Mixed reception: DAB Audio Adaptor

Adding a DAB radio to your hi-fi separates system usually involves balancing another layer on the teetering mass of equipment that makes up your stereo. Not so with this DAB Audio Adaptor.

This weasel is not much bigger than a glasses case, and plugs into your hi-fi via old-school phono connectors. A few seconds later it'll tune itself into every DAB station going.

Reception on the Audio Adaptor is sometimes intermittant, but unfortunately there's no way to easily boost the on-board aerial. Looking at the lonely aerial wire that trails out of the back, it's easy to understand why the Audio Adaptor struggles to maintain a crisp DAB signal. In our bedroom (yes, we all sleep in the same one) we couldn't get the Audio Adaptor to tune into some stations like Gaydar Radio and XFM, but it could achieve a reasonably stable lock on all BBC radio stations -- presumably because the transmissions are stronger.

If you're lucky enough to use the Audio Adaptor in a location where DAB reception is extremely good, it's a smart and reliable bit of kit. Others will find -- like us -- that they need the more powerful solution of a full-sized DAB separate component and dedicated aerial. Full review to follow soon. -CS