Pure Elan Connect+ Smart Radio REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2023
- The Pure Elan Connect+ Internet Radio is currently (May 2023) heavily discounted on Amazon UK. It's cheap - but is it a bargain?
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The app I mentioned is called UNDOK - not Undock, or undoc or any other spelling - it's UNDOK by Frontier Smart Technologies Ltd.
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The app controlling a lot of different devices is no coincidence. Pretty much _ALL_ (or as close as it doesn't matter) dab radios nowadays are based on a hardware by a company called Frontier Smart Technologies (formerly Frontier Silicon).
Bigger/more expensive devices (think: Denon, Sony and so on) use only their DAB receiver and rest of the hardware/software comes from device manufacturer but the kind you've got is based almost entirely on a module/board from Frontier. PURE (in this case) provides speakers, LCD and maybe audio amplifier in terms of electronics (although I think there is a low power amp provided in the module). And of course: they design the body of the product. Frontier also provides all of the software and as far as I know OEM has very limited customization options (boot logo, enable/disable certain features, mainly based on device form factor, usb ports present and so on), they certainly don't get any source code. This is great for OEM because they don't have to bother with support/updates at all and quite nice for customers because they get quite polished product (in terms of software), app for controlling it, security updates. But because of that all of those devices look and control pretty much identically. There are some differences based on generation of the platform but even between them UI is very similar. Play with similar radios when you'll have the chance and you'll see what I mean. Your radio is probably based on "Magic" module because it seems to lack Spotify but it could possibly also be "Venice" with this functionality disabled.
I'd love to see it tore down to see how little PURE had to add by themselves.
Also, Frontier hardware seems to be based on very obscure META cpu architecture designed by Imagination technologies specifically for signal processing but that is whole another story...
Sorry for the long post, those devices are a little obsession of mine :D That one company has such a huge market that its almost tempting to put a tinfoil hat and speculate about government agency using those radios as backdoors
"Also, Frontier hardware seems to be based on very obscure META cpu architecture designed by Imagination technologies specifically for signal processing but that is whole another story"
That explains things. Pure was initially set up by Imagination simply to demonstrate their DAB chipset in the hope that other manufacturers would take over (a bit like Intel making Motherboards). I was thinking it was strange that they weren't using their own chipset but maybe they are in a roundabout way.
I had noticed how similar the UI is to my Roberts 94i. This explains why
@olewales : Thanks to the web interface showcased by another YT channel (Kevin O'Reilly @KevinOReillyswl), I've deduced it's a VENICE X FS2340.
I'd love to see a teardown of the Pure Elan Connect+
Hopefully mine will be delivered tomorrow!
As much as I'd like to see a teardown, it will be a VENICE X FS2340 module, a couple of speakers, a Class-D stereo amplifier, a 5V to 3.3V buck regulator, an LCD, rotary encoder, switches and connectors, passive components, a plastic box... Oh, and a sticky antenna! 🙂
I own a couple of older Frontier based DAB+/Internet radios (one is from 2007) and while they don't work with the undok app, they are still fully functional and listed on Frontier's web based application.
As someone who makes free and open-source Internet radio software, I greatly appreciate your continued interest in Internet radio, and I think a lot of your videos make a great case for why it's still a thing. It's all about discovering something new, curated by someone new, perhaps somewhere new in the world. :)
What kind of software, would there be an Android app perchance?
@@jochenstacker7448 If you're looking for one, RadioDroid is pretty good IMO.
The line on the DAB signal strength bar graph isn't a buffer, it's the minimum signal level you need to decode the stream without corruption. Low signal strength won't be the reason one Heart station sounds better than the other. Above the minimum threshold, DAB either works or it doesn't. It will be differences in the codec, bit rate, encoder quality, processing, compression or EQ applied by the broadcaster. I think the first Heart you tuned to is 40k DAB+ and the second is 112k DAB, but who knows what differences in processing are being applied by the broadcaster.
I can agree, same with DRM. But that is only AAC, either with or without SBR or PS or xHE-AAC. Nope folks I am talking about Digital Radio Mondiale.
@Ralph Reilly In reality it can sustain a lot of underlying broadcast signal quality degradation with Reed Solomon codes before you get "nothing". Trimmed such that you wouldn't have had a good time with FM analogue either by the time it drops out.
