Intempo PG-01 DAB Digital Radio

The radio tuned in quickly, and seems to have found far more stations than were originally listed. All my favourites are there, and at last I can listen to things like XFM and Virgin in clear stereo without bothering about returning and adjusting the aerial. the sound seems to be well-balanced, and although i'm not a hi-fi buff I would say that it is probably pretty good. Certainly to the untrained ear it does sound as clear as my CDs.

The best feature is being able to scroll quickly around and check whats on each station - this means you can catch some great tunes that you might ordinarily miss if you were stuck on one station.

The price was OK. I've heard that the warranty is good for Intempo radios, so its reassuring when your paying over £50 to know that you have a helpline etc. If I have one moan its that there aren't more presets, but as i said before it is so easy to change station that you can understand why they havent included more.

I would tell everyone to make the switch to DAB. i was one of the last of my friends and wish I'd done it sooner.

What can I say aboutt he sound quality? Well there's just nothing to complain about at all, the sound is very clear on speech and music, and the volume goes as loud as you'd ever really need from a product of this size.

All in all its very good - my first DAB radio but definately not my last

Pros
1. Looks very nice with 'soft' styled design - it fits nicely into the home and has a modern, inobtrusive facade.
2. Has DAB and FM - a great combination.
3. Reasonably cheap - a fourty-fifty quid saving on the Pure or Roberts units which are great but don't always warrant the extra for the average listener.
4. Excellent, pin sharp DAB reception even in poor quality coverage areas - this is a real plus.
5. No speaker distortion (unlike some others).
6. Good tuning features and auto-scan of stations on switch on
7. Intempo have fantastic customer service - very quick indeed on a minor problem I had (next day replacement with them coming to my home - wonderful)
8. Stereo speakers built in unlike the Pure and Roberts 'high end' products. When you do get good reception stereo speakers are more than just a bonus.
9. RDS text on FM not just the additional text lines you get on DAB. A feature I didn't expect.

Cons:
1. Mains only - Not battery operated so fixed position use only.
2. Volume button is a tiny bit flimsy
3. Only four presets for DAB stations and then 4 for FM which isn't many. However changing DAB stations is a doddle anyway - no manual messing around so it's not a big issue.

The unit is one of the first 'kitchen' styled DAB and FM units. It will face stiff competition from the cheaper (around 90) Goodmans unit (which frankly doesn't look half as nice) and the Grundig similar unit (but DAB only not including FM).

For a fixed-base radio for the average listener this is a good mix of DAB and FM with excellent styling. It's price is good and with discounting in store or on-line will prove highly attractive.

Within a year there will be an explosion of similar units but this one is worth buying now.