[m88jey]

Hi chaps, has anyone switched between the same radio station on DAB and FM? Does anyone actually prefer the FM quality more? sounds like a stupid question but I was testing this the other day and DAB sounded a bit dull and i actually preferred FM. I did this test on several stations and it seemed to be the same. I have no doubt DAB would be better at a higher volume and maybe its all just personal preference.

Not sure if this subject has come up before but would be good to hear your thoughts.

[chiark]

Very much depends on the channel, as there's different bit rates assigned to different channels. BBC national channels tend to have a decent bit rate - BBC 1 & 2 use 128kbit/s, BBC 3 sometimes uses 192kbit/s, all in stereo.

By contrast, Absolute 80s is now 64kbit/s mono, and consequently can sound a little, er, crap. Local BBC stations tend to be down on bitrate too.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by GUZLERGEFF

Hi chaps, has anyone switched between the same radio station on DAB and FM? Does anyone actually prefer the FM quality more? sounds like a stupid question but I was testing this the other day and DAB sounded a bit dull and i actually preferred FM. I did this test on several stations and it seemed to be the same. I have no doubt DAB would be better at a higher volume and maybe its all just personal preference.

Not sure if this subject has come up before but would be good to hear your thoughts.

The sound level on DAB is slightly lower as far as I know, so a direct switch makes the DAB sound less impressive. To compare apples with apples, you'd have to adjust the volume up on DAB too. I have found them to be even Stevens in good FM range and DAB superior in poorer reception areas.

[matk]

Dab looses signal a lot where I live, I hope they sort out the signal before the switchover.

[stevelup]

DAB is very poor technology unfortunately. It's worth pointing out that it's MPEG layer 2, not layer 3.

So a 'top end' 192kbps stream will actually sound worse than a 96kbps MP3 file.

It is -far- worse than a good quality FM broadcast.

A seriously missed opportunity...

[rich100]

So far I'm extremely unimpressed with the dab radio. Whenever I've tried using it it keeps cutting on and out which becomes irritating very quickly

Can't be arsed with it tbh and Switched back to FM.

[m88jey]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

The sound level on DAB is slightly lower as far as I know, so a direct switch makes the DAB sound less impressive. To compare apples with apples, you'd have to adjust the volume up on DAB too. I have found them to be even Stevens in good FM range and DAB superior in poorer reception areas.

ah ok, i'll try bumping up the volume of DAB and then run the same test to see if it makes a difference, cheers.

[Darkfiber]

hmm funny, I was under the exact opposite impression... DAB in belgium sounds way better then FM ...

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by stevelup

DAB is very poor technology unfortunately. It's worth pointing out that it's MPEG layer 2, not layer 3.

So a 'top end' 192kbps stream will actually sound worse than a 96kbps MP3 file.

It is -far- worse than a good quality FM broadcast.

A seriously missed opportunity...

Depends whether you are mobile or not. A clear 160kbps DAB is better than a high signal to noise ratio analogue even if the source MPEG is better. Driving around exposes you to just such a situation with FM.

If you are at home?? Who listens to radio expecting A1 sound? How many houses have FM radio aerials on the roof?

No doubt, digital will progress, but for a first attempt, it is at the very least equal to the existing technology (FM) to the car listeners out there.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by rich100

So far I'm extremely unimpressed with the dab radio. Whenever I've tried using it it keeps cutting on and out which becomes irritating very quickly

Can't be arsed with it tbh and Switched back to FM.

+1. Was driving up through the Cotswolds last weekend and DAB kept cutting out. Switched back to FM in the end as I'd rather put up with the odd crackle than it completely cutting out. That gets SO annoying.

[stevelup]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Depends whether you are mobile or not. A clear 160kbps DAB is better than a high signal to noise ratio analogue even if the source MPEG is better. Driving around exposes you to just such a situation with FM.

Not sure I agree. DAB is far worse because it's all or nothing. I'd much rather hear a bit of noise than have the signal drop out completely.

If you are at home?? Who listens to radio expecting A1 sound? How many houses have FM radio aerials on the roof?

