Roberts MP43 Update

I have already reviewed my Roberts MP43 DAB radio and iPod dock here (https://vteclimey.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/roberts-mp43-dab-clock-radio-with-ipod-dock-and-cd-player/).

This is a brief update on the device usage as I think it warrants it.

Firstly, everything that I have written in my original review is still valid and I have not changed my opinion on it. The sound quality is still excellent and the operation foibles that I reported are all still there.

DAB Reception

My original review reported that I had poor DAB reception and so could not use this very much. I am glad to report that since moving home I am now is a great DAB reception area and the radio function of the Roberts is now being used for several hours a day. The radio quality is clear.

Remote and Panel Operation

Operating the Roberts using the buttons on the front panel is still a frustration and the remote is definitely the preferred method of operation. However, the remote itself is also not perfect, the design is poor and the buttons do not give very good feedback. This is something that Roberts really do need to put some effort into. I have not seen any reviews on newer products so I can only hope that this has been addressed.

Phantom Operation

In my original review I commented on the random menu operation of some functions on the Roberts. I never did find the cause of this and I hoped that after my house move they would stop.

Sadly this is not the case. The Roberts now sits on a window sill, facing away from the sun and I still get phantom operation. I think this rules out the infra red response to sun rays landing on the device, which was my first thought.

What is more frustrating is that the phantom operation seems to have extended. Its now no longer just refined to operating the info button as originally reported. There have now been a few occasions when, listening to the radio, the device has cycled through the different pre-programmed sound stages. It’s a bit disconcerting when your radio changes from rock sound to classic sound mid song. It doesn’t happen often enough to make me want to throw it out the window, but it is an issue that Roberts need to get to eradicate from the design.

Having ruled out infra red as the source of the phantom operation, I am now wondering if its dust sitting on the front panel causing the buttons to operate. I am not entirely convinced by this idea, but I have nothing else to suggest, other than an actual fault with the Roberts itself. As this phantom operation is not predictable, its hard to come up with ideas for the issue.

As already stated, this phantom operation is not bad enough for to cause me serious issues and so I am still more than prepared to forgive that and I still highly recommend the Roberts for anyone wanting good quality sound from a reliable product.

Related articles

• Buying Guide: Best DAB radio: which one should you buy? (techradar.com)
• Gov: DAB must battle on, despite being old and rubbish (go.theregister.com)
• Top 5 DAB radios (reevoo.com)
• Local DAB No Thanks (stuffem.wordpress.com)
• Local radio stations band together against DAB (go.theregister.com)