The problem I have with DAB isn't the signal strength - where I live, it works fine (though some multiplexes could do with more transmitters in certain areas, e.g. adding D1 and SD to Membury). The problem is that the UK's bit rates are far too low and there are a number of stations still using the MP2 codec. If all of the 64kbps and 80kbps mono MP2 stations upgraded to 48kbps DAB+ then it would allow the rest of the DAB+ stations to go 48kbps as well, so the DAB+ stations would sound reasonable and there wouldn't be any mono music stations left.
@@TheSpotify95 But that would mean telling the people who spent £200 on a DAB only radio (like a poster above) that they bought a lemon only fit for the WEE skip. I recall that the Evoke 1 (a snip at only £100) didn't even have FM so would only be useful as a doorstop.
I love that you still do the protective film unwrapping gag. Literally has never failed to get a laugh out of me.
The software/app being common across devices is really nice to see. It does add to the aliexpress vibe this machine already had, but at least there’s a chance of software support in the future.
Yeah, I haven't played around with an internet radio, I liked the interface.
I would try something out with larger speakers that had some bass to them.
You will likely never get any software support, but you may be able to flash a custom build of the software to your unit to update it if it's open source.
@@antikommunistischaktion Mat literally showed the software had an update in the video. So I don’t think it’s at all unlikely there would be some further updates.
@@antikommunistischaktion The software is very closed, not even device manufactures have access to the source and even CPU architecture they use is obscure (unless they moved to MIPS) BUT because the software is pretty much the same across millions of similar devices the cost of maintenance is reduced and they actually seem to get updated when needed
The UI is identical to the model I got (and I overpaid, admittedly) from Philips. I did some research a while back and the core of these devices is a System on a Chip made by a company called Frontier Smart Technologies. AFAIK they have no interest in opening it up, but I wouldn't expect them to, with the SoC is a current product.
You can discover if a device has one such SoC by pointing your browser to the radio's IP address.
Funnily enough, the Philips model does support the app, but it's not mentioned anywhere in the manual.
All in all, these devices are quite nice for what they are, but it's a bit aggravating that they don't offer a line out to connect to better speakers.
HP output means it dispenses brown sauce
But does it allow you to listen on ketchup? Or to select the input sauce?
Probably why the antenna was sticky.
It mayo
it must..errr..do many sauce inputs methinks
Maybe it’s late, or maybe it’s an (British) inside joke. But I didn’t get it ☹️
Sold! Made my day seeing you repping Break Pirates. One of my favourite communities. Shared it with them on our WhatsApp group to everybody’s delight. You are a God, with a great and eclectic taste in music. Above the Law, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Geto Boys et al. Thank you for the heads up, and for all your work and hard graft.
We've plugged ours into the amplifier and it works exceptionally well as our receiver. No hassles with volume control as its connected into the unit.
I use this device for a couple of months and still very pleased with it. Placed in the attic with a small indoor FM transmitter at the headphones output, I can control it with the app and listen to it through all vintage radios in and around the house😊❤
Same setup I have in my house :-) Works perfectly!
Genius
We got one of these a couple of months ago for my son when we moved into a poor DAB coverage region. He's used to how radios work and with something like this we can just swap over to using internet radio without a lot of handholding. For him it's just another radio and the small form factor and general radioy shape really helps too, I think.
My first time to comment on your Chanel.
Really love your content thank you for your hard work.
I'm loving the nostalgia of the 70's and 80's stuff. Brings back memories of me taking stuff apart to see how it worked!!
Just bought this DAB+ internet Radio, thank you for getting the video up so quickly so we could take advantage of the 50% discount 😊
Another good video from Techmoan. He tackles newer as well as retro kit with the same enthusiasm and abandon. As for this review, I was impressed enough to order one from Amazon at £49.95. Ironically, just 2 days later and it's now £52.95. Whatever, as an audiophile I wasn't expecting much but just needed a cheap radio for the kitchen, so it does a job. I've had Pure radios in the past at up to £300 but despite that, these cheapies from China aren't a disgrace.
It was started by Imagination Technologies Limited. They are in my view worth a search on wiki. Shows how a British company is now owned by the chinese government.
La majoritatea IR lipsesc codecurile AAC și AAC+, ce mare mizerie
Whoah! A bonus mid week video! We lucky!
