Pure Highway Dab+, incar/inhome/portable DAB+ with FM transmitter & ipod input Options

[:)]

http://www.pure.com/au/products/product.asp?Product=VL-60905

noticed in reading abotu this one that it has a fm transmitter and ipod input,

been looking for a quality fm transmitter for an ipod so thinking of maybe checking one of these out even just for that ?

I'm fully aware for dab+ its achiles heel is that it is an fm transmitter so compromised by audio limitations that way. also maybe this one is limited as are other fm tranmitters in regards audio quality as well ? something will find out I guess.

couple of other things of attraction here is that you can take it with you as a portable dab+ radio presumably plugging some headphones straight into it ? additionally it appears this is maybe the first dab+ radio I've seen with pvr style functionality to pause and rewind live radio ?

have seen it going for $295 on ebay so not cheap ! anyways will post back if get a chance to check out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[f_vos]

http://www.pure.com/au/products/product.asp?Product=VL-60905

noticed in reading abotu this one that it has a fm transmitter and ipod input,

been looking for a quality fm transmitter for an ipod so thinking of maybe checking one of these out even just for that ?

I'm fully aware for dab+ its achiles heel is that it is an fm transmitter so compromised by audio limitations that way. also maybe this one is limited as are other fm tranmitters in regards audio quality as well ? something will find out I guess.

couple of other things of attraction here is that you can take it with you as a portable dab+ radio presumably plugging some headphones straight into it ? additionally it appears this is maybe the first dab+ radio I've seen with pvr style functionality to pause and rewind live radio ?

have seen it going for $295 on ebay so not cheap ! anyways will post back if get a chance to check out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Got mine for $260 @ the good guys.
Fred (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[DrP]

Any comments on the quality of the unit?

[MLXXX]

I can't comment on the quality first hand.


Alebonau, yes it appears to have a stereo headphone socket. That could probably be used as a line out to an external amp, bypassing the FM transmitter. However, in a car I'd be worried about trying to connect direct from the Pure Highway to a car line-in socket as earth/chassis for the line-in socket might conflict with the chassis polarity of the Pure Highway.

As regards FM stereo quality, limitations would be no response over 15KHz, and small amounts of THD/IMD. However unless listening very critically to good quality DAB+, the FM interface might not make much of an audible difference, assuming reasonable quality in the FM receiver and in the Pure Highway transmitter.

Good to see pause/rewind functionality.

[bacco|007]

Can it do audio out via usb?

[alanh]

All,
All you wanted to know about the Pure Highway
The external magnetic antenna would also be a good buy to increase the range.

AlanH

[BofH]

I bought a Pure Highway as it's the smallest currently available DAB+ Digital Radio available in Australia - its almost pocket sized and light - running on only 2 x AA batteries. Battery life is pretty poor though - I've only got a couple of hours out of alkalines however it would probably run better on some of the high capacity NIMH batteries.

But the main benefit - it has a standard mini-USB connector and works off USB power!

So in the Office it powers along fine off the laptop.

Certainly not cheap, but a quality radio and as a bonus you can use it in the Car with its built in FM transmitter.

Unfortunately no audio out via USB - it seems "purely" there for firmware updates like all the other Pure radios. It's a shame the other vendors didn't feel it necessary to supply a USB port as there's bound to be minor improvements to radio firmware as time goes on.

This post has been edited by BofH: May 30 2009, 11:08 PM

[f_vos]

I bought a Pure Highway as it's the smallest currently available DAB+ Digital Radio available in Australia - its almost pocket sized and light - running on only 2 x AA batteries. Battery life is pretty poor though - I've only got a couple of hours out of alkalines however it would probably run better on some of the high capacity NIMH batteries.

But the main benefit - it has a standard mini-USB connector and works off USB power!

So in the Office it powers along fine off the laptop.

Certainly not cheap, but a quality radio and as a bonus you can use it in the Car with its built in FM transmitter.

Unfortunately no audio out via USB - it seems "purely" there for firmware updates like all the other Pure radios. It's a shame the other vendors didn't feel it necessary to supply a USB port as there's bound to be minor improvements to radio firmware as time goes on.

I am getting 4 to 5 hrs from Varta 2500mha NIMH batteries.

Regards
Fred

[DrP]

The battery life is particularly poor when one considers how long a portable CD player will run off two AAs (or 4 for certain models) for. Why should a radio that has no moving parts only run for 4 to 5 hours when a CD player that has to spin a disc can run for 40+ hours.

This post has been edited by DrP: May 31 2009, 11:00 AM

[DigitalRadioNow]

The battery life is particularly poor when one considers how long a portable CD player will run off two AAs (or 4 for certain models) for. Why should a radio that has no moving parts only run for 4 to 5 hours when a CD player that has to spin a disc can run for 40+ hours.

The 'reason' given by manufacturers is of increased processing demands compared to AM/FM radio ie. digital's COFDM is more complicated and therefore a drain on battery power.

The idea of retransmitting digital on FM is nonsensical, it completely misses the point.

Buy one if you must, but I'm waiting for a device with an auxiliary connection to plug into factory fitted radio where a CD stacker would go.

[DrP]

The 'reason' given by manufacturers is of increased processing demands compared to AM/FM radio ie. digital's COFDM is more complicated and therefore a drain on battery power.

