This was a GREAT deal when shown some time ago at $59.00 from $229 from Graysonline…Now $47.20 using PAMPER 20…They also have it in Black…For a DAB+/FM Alarm Clock Radio I think it's pretty good value and Includes FREE Postage.
Original EOFY 20% off Selected Stores on eBay Deal Post
Black Version…https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bush-Aurora-DAB-FM-Alarm-Clock-Radio-with-Bluetooth-NFC-Dual-USB-Black/202310432826?hash=item2f1aa4383a:g:yC4AAOSwAINa9UoS
Looks like a really small clock display though so not great as an 'alarm clock'. Doesn't have glowing reviews either. https://www.productreview.com.au/p/bush-aurora-digital-radio…
How big do you want it? I use the time on the edge of my S6 Edge at night.
Not going to debate you on the reviews BUT most were commentating when paid over $200.00….For $47.20 it's hard to beat !
yeah, I grabbed some of the other dab internet radios that had a few weeks back … at $200 ir was too expensive especially if you didn't get a strong dab signal indie the dwelling, at $47.20 it a STEREO dab radio hard to beat.
+1 for the STEREO comment. If you bought DAB+ up to now, the chances are it was a single speaker unit.
Is it stereo DAB+ however, or has it just got a stereo amp/speaker- as it says in the ad?
Just pointing this out as as it doesn't say "Stereo DAB+/FM… "
Buuuuut, my mono speaker version (previous model) has Stereo DAB+ output, so my guess is that this unit is actually a full stereo. The sound quality is extremely good, the speaker and enclosure is very well designed/made and performs really well (great fidelity at bedside volumes).
This one is BT 3.0 too, so may be a step up on the BT side. The older ones do not use the USB for data/audio, just power/charging- which is invariably where you need it as most people need to plug-in (charge) their phone at night.
I like these BUSH ones as they also have an AUX out 3.5mm jack, not just headphones and AUX-IN. They sound great through a proper amplifier/speaker setup. Trouble in most is the buttons, they use cheap soft touch switches that fail, but can be replaced.
Bear in mind that most of those people would have paid $200 for the thing, at $47 it's decent value.
Looks like a really small clock display
I have one of these (and an internet radio one as well), the display is bright and easy to read.
Doesn't have glowing reviews either.
Plenty of good products get trashed on that site.
And the first review is negative because of poor DAB reception.
Plenty of places in capital cities have shitty reception, that's the government's fault as they haven't invested and promoted DAB.
My Roberts DAB gets perfect signal so this Bush one will be fine.
Good price.
Unfortunately for me, DAB is not available at the Gold Coast!
if you live in a house or flat, use an antenna amp from the TV socket and feed the dab radio ….one of my radios worked in the upstairs bedroom, but living room had no signal in block of townhouses, so hooked radio up to TV antenna and it worked great ….. but yeah, need strong enough signal for DAB or it drops out ….one of the reasons you see so few DAB car radios.
He lives on the Gold Coast, doubt he will be able to pick up a signal from Brisbane.
I live on the Gold Coast and pick up DAB+ fine. On the northern end, though. Signal dies in the bum south of Coomera.
@PinzVidz: I'm at Burleigh Heads. Is that a non starter for me?
EDIT: Just saw the link below. Thanks @infidel
@TheLurker: I have a HiLux with DAB+, when parked at Burleigh hill the signal is very patchy. Any time I head down the central or southern GC I use TuneIn.
@PinzVidz:
Transmitters are in Brisbane, so a lot of variables in receiving low powered signal. Digital Cliff means you either receive it or don't.
Maybe one day transmitters will be installed…
@PinzVidz:
Vehicles with DAB+ radios fitted should have far better ability to receive signal than portable radios or a device like this with a simple antenna. Being outside would also help.
The elevation in Burleigh Hill & no physical obstruction (over sea) should mean the best possible reception of weak Brisbane signal.
@Infidel: Yep fully aware transmitter in Brisvegas. There is talk about a trial for a DAB+ transmitter on the GC (probably alongside UHF TV repeater at Tamborine Mountain) but nothing set in concrete.
@Infidel: Sadly my house budget is down the hill from Skyline Terrace clear line of sight. I'll have buckleys. Thanks the info! I'm thinking this might still be worth >$50 for a decent sounding bluetooth speaker
@garage sale
I'm Googling your suggestion but not finding anything that explains your idea.
As far as I know, DAB is not broadcast at the Gold Coast. Are you saying that it is part of the TV signal?
Can you give an example of an antenna amp that would be suitable for this?
Bit rusty on the details but back when I worked in an electronics retailer I had a customer whose property was located in a gully and needed an external antenna for dab+.
