1. Bob Browning Bronze

    Retired at Retired

    15 October 2004 10:23am

    Bob Browning

    DAB digital radio - going to replace FM by 2008 in most homes.  Didn’t I read than somewhere? 

    If it was going anywhere the early adopters would be piling into it by now, which means that Hi Fi shops and web sites would be flogging units for people to add to their component setup.  But check out any Hi Fi web site - component offerings still have FM radios in them.  DAB is there, but not featured in the way that a new technology should be. 

    The big radio audience has got to be in cars.  Is your local car showroom putting digital radios in the top of the range models?  You can add a  DAB radio to your Ford for £400 (you couldn’t make it up!) but I don’t see it as standard on any of the upmarket models.

    At some point someone is going to claim digital radio is a success, but only because it comes with digital TV - and when did you last listen to radio on your TV?

    Frankly I don’t think anyone is interested.  Did anyone do any market research before they blew millions on this.

    I don’t know enough about radio to make this potty idea number 18 but it is beginning to look like a disaster waiting to happen, not the greatest thing since sliced bread. 

    Incidentally who came up with this sliced bread thing?   Sliced bread is tasteless pap, it should be the greatest disaster since sliced bread.

    Bob
    Textor

  2. John Wards

    Multi Media Developer at SportNetwork.net

    15 October 2004 10:41am

    John Wards

    I love DAB radio, I usually listen to radio on my t.v. at least once a day. Usually Kerrang! or Q!

    I also listen to 5 live/extra because the quality is so much better than MW (and you can't get extra ;-))

    Vaxhall are doing an special at the moment called the Astra digital...which has a dab radio as standard...God I am an advertisers dream....

    I am an early adopter who has a wife so I don't early adopt any more :-( but if I was a single lad again I would have all the gubbins, DAB seperate, DAB portable, DAB in the car....but I have a wife instead...anyone willing to swap ;-)

    I think the number one issue that is putting people off is the reception, people expect Digital to be avaliable everywhere that FM is, its not:

    http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/coverage_maps.htm

    DAB also has a problem with indoors, unlike FM which works very well indoors. I think its very simmilar to MW...but I might just be making that up!

    John

  3. John Wards

    Multi Media Developer at SportNetwork.net

    15 October 2004 10:41am

    John Wards

    Oh also whats quadraphonic sound?

    And if you buy fresh bread from the bakers and ask them to slice it...yum...

  4. Bob Browning Bronze

    Retired at Retired

    15 October 2004 10:52am

    Bob Browning

    Quadraphonic sound was the next big thing after sterio - four speakers instead of two. Recorded on vinyl disks so quiite clever. Some time in the 60's.

    The reason you havn't heard about it is because it sunk without trace. Why I have no idea because surround sound is now the next big thing again 40 years later.. The only lasting trace is a CD by The Who (Quadrophenia). Pete Townsend was obviously an early adopter too.

    History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. (Karl Marx)

    Bread should be sliced as needed - as coffee should be ground.

    Bob

  5. John Wards

    Multi Media Developer at SportNetwork.net

    15 October 2004 10:59am

    John Wards

    Ah thats why its called Quadrophenia....another thing about having a wife...she threw out my parkers :'-(

  6. Bob Browning Bronze

    Retired at Retired

    15 October 2004 11:21am

    Bob Browning

    http://www.quadrophenia.net/

    If they re-issued it on DVD so it would play correctly on a surround sound system it could be interesting.

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