Purchase DAB radio 20 April 2014 at 10:30PM in Music MoneySaving 10 replies 3.3K views

dowhatmakesyourheartsmile

Hi there,


I would really like to purchase a DAB radio, preferably small (for small kitchen worktop) with possibly an option to download music through MP3 or something similar. Is a gift so has to be new but the issue as always I have a tight budget and can only spend about £20-25. Anyone know a cheap but good company that would do something like this?


Thanks in advance

Lieja

I bought this one a few weeks ago:

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/technology/cd_playershi_fi_and_radio/dab_radio/124463066_red-e80066-vertical-dab-radio.html?hnav=4294960229

Out of stock online but I got mine in store, SEL said reduced from £45. It works great, and the perfect size for a small kitchen. No features to download anything though I don't think?

Buzby

I'd buy a decent FM one. Better battery life (and for most, reception). With the threat of ending national radio on FM the current DAB UK standard is languishing - I'd save your money, or listen online. (Non-DAB) for the services you might want to listen to.

rochja

Argos have a number of half price or better Bush units at the moment including stereo at £29.99 with good customer reviews

Marmaduke123

Buzby wrote: »

I'd buy a decent FM one.

I agree. We've got 3 DAB radios (don't ask!). I know they've got a lot cheaper, but I can't see any advantage to them. Also 2 of the 3 are now often problematic to switch on or off, one constantly loses presets, and one crashes periodically. Not recommended!

dowhatmakesyourheartsmile

Thank you so much for the advice I understand that DAB isn't that advantageous but I do love the Sainsbury's one suggested thank you! It's in my price range and looks perfect for the kitchen.


Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions x

Sanday

dowhatmakesyourheartsmile wrote: »

Thank you so much for the advice I understand that DAB isn't that advantageous but I do love the Sainsbury's one suggested thank you! It's in my price range and looks perfect for the kitchen.


Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions x

I know you've probably already purchased but would agree on a standard FM radio.

We have a DAB in work and it only picks up Radio 1 and a couple of other BBC channels! And it sits beside a window on a second floor!

pogofish

Buzby wrote: »

I'd buy a decent FM one. Better battery life (and for most, reception). With the threat of ending national radio on FM the current DAB UK standard is languishing - I'd save your money, or listen online. (Non-DAB) for the services you might want to listen to.

It all really depends on where you are. For me, FM reception is and has always been flaming awful.

All that getting a better FM set meant for me was that I could pick-up a greater range of further away stations in the same poppy-crackeley-hissy-dropping in and out state.

Only one local station that used a different transmitter managed anything like adequate quality but it mostly plays pap.

DAB was and remains a flaming revelation in sound quality and choice compared to this!

And at work, there is a policy asking us to avoid using streaming media due to bandwidth and security issues but a cheap little DAB stereo through the monitor speakers sorts this out nicely!

whatthefunk

check hotukdeals website.

I got DAB everywhere including in the car and works fine. If you got sky and a soundbar on your tv you could even use that!

There is a very noticeable difference between the sound quality from FM:beer:

Buzby

Agreed - there IS a great difference from FM. The dynamic sampling rates and cheap components mean a deficient audio £ for £. The EU has moved on to DAB+, so our system is ancient, outdated and exclusively UK only.

I've bought into enough heroic failures in the past. I'm not bothering with DAB and I've switched to streaming instead.

Norman_Castle

If you got sky and a soundbar on your tv you could even use that!

Digital radio via Sky isn't DAB.