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 ?
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