I contacted a commercial radio station in Melbourne and spoke to a tech who I believe recommended using a TV antenna suited to the old VHF TV Band 3 (eg. Ch9) aimed toward the transmitter but oriented vertically (“vertically polarised”) rather than the usual horizontal orientation applicable here in Melbourne.
Maybe make the same enquiry with a commercial radio station up there for info in case my recollection is incorrect.
Cheers.
@scooter:
As has been commented - no transmitters on Gold Coast for check to receive signal.
TV antennae sold in local stores (eg Bunnings) are already set to local requirements & state DAB+ reception on carton. So no need to check if installing new antenna, but likely will work with existing antenna. Marginal signal areas would benefit from a better antenna setup, like you suggest. (Am using simple TV antenna, similar to basic wire FM antenna, for car DAB+ reception & works well. Far better than simple telescopic antenna.) Wiring into a radio is another matter.
DAB is not available at the Gold Coast!
Yes. I'm in Brisbane (out of line of sight to transmitters due to hill) & DAB+ signal often drops out. Connection to TV antenna could help - when I upgrade antenna & cabling.
Much further away & with terrain in the way, Gold Coast won't receive signal from Brisbane. Gold Coast stretches to the NSW border & up a few valleys to make the issue more complex. It has its own TV, but no DAB+ transmitters.
Increasing signal strength through antenna (& amp) won't help with no available signal. TV Antennas often list DAB+ reception, but connection to radio may be difficult.
I adapted a $9 Kmart DAB+ radio for car use a few years back - works well (5V & AUX connections, uses TV antenna designed for vehicle use wired into radio).
Lack of DAB+ radio in cars has more to do with limited transmitters. In other counties there is unbroken reception as you drive, as I found in UK.
My vehicle reception is limited to a short distance from Brisbane. Next transmitter in Sydney!
To check if you have reception (only in capital cities - Hobart, Canberra & Darwin have recently been added):
http://www.digitalradioplus.com.au/can-i-get-digital-radio
Are you saying that it is part of the TV signal?
No, but you can use a TV antenna to pick up radio signals.
Won't help you though as only capital cities have DAB, even then reception can be shitty.
I can't get DAB either so I bought the internet radio one.
I didn't need this… but sigh…
Decent unit but can't turn off the LCD display. Lowest dim/light setting is still fairly bright in pitch black.
Set brightness to high and place baking paper over it. Sleep tight ;)
Its a great bargain but I won't be buying it. I'm slowly getting better at this.
Quitter! I bought it just so I can dab like all the cool kids #winning
gotta love these sort of bargains! I buy things like this to add to my present cupboard and by the time it's Christmas everyone presents are already sorted
Anyone know if this supports Bluetooth both ways e.g. Bluetooth headphones listening to dab radio? TIA!
Unlikely. If it's not listed as a feature in the manual… (you could check)
It's not latest tech, listed as a deal in 2015.
Could use headphone output to wired headphones or add a Bluetooth transmitter to headphone or Aux out connections.
Thanks Infidel
Anyone have any idea what "Backup Battery for non DAB areas" means?
I had a look at the tech specs and manual on the Bush Australia website and it's not even mentioned in the manual.
Likely for clock. Clock receives time from DAB+ broadcast. Without that signal (capital cities only), clock will need to be set manually. If power is lost, a battery backup will keep time until power is restored. Common to have battery backup in radio alarm clocks, but not necessary if DAB+ signal is available in this unit.
Cool, thanks. Was wondering if it might have a battery for non-wired use but was thinking not given the price and non-specificity in the manual.
Clock radios often use button cells or 9V batteries, just in case of power outage. Designed for very low power use, so alarm goes off at right time. Certainly not a decent capacity rechargeable to operate all functions without mains power. Definitely
a plug in appliance😉
Does anybody who owns one care to comment on the sound quality? My Bluetooth speaker (Anker Soundcore) broke recently and I’m in the market for a replacement.
Probably not much chop. From the manual:
Amplifier Power：7W*2rms@10% THD
So somewhere between tin can and tiny computer speakers.
wow… 10%thd? is that correct?
Fade so. Thanks buddy
so this can use as BT speaker ?
Could you hook this to an AVR?
AVR?
For an AV receiver, as long as it can take audio input from stereo Aux out on this unit - sure.
I've used a DAB+ radio in the car & old amp for years, connected via Aux in.
But DAB+ sampling rates are not high, so sound may be disappointing. Most DAB+ radios available only have a mono speaker, so it doesn't matter on those units, & little incentive for broadcasters to raise sample rate.
