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What is DAB+ Radio?
How DAB/DAB+ radio extends your entertainment options
You’re driving down an open road. Your windows are wide open, the sun is shining – so what’s missing? The perfect soundtrack of course! Whether you’re an audiophile, sport obsessive or a newshound, you might think that you’d have to give some of that up on a car journey. However, you can now keep access to all of your favourite entertainment. A DAB/DAB+ tuner might help to perfect your trip.
Digital Radio?
DAB, or Digital Broadcast Audio, was first rolled out in 1995, with it reaching consumer devices around the year 2000. This was designed to replace analog broadcasts, such as FM or AM radio. DAB offers more stability and higher quality audio than analog radio is capable of, with a much greater range of channels available. These channels are also easily switchable, which is much easier than tuning the radio in yourself, especially at the wheel.
DAB vs DAB+
A later innovation, DAB+ is simply an upgrade on DAB. It uses the available bandwidth more efficiently, allowing for the use of superior AAC audio and even more channels. While it isn’t yet the standard in the UK, the country is an outlier - most other places already use it in preference to the older DAB.
Why is it so much more stable?
Digital signals operate on an on/off principle. That is, you have enough coverage to find the channel, or you don’t. This means that when you have the signal, it comes through crisp and clear and without interference. Older analog radios can cover longer distances, with a signal that decays gradually over time, so while you have the possibility to receive a signal of some sort, it will almost never be as strong as a DAB signal. Simply put, DAB uses the technology more efficiently, is able to carry metadata such as song title and artist, and is able to provide a higher quality transmission.
A wealth of channels
Because of the stability of the signal, there is less crosstalk and stations can be a lot closer together. Combined with the ease of tuning and the availability of data, DAB users have access to many, many more channels than a traditional FM radio listener. Many highly specialised and niche stations have popped up over time, giving you access to underground music, themed talk programmes and channels from around the world, as just a few examples. The advent of digital radio has had a profound effect on our listening habits, even in our cars!
Easy compatibility with XTRONS
Easy to add to any existing system via a simple USB connection, XTRONS’ handy range of standalone DAB+ tuners can add an extra layer of entertainment to your journey. Adding to the already powerful suite of digital capability in each XTRONS stereo, DAB and DAB+ give you a world of entertainment.