Pure Evoke 3 Review

Overall Rating

DAB and FM capable
Records live radio to SD card
Plays MP3 files from SD card
Plenty of sockets (incl. USB)
Well-finished - nice bit of wood here
Good sound quality for a portable device
Runs on mains and batteries (rechargeables too)
Firmware can upgraded via USB

9 volt DC power requirement
Proprietary CHARGEPAK is best (and extra)
Evoke 3 is rather pricey

Evoke 3 from PURE is a 21st Century 'radio-cassette recorder' - with superior sound and 'no cassettes'. Recordings are made onto SD (Secure Digital) cards, like those found in digital cameras, and the unit supports cards up to 1Gb, each holding oodles of stuff.

Recordings can be transferred to your computer via the USB interface. When attached to a PC, Evoke 3's SD card is seen as an external mass storage device. So moving items across is simple. Just 'drag-and-drop'.

Evoke 3 is also an MP3 player (yes indeed) and a 'dual-band' DAB radio.

Given strong enough signals you should be able to receive DAB broadcasts anywhere in the world. While, if the DAB signals are weak, you can switch over to old-fashioned FM and listen to your favourite radio stations that way instead.

But there's no AM, SW or LONG WAVE here. Just the higher-quality DAB, with FM as an alternative.

Round the back you'll find holes for:

1. 9v DC in (for the supplied mains transformer)
2. USB ('B'- type socket)
3. Optical digital out
4. Headphone out (3.5mm stereo jack)
5. Analogue line out (3.5mm stereo jack)
6. Analogue AUX in (3.5mm stereo jack)
7. Telescopic aerial (but no external aerial input)

At the front there are three 'twist-and-push' multifunction knobs, as well as several buttons, which a brief scan through the manual will get you familiar with in jig time. Whereas the functions served by these controls are replicated on a nifty IR remote.

I think Evoke 3 sounds jolly impressive, albeit, occasionally, I've found myself experimenting with the BASS and TREBLE just to get certain tracks the way I like them. Therefore, as everyone's idea of what sounds good is different, I reckon that Evoke 3's tone controls will satisfy even the pickiest taste. Then again, if you're still not happy, there's always the provision to hook the unit up to your hi-fi for that 'big sound' experience.

On the downside Evoke 3 needs roughly 9 volts DC (groan) to run, which can come from the supplied mains transformer, six SP11 alkaline batteries, the same number of rechargeable NiMh cells or an item from PURE called CHARGEPAK - basically six hi-capacity NiMh cells bound together as a single unit (the best option, and the one I use when away from the mains).

But this CHARGEPAK 'thingy' will rush you an extra thirty-odd quid and is the only type of internal supply that can be charged from the mains (via a special connector inside the battery compartment) whilst the radio is running.

Ordinary rechargeables CANNOT be connected or charged in this way.

So, best budget for a CHARGEPAK. It'll make life much easier.

Otherwise, I really, really love this set - and I bet you will too.