Why isn't DAB the future?

neilmcl

Joint stereo is basically cut price stereo, I would have said it's like stereo from Lidl/Aldi but it isn't that good

TBH, if there's an FM alternative then I won't use DAB, especially in the car, it's very poor quality in comparison.

Stoke

https://web.archive.org/web/20040304040355/http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/mostync/

flashg67

Dab near me is very patchy. Long stretches of the north end of the M66 where it dies.

Slithery

Although not relevant in a car, power usage is also an issue.

My DAB radio lasts about 6 hours on new batteries, the same device in FM mode lasts weeks.

esuhl

DAB has appalling sound quality, although I think that's just due to broadcasters choosing low-quality audio, rather than an inherent problem with DAB.

Also, DAB radios use a lot more power than FM radios, so portable DAB devices tend to have very low battery life.

Stoke

esuhl wrote: »

DAB has appalling sound quality, although I think that's just due to broadcasters choosing low-quality audio, rather than an inherent problem with DAB.

Also, DAB radios use a lot more power than FM radios, so portable DAB devices tend to have very low battery life.

I think the power issue is the first credible reason for why DAB isn't a good option.

esuhl

Stoke wrote: »

I think the power issue is the first credible reason for why DAB isn't a good option.

The sound quality is a much bigger issue for me.

The power consumption is only relevant with portable devices.

EssexExile

Poor sound quality doesn't seem to matter nowadays.

Carrot007

DAB is bad in the UK because we got in too early.

As such bandwidth is an issue and companies go mono or JS on the cheap to avoid the costs.

There are much better codecs these days but it would mean incompatibility with most of the sets currently out there.

Pretty much the same issue we have with digital terrestrial TV. Even the SD channels would be much better on the HD codecs at a lower bitrate.

So because the powers that be don't want to upset people we keep an inferior service.

Stoke

Carrot007 wrote: »

DAB is bad in the UK because we got in too early.

As such bandwidth is an issue and companies go mono or JS on the cheap to avoid the costs.

There are much better codecs these days but it would mean incompatibility with most of the sets currently out there.

Pretty much the same issue we have with digital terrestrial TV. Even the SD channels would be much better on the HD codecs at a lower bitrate.

So because the powers that be don't want to upset people we keep an inferior service.

We talking about DAB and DAB+ ?