[Closed] DAB car radio-reccomendations please

Buy from DabOnWheels.  The Ariel is actually more important than the head unit  - lots of good info on their site.

Our Kenwood unit has been reliable for best part of 10 years.  I'd be looking for one without a CD player now - this looks good

https://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/product/kenwood-kmm-bt504dab-dab-car-radio-with-bluetooth/

Auto Express did a group review of DAB singke DIN head units both mechless and with CD player: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/65466/best-dab-radio-head-units-2018

I bought a Pioneer MVH X580 DAB mechless unit about a year ago based on earlier Auto Express group reviews and I've been very happy with it (£109 list). I use it with a windscreen mounted DAB aerial and DAB reception has been very reliable.

EDIT - OP this looks like the earlier STW thread on DAB car audio that you were looking for: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/dab-radio-advice-for-car/

Save yourself loads of money and buy this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DNH6YQB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've just got one to give me DAB, BT, and a line-in in my van. I'm currently using it in FM mode to broadcast the signal to my van's FM radio. Totally brilliant, comes with all you need, and only £35.

What that Amazon jobbie doesn’t give you is a USB port for plugging an iPod or phone into for music or keeping a phone charged while using it for satnav. DAB really needs a proper antenna to function properly, my Kenwood was installed with a supplied window antenna, which was fine, but there were large areas of Wiltshire where there was no signal, like from Devizes down to Salisbury. I had a mag-mount wire roof-mount antenna fitted, and I can’t think of anywhere where I don’t get a signal now, apart from the occasional long tunnel.

It does actually have bt for audio input. I just got one after seeing it mentioned here.  Have barely used and DAB is v dodgy round here but about to go on a few longer trips where it will get more of a test.

Based on my experience I would not recommend Kenwood. I've got what I think it the model up from that one. There's about a 50:50 chance that it will turn on correctly without saying "dab ant err". The backlight is too dim during the day and too bright at night. It's got a heavily left hand drive bias which makes the controls hard to use. At the moment mine is booting up into demo mode every time, so sits there doing a distracting light show until you go through a series of menus to stop it.

Local audio specialist says Kenwood have lower return rates than Pioneer.

Comparing with a Pioneer I'd say that they both use the same chip because they are so similar.

I'm finding that the film antenna supplied with the Majority device I recommended above is every bit as good as the external mag mount I used previously. Which has surprised me, but I made sure it was fitted as per the supplied instructions, and as vertically as I could get it.

One tip if you're using any kind of 'internal' antenna though- if you're using any kind of 12v to USB adaptor, get a really good quality one. A lot of the cheap ones I've tried kick out a lot of RF noise.

An alternative you might want to consider is to get the TUNEIN app on your phone and then either Bluetooth or aux cable it to your head unit. Yes it uses data, but you get unlimited stations and the quality is really good.

+1 an app on the phone. Wouldn't even bother with DAB myself if you've got a decent data plan.

Currently using an FM transmitter as the old Civic Bluetooth doesn't do BT audio, and has no aux inputs and a pain in the arse to pull the dash apart to fit one. Actually better quality than I expected but I have the transmitter on the parcel shelf at the back of the car which is next to the aerial embedded in the rear window.

I'm using Android Auto now on the phone for combined navigation and audio as it will use various compatible apps and gives nice big buttons. Also there's a benefit to using Spotify free via Android Auto but won't shout it from the roof, just give it a try 😉

I do find I need an equaliser on the phone to sort the quality out otherwise it's really flat and dull. Spotify has built in equaliser now but could do with something that applies to the phone as a whole so it will work with other apps.

Note on charging phone or powering gadgets like this, I find I get bucket loads of interference from the engine when charging. The power socket and/or USB adapters seem to be the issue. I've resolved this with a big powerbank to do the charging. Also a ferrite bead attached to the charge cable can help reduce noise.

Also there’s a benefit to using Spotify free via Android Auto but won’t shout it from the roof, just give it a try

#intrigued

How much data is something like tuneIn using? I'm only on a 4gb data plan ATM which I can't see being enough but could upgrade it its gives me DAB

Not sure about TuneIn, though it should be relatively low given the low bitrates of a lot of streaming stations. Using Spotify I've used around 500mb in the first two weeks of this month's data, using it on my commute (2hrs worth every other day, weekdays). Also have Waze running for the maps, and that's about 50mb so far this month.

Also RadioPlayer is another app for radio stuff, but UK focused.

They don't give you DAB, but give you the same stations that DAB will provide, plus 10s of thousands more from around the world.

One other advantage of using a phone is you can play podcasts. So on long trips I’m alternating between spotify, tunein, and podcasts. Virtually unlimited entertainment👍

Ok so on our first road trip the reception round here seems spotty with the windscreen aerial provided and I'm planning to upgrade that. The majority box works well when it has a signal though (and with bt from the phone).

using phone data is possible but not great value on payg 🙂