This is a fantastic radio...Well, it's more than a radio. It's DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) which means the following; you don't have to tune it, the stations are listed on screen - to select one just use the cursor buttons on the front and you instantl;y have yor chosen station. DAB stations are crystal clear - CD quality...no crackles or hiss.
The choice of stations is wide...I bought this after buying the missus a DAB radio a couple of years back. When I turned it on it tuned itself to "Planet Rock". I was amazed...here was this station which played classic rock in CD quality all day! It was like having my own DJ sitting in the corner of the room who knew all my favourite songs! As we don't live together yet I raced down to Currys and bought a decent looking DAB radio myself. This was my choice...primarily because it was DAB, had a line in and SD card (as used in digital cameras) slot too. For £30. In 2006.
The two features I've just mentioned mean that this is more than a radio.
The SD card slot behind the radio means that you can download a file from the internet or your PC music collection and carry it into the kitchen or wherever your radio is situated and listen to it while you wash up/tinker on the motorbike/do whatever it is other people do while listening to music! Personally I listen to a podcast while I wash up..my listening is tailored..just the right length, no adverts and something I actually want to listen to!
The speakers all of this is delivered to you through are excellent..there's a basic graphic equaliser menu built in so you can have HUGE bass (for my Rock/Punk/Blues fixation) or more treble for speech broadcasts.
The unit can be mains powered but also battery powered so I imagine this would be ideal for a weekend away or a picnic although I've only used the mains myself. The unit is fairly heavy owing to the good quality speakers used, I imagine, and with FIVE "D" size batteries it would be prudent to have a quick warm-up before lifting the unit. However, the effort will result in some good listening wherever you are!
There is a "line in" point (a 3.5mm jack point) behind the unit so the speakers can be used with any audio source you wish to use..for example an MP3 player. Maybe even a microphone as the radio even has a "Karaoke" sound setting if you wish to "Sing-a-longa-Max". Which I do not..my love of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin would probably irritate the neighbours.
The overall build quality is good with "wipe down" smooth, plastic surfaces so it's easy to keep clean. If you're using this in portable mode with batteries in your late night chip van there's no longer conflict between good background music and grease.
The display is basic but functional displaying signal strength, station information (wonder what the track playing is? A quick look at the display reveals it's "Touch Too Much" by AC/DC....
A rarely used but interesting function is the ability to press a button and delay the broadcast by up to ten minutes..it works with a memory buffer (or something equally technical)..this means if you get a phonecall you can get rid of the interrupting person and get back to your broadcast without missing anything!
Lastly there's the headphone socket on the end of the radio too. Everything is covered.
In conclusion, after owning this little beaut for 2 years I'd have no hesitation in recommending it and wouldn't want to be without it.
Reviewed by Mark Woods, 2008. LordBeanpod@GMail.com
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