I am after a new car radio.

I would like it to have:
USB & possibly SD
Bluetooth

I am iFree so not bothered about iSupport but I guess most come with that anyway.

Should I get DAB to future proof it or worry about that when the FM death knoll peals ?

I am not after top end gear. £150 tops I reckon.

DAB really isn’t the future, it’s ancient technology (in the whole scheme of things) still has poor uptake and even those with a vested interest in it succeeding think the 2015 FM switch-off date is highly ambitious.

Buy one if it does what you want it to now, but I don’t think FM will be going anywhere in the near future. Personally, I’d expect DAB to be obsolete before FM is.

good question….

Two points

1) Would you buy a DAB radio now (and we have 4) which wasn’t DAB+ compatible, given that is the way many countries have gone…

2) Will streaming audio be a better solution long term? eg I know have an iPhone on 3, with unlimited internet included which can bluetooth directly to my car audio… add TuneIn radio… and I have…

I have DAB and it is brilliant for me. I live in Cumbria so could only pick up a handful of FM chanels and Radio 5 makes your ears bleed.

Six music is a real bonus for me too. I find I can travel from Cumbria to Suffolk and not lose reception at all. It gets patchy in parts of North Yorkshire but it will automatically switch to FM. If it is a sensibly priced option I would not hesitate to get it.

Personally, i’m a big fan of 6 music, and that’s not available on FM, so DAB has been useful to me. If I only listened to R1/2/3/4 I wouldn’t bother. I’ve tried streaming audio, and found it far too unreliable in rural areas to work for me.

At £150, I wouldn’t think too much about the future, but personally, I’ve enjoyed having DAB in the car.

yep just for 6music.

I don’t think you’ve anything to worry about in terms of future-proofing, either with DAB or FM.

The compelling reason to go with DAB, for me, is station choice. I don’t know where I’d be without Planet Rock and the Absolute series. I’m in a courtesy car with FM only today and it feels like I’ve left something at home.

Indeed its Planet Rock & 6 Music I would be after too.

Looks like trying to get DAB & Bluetooth really puts the price up.

decisions decisions.

What models do you guys have ?

”portable” ?