Some people do though. A lot of classical nuts have pretty high end installations for listening to Radio 3.

No doubt, digital will progress, but for a first attempt, it is at the very least equal to the existing technology (FM) to the car listeners out there.

We'll have to disagree. It is low bitrate, and not at all robust. It's a very poor system.

The future will be internet streaming, not any kind of broadcast solution, but until we have decent mobile data coverage on our road networks, that's not a viable option either.

[teaston]

It is a real shame there are no plans to introduce DAB+ to UK!

DAB+ is encoded in aacplus instead of mpeg2 which potentially gives better sound quality. I say potentially as it depends what bit rate they choose to broadcast at, it's quite likely that a lower bit rate would be used on many stations to fit more stations into each multiplex giving no sound improvement over DAB, just a big improvement in how many stations can fit in each multiplex!

[GBR1]

I just did an unscientific test and the same station in FM was much better than DAB. This was a local radio station so that may have something to do with it!?

[F30AM]

DAB levels are slightly lower. However, even if the levels are adjusted to be the same, DAB does not sound as good as FM. DAB lacks the dynamic range and mid-range detail of FM. Like it or not, DAB sounds compressed. Listen to a good broadcast of Classical Music and the difference is pretty obvious.

However, with DAB you don't get the slight interference which you may get with FM. But FM sound is undoubtedly better, interference or not.

If only we had DAB+. Until then, it's tough titties for all of us. We just have to put up with DAB rubbish and suffer, especially since we had to pay for it.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by stevelup

Not sure I agree. DAB is far worse because it's all or nothing. I'd much rather hear a bit of noise than have the signal drop out completely.

We will have to disagree. I have clocked up roughly 40k miles a year for the last 12 years. What I have found on my travels is FM will go through patches of sometimes 5-10 minutes of interference, when DAB will just stop for typically 2-5 seconds, occasionally a little longer.

FM on long distance work, means you have to rely on your tuner selecting the next FM frequency when it becomes stronger than the last ( I have never found a radio capable of doing this better than doing it manually, and yes I have had top model Pioneers and Alpines). With DAB, this is a non issue.

Sure, if your driving habits consist of running to the local Tesco and the bowls club, and you live in a good FM coverage, then FM is great.

[Dowsab]

Hi.... I picked up my 420i yesterday - and ditched the DAB presets the same day, just kept losing signal. FM on the move sounds just as good anyway! Love the car....

[teaston]

This debate is all pointless anyway, Radio 1xtra is only available on DAB! So DAB it has to be!

[m88jey]

Originally Posted by teaston

This debate is all pointless anyway, Radio 1xtra is only available on DAB! So DAB it has to be!

That's the reason i never really noticed before as 1xtra is the only station I listen to apart from my ipod!

Just found this while having a quick browse:

http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/DAB_sound.html

[teaston]

Originally Posted by GUZLERGEFF

That's the reason i never really noticed before as 1xtra is the only station I listen to apart from my ipod!

Just found this while having a quick browse:

http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/DAB_sound.html

Good man!

And yea i thought 1xtra sound quality was good!

[m88jey]

Originally Posted by teaston

Good man!

And yea i thought 1xtra sound quality was good!

It is good but when i checked out some of the other stations like kiss, absolute or capital xtra it was pretty poor compared to FM. Would have never noticed had i not switched over (i think it auto switches if it looses dab signal with that option ticked).

[rocketretro]

So if we eventually did get UK DAB upgraded to DAB+ we would have to have to change to DAB+ radio installations, as the existing equipment fitted in cars is not compatible, or am I wrong?

[m88jey]

Originally Posted by Rocketretro

So if we eventually did get UK DAB upgraded to DAB+ we would have to have to change to DAB+ radio installations, as the existing equipment fitted in cars is not compatible, or am I wrong?

Well apparently the more recent DAB radios can run DAB+ (albeit with a firmware upgrade). So I'd imagine our cars can run it. Maybe someone from another country (Australia?) which have DAB+ channels can tell us?

I've just read another interesting article on this below:

http://www.techradar.com/news/car-te...fix-it-1217586