OK, you’ve been able to pick inbuilt DAB+ as an option on certain high end vehicles for a while. But if you’d asked me what the first vehicle range to come with a DAB+ as absolutely standard was going to be, I would not have picked trucks.
Mumbrella reports on the move, which will see all Hino 300, 500, and 700 series trucks fitted with multimedia units that include DAB+ functionality. If you’re thinking that you’ve never heard of Hino, it’s a Toyota sub-brand.
DAB+ inclusion in Hino trucks won’t do anything to increase the footprint of DAB+, which is still markedly metro-centric, but may well be the first of many vehicles that just assume you’ll want DAB+ built in. [Mumbrella]
Sam
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 4:13 PMI’m all for DAB+, anything that provides clearer music without interferance is great (all we need now is to stop radio stations compressing the volume into high hell, and get them to stop playing shit must [Gotye anyone?]).
In having said that, DAB+ is a bit of a joke at the moment. Bugger all choice for hardware to receive it on, premium price tags, and seriously – who wants a STANDALONE radio receiver? Why haven’t manufacturers integrated it into home theatre systems?
StevoTheDevo
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 4:29 PMCause the music isn’t clearer! DAB+ is lower quality than FM, but better quality than AM.
Hence all the AM radio replacements and probably the inclusion of DAB+ into a truck where the driver is perhaps more likely to sit and listen to Alan Jones or similar all day!
Andrew
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 5:52 PM…so I did some digging to check after reading your comment. DAB+ in Aus is typically AAC at 40 and 64 kbps. That’s pathetic!! Suitable for voice only, if that. I’d call 128kbps a bare minimum, and 265 to be the goal. How on earth do they expect to convince people to buy into a new standard when it provides a lower quality?? Technically it’s capable of much, much better, but if they don’t boradcast at a higher bitrate then it’s never going to take off.
Kroo
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 11:40 PMThe bit rate is lower at the moment because of the maximum bandwidth restrictions. When the analogue TV bandwidth is switched off in 2013 DAB+ will get higher bit rates when that bandwidth is handed over for digital transmission. And while they’re at it, they can switch off the AM band as well. 19th century crap. DAB+ is still very patchy and un reliable.
Thruppence
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 7:12 PMThere is NOTHING wrong with music at lower bitrates; this is just more BS from the audio-snobs who like to think they know better than everyone else.
DAB is excellent; get a radio and just enjoy it instead of whining about kbps all the time.
It’s just like the sh!t that comes out on every forum concerning MP3 players and iTunes – YAWN.
AAron
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 7:31 PMI want a standalone radio receiver. Hence I bought a Grundig model for listening the JJJ at my desk at work. I thought the selection of radios when I went shooping in Perth was good. The model I bought looks excellent and wasn’t expensive. I also happen to like Gotye…
Erebus
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 2:25 PMIts actually AAC+
Just This Guy ...
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 4:32 PMDAB = pointless in my books.
Who wants to hear ads with even greater clarity and who’s going to pay the premium to do so?
All these claims about static free clarity etc were all used to promote FM over AM back in the day too.
Give me ad free radio and I might just try it out.. Actually, no I won’t. There’s nought but crap on the radio anyway.
Clearer crap is just like crap. Only clearer.
tombo
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 5:29 PMYou can stream radio through android and iphone devices add free of course ;) Of course this has nothing to do with DAB though.
Sicarius123
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 6:47 PMTry listening to a better radio station?
If you want to listen to commercial shit music, expect shit commercials.
AAron
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 7:34 PM+1
Just This Guy ...
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 4:38 PMThat;’s my point.
They’re all shite!
And there’s no such thing as a GOOD commercial in my books.
So. Shit station = shit commercials you say?.
“Good” station STILL = shit commercials.
Ben
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 7:52 AMGotye is awesome. Not sure how someone could use him as an example of bad music?
pjmckay
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 5:48 AMYou’re so wrong mate. I’ve had a dab in car receiver for 8 years and whilst I dont use it every day I can honestly say I love it. Mine is a Blaupunct DAB/FM/SD Card/CD and I can honestly say I NEVER play CDs. I found this thread whilst looking for a replacement unit now that I want my Android/iPhone to connect to. Mine has the added advantage of recording DAB to SD card at the push of a button which is great for catching those tunes that stick in your head.
If you’re happy with crappy FM/AM on the road then so be it. I’d much rather have DAB given the choice. Personally I bought an add-on for my home theater kit too… Genus with spdif, just the job!
My requirements are CD Free, non mechnical head unit, DAB, iPhone compatible, SD card is absolute must, USB too and Bluetooth. I might need to get the DAB bit as an add-on, dont know yet, but it looks like I’ll need to compromise on a full package.
I’m in the UK though; maybe Aus has less coverage.
Thruppence
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 7:14 PMHave you ANY idea what you’r droning on about? No, I didn’t think so…
maddogeco
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 4:46 PMi want DAB+ in my car for 2 channels triple j unearthed and ABC grandstand. i haven’t even found a after market option. anybody got any recommendations?
Luke
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 5:44 PMI personally think that digital radio is highly overrated…
I have a digital radio built into an iPhone dock and the thing is constantly losing signal whereas the radio i have out in the kitchen has absolutely crystal clear audio and doesnt lose signal.
pjmckay
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 5:54 AMTry using an aerial. I think you’ll find it makes a difference. DAB can be fussy and may be poor strength in your area but will be easily superior to a kitchen radio if you get a decent signal. (mine is home made and lies behind the sofa)
AAron
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 7:33 PMI am more than happy with the quality of my digital radio. I couldn’t care less about compression rates etc. My FM radio couldn’t hold signal at work and sounded rubbish. My DAB never loses signal and sounds excellent
Just This Guy ...
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 4:35 PM” I couldn’t care less about compression rates ”
This is why your happy with it. Overly compressed audio loses all the dynamic range of the sound that’s available. The whole point of digital audio.
Why MP3 will seldom sound as nice as CD. Though the difference can be indistinguishable, but you need to be using very little compression. (higher bit rate)
dave rose
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:12 PMI have had DAB+ tuner in my car for 6 months now ,no buzzes ,clicks ,just CD sound and the best tight bass. never use FM now.
robert
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:30 PMis DAB the same as CRP – honestly, are we now being trained to expect more for less, WTF!
Nathan
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 11:04 PMHilarious!
Its says a lot about the abject failure of car manufacturers to keep up technology when the first vehicles with DAB+ standard across the range are trucks.
Puddiepants
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 1:13 PMI thought it was more to do with the fact that Australia is one of the few countries who is actually implementing DAB+ so none of the manufacturers are bothered to put it in for such a relatively small market… could be wrong though