"DAB sounds worse than FM" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:
It's a long shot I know, but does anyone have any experience of 'The
Bug'??
http://www.thebug.com/
'Sound quality', build quality etc.???
Buggy and ****e ergonomics, so I'm told.
and it looks horrible!
Me much-loved stereo tuners are emitting a terrible, continual
interference these days (both of them) which I can't tune out. I've
been mono for a while now (don't bother me - I like mono)
You *like* mono??
but, short
of an aerial that will seriously bugger up all the Feng Shooey
hereabouts, I'm at a loss how to remedy matters. I like my 'radio'
and even I have to admit that DAB which is thin, brittle sounding and
not at all engaging (I had a Technics DAB tuner and got rid) but
which you *can* listen to is gonna beat FM you can't! (The portables
here are fine - but we all know about that, don't we?)
I'd advise you to get Freeview if possible, and if you cannot get Freeview
get digital satellite. The audio quality is better on Freeview and digital
satellite than on DAB due to the higher bit rates used. To see which
stations are available and to compare bit rates see:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/in...bit_rate_table
192kbps for stereo usually sounds pretty good (not as good as, say, Radio
3 FM, but good nonetheless), 128kbps as used on DAB sounds ****e.
I'd go with that to a point - but aerial is a problem if you move it around
the home and IME they work best (ergonomically) when hooked up to a TV.
This Bug thing, whilst obviously aimed at zitboy 'Geeko Freekos',
seems to offer some seriously useful functionality (SD card
recording) and is a welcome departure from the usual, boring 440mm
'hifi slice' that has no particular relevance to my valve amps and
turntable setups. I'm kinda reasoning that if I can listen to MP3s
that have been 'valved up a bit', I can surely listen to DAB - as
'sonic wallpaper' in the same way, if nothing else.....??
Hmmm.
I've used an Evoke for a while now. Compared to a decent FM portable it
sounds rather shut in but not unpleasant - rather like an old Roberts.
Compared to FM through the stereo it sounds fine, but I don't 'listen' to
the radio in the way I listen to records/CDs (it's playing R4 ATM and it
just sounds fine, no problem). In the final analysis I bought the DAB radio
so that I could listen to R6 and the world service with half-decent sound
and use the radio in the same way as I use a normal portable. It works well
and the Evoke seems well screwed together (rather tacky switches though). I
also bought it because I've got more money than sense - in that reception
isn't a big problem for me
The implementation of DAB is a different matter and I was annoyed enough to
complain and contribute to consultation (ha) - the bitrate thing is
deplorable and would, I imagine, rule DAB out as a serious source of 'high
fidelity' music.
Rob
--
Steve - www.digitalradiotech.co.uk - Digital Radio News & Info
Freeview receivers price comparison -
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/fr..._receivers.htm
DAB radios price comparison -
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/da...tal_radios.htm