The led/fm interference thing is fascinating. Those two things have never overlapped in my timeline.
you can add most plug packs to the interference mix as well. Walk around your house with a detuned MW radio and listen to the crap most modern electronics pollute the ether with.
Same here. I know LEDs tend to mess with video quality (adding flicker), but I never would have guessed they’d cause enough interference to mess with a FM radio.
@@barrieshepherd7694 you're correct, that works on really low frequencies (which are multiples of the frequency used on the switching power supplies) but that noise is usually not that powerful on higher frequencies like FM or the ones for DAB(+). except if these light fixtures are really bad quality
You clearly never had a cheap speaker in the early 2000s and dared to have a cell phone in the same room get a phone call.
@@RedHealerMatt Yeah, the memories of picking up my phone just before receiving a call.
Your video prompted me to buy one at half price. Thankfully, mine didn't have a sticky aerial. Nice radio, but unfortunate that it omits the often found Media Centre/DLNA feature, and doesn't have a rechargeable battery. An interesting alternative radio which does include these, although it's mono, is the fairly compact XORO DAB 150 IR, which adds Spotify Connect, and USB input, but excludes Bluetooth. It also has app control via the AirMusic app, rather than Undok.
Bought one on the strength of this video and hugely impressed. It's now doing sterling service in the kitchen where it's replaced an ageing Pure 1 (that now lives in the bathroom).
The mobile control app is a real winner too and just adds to what is a most pleasant ownership experience. Thanks for the video - as comprehensive, entertaining and informative as ever.
It's just amazing to me how much value they can pack into these gadgets, and at such a low price! Imagine going back in time to your 1970s self and listing all the things this little piece of tech can do, (which would blow my 70s mind by itself), and then say, "Oh, by the way, it costs less than a 1970s radio." Great video.
@@TD75 It's a handheld device that costs the equivalent of two Dominos pizza orders and gives you access to hundreds of thousands of radio stations from around the world in a radio form-factor that many prefer over trying to finagle something similar on their phone.
It's okay if it's not for you, but it's not "junk".
Well, on the software side it's probably worth some money. But the hardware is certainly not. And I wouldn't bet on it working flawlessly in five years.
Why do I need to hold the radio when I press the big button? Why can't they place it in top? Such user interfaces just annoy me.
The answer is Chinese slaves.
Yeah, but it is packed full of sht.
Not a bad bit of kit! Ordered a stereo one in white using your link.
Good review. I’ve had one of these for the best part of a year and it’s been excellent. Everything I need in a small kitchen radio and the s/w updates are definitely a bonus.
Great video. I ended up buying one and it's just been delivered. Very pleased with it. An adequate BT speaker but as I got it as an Internet Radio the sound is more than sufficient. Already having a U-Dock device its great not having a new interface to learn. Thanks for letting us know this handy, dandy little radio was out there AND on sale 😊
The additional AA battery option makes this a great choice for emergency situations like longer power outages or anytime when usb charging is not possible.
So these things are sadly still very power hungry. An old analogue MW/FM radio ran for weeks on four AA cells.
that's exactly why I'm a bit confused this uses AA batteries instead of a rechargable battery pack, especially considering that it's powered by microUSB
It the Codec processing that kills the batteries, it means the bandwidth per station is tiny for DAB but they are highly compressed ... running on FM Radio is probably very light on the batteries ..
@@davidioanhedges Indeed. I should think that display gobbles up quite a bit of electricity as well - certainly more than a stick on a piece of string which was the frequency display on older radios. Devices like this use hundreds of thousands of transistors to achieve similar utility to older devices which had perhaps a dozen - it's difficult to achieve the same low consumption as a result of this.
@@davidioanhedges
The screen doesn't help either.
@@davidioanhedges Nah, you get the same AAC codec in a pair of Airpods, and those last for five hours on a tiny battery. Main power draws are the speakers and screen and possibly bad software in the CPU.
