Pure Evoke 3 Review

Overall Rating

The ability to record programmes on to an SD card.
The 7 day electronic programme guide.
Solid build.
Decent remote control.
The ability to update the integral software via your PC/laptop.

The enormous number of batteries it requires if you don't want to use it on the mains. Pay the extra for their proprietary recharge pack if you think you are going to use it off mains much.
They say you can play your MP3 through it using the line in. It may be just me, but I can't get anywhere near enough gain to get anything like reasonable volume using this method.

I have owned this unit for just over 2 months, and along with my MP3 player, it has rapidly become an item I cannot imagine living without. The build quality of the Pure Evoke 3 DAB digital radio is excellent. Reception pull-in is the best I have had from a DAB radio. Sound quality is good, though not so great that I haven't chosen to use my Harmon Soundsticks as external speakers fed via the headphone socket.

However, the two killer features for me are the electronic programme guide and the ability to record programmes to SD cards. Basically, this is giving you the equivalent of Sky+ for your radio. Use the EPG to scan ahead for radio programmes coming up in the next week - select the ones you want to record, select record to SD card and the radio will do the rest. Then play back the programmes whenever it is convenient to you, or pop the SD card into your PC/laptop and play from there.

Much as I like the BBC radio "Listen Again" feature on its website, this is so much better and more flexible.

I'm using a 512Mb card at the moment, and I have about 6 hours of recorded material on it, and I reckon I have space for a few more hours yet. It will take up to a 2Gb card if you wish.

It also has features for multi alarm settings and sleep function etc., but the EPG and recorder are the reasons to get this product, and any avid radio listener will never regret the day they bought one.

Oh, one final thing. Register the product with Pure online and you can get automatic e-mail updates of any upgrades for the software, thus helping to keep the product up-to-date. You will need a USB to printer cable to connect your radio to your PC/laptop to install any updates, but once set up, the update "wizard" does a pretty good job of making the process painless.

Radio heaven!