Greatest Hits Radio on DAB changing from 112kbps MP2 to 32kbps AAC

[Owen Smith]

So the inevitable is going ahead, Bauer are converting most (all?) of their DAB channels to DAB+. My parents listen to Greatest Hits Radio on DAB at 112kbps Joint Stereo and it sounds OK. I listen on FM at my place and it sounds considerably better. Digital Spy reports on the muxes where the change has already happened say they're using 32kbps AAC HE V2, which based on other channels using that is going to sound dreadful. I may need to try a real outdoor FM antenna with gain at my parents after this happens, depending on what they think of it. They're less fussy than I am but won't tolerate something that sounds awful.

 

[EEPhil]

they're using 32kbps AAC HE V2, which based on other channels using that is going to sound dreadful.

I rarely use my DAB+ radio but when I do it is with cheap headphones. To me the 32kbps on DAB+ sounds better than 112kbps on DAB. The 40kbps on Magic Classical sounds reasonable but R3U (32kbps) does sound dreadful. Good job I usually listen by streaming on the phone!

 

[Owen Smith]

I rarely use my DAB+ radio but when I do it is with cheap headphones. To me the 32kbps on DAB+ sounds better than 112kbps on DAB. The 40kbps on Magic Classical sounds reasonable but R3U (32kbps) does sound dreadful. Good job I usually listen by streaming on the phone!

It may depend on the stations involved. Someone on Digital Spy said the more dynamic range compression the worse 32kbps DAB+ sounds and used the BBC 32kbps stations sounding good as an example, which contradicts your experience.

My parents don't do streaming. They have 4 sets of wired speakers around the house on a traditional stereo hifi and expect to turn the amp and tuner on just pressing a couple of physical buttons and it works. They're not at all interested in faffing about with phones and apps to listen to radio.