solutions DAB Clock Radio, £19.99, Netto. This went on sale on the 19 February and reports are that it's selling out quick. Click here to find your nearest store. It may be worth ringing to check if your local store has one before making the trip.
Digilogic DMR -1 DAB Digital Radio, £29.97, Tesco. If you want this delivered it'll cost £34.82, however you can opt to collect in-store, from a certain number of stores saving you the delivery cost. Plus you get 29 Clubcard points, worth about £1.10 in Tesco Clubcard Deals. (For more info on Clubcard points read Tricks To Improve Your Loyalty Points Stash).
Acoustic Solutions DAB Radio, £29.99, Homebase. This is showing as out of stock at the moment, but it's worth checking back for it.
Matsui DABR103 DAB Radio, £32.98, Currys.
ALBA TRDAB2830 DAB Radio, £34.99, Homebase. This is showing as out of stock at the moment, but it's worth checking back for it.

What is DAB Radio?

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio is a technology for broadcasting radio via digital code from analogue signal. The advantages of it include better reception, clearer sound and more stations. Plus DAB radios come with a small screen which gives extra info about the program or radio station you're listening too.

simate · 20 February 2007 at 1:54PM

Direct link to the PDF for the Netto one

cigar_2 · 20 February 2007 at 1:56PM

Superdrug have been selling the ITECH Cube DAB Radio for £10.99 if you can still find one - see previous thred

Searcher2 · 20 February 2007 at 2:02PM

Unfortunately DAB radio doesn't necessarily mean great radio. The quality of the sets vary hugely.... especially with the ability to pick up channels and speaker quality.

I was tempted to post about a Goodmans DAB/FM stereo from CPC that can be had for £41.12 delivered (code AV0878027). Their normal price is £79.98 (code AV08780) but the thing is I don't know anything about the quality and can't find out much.

Link here if interested : http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/home/homepage.jsp

Having 3 Pure brand DAB radios I think I could well be disappointed with the quality of other brands - so I would advise trying to get some favourable customer reviews before buying a cheap DAB.

16011996 · 20 February 2007 at 2:27PM

maybe not the cheapest, but this one from boots at £39.99
http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1067328&classificationid=1029851

works better than my pure one i paid a lot more for, and picks up more stations, maybe thats just a fluke, but i love it.

hth

160

16011996 · 20 February 2007 at 2:28PM

maybe not the cheapest, but this one from boots at £39.99
http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1067328&classificationid=1029851

works better than my pure one i paid a lot more for, and picks up more stations, maybe thats just a fluke, but i love it.

hth

160

timmo44 · 20 February 2007 at 3:55PM

They're great for fans of hard to tune stations like AM only Radio Five Live for listening to the footie on a Saturday. The stations are pretuned like on a Sky box.

The downside is that they have approx3-4 second delay over FM radio so no good for phone in competitions!

Mal27 · 20 February 2007 at 8:19PM

If you want good audio quality then stick with FM radios.

DAB is good for choice, but as with other modern technologies (such as DVB), don't expect to have the same level of choice in the future. The cheaper the radio, the less likely it'll be upgradable to future standards.

Stockie · 20 February 2007 at 10:35PM

Couple of points about the homebase two:

1. The homebase site is actually the argos site underneath. So i would refer people to the argos site. (homebase is owned by argos if anyone didn't already know)
2. Both the items mentioned are out of stock for delivery and have check and reserve disabled so a better bet would be to check in (or call) your local argos store to
a) save on delivery charge and
b) see if there is any stock of it actually in.

Stockie

colmil · 21 February 2007 at 12:01AM

Re comments regarding Goodmans DAB radios, in my opinion, Goodmans products are cheap and very nasty!

Two years ago, I bought a Goodmans video recorder, I had all sorts of trouble with and, frankly, decided I couldn'nt be bothered to return it and gave it away.

Christmas 05, I was given a Goodmans DAB radio as a present, by September last year, it sounded like a cats whisker radio from the war, it simply could not hold on to a station.

I returned it under warranty to Argos, who told me that Goodmans 'do not have a repair facility' in other words they are so cheap to produce that they replace them instead!

My replacement is going exactly the same way as the other one, it will go in the bin very shortly.

This crowd should be called Badmans, instead!!

saintscouple · 21 February 2007 at 12:18AM

The cheapest DAB must be the Pure One instore at Boots. A discontinued line, and to honest you'll be very lucky to find one, but we did a few week ago. Cost, £4.99.

The Cheapest DAB Radios

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