Goodmans: GSR80DAB

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Comments (4)

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Paul, Herts on July 9th, 2007
I have had 1 for a good while but very rarely used it as it was in the conservatory. I took it out and placed it in the kitchen so we could get use from it. Last week it packed up which I wasn't overlly impressed with seeing as it only got the equivelent of about a months use in its life. In that time it kept switching off by itself. I also found the controls very unfriendly to use and overcomplicated, the when you want to change station you really don't want to spend ages pressing buttons, some presets would have made this a far better set. Fortunatley prices on DAB radios are far more affordable now so there is a reasonable selection to choose from for most budgets.

Mike Dunn, Cheshire on October 25th, 2006
Fred is dead right. These things cut out for no reason, like a computer crashing, and have to be disconnected before they'll start up again. Unfortunately, after a mere 26 months of ownership, mine crashed for the last time and gave up the ghost completely. As I'd paid £90 for it when DAB radios were still very pricey in 2003, this was a lot of money down the drain. Avoid at all costs!

Fred, West Midlands on May 22nd, 2006
I agree. I have a similar one and the sound quality on DAB is far less crisp than the FM. There is also all sorts of electronic background noise at low (or no) volume. It reminds me of the background row you get listening to shortwave radio. Mine is also unreliable - it cuts out for no reason and sometimes has to be 'reset' by disconnecting all power sources (AC and batteries). But it always works again (eventually) and is actually best as a tuner (though again, sound lacks crispness and clarity) fed thru the RCA plugs to a stereo system), For £39.95 at a Homebase 2-3 years ago, what do you expect? I think Goodmans has updated the model since. The one I saw in Robt Dyas for £49.95 a few weeks ago had minor cosmetic changes (speaker grille color, 2 green LEDs instead on one red, etc.) and it sounded far more hi-fi on DAB and there were no electronic background noises.

Gareth, Retford, Nottinghamshire on March 15th, 2006
Although the Goodmans GSR80DAB is quite good at picking up all the DAB multiplexes within the coverage area of Retford, I found that the controls can be a bit unresponsive at times and the sound quality is poor, doesn't offer clarity and listening in a quiet room or with headphones, the electronic noise which can be heard can be quite offputting and indeed shouldn't be present. Overall, the GSR80DAB could be better and can't really be recommended.