Thanks for the recommendation, its a great little radio, one of my best buy's this year
TY for sharing. I learned a lot from your review. You have lots of knowledge! I can understand really why your channel is so popular! Well done :)
I feel like they should make a third device that's $20 and is just the interface because outside of the fact that you don't have volume control when you're in the menu, it seems like a rather capable device. The User interface isn't atrocious, and is pretty straight forward. The saving of the money would give you the opportunity to plug in portable speaker you already have just laying around the house. Might seem kind of pointless to have that kind of device without a speaker in the home nowadays, but idk just a thought
I'd definitely buy a 'no speaker' version
These kinds of radios all use a chipset (it's actually hardware and software) made by a company called Frontier Smart Technologies. I believe it's called Nuvola. I have a Hifi component version of this made by Hama. I really like it. Works very well. Only thing I noticed is that some podcasts aren't regularly updated, and latest episodes are often missing. Mine also has spotify connect, but I suspect they weren't able to license it at that price point.
Yeah, i got a DAB+ radio from aldi, and the UI looks exactly the same, figured it would be the same circuitry someone makes that is then thrown into thousand different devices by other companies.
I loved my one of these so much, so easy to use and set up and great compact size for my desk. Ended up with 5 of them round the house. Purely for internet radio.
Great video! I have a few internet radios from Ocean Digital that connect to the SkyTune service and they are fantastic. Between 30-40k stations to pick from and the they even make a component version for hooking up to your hifi.
Glad to see this uses standard batteries, I bought the Pure ONE DAB radio years ago. They made a big fuss about their eco credentials and how they used no plastic in the packaging etc. Then you discover that you need their custom battery pack which is shaped to fit only 2 models and costs over £20 !!
Wonder how many of those they sold?
Interesting video, Matt, was not expecting one this time of the week. As you said, the UI or even the operating system looks identical to the LEMEGA "All In One" system, which is one of the few reasonably-priced solutions we have in the US if you want a Stereo CD player AND internet radio; it uses a top-mounted scroll wheel that is popular with those sort of nightstand stereos. The speakers are probably a little better than these, and they can offer some nice bass (though ironically you have to TURN OFF superbass rather than turn it on), but they do have the annoying feature of popping VERY LOUDLY if they're turning on (for example, for alarm or if you start playing a CD). I suppose it makes sense all these inexpensive devices share very similar software. I will also agree that the internet radio is such a great bonus (especially here in the US where DAB hasn't really caught on, as far as I can tell?); it's great being able to find old Japanese rock or pop songs I listened to in the 1990s, as well as stuff I'd never heard before from other regions.
Nice step-through of the various features, Matt. Looks like a fairly OK portable Net Radio unit. Thanks for posting this.
Been keeping my eyes open for something like this for a while. Will be using my good old faithful soundlab pc speakers so the speaker quality isn't an issue. Ordered a stereo model. Thanks for passing this on. Much appreciated.👍
I was really impressed by this unit. After a bit of research I found its big brother. You can purchase the Auna T320 BT for about £115. This is a serious piece of Hi-Fi and would warrant a video of its own.
*HP Output* ~ Hewlett Packard, so you can print out the sheet music of what you are listening to!
Great Video advice, I have had a Pure Elan Radio now for quite some time, found it more than confusing , became really browned off with it to a point where I almost binned it , took a deep breath to reconsider as it may be my lack of understanding of the functions ( there were no instructions contained within the packaging) decided to give this thing a last chance, had a look on UA-cam , found your video explanation, fantastic, now, thanks to you, not only can I find the stations I want to listen too, you have saved its life , excellent, high marks, just so good, many thanks.
Best
As always, you sir are one of my favorite UA-cam creators. Thanks for all you do, I would like to see a few more kitchen gadgets videos, I did enjoy the few you made. I know not your wheelhouse but was fun to watch.
A wild CBB encounter! I knew you were a man of great taste and humor.
I saw your comment before I watched, and assumed it was a different CBB. I literally yelpled when it happened!
Heynong Man!
@@vvvictoriav5958 Heynong Man!
THX for the German Audio, Love it
Great video, handy knowing about that app...I got the single speaker version in white a few months ago...am quite impressed with all the stations use in the kitchen now daily
Thanks Matt for another brilliant and informative video. A new Techmoan video really makes my Friday night with a beer or Saturday morning with a coffee something to really look forward too after a long working week. I've enjoyed your videos for years now, please keep up the great work, you're a star in our household, even the miss's enjoys watching the odd Techmoan video with me too, fantastic 👌
A heads up for anyone getting a Dab+ radio, don’t expect the batteries to last longer than 1 hour.