Its a valid claim on behalf of the manufacturers. At this point even the most energy efficient DAB+ 'chipset' is several orders of magnitude more power hungry than its analogue cousins and the reality is its not going to massively improve. Portable CD players have thrown every trick in the book (switching amps, switching motor control, you name it there is precious little that is linear in a portable CD player these days) but such power saving options (apart from switching amps which are already used) are not available to DAB+ receivers.

I wonder if a certain well known participant of the DTV forum will finally admit that DAB+ receivers 'chew' power like its going out of fashion.

[DigitalRadioNow]

Its a valid claim on behalf of the manufacturers. At this point even the most energy efficient DAB+ 'chipset' is several orders of magnitude more power hungry than its analogue cousins and the reality is its not going to massively improve. Portable CD players have thrown every trick in the book (switching amps, switching motor control, you name it there is precious little that is linear in a portable CD player these days) but such power saving options (apart from switching amps which are already used) are not available to DAB+ receivers.

I wonder if a certain well known participant of the DTV forum will finally admit that DAB+ receivers 'chew' power like its going out of fashion.

Your posts always speak from a position of being well researched and I agree from my own, likely briefer research as well. Time will tell if any admissions from others take place.

[:)]

The 'reason' given by manufacturers is of increased processing demands compared to AM/FM radio ie. digital's COFDM is more complicated and therefore a drain on battery power.

The idea of retransmitting digital on FM is nonsensical, it completely misses the point.

Buy one if you must, but I'm waiting for a device with an auxiliary connection to plug into factory fitted radio where a CD stacker would go.

a very good point ! a bit pointless I think getting a dab radio if have to use FM broadcast to get some sound out of it !

that said it does have a headphone out so perhaps with those cars that have a headphone input can hook up that way without having to use the fm broadcast route. and having use various fm transmitters to get ipod signal to the car over the last week can say this is real hit and miss.

I actually went into HN today to have a look at the pure highway. it looks a really well made device, the green dot matrix screen is real old school old tech ! great it has the pause rewind capablity. it does not work without an antenna though. so if hooking up in a car you end up with a power capable, signal cable and an antenna cable ! thats a lot of cables quite frankly to have in a device in a car for me. and on top of that trying to figure out where to put it in the car where doesnt get in the way.

it is still a very nice option I think maybe even for inhouse or for dab+ on the go, but will give it a miss jsut for now ! maybe will see if price drops or something which might perhaps tempt me to look again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Klink]

I bought my Pure Highway on ebay from a UK seller for 75 pounds sterling. Royal Mail Signed For postage brings the unit to your door in about 2 weeks for about $180 in total. It is then a simple matter to access Pure's website and getting a firmware upgrade and after that you can enable dab+
As far as sound goes, the proof is in the listening - using the inbuilt FM transmitter, I find the sound on all stations at least as good as FM when you are receiving a clean signal with no interference. I am sure anyone browsing this forum is well aware of the pros and cons of the auto as an acoustic environment. Who cares about the battery life? That is not the point. As has been mentioned you can hook it up via the aux-in to your home audio and power it by USB. I don't find the audio in the car any less acceptable, in reality than what I listen to for 350kms per day as I drive around Perth Metro.

Cheers
Klink

[:)]

I bought my Pure Highway on ebay from a UK seller for 75 pounds sterling. Royal Mail Signed For postage brings the unit to your door in about 2 weeks for about $180 in total. It is then a simple matter to access Pure's website and getting a firmware upgrade and after that you can enable dab+
As far as sound goes, the proof is in the listening - using the inbuilt FM transmitter, I find the sound on all stations at least as good as FM when you are receiving a clean signal with no interference. I am sure anyone browsing this forum is well aware of the pros and cons of the auto as an acoustic environment. Who cares about the battery life? That is not the point. As has been mentioned you can hook it up via the aux-in to your home audio and power it by USB. I don't find the audio in the car any less acceptable, in reality than what I listen to for 350kms per day as I drive around Perth Metro.

Cheers
Klink

good tip re purhcase from the uk klink for $180 it would be pretty attractive option I reckon. good to read some hands on feedback from yourself obviously gets some pretty heavy useage day to day. battery life probably only an issue I think if using as a portable and not hooking up to power in the car.

I'm gettign a usb box for my car this wednesday for ipod hookup, will review purchasing one of these after that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[DrP]

good tip re purhcase from the uk klink for $180 it would be pretty attractive option I reckon.

What happens if it dies?

[DrP]

Who cares about the battery life?

So far every single battery powered DAB+ device available has particuarly short battery life. This directly opposes statements made by a particular individual on this forum WRT battery life. Battery life may not be relevant to you, but I'm sure its relevant to many others.

[alanh]

All,
This device is primarily designed as a car receiver running off the car battery not an internal battery. So the power consumption is less of a concern than for portable devices.

AlanH

[DrP]

All,
Even the truly portable devices mentioned by alanh have had particularly poor battery life. I imagine most people here would expect more than 10 hours from a device that runs off 4 C sized cells.

[PZ.]

All,
What would be the cause of the massive power drain? Even an FM transmitter can run all day on a couple of double A's.

This post has been edited by POWERZONE: Jun 2 2009, 12:09 PM