Digital Radios

I thought they'd downgraded R3 on DAB to 128/160 to fit in more progs with people shouting, but it's good to see it's still 192. (This is MPEG1 Layer 2, btw - so not as good as 192k in MP3). R7 is stereo on Freeview too and Five Live is in Dolby 5.1 with Alan Green four rows behind you in the Kemlyn Road stand and Jim Beglin entirely through the subwoofer channel. OK, maybe not.

I've been drinking a lot of vinegar lately, Mooro.

My congratulations to Mooro. I went and had a look at them in Richer Sounds.

One of these is calling me now:

http://www.richersounds.com/imagprod/large/301680.jpg

Mooro, if you stuck one of those on the front of your car you'd look like Knight Rider. That would wipe the smirk off those little whippersnappers' faces.

Acoustic Solutions Portal 1 DAB digital radio with carrying handle
DAB Band III reception
designed by IDEO London
Simple operation; easy alphanumeric tuning
built-in speaker; headphone socket; integral aerial
line out socket for connection to external amplifier or recording equipment
mains/battery powered, using supplied adaptor or 6 "C" batteries
scrolling display giving service information text, etc.

And it's cute enough to be featured in this month's 'Creative Review' mag:

http://www.radio-now.co.uk/acoustic_solutions_portal1sm.jpg

Only £69 from Argos. Sorted!

That website says the Tempus 1 has not only a digital 'out', but also 'an innate sense of timing'. That's quite special. As are the selected reviews:

This would be a fine bedside choice.
Gramophone, January 2004

A truly impressive package and well worth the asking price.
International Smarthouse, January 2004

Well sorted and rather clever; definite bedside appeal.
What Hi-Fi?, January 2004

There aren't many better things to wake you up in the morning.
Boys Toys, January 2004

Although I suspect that in all this confusion they have actually been reviewing Jerry the Nipper.

I am thinking of applying for the job of World, Jazz and Folk in-store expert. Hopefully I will think about it for so long it will be gone.

There's another Evoke one that costs 399 pounds or something and looks really rather special. Couldn't see it on that website. A bit like a wurlitzer jukebox or a wooden car radiator.

That is the nicest thing you have ever said about me, N.

Bang go my space age batchelor credentials.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006AZE.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Innate sense of timing? Meaning it's got a clock in it as well as on it (I should flaming well 'ope so - digital, innit?)

Bang go my space age batchelor credentials.

Do not drape over (beige, elliptical) storage heater!

I want to buy a portable stereo that I can plug my iPod into, so that I can listen to music up on my swingingbatchelorpadroof. Can you recommend one? None I have seen seem to have analogue audio inputs.

There are also some Passive Speakers, but I think you want Massive Speakers.

Bass Reflex Technology?

There is now a space-age radio called The Bug. It has digital 'out' and much, much more.

http://www.radio-now.co.uk/images/m_thebug2.jpg

Sideline: John Lewis warranty depends on the type of equipment and doesn't seem to cover portable stuff like iPods. You'd have to check though. Staff much smarter than Dixons.

!!!

http://www.radio-now.co.uk/welcome.htm

Also, if you have a closing down Dixons nearby you might get lucky (although they'd been pretty emptied earlier in the week).

Gaydar radio lasted about two minutes before the banging techno got on my nerves. Current top stations = 5 live, 5 live sports extra, BBCLondon and strangely last night we were listening to Capital Gold (good proper 60s stuff), also Radio 2 got a look in until Maconie went all prog, he played two tracks and I thought it was all one long noodle

There is a nice demo station too, the birdsong occasionally interrupted by gunfire!!

Pausing live radio is a natty trick, not sure when I'll use it, but being able to record to an SD card is ver ver good

My bug is lovely, and looks great next to the bed

I bought a JVC UXHB4 (from Electrical Discount) after the AM radio finally stopped working on my fifteen year old stereo with one working speaker, broken turntable and two busted tape decks.

The new thing is pretty good. Though I can't pick up Xfm or LBC through DAB for some reason, and the clock, which is set via RDS, seems to think that it's Saturday and I have no idea how to change it. And the silly bugger who designed it saw fit to put the AUX output on the front, not that I currently have any use for it.

i still have the prob that digital broadcasts (at least when i listen to them on my PC) are compressed at a lower quality (and since national coverage isn’t yet total) so FM is still the audiophile option... or maybe i just miss that FM sound and hate the clinical sterile dAB sound.