Good video Mr Techmoan. I've had a few products from Pure and they have all been pretty well designed. The old Evoke 3 was a halo DAB stereo radio with programmable record to flash card capability. Expensive when new, my late uncle paid £199 back in the day but it's still going well and sounds very good. That one just looks a bit cheap for my taste, I'd rather have the sound quality a bit better for say an extra £20 or so. Just my two penneth
.. My dad has philipino gfriend and is recuperating from heart thing. Have internet radios finally gotten simple enough for most old folks like him?? And are the past Pure devices pretty functional, why is techmoan suddenly excited about this 1? Amazon has Imega ir4s pretty cheap... Thanks.. PS. And will Pure devices work in US?? If UK wasn't so rainy I'd move there from Texas and marry a princess.
@@mostlyguesses8385 It's very decent and it's very cheap.
@@mostlyguesses8385 DAB is apparently pretty limited in the US, probably due to the greater suitability of Sirius satellite radio, thanks to sparseness of signal coverage versus the low population density for most of the country.
@@YenRugIt’s not just “limited”, DAB doesn’t exist at all in the US, because the US has a completely different standard called “HD Radio”. DAB radios will not work in the US, except for the FM part.
My brother has anal warts and a mail order bride from Russia. Would he enjoy this device?
Hi, thanks for the review, and I learned a few things eg the buffer on the dab signal strength display
You've inspired me to go look for a new alarm clock radio! I haven't used one in so long i forgot that i didn't have to use my phone for that job. Thanks for the reminder!
I have an old Pure DAB radio which was the first DAB device I ever had. I think I bought it around 2010. Its sound quality isn't bad considering its a single speaker and after I baught a google home it came to work so I can listen to planet rock in the workshop. The radio you reviewed looks pretty good for the money and has a lot of interesting features too.
I have a suggestion for a review.
The Pinell Supersound 202 is a nice surprise in my opinion. I visited my sister last weekend, and she had bought herself one of those. It is a bit pricey, but it has a setup similar to the Elan you tested here, but the sound is quite rich and pleasant to listen to. The audio amplifier delivers up to 7W, and doesn't distort even at full volume.
I really needed one radio. Your video came right on time. 😁. I'll buy one. Thanks
Excellent review. Thank you!
I bought one like yourself from Amazon. The sound is exceptional for a box of this size. The latest firmware uplift added podcast capability. The little tab is a little annoying in my mind. There have been a couple of glitches in the software, nothing that can't be lived with. Yes, the inability to separately adjust the volume is annoying, but once in use it becomes a non issue. The battery indicator on my Nimh batteries tends to go from full to zero with no real warning. The alarm feature only works when plugged into an external supply.
The rotary knob is easy to use, except maybe when entering searches it's a bit clunky there. The ability to save 20 stations for each mode is probably more than you need, but it's good to have. Lack of scanning isn't something that I've worried about, but it would be a nice feature to be included.
Given the price point of £50 I think that it's a cracking little radio and well worth the money.
The alarm only working when plugged in is understandable to be fair, an alarm isn't much use if it's not reliable(as would be the case with batteries) I can imagine the complaints they'd get when people were late for work etc.
The behavior with NiMH cells probably has to do with the voltage curve. Normal batteries start at 1.5V and gradually decrease while discharging, a NiMH cell starts at 1.2V and stays very close to that until a certain discharge point where the voltage abruptly decreases.
I just bought a mono one and now I have both types to compare I think it sounds a bit better than the stereo one! A slightly nicer tone, especially in the bass. You may think they are the same except for an additional speaker but the cabinet design is quite different. On the mono one the cabinet is not quite as tall, is deeper and instead of having separate grills of soft plastic has a grill that's part of the hard plastic entire front.
Hi. Could you please let me know whether the single speaker mono version of this radio has 3.5mm headphone output in stereo or mono?
Quite important really.
Thanks in advance!
I've ordered the White mono version. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Matt, on the basis of your review, I purchased one last night and I am very pleased with it. Thanks for the heads up 👍🏻👍🏻
What is highly amusing to me on the Amazon page for the charcoal version you got is that the purchase defaults to a subscription to buy another every 2 months! Why would anyone want a subscription to purchase more electronic goods? They make sense for consumables but not electronics.