Doubt they will raise the sample rate on DAB+ due to the limited bandwidth and number of stations they they to squeeze into there available allocated bandwidth. Australian DAB+ station also broadcast on the Internet but they still use similar low quality bitrates. Even the FM equivalent sounds much better for those stations. Low bitrates are ok for news/talk/sports stations. Yet music channels certainly require a higher rate for decent quality audio.
Completely correct.
I bought the Bush black internet radio with the colour screen from the earlier deal and was disappointed with the audio quality from most (not all) stations. Goes up and down depending on he broadcaster but so much music is being wrecked by shoddy bit-rates
I bought one a few weeks ago from the earlier deal. I think the sound quality is excellent - a "full" sound. The display Is small(and has a leading zero) making it a challenge to read in the middle of the night. Oh, and I broke the antenna off on day one trying to straighten it, but that's ok as I don't want to see an antenna on my bedside table. (the antenna is now behind the bed attached by a black wire)
I bought two. One doesn't work because of a faulty power adaptor and the screen is very very dim. The other works okay…. for now. Make sure you check them first if buying them for presents.
Just received mine, antenna is snapped off in the box :-(
BUSH AUS does not reply to phone calls, i think it is a bad omen for me
Going to request a return and refund, the Gods don't want me to own this….
Sounds like the aerial could be an issue on some of these units as mine's broken too. Tested it anyway and it doesn't pick up any dab+ or FM stations just holding the aerial in place. Tried a wire and still no reception.
I already have a Panasonic RF-D20U and hoping the Bush would work just as well as that unit. Just waiting to see if I get a response from the Grays Ebay email about refunds now.
I bought the clock radio and the "smart audio adapter" (effectively a tuner). Both devices needed coaxing to pick up abc (digital) radio. The tuner adapter was hopeless with the supplied T-wire aerial but fortunately came good with the coax feed from the TV antenna. Clock radio reception is fine with my makeshift aerial. The aerial is supplied sitting sideways across the top and snapped instantly at the base as I bought it to the vertical position. (i don't think it's possible to do so without breaking it - take care!)
The aerial is supplied sitting sideways across the top and snapped instantly at the base as I bought it to the vertical position.
Had exactly the same thing happen to mine. Wouldn't hold my breath about a response directly from Bush given their financial situation.
Upon inspection the F-connector holding the aerial on is screwed in too tight and doesn't allow the aerial to rotate upwards. If you loosen it it tends to unscrew when you're rotating the aerial so that's not a great fix either. Can't be bothered going through the return process as it's obviously a design flaw that needs an engineering fix. Other than the antenna I'm pretty happy with the unit. My DAB+ works well without the aerial just fine in Canberra.
Fortunately I have a couple of spare aerials lying around my place so I fitted a new one that rotates independently of the F-connector. If you look at where the aerial is connected there is a small Phillips head screw holding it on with two washers either side. Easy to unscrew that and put a new one on. eBay is your friend to get a replacement. Should set you back $5-$10 for a new one sent from Hong Kong or you can get one for less from China if you don't mind waiting.
Now we know why they are so cheap and GEORGE does not pick up the phone…
Not going to bother with it, back to grays
My antenna was loose and wouldn't remain upright.it could not be tightened. Too scared to try to tighten it so I put a bit of gaffa tape hidden on the back to hold it up. Otherwise very good and the easiest controls out of my previous dabs. But looks like they have an antenna qualify issue.
@roastchook:
Good to read controls are easy - often an issue with DAB+ units.
Easy to move between Presets (using knob?)?
How's the sound, volume & display?
@Infidel: Display is a liiitle small - half inch digits, not overly bright (which is not necessarily a bad thing). And has a leading zero - making it a challenge at night (eg. 03:33). I think sound/volume is terrific and MUCH better than two older (mono) units that we have
@roonie:
Thanks for the feedback roonie👍
Mono units I've used barely have enough volume for a small room & sound quality is not good. I feed a better sounding Sangean into an old amp - sounds good with great volume. Don't need the clock / alarm function. But it is tempting at the price!
Is this one worth the $20 premium over the Bush BCR35DABW which is selling for $26.40 (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/382459696775)?
A simple search you could have done would have shown… It's a much more basic older clock radio:
Mono sound (no wattage listed so likely to be low) vs "Stereo Full Range Speakers" (7Wrms*2)
No Bluetooth speaker function
No NFC
Single USB charging port vs 2
5V vs 15V power (possibly important when charging via USB port & power to built in amp - affecting sound quality)
At night: bright screen (on both), indistinguishable buttons are a problem to use (ie poor design)
And big difference in look & style
Older unit (Manual refers to 2013)
Also note it has 2 USB charging ports. I think I'm going to grab one of these.