Should i buy a DAB radio?

[buzzer]

I have just bought a MK1 Eunos which still have the Japanese double DIN radio in it. I want to replace it with a new unit and was wondering if its worth going DAB?

any thoughts or advice? I will keep the car for a fair few years...

[robemcdonald]

buzzer said:

I have just bought a MK1 Eunos which still have the Japanese double DIN radio in it. I want to replace it with a new unit and was wondering if its worth going DAB?

any thoughts or advice? I will keep the car for a fair few years...

I drive for my job typically spending 5-6 hours a day in he car. A DAB radio is the only must have option for me when ordering a new car. So it's a yes from me.

[Fartgalen]

USB in is my only 'must' these days.

[A900ss]

Fartgalen said:

USB in is my only 'must' these days.

What he said.

I do 30k a year and have no desire for DAB but if I couldn't plug in my iPod (I mean properly, not just aux in), I'd go mad.

Good luck.

[callahan]

robemcdonald said:

I drive for my job typically spending 5-6 hours a day in he car. A DAB radio is the only must have option for me when ordering a new car. So it's a yes from me.

This. I'd go mad without 6 music to keep me company.

[JimmyTheHand]

I spec'd a DAB with new car purely for 6 Music, but also got USB interface so now only have a USB stick in car and not a load of CDs

[corvus]

JimmyTheHand said:

I spec'd a DAB with new car purely for 6 Music, but also got USB interface so now only have a USB stick in car and not a load of CDs

This. I bought a Kenwood unit with CD and USB interface. Uses a self adhesive windscreen aerial and has superb reception. Love 6 Music.

[Euro5stars]

Hi Guys

Drive a Vauxhall Combo (sad, but true) for work (about 35k pa) and bought a Phillips DAB with iPod compatibility via a USB cable. Works brilliantly for me (cables a chore at times) but u get fm, dab, iPhone, CD AND charger for the phone.
Only problem I get is that the unit loses the stored channels from time to time (about every 2-3 mths, usually after 'stormy' weather). Cost about £160 from Halfords and is a quick self-fit job. Wouldn't be without it. Have one, money well spent.

[Citman]

I see you can pick them up from around 90 quid - I'm considering picking one up, doesn't have to be top quality audio (it'll be fitted in a rattly, noisy L200 pick-up!), so long as I can hear it - but am curious, do they all need an extra aerial, or is the standard aerial usually fine?

[4key]

Has anyone tried using a dab walkman in a moving vehicle? Was thinking about hooking one up via the aux in as I am not allowed to modify a work vehicle

Train/car/anything? Im just curious about the reception when travelling in a metal box.

[Pesty]

I love my DAB radio.

Yes from me.

Then again I would go mad if i could only listen to radio one or two.

Local stations just play pop and R&B which would make me want to kill.

Dab all the way.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Back in 2006, I was commuting 200 miles a day (4 days a week - and working night shifts, so not as bad as it sounds - very little traffic) and as I was spending 3 hours a day in my car, adopted DAB quite early on, as I love Planet Rock.

I bought a JVC DAB/CD head unit, with a powered, screen-mounted aeriel included, for £99 off ebay.

Since then, it's given faultless service in the 3 cars I've had it in over the last 6 years. The screen-mounted aerial sticks to the inside of the front windscreen, with two tiny, thin wires going up and down from the unit, like a Dipole.

Those wires broke the first time I tried to remove it - so I soldered in two lengths of thin stainless rod instead - this is much sturdier, and means I can now remove and keep moving it from car to car.

Back then, commuting from Norfolk to London, it very rarely lost a signal - and if it did, it was only every now and again for a split second.

Since then, and recently, the DAB signal is much better nationally, and it just doesn't ever cut out.

I enjoy my Planet Rock, and all sorts of great stations like Absolute 80's.

For me, DAB works very well, and I'd be screwed without it!

[Mark-C]

4key said:

Has anyone tried using a dab walkman in a moving vehicle? Was thinking about hooking one up via the aux in as I am not allowed to modify a work vehicle

Train/car/anything? Im just curious about the reception when travelling in a metal box.

I've got a Pure Move 2500 that was bought for listening to 6Music and 5Live whilst running. Occasionally use it on the train from Peterborough to Newcastle and get good signal all the way. Would assume it would work in the car but not tried since I bought a Sony DAB head unit so I can flip between 6Music, Absolute and Radios 4 and 5Live on the 75 minute daily commute .....

[Pesty]

Fartgalen said:

USB in is my only 'must' these days.

most have that anyway these days.

Phone,dab,USB all in one double din Head unit Why wouldn't you?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JVC-KW-DB60AT-Double-Din...

[C.A.R.]

I would say no, personally.

My experience was that of poor reception and instead of just going 'crackly' like an fm signal it would cut out entirely. Usually it would then find signal for 20 seconds only to lose it again and revert to fm mode...

[Euro5stars]

Tried the Pure (screen mounted, about the size of a Satnav with a stick-on window aerial). Had 2 replacements before gave up the ghost (frozen screen, not re-tuning, etc), then got the Phillips with a magnetic mount. Wouldn't get one again without a proper external aerial (mag mount works brilliantly for me (bit of an exercise getting the cable in the door trim all neat and tidy) but think that's why the Pure had so many problems). 5Live, 6 Music etc and Talksport are a different experience, whilst the choice for Absolute makes it a no brainer. I'm bummed to see they are as cheap as £90, but had mine 2 years in 2 vans. Spose everything drops after you buy it, Sod's law. The Phillips certainly isn't top of the range, has annoying habits at times, but I'd recommend it.
Good luck with your choice, mate.

[Euro5stars]

Ps
Work up and down the M4 corridor (50 miles either side) and apart from bits of Oxfordshire near Banbury and a bit on Salisbury Plain the reception never cuts out. Don't know where u live, but hope it helps.

[CambsBill]

C.A.R. said:

I would say no, personally.

My experience was that of poor reception and instead of just going 'crackly' like an fm signal it would cut out entirely. Usually it would then find signal for 20 seconds only to lose it again and revert to fm mode...

Was yours OEM or aftermarket? Either way it sounds like you got a dud - like other posters on here I couldn't do without mine nowadays. Yes, the signal can die (very occasionally though), but for the rest of the time it's far more consistent than FM and for an AM station like 5Live there's just no comparison.

[va1o]

4key said:

Has anyone tried using a dab walkman in a moving vehicle? Was thinking about hooking one up via the aux in as I am not allowed to modify a work vehicle

Train/car/anything? Im just curious about the reception when travelling in a metal box.

I've found using the Tunein Radio App on my iPhone gives similar functionality, accesses the DAB stations over the internet effectively then streams to the car via Bluetooth. Spotify works also.

[4key]

va1o said:

4key said:

Has anyone tried using a dab walkman in a moving vehicle? Was thinking about hooking one up via the aux in as I am not allowed to modify a work vehicle

Train/car/anything? Im just curious about the reception when travelling in a metal box.

I've found using the Tunein Radio App on my iPhone gives similar functionality, accesses the DAB stations over the internet effectively then streams to the car via Bluetooth. Spotify works also.

I tried doing it like that and its perfect for a short time, but using it for 8+ hours a day was a battery and data killer, I use enough of that already by spending most of my day on here

Mark-C said:

I've got a Pure Move 2500 that was bought for listening to 6Music and 5Live whilst running.

On my way to argos to get one.