Great review. Battery life seems shockingly bad on modern radios, even if playing fm. Remember fm radios playing for weeks on 4 aa’s or c cells.
I agree, my old (20+ years) Sony runs on 3 AA batteries for almost a year. We use it while in the Bathroom, listening to the News and Weatherforecast, every day for about 15 minutes. But it seems to be related to listening to DAB, while uses more battery power than FM.
I love it when Saturday comes around again so quickly.
As usual impressive and tempting Review so I went ahead and ordered the unit!
Aaasnd in five minutes amazon noticed the increased traffic on this product and raised the price!
would have liked you to connect external speakers to the headphone socket to see if the sound is as thin as you think, or it's just the on board speakers, and if the equalisation is more detectable with other speakers...
^THIS ...'cause i'll NEVER get rid of my Denon PMA-1080R!
Headphone out is not the same as a line out, so wouldn’t have worked properly for external speakers - it would have been a nice feature, but it still looks good for what it is.
@@Crazyfistish Yez..yes...but my Denon can still give a little sound...non-Audio Elitist = i am! It's just for radio...Dab..inter' etc.
I will say that I got a Pure Oasis DAB radio for the bathroom in 2012. It's a huge chunky thing but 11 years later it's still going strong.
Thanks Matt, bought my daughter one
Here in New Zealand being an expat I listen to BBC over the internet. Sadly however, the BBC is switching off all its current streams in June/July in favour of the BBC Sounds app. This will make most such radios including mine obsolete. No more BBC for me, I will need to use a telephone. Thank you, BBC.
I thought that the BBC Sounds APP also worked abroad so you can continue listening. There may be some restrictions for sport and live material but otherwise OK. I used Sounds when visiting Sydney in February. From the BBC;
"BBC Sounds:
Radio and Podcasts is a free app for Android and iOS. The good news is that the app is not geo-restricted, so you should be able to download and use it even if you're not in the UK. One of its best features is the option to download podcasts to listen to when you're offline.11 Aug 2022"
@@barrieshepherd7694 Hi Barrie, yes it's true the Sounds app is available world wide but most dedicated internet standalone radios cannot pick up this app. The BBC have now shut down the distribution streams I used until last month. So, my radio is now useless for anything BBC
I wish something like this was available in the USA, but we don't really have digital radio. Heck, from Amazon the shipping isn't even bad, half tempted just for the fun of internet radio (since Shortwave is dead)
Thanks! I've had a Roberts istream3 for a few months which has the same software, and never got UNDOK to work. Having watched your video I tried again, and realised that it was on the guest network so it's restricted. I switched it to the proper ssid and it worked straight away.
Have ordered one. Thanks for the tip 👍
4:05 As a note, make sure to keep WPS disabled. If you have WPS enabled on your wifi, anyone can connect to your wifi, even without you pressing the button. Just wanted to make a psuedo PSA, because if you live in a place like an apartment, WPS makes it trivial for someone to jack your Wifi.
This actually isn't an issue if your particular AP allows you do disable the WPS PIN option, the push button option was never exploited. It's really a wash though nowadays as few modern devices support WPS anymore.
Yeah, that's obsolete advice. As @@antikommunistischaktion says, it only applies to WPS PIN, but even then, APs that aren't completely junk or completely obsolete have mitigations which disable the PIN after a number of wrong tries, so an attacker has to get lucky. It's nothing to worry about if your router isn't ancient, for which it would have tons of other security issues (e.g. KRACK attacks) anyway.
@@antikommunistischaktion Numerous devices support WPS, including all fibre modems here.
@@DoubleMonoLR Show me a single modern client device that supports it. WPS has been removed from Android since 9.0 and iOS removed it at some point though I don't know specifically which iOS version.
Of course Mat is a CBB fan. Of course he is!
Heynong man
Just now finally seeing that HDTGM is featured as well. A gentleman and a scholar.
Heynong man.
I love watching Techmoan's reviews.
It's always relaxing to watch. ☕
"3+, is that 100?" That gave me a good chuckle
Bizarrely spotted the same deal and purchased from Amazon just a few hours before you published this!
Fantastic value for money.
What I'd be interested about in such device reviews - whether they allow to enter custom URLs for internet radios - with on-screen keyboard or an app.
