DAB hifi

[admin_exported]

Hi guys,

I've had a Sharp hi-fi for near enough 10 years now, MD player, CD, radio, and it's on its' last legs.

I'm looking for a good sound system with DAB, good speakers, and two auxiliary inputs. My budget is £100; I have no preference for make; and I have semi-decent speakers.

Any recommendations?

TYVM.

 

[chebby]

£100 is going to be stretching things a bit - even on ebay - for a.. "good sound system with DAB, good speakers, and two auxiliary inputs"

If you have a computer (and broadband internet) I would suggest plugging a pair of AudioEngine A2 active speakers (£110) into the computer and using iTunes. (Rip your CDs in Apple lossless to iTunes and replay via the AudioEngine speakers.)

The computer will also stream internet radio (actually as good as - and often better than - DAB radio).

The Audioengine A2's have two inputs (RCA phono and 3.5mm headphone type jack) so after the PC is connected this leaves you a spare one. Bear in mind the computer is providing two sources, your CD tracks and Internet radio.

Here is the review...

http://whathifi.com/Review/Audioengine-A2/

If you don't have a computer then I am afraid I am at a loss.

 

[Clare Newsome]

We've just reviewed a Panasonic micro that could suit - the SC-EN38DB - it's not perfect, but a good little DAB system for the money.

Otherwise i'd look around for second-hand systems - if you've got decent speakers, look around for an Onkyo CS-515 system unit, for example: £230 new, but there may be a @£100 deal to be had.

 

[Anonymous]

Chebby - I currently alternate my audio between a few different radio channels and my music collection on my laptop, using a standard 3.5mm connection between my laptop and hifi. The CD player on my Sharp hasn't worked in more than 5 years - ditto the MD player/recorder after I mistakenly melted a tea-light into the top!

The A2 looks good. I like your suggestion about internet radio, but my experience so far has been that the quality isn't that good - maybe because I'm using wireless, or maybe because I've got other drains on my bandwidth. The main reason I'm going after DAB is simply that I've been peppered with advertising about how amazing it is.

Having two inputs isn't essential, but I'd also like to be able to connect my PC at the same time.

Clare - thanks for that recommendation, looks to be the sort of thing I'm after.

 

[Anonymous]

DAB could be amazing, but sadly it isn't. Internet radio when set up correctly sounds just as good if not better and certainly has far more listening choice.

 

[Anonymous]

'Internet radio when set up correctly sounds just as good if not better'

Could you expand on this please?

 

[John Duncan]

Many internet radio stations have better bitrates than DAB, which is generally poor (compared to FM or even Freeview bitrates).

I have found many internet stations (american folk stations for example) to have quite exceptional quality, and that's without sticking it through a DAC (tonight!).

 

[fatboyslimfast]

To give an idea, the likes of 6Music, Radio2 et al broadcast at 128Kbps Mpeg 1 layer 2. Which is roughly the equivalent of a 96Kbps MP3.

So if the internet stream is using Windows Media at or above 96KBps (which a lot are) then as WM is a superior codec to MP2 bitrate-for-bitrate, the sound will be better.

Don't get me wrong, DAB has it's place (in my car for instance), but at home there are better solutions such as internet radio, Freeview/Freesat.

 

[Anonymous]

What I meant was 'how do you set up internet radio correctly' - set up at which end, ours or theirs?

I also have an iphone, so via hotukdeals I've found the iFi by Klipsch at £99 - there is a 3.5" jack for input, so I can listen to the radio through there.

What I'd really like, and would be willing to spend a few hundred on, is a fully wireless system with a hub for my iphone, quality speakers, and an external input. Does such a system exist?

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Anonymous]

Bizzumpo!

 

[John Duncan]

wazzbot:
What I meant was 'how do you set up internet radio correctly' - set up at which end, ours or theirs?

I also have an iphone, so via hotukdeals I've found the iFi by Klipsch at £99 - there is a 3.5" jack for input, so I can listen to the radio through there.

What I'd really like, and would be willing to spend a few hundred on, is a fully wireless system with a hub for my iphone, quality speakers, and an external input. Does such a system exist?

Thanks for your help guys.

"A few hundred" gives you a lot of options, starting with Airport Express to get your iTunes content (including internet radio) into a stereo.

Summarise quickly what your requirements are, and what "a few hundred" means......