DAB Alarm Clock??

rachel90

My fiance wants a DAB alarm clock for Christmas but I have absolutely no idea where to start!
What should I be looking for?

Just found this, any good?
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9254682/Trail/searchtext%3EDAB+ALARM+CLOCK.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

Thanks!

DatabaseError

tesco do one (without ipod dock) for £25 linkie

grizzly1911

Depends on how much you want to spend and whether you want the dock. Will also depend on the whether you want quality sound to listen to generally or just something to act as a cattle prod first thing.

Pure and Roberts tend to be well regarded but probably because they were seen as leaders.

Also depends where you live. Most of the BBC channels are pretty universal but some of the local independents can be patchy if you are just on the limit of reception. There is a DAB web site to check for coverage.

I just can't see why they remain so expensive this far into rollout - I noticed the SONY FM/AM I have as an alarm clock was down to £7 in Tesco. Yes DAB have some extra circuitry but they are really advanced FM receivers with decoders.

I have 2 radios plus a hifi with DAB and you can only really tell the difference on the latter, apart from the extra channels and bit of display info IMO.

NeverAgain_2

Worth thinking about if DAB is really necessary, I like it because I can get 5Live clearly which is patchy in the dark on medium wave.

My Pure does the job, but the display numbers are quite close together which makes the time hard to read with bleary eyes.

A.Penny.Saved

DAB sound quality is generally awful, far lower than FM or even AM in many cases. That is if your area has good FM coverage/quality.

I would suggest that you either forget it and get a cheap FM clock radio which will last a fairly large number of years because FM switchoff has been shelved for the foreseeable future. Or get a DAB+ capable radio alarm because DAB+ is an update to DAB which includes AAC audio encoding for better quality at lowish bitrates. The crap bitrates that DAB currently uses would give very good quality if it was DAB+ AAC audio. However, at the moment DAB+ is not supported by UK broadcasters although it is used in other countries. There are radios and alarms available which support DAB+.

BenL

I have had this one for about 5 years - Pure Siesta

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5132959/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/Trail/searchtext%3EPURE.htm

Excellent reception and faultless.

The display doesn't keep you awake all night and it doesn't use a lot of power.

CD ones also available

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9289891/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/Trail/searchtext%3EPURE.htm

Ben

grizzly1911

BenL wrote: »

I have had this one for about 5 years - Pure Siesta

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5132959/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/Trail/searchtext%3EPURE.htm

Excellent reception and faultless.

The display doesn't keep you awake all night and it doesn't use a lot of power.

CD ones also available

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9289891/c_1/1|category_root|Home+entertainment+and+sat+nav|14419512/Trail/searchtext%3EPURE.htm

Ben

Those are pretty good deals. We have good DAB coverage so might treat myself:think: just to get decent 5 live.