That would make it relatively future proof (still won't account for unsupported audio formats) and help with stations that not present in the discovery service.
Luckily I think we have audio compression about as good as it's going to get for quite some time. AAC has been the standard for a long time now, and MP3 is still used quite a few places.
@Ralph Reilly You're missing the fact that this device supports internet radio and downloading podcasts, and connects to the internet using WiFi.
Nice surprise to get a video on a Wednesday.
A techmoan video in the middle of the week? What a treat!
Dumb question; can you use the device as a source? The speakers are lame but plug your receiver/hi-fi in and fire the signal through a much better sound system?
Idk how DAB is in other places but in in Australia most channels sound incredibly awful due to most channels being 16-32kbps and 48 on a couple of the "flsgship" channels. My young ears prefer FM even though its bandwidth limited to roughly 16khz of audio.
Also here in Australia, DAB coverage is very limited compared to FM. Even in cities it can be a struggle.
You've pavlov dogged me into saying "ohh yeahh" at just the right time
I really loved you not being able to turn the volume down. Was good fun.
I paid £90ish back in 2021 for mine and have really enjoyed it, purely for the internet radio side of things. I have some other Pure products (siesta and pureone) but obviously none did the internet radio. I'm tempted to get one of the single speaker ones as the prices have really dropped! (As you said though, could go up in a few weeks)
I ended up buying the single speaker one as I needed something that could take bluetooth in my garage, and the fact it has internet radio was a massive plus point. Although I won't use the speaker as it'll be plugged in via the headphone jack to my 80's Arcam amp. I got mine today for £44.99 off of Amazon, shortly after this video went out, so prices are going up already - but no doubt can come down as well.
Now its £53 Amazon uk for black and 49 for grey colour
I've seen that user interface on a variety of Internet radio players by now. Mostly on budget radios from Aldi/Lidl.
Yeah Pure have really cheapened out.
Yup, I've got it on my Roberts radio. It seems to have monopolised the market, which is a shame as it would be good to see some variety in how menus and info are presented. But I guess it's cheaper for manufacturers to buy these displays readymade from third party suppliers to keep costs down.
@@stepheng8779 I remember when Pure radios used to be more expensive than Sony, Roberts etc. Strange that they're now apparently the cheap option.
@@stepheng8779 still trading on the reputation they built up years ago for high end kit. Like a lot of companies... at least they're not just a zombie name like Toshiba or Sharp (yet).
@@rich_edwards79 Haven't seen any new tech from Sharp/Toshiba in ages.
I think the last time I saw something with a Toshiba logo on it was way back in the mid-00s, when harddisk-recorders/DVRs were starting to make their way into the homes of Danish consumers. And from what I remembered from the demo provided to me by the guy in the electronics store, the Toshiba HDD-recorder wasn't really a good one at that. There were models from Sony, Pioneer and Panasonic, which did a better job at recording off analog TV signals due to excellent 3d-comb filters. And also, the Toshiba didn't include DVD burning capabilities... so no way of saving recordings onto a DVD for archival purposes. A highly missed opportunity by Toshiba.
Pulled the pin and bought one. What a cool little device. Thanks for the heads up RE the app. Makes it much more user friendly. Heads up. If updating remove the batteries then plug the usb lead in or it won't update. My wife is loving the podcast access.
I did enjoy the run through of different worldwide radio stations. It reminded me of when they do the recap during voting at Eurovision.
Wednesday Techmoan? Delightful!
I got the same radio about a year or so ago. You can end up getting lost in the mass number of radio stations. Obviously not designed to compete with the sound system or premium radios. One thing to note with this radio is that if you enter its IP address into a web browser, you can access its web panel including editing the preset URL. One thing that could be a problem in the future is not the portals shutting down per se but radio station owners moving exclusively to their own smartphone apps in order to control their listening ecosystem for targeted advertising, encouraging loyality or even paywalling as Bauer have started to do.
all with me now: S U B S C R I P T I O N !
I love that you're a CBB listener! Heynongman!
Excellent review.
Neat little device.
What worries me about that internet radio function is that it's dependent on an online database for it's playlists. When that goes down, the internet radio function will cease to work.
