Intempo PG-01 Review

Overall Rating

Well built and attractive finish, good sound, good range of features, easy to set up and use, sensitive tuner and includes FM band.

Mains only and adaptor far too big. Only four storage pre-sets.

As this Intempo PG-01 DAB Digital Radio was my first DAB purchase I did the usual research and initially opted for the Goodmans GSR80 due to its good looks, price and the fact that it included the FM waveband. After using the Goodmans for just a few hours though, it became clear that this was not the unit for me with poor sound quality and and poor sensitivity being the main problems.
My home location is classed as an "Amber" area for DAB reception so I needed a receiver with good sensitivity. So the Goodmans went back to the shop and I opted for the Intempo PG-01 instead. What a result! Plug the Intempo into the mains and it immediately scans for all available multiplex's and my receiver (in an amber area remember) found 43 different stations straight away! Tuning in to the first couple of stations it was immediately obvious that this receiver had vastly superior sound quality to the Goodmans which I can only compare to like listening to music over the internet, a bit flat and lacking in depth. The sound from the Intempo is much brighter and packs more punch. The receivers DAB display is nicely backlit and has two lines of text showing the station name and underneath any combination of information including the current song being played, the signal strength or the time and date etc. Up to four favourite stations can be allocated to the receivers pre-sets, but with the amount of choice available on DAB it would have been nice to see at least 8 or 10. When you're fed up with DAB the PG-01 has a built in FM tuner so that you can tune into Dave Double-Decks on your favourite "local" station. Another big plus for this radio is that it features a sleep mode and an alarm so that you can drop off listening to those soothing love songs then be awoken to the breaky show in crystal clear DAB the next morning! And on top of all that the Intempo comes with a headphone socket that you can use to connect it to your hi-fi and also a 2 year manufacturers warranty....Cushty!
On the down side, this unit is a mains only affair and has a much too large adaptor and there is no socket for an external aerial, which is a shame. That said, this unit is still, in my opinion a great buy for any one looking to make their first purchase in the wonderful world of DAB radio. Have a DABble yourself, you might just find a reason to turn off the telly!

Members' Comments onscarborian's Review

• scarborian on 3rd Jul 2004

  Up-date............It appears the telescopic aerial on this unit is attached using an F-connector similar to that used on satellite receivers and Sky digiboxes etc. So, with a quick twist of a pair of long nose pliars it was removed and replaced with a Maxview VHF/DAB dipole purchased from B&Q for £9.98p. (The kit includes an F-connector as standard.) The signal now romps in and lights up all the bars on the units signal strength meter. Result!
  I now have 39 stations off three multiplex's and all are "muddy water" free.