Comparing different Sony DAB+ Radios 

david beneš I’m happy this was useful for you

Floris Lobé I'm happy you liked it. Which radio will you get?

memm i would like to buy one for my father. And i cant decide if i go for the small one or the latest one. The weak reception of the small one is what stopping me. I live in Australia so we might have strong channels. Which one is better in overall? We both have them at the same price now

The bigger one is better in terms of the user interface (FM Auto Tune, displaying RDS Text) and reception, so if you don't need to it be small and more portable I would go with the bigger one. One thing to mention: The S41D has a wake-up timer, but it can only be used if it is plugged into the mains, not if it is running on batteries.

Happy to hear this was useful. I have the 41 on my desk powered by the computer's USB Hub (found the USB adapter by coincidence). Using it very often and I'm very happy. Greetings back from Lancashire.

@@Bleistift what's the audio like? Much bass ? Some small radios do well with bass so just wondered how the 41 is

Yes, your guess about my background is correct. Your radio setup sounds nice.

It's a great radio. I bought mine used. Sometimes the power button might not slide back, but the only problem this is causing for me is that the back-light doesn't turn off. If I notice it I just tap the button and it will slide back.

@@Bleistift is this still true today still working? Also the newer black one if I had rechargeable batteries in it would the power cable charge when plugged in?

@@ashab1 still working. Yes, if you plug it in it’ll charge.

@@Bleistift Ok thank you.

I guess it depends on how big the room is and if it is supposed to by just listened to or if it is supposed to be playing music for a party.

I’d love to and I tried to buy one for a good price on eBay in the past, but I didn’t win that auction so don’t have one.

That's an advantage. I have 8 AA batteries so I just swap them over.

The 61DB is much bigger.

They were online at the time, but now I don't see them anymore. I wonder why they were removed (or maybe I just can't find them anymore and they are still there). Maybe the standards have changed?

Yes, but the station needs to transmit this information. In some countries that's common, but in other countries it's not common.

Thank you for your comment. The audio of the P1DBP is really impressive, but sensitivity could be better. If you don't need DAB, I know the Eton E5/E3 and Grundig G5/G3 their sensitivity is great. I also have the Eton E1. Reception-wise fantastic, the interface is amazing, but it is not built well. The rubberised surface becomes sticky and my tuning wheel doesn't work most of the time. For some reason they decided to build it in India with Chinese parts and that doesn't seem to have worked out well. I have seen the S61D, we have a very similar DAB radio from Panasonic in the Kitchen, the RF-D10EB, and it works well. I didn't know about the Sangean DPR69+, but the ATS-909 had an overall good reputation. I've been trying to get my hands on the V20D and the sister model with Bluetooth for a while. Once I nearly won it, but I was in IKEA and the mobile phone signal was poor, so my eBay bid didn't go through 8^( If you buy something like the Technisat DIGITRADIO 80 you can connect an external aerial which should help. For FM or SW I could give you better recommendations, but I only know a handfull of DAB/DAB+ radios. Greetings from (M/)DG6NGI

Thanks for the detailed reply. I owned a couple of ATS-909X ; very nice bassy and clear audio on FM, good sensitivity, but no DAB unfortunately. As a MW DXer, I also know the Eton / Grundig receivers you mention. I also use a cheap chinese XH-DATA D-808 that offers nice FM reception with RDS, HF AM-SSB coverage, air band, but audio is a bit deceiving. So I don't know yet what to purchase as a sensitive FM / DAB portable radio only, offering rich sound and superior sensitivity (and no too expensive !!). The new Sony (S61D) seems fine, but a bit 'big' for a portable radio. Exept its superior audio, no idea about sentivity of the V20D (not cheap ...). I'm also HAM op ;-)

I didn't know the XH-DATA D-808, thanks for telling me about it. I bought a few cheap Chinese FM radios (under £20) with very good reception (Tecsun, Kchibo). One broke soon, but most are good. I read about decoding DAB with a SDR, but I never looked into this, that might be an option (external aerial that fits your needs). Well, I keep my eyes out and hope I will manage to get one of those Sonys for a good price on eBay. Unfortunately Technisats radios don't appear often on eBay UK, but some of them have a connection for an external aerial, so might be suitable for you.

For about 70 euros, the XH-DATA D-808 is a great little radio covering from LW (pretty deaf though) to air band (very fine reception for such a radio). MW sensitivity is also great. Of course, I also played with Tecsun units (PL 310/380/660/880) but these were mainly used as handful outdoor HF / MW receivers. For serious DX, I've been using SDR and loop antennas for years (Perseus, ELAD S2, Airspy HF+, RSPDuo, Wellbrook loops). Same for FM DX with Yagis.

Thank you for this information.

The V1BTD, but it’s not in my video.

The little one is really good, especially the sound. The interface could be more clever, though.

I'm surprised they turned DAB off when in other countries they turn FM off. 😳

Wow, they close FM stations?!

@@HeathHunter In some European countries, yes, they are shutting FM (and AM, some haven't had AM for a few years) :| Even Spain only has 3 DAB transmitters. :/ They shut the 4th in Mijas, Málaga... If they'd broadcast from the mountain in Seville or Badajoz, maybe we could get signals from DAB Spain in Lisbon :'(

@@tuggaboy I was in Malaga two years ago, no DAB :( They close AM stations in Bulgaria - just 2 transmitters left. But still no DAB here.

From my personal experience, 15-16 hours on FM and probably a little shorter on DAB.

If the question is whether I used the radios' maximum volume when I filmed this then the answer is no.

@@Bleistift how much the volume are select during this video?

TheDjsura just a normal volume I would use when close to the radio. I bit more quiet than 'conversation volume'.