I wonder if it is possible to add your own audio streams to the list.
looks like it..... ua-cam.com/video/Ifb6H0OmGPI/v-deo.html
I've just tried this by pasting various links into the preset from an internet station that works fine in chrome or on the device via whatever method it chose to get it before my intervention... it doesn't like the pasted links, & locks up, requiring a forced reboot. I'll have a fiddle with the links & see if I can get it to work.
@@duncan-rmi Are you pasting the URL for the website or the audio stream? These things need to be in one or two different formats.
Just nabbed the grey one, 5 quid cheaper. I'm mostly interested because Tune In, and the other internet radio apps have made it increasingly difficult to listen to International stations from here in the UK. Apparently there was some court decision.
A bit like when Sky TV first came to Britain and we had German and Dutch TV on there.
Was there an exception for physical radios or something?
@@F_I_J_I_W_A_T_E_R I don't really know, but I doubt it. As far as I know the court decision was specifically between 2 us music labels and Tune In, but I know that other radio apps have cut international coverage in the UK, so... Anyhow, the Pure radio in the video was clearly still linking to overseas streams, so I jumped.
My understanding is it's about those referral/re-streaming services that interject their own advertisements into the stream in place of the original adverts in the originating stations stream. The music copyright owners claim that makes the referral/re-streaming service a distributor. Using original stream links and listening to original links seems Ok.
I thought I selected 2x play speed... I laughed harder at this vid than I should have. Keep it up, this was great. Context and subtle humor, bravo.
This was an extra funny video this week! Thanks!
What? When did the weekend start?
Not a huge fan of the design or sound, but a pretty great feature set for that sort of price tbh - unusual to see Mat reviewing a new audio product that is not garbage tbh! 😅
I love that you have drumandbasslounge on your Internet radio station history! 🎵🎶
Thanks for the review! just moving into a new apartment and this is just what I needed. Mostly i listen to talk radio from 5 live and Ukraine so this is ideal.
Being stuck with German radio stations, that's truly the worst nightmare
😂
As a German, I can confirm.
I think the Germans have been involved in worse things that might induce nightmares. 🤣
The Germans call it Funkzwang
@@jens256 lol
Seems like a bargain, good features for the price and clean user interface.
And hardware qualitywise comparable to a 1989 cheap boombox.
@@pneuroot Not bad considering a cheap boombox in 1989 would have cost more then £50 in today's money.
@@KingEurope1 You're probably right, but back then I was already disappointed in the thin sound that £50 boomboxes produced 😄
Thanks so much! I've watched almost all of your videos, but this is the one that was most attractive to me. (Well, a lot of the tech you share you also tend to "moan" about, lol). I used the affiliate link, so I do hope that you receive a bit of a commission. I ordered two of the gray variety, in stereo with expedited shipping, which was even cheaper than expected, including shipping to Taiwan. The timely sharing of this post/product is really appreciated! 👍
This is why I love this channel! Is it the best sounding radio ever? No. But it is pretty full featured, cheap, and would be a great radio for say my garage.
Anyone else reminded of the Sega Game Gear lookin at this thing??
This is very similar to the Logitech internet radio that came out a few years back, but seems to have flopped because they no longer sell it or support it.
Logitech released the source code of their Logitech media server, which is still alive, healthy, and supported. They're are plenty of raspberry pi distros that incorporate a LMS, such as PiCorePlayer, VolumIO or MOode.
I retrofitted an old tube radio with a raspi zero w and PCP, works like a charm.
That’s the old Squeezebox Radio hardware repurposed by Logitech to run some non Squeezebox firmware? I think those were terrible and were mostly brought by folks who wanted to flash them back to Squeezebox Radios…
I was gonna say the same thing. I still use one in my bathroom. Good sound quality. The internet streaming still works, but the Squeezebox server for local mp3 streaming is no longer available. Also the rubber knob seems to be getting sticky, as often happens with old rubber.
@@Yggdrasil42 I washed the knob with alcohol, and now it has taken on a stone-like texture.
I've got several still around the house in daily use. And interesting as the radio in this video looks a lot like a mini Squeezebox Boom - to my eyes anyway. The server definitely is still available!
Actually got this one after your last internet radio video... I've been very impressed with how it performs.
Very interesting and relevant since I'm probably gonna need/want something like this soon. I looked at the higher end models and they seem compelling... except that none seem to take a USB drive. Thanks!