DAB Vs Virgin cable?

[Kevin Stephens]

I enjoy R3 etc on FM but DAB only stations like Radio 6 don't give me the sound quality I would like, despite my DAB tuner and roof aeriel being as good as it gets,. I'm wondering if investing in basic DAC like the V-DAC2 to import Radio 6 etc from my set top box would provide much of an improvement?

I have no intention to connect my computer to my HiFi for internet radio

 

[Dougal1331]

That depends. The ultimate limiting factor is the bitrate of the broadcast.

I have Virgin Media, the box is linked in via standard analog phonos to my hifi system, and I have to say the sound quality is very good, full-bodied and fairly detailed.

Whether it would give a more 'preferable' sound in your case would be entirely down to your own ears.

If I were you, I'd grab a spare pair of ICs and try the analog outs first before splashing out on a DAC... You may be pleasantly surprised.

EDIT Pretty certain I had to use a Scart adaptor as the box doesn't have its own phono-outs. These only cost about a fiver...

 

[londonman]

Are you sure about the actual source material? I know that many DAB commercial stations transmit at abysmally low bit-rates and some even in mono. Any idea what bitrate the BBC uses for Radio 6? And is it consistent or does it drop when they need to pinch bandwidth for another channel?

60kHz bit-rate and mono. "AB gives you better sound quality" lied Digital Radio UK.

 

[londonman]

Are you sure about the actual source material? I know that many DAB commercial stations transmit at abysmally low bit-rates and some even in mono. Any idea what bitrate the BBC uses for Radio 6? And is it consistent or does it drop when they need to pinch bandwidth for another channel?

60kHz bit-rate and mono. "DAB gives you better sound quality" lied Digital Radio UK.

 

[chebby]

BBC Radio 6 is 128Kbps AAC via the internet. (And in stereo of course.)

Internet is always better than DAB.

 

[jjbomber]

Internet is always better than DAB.

PlanetRock is 32kbps and awful on the internet, but a lot better on Sky. Maybe now that they have been taken over we may get an improvement. RockRadio1 is at 192Kbps and much better.

 

[chebby]

Internet is always better than DAB.

PlanetRock is 32kbps and awful on the internet, but a lot better on Sky.

PlanetRock is 64Kbps AAC (90 percent reliable) here using TuneIn Radio Pro.

Sounds ok.

RockRadio1 is 192Kbps MP3 (99 percent reliable).