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dorsetfreelander



Member Since: 20 Jul 2013
Location: Dorset
Posts: 4354

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Loire Blue
DAB vs FM

I rarely use DAB due to poor and patchy coverage where I live so generally I am on FM. Last weekend I drove up the motorway to see my daughter and decided to switch to DAB. I normally listen to classical music so it was Classic Fm and Radio 3. I began to think that the sound quality wasn't brilliant and a bit harsh so switched to FM and it was much better and clearer. We are all told that DAB gives you CD quality etc but I did noticed that the bit rate on the different channels was not all the same ie it varied from 116kbs to 132kbs. Has anyone else noticed this sort of thing? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Post #412261 14th Sep 2021 9:52 am
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SYFL2



Member Since: 16 Jun 2012
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2597

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Stornoway Grey

I like my FM but not got DAB in car so can’t compare. Have you tried altering the tone controls when it’s on DAB ?

Post #412263 14th Sep 2021 11:09 am
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congoblue



Member Since: 28 Dec 2019
Location: Hull
Posts: 150

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Loire Blue

DAB definitely sounds better than FM in my car but FM itself can be quite variable so it's difficult to compare. The higher frequencies do seem more prominent on DAB, I would say that the FM sounded "dull" by comparison which may be the same as you describing the DAB as "harsh"!

Low bitrate DAB sounds "swooshy" as you get more encoding artifacts in the sound.

Post #412273 14th Sep 2021 3:31 pm
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Nodge68



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Newquay
Posts: 2082

United Kingdom 2009 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Rimini Red

Very few DAB stations give a better quality sound by comparison to a clear FM signal. There simply isn't the bandwidth available in the DAB spectrum to allow CD quality, period.
In fact many DAB stations only broadcast in mono, as they have to pay for the bandwidth used, which is beyond the budget of many independent stations.

I've a list of DAB stations and the bandwidth each has, and it's pretty eye-opening just how rubbish DAB really can be.
Me I stick to FM or CD, or even MP3 CD, all of which exceed the quality available on DAB Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, my daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

Post #412411 18th Sep 2021 10:11 am
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congoblue



Member Since: 28 Dec 2019
Location: Hull
Posts: 150

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Loire Blue

Well this is a very subjective question isn't it, "better quality sound" is in the ear of the beholder.

I was merely observing that on the LR standard radio in my 2014 SE Tech Freelander, in my local area, to my ears, the main BBC stations sound better on DAB than they do on FM. There could be all sorts of reasons for this ranging from my aural preferences to the strength of the FM signal in the area or how the radio processing is set up to play DAB vs. FM.

I am sure the technical/encoding information you give is correct, but DAB sounds better to me.

Post #412420 18th Sep 2021 5:45 pm
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TooBlue



Member Since: 30 Oct 2019
Location: Midlands
Posts: 265

United Kingdom 

I exclusively use DAB for reasons below....

1) The sound quality can be a lot better than FM, depending on the radio station.
2) No annoying hissing/fading in/out. I prefer the digital way of signal either there or not there, so I can decide to retune.
3) Greater choice of radio stations.
4) More national stations than the dreadful BBC on FM.
5) The signal quality/strength of DAB in my 2013 Freelander2 is really good.

Post #412560 22nd Sep 2021 10:44 am
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Kage



Member Since: 03 Oct 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 236

United Kingdom 2012 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

I’ll second that.
I find that if I’m listening to anything on FM other than a BBC station, the quality fades when the headlights are on.
No such problem with DAB.

Post #412569 22nd Sep 2021 4:15 pm
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