The sound of the DAB 12 is unusually strong. Dual tried out pretty much oomph extract small speakers with the result that not only the depths, but also the centers are strongly emphasized. That sounds good (classic and modern) with music and makes a nice stereo effect, but can dull language and grumpy despite existing treble sound. Even more uncomfortable than the intrusive sound: Especially when voice playback buzzes with even the plastic case! A tone control or equalizer I therefore miss especially painful. As the smallest possible volume is still relatively loud, the dual is not suitable for quiet background music at work or in spite snooze to fall asleep.
I also miss a handle to a device of this classic portable radio size. If I anpacke the device for converting is pressed quickly once an undesirable button. So grab the center, where the display is? Not a good idea, because in the meantime the cover glass of the display is pressed a piece. To make matters worse, that the power cord has a nub who always hangs in the way when leaving the machine. The Knubbel must be, he keeps disturbing frequencies of the electronic power supply away from the radio. He would, however, as with other manufacturers, close to the power supply better off as close to the radio.
All this would not be a problem when using batteries. However, the DAB-12 needs 6 AA batteries, which are sucked dry after 4 or 5 hours. No wonder works but inside the radio to a computer. From batteries the manual advises against, since they have a lower voltage. I have yet tried it, and it works yet. If the batteries are exhausted, the radio is not about more quietly, but it begins to turn off and on again. Logical: It's digital.
As the advertising promises, the radio is playing noise-free. Even if reception is poor, it is not noisy but very silent. Also in this regard, it is digital. Whether digital really is a win, is therefore an open question. The Germany radio, which still exudes the older DAB signals (without plus), begins with weak reception to bubble so you can quickly change the position of the antenna or the radio before the receiver breaks. DAB + has optimized away this bubbling technically a step forward, in practical terms a retrograde step.
To date DAB still has no real wealth stations. There is a package (multiplex or ensemble) with 19 nationwide broadcast channels, including six alone programs of the football station Elf99, three programs of Germany radios, two Christian stations and a few Dudelsender. In Hamburg then, in a second package nor the local NDR monoculture added, namely so sparingly that not even the Niedersachsen- or Schleswig-Holstein programs of the NDR to be received. And that's good, because the ten station presets Dual are awkward to use, that it is faster to scroll through the whole list of channels. If it becomes too long, then it becomes difficult. Ten memory keys for direct access have yet been loosely place on the big enclosure, but unfortunately they are missing.
Whether the digital radio success is granted, is still unclear. It will only come when the digital offer stands out clearly from VHF monotony about if public service programs of all federal states would all be received, and when beyond niche channels would offer musical variety away from the 80's 90-day-Dudelfunk-mainstream. Place on the scale is still abundant. Unfortunately, the limited perspective of the DAB-makers especially on the technical side: noise-free reception and supposedly foolproof operation. But if DAB off again (or technically changed again) is, in Dual remains indeed the FM part. But unfortunately weak, useful only for the strongest stations. Since even my 20 year old shortwave receiver world is better, the FM portion was also not an inexpensive addition.
The DAB-12 has a snooze and a complicated-to-use alarm. Unfortunately, the blue-white display lights also dimmed and in standby mode still so bright that it interferes in the bedroom. The display is limited to the bare minimum, a signal strength and a battery level indicator missing. (The signal strength and other information stations can, however, by additional keystrokes show Extra.) The only my three digital radio Dual has a function for removing no longer receivable stations from the station list. This is useful if you have to travel with the dual and a scan at the resort the local stations that has added to the channel list.
Despite all the criticism, I have not returned the dual, but live with its shortcomings learned. The secure reception and the beautiful music reproduction in stereo (especially classical music) are strong pro-arguments. Is it worth the dual for you? If you mainly listen to music, not so often implement the Radio and mainly operate from the mains when you do not shy away from the fiddly operation of digital menus, and if you do not want to use it for non-intrusive background music in addition to the work, you get Despite the limitations, a DAB radio, that does what it is supposed to do, and this is still one of the cheapest on the market. But be sure that DAB is not yet expanded nationwide, and that can be bad even in covered areas of reception. Inform yourself. Before you buy to see if your area has already been supplied, and check all the assurances from traders that he withdraws the device when you have no reception
