Digital Radios

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/azurpix/dab500_800.jpg

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/classicseries/dab500.html

"It also embraces NCT (Natural Contour Technology) which allows the listener to subtly adjust a performance’s timbre, via a three-stage control on the back panel. While Cambridge Audio would always recommend the neutral setting, users may wish to employ the time domain compensation system to balance out particularly processed broadcasts. The Lo setting adds weight and warmth to a performance, while Hi will give a fuller, bolder delivery."

Ha ha! This is the most superior copywriting I've ever read.

N. - by clutching your radio tightly to your forehead beneath the bedclothes could you form the TV images too?

NCT sounds like fancy EQ with a bit of harmonic distortion chucked in to me. If it makes it sounds nice, fairynuff. I'm not terribly interested in DAB cos the bitrates are worse than Freeview (same as digital satellite/cable for radio) and the wealth of extra channel choice seems, well, a bit duff. But being able to listen to the radio without interrupting the telly - obviously a good thing.

Does it work with an indoor aerial????? Quite a good one; my general reception is fine. Shop assistants say tthey're not at liberty to comment.

That looks really nice, Dave. You're such a top-ender.

:(

Jerry, your predicament reminds me of a particularly harrowing part of the film 'Touching the Void'. I won't give it away, but if you've seen it you'll know what I mean.

Hitachi AX68D micro system to replace ageing ghetto blaster C/D? I don't think it's got digital 'out' though.

The DAB500 has both Optical SPDIF & Phono SPDIF outputs. I would be even more impressed if I knew what SPDIF meant.

Signal error = 0 on all stations even with only the little plastic indoor aerial.

So, very nice to have no more crackle/distortion/having to listen to R1 in mono, etc. And I if I moved my bed downstairs I could wake up with Jerry to Radio 6. Nice.

The only whiff of piss on my chips resulted from Mike's bitrate comment. I get

BBC R1/2/4/6/1xtra/local radio @ 128 kbps
Virgin/Classic

I get:

BBC World Service @ 64 kbps
BBC 5 live/7 @ 80 kbps
BBC R1/2/4/6/1xtra/local radio @ 128 kbps
Virgin/Classic @ 160 kbps

& good to see the class system in full working order with R3 toffs getting 192 kbps

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 listen to radio from (bbc/lbc etc) websites.

are DAB radios able to access stuff that you would get online, like last weeks show of such and such DJ for example?

No. There are some expensive ones that let you tune into internet streamed radio though.

no, they're just radios; they receive signals over the airwaves, but the signals are digital - it's basically freeview, but on the radio

xpost

i see.

im going to get this one -
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Panasonic_RFD3__6491694

its cheap on ebay.

for anyone interested, this site might be handy -

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

as well as the panasonic, they recommend this one (which i did consider but it looks really cheap) - http://www.radio-now.co.uk/pure_one_dab_radio_review.htm

Streaming radio doesn't have anything to do with DAB, Titchy. I just tried Late Junction on R3's Listen Again facility and it was running at about 90k - sounded fairly terrible. I think R3 DAB still broadcasts at 192k MP2 (not fantastic but better than online).

the pure DABs are nicely made and feel very solid. i have one.

woops not that one, though. i have this one, which looks like it's available at half price from morgan's - http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductID=3691&CategoryID=201&SubCategoryID=215&adnetwork=af

This is the kind of expensive box that can play streamed radio. Didn't realise it can also do Listen Again stuff.

what i worry about with things like that is that as streams change, and tech changes, this thing will be left behind. with something like a radio i like to at least pretend to myself that it's possibly a purchase for life.

> Streaming radio doesn't have anything to do with DAB, Titchy.

otm

> I just tried Late Junction on R3's Listen Again facility and it was running at about 90k - sounded fairly terrible.

luxury. the other bbc streams, radio1 and 2 certainly, are roughly 32kbps. but these are realaudio 10 (aac with sbr? ps? dunno) and so are several times better that mp3.

that said, it's fine, i listen to it all day and it doesn't bother me.

this can record shows too but its about 90.00-100.00 -
http://www.radio-now.co.uk/evoke_3.htm

one thing i dont like too much about the pure radios made from wood is that theyre trying to look like old traditional radios. i much prefer that 100% plastic look when it comes to DABs.

plus they are mono. so 1960s.

what i worry about with things like that is that as streams change, and tech changes, this thing will be left behind. with something like a radio i like to at least pretend to myself that it's possibly a purchase for life.

Yeah, me too, but remember some things can get firmware updates. Not sure if that applies to the AE box.