Complete DAB Digital and AM/FM Tuner

Intro | Features | Specs | Review | Factsheet (290KB PDF) | Stockists | Support
 

It’s an easy ‘one box’ solution for those wishing to solve their analogue versus digital dilemma. Twice as nice!
Hi-Fi World, August 2003

From the world’s largest manufacturer of digital radios comes this new hybrid, offering FM and AM analogue, in addition to DAB. It features the latest DAB processor from Frontier Silicon in addition to multi-language support and dual-band reception for use throughout Europe.

Crammed with features, you get analogue auto tune (very handy) and selection by station name, plus naming of non-RDS FM stations. There’s USB connectivity for software upgrading and future DAB data access; configurable DAB station programming, ninety nine presets each for DAB, FM and AM; RDS capability and full signal strength and aerial diagnostics. Build is acceptable, and the overall look quite elegant.

At the rear we have a real socket-fest, with balanced XLR outputs, stereo RCA outputs, a loop for auxiliary devices, coaxial and optical digital outputs, three antenna sockets and a USB connector. Although there’s so much to master, this is still a very user-friendly design and a doddle to use. One great thing is that with FM you simply turn the rotary knob until the required station appears and press it in - hey presto - just like DAB! You even get a comprehensive remote unit and quarter-inch headphone socket to boot.

Sound Quality

This machines works well on analogue FM, Radio 3 had a decent amount of warmth and depth... Voices were natural with just a tad of chestiness. Moving to Radio 3 on DAB, and contrary to popular journalistic belief, it sounded better! This is down to PURE’s own Psycho-Acoustic Compensation-II technology (PAC-II), which applies plateau lift to low frequencies, and equivalent cut to highs, via the analogue outputs only. This adds body and warmth to the sound. It also means the PURE will not sound like other DAB tuners. It works very well indeed, making digital Radio 3 a force to be reckoned with.

Radio 1 in analogue was a bit of a nightmare - due to the PURE picking upon the worst aspects of studio processing. Upper frequencies were tinny and edgy and bass, although deep and full was overblown. This, however, mainly disappeared with the same broadcast in digital, which tidied things up nicely, vocals clean and tidy and bass as tight as could be expected. Again the PURE delivered a slightly better response in DAB than analogue with local commercial and BBC stations, the digital side of the machine did a much better job with pop music than many rivals do in analogue.

The DRX-702ES is an interesting and brilliantly well-equipped bit of kit, which can’t be bettered when it comes to facilities and features.. It’s an easy ‘one box’ solution for those wishing to solve their analogue versus digital dilemma. Twice as nice!

A top hybrid.

Also available: Black Version