Does Muse's M-128 DBT digital radio play good sound?

-

20 minutes

  • While digital terrestrial radio (or DAB +) is gradually rolling out its airwaves in France, Muse Audio is launching a new compatible radio.

  • DAB +, FM, but also Bluetooth and acting as a clock radio, the M-128 DBT set is thus versatile.

  • Sold for 89 euros, the device keeps most of its promises, but its sound quality remains lacking in real brilliance.

Buy a digital radio?

What a funny idea in the age of smartphones and other nomadic speakers that broadcast music

streaming

,

Internet radios

, podcasts and, of course, our usual national stations.

However, with its M-128 DBT, the Muse company offers a small complete equipment, offering FM, Bluetooth and DAB + which tries to make its place on the airwaves.

20 Minutes

listened to find out if we could hear the difference ...

DAB +, FM, Bluetooth ... the M-128 DBT from Muse is versatile.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

20 DAB + and FM presets

The M-128 DBT radio, which has been launched by Muse, a specialist in audio equipment since 2007. The firm has made DAB + its hobbyhorse in particular, has a good little boil.

DAB + (or Digital Audio Broadcasting) is what we called not so long ago Digital Terrestrial Radio.

This technology, which should eventually replace FM, is gradually establishing itself in France, which is however lagging behind very seriously in this area.

Digital radio is gradually trying to find its place in France.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Once the M-128 DBT is connected to the mains, its use is immediate.

Its 2.8 '' / 7.11 cm color LCD screen allows basic settings, such as launching a

scan

to select the stations present in FM or DAB + and store them in the 20 presets available (10 FM; 10 DAB +).

In the Parisian suburbs where we tested the radio in confinement, we thus have access to 55 DAB + radios: from Beur FM to Chante France, via France Inter, Bonheur, Urban Hits, Campus ... You sometimes have to slip into a panoply of adventurer to discover certain stations whose logo is displayed on the screen.

Sound quality that can do better

This is one of the interests of DAB +: in addition to sound, the process also makes it possible to display texts and images on a screen.

The other interest is digital quality broadcasting.

Alas, this does not really get along with the M-128 DBT.

The reason ?

The device, which has only a speaker, offers a power of 5 watts.

The audio quality of the M-128 DBT radio makes it difficult to judge the advantages of DAB +.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

It's pretty classic for this type of equipment, but we would have liked the sound to be more fleshy, with more thickness or warmth.

Too bad, because it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the sound quality of a station between DAB + and the same in FM.

However, you can listen to the M-128 DBT at relatively high volume.

Shazam to the rescue

Annoying point: while DAB + promises, thanks to its transmission system, the display of certain information, such as the title of the program, or even that of the song played, we were surprised by listening to the young fiftieth FIP, for example, not to access the mention of the titles played.

We had to launch the Shazam application on our smartphone to discover a great novelty,

Digital Introversion

by Aboukir, or to identify

Where Do I Go

by Alyn Ainsworth (an old thing on the baba cool

Hair

album

 launched in 1968! ).

Paradox: on the radio cousin France Inter, the title of the program Nagui,

The original soundtrack

, appears well during its diffusion, him… Our observation remains however rather general: almost half of the stations only propose this service of information.

The use of Shazam to identify the titles where the DAB + must allow to display this information.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Still, the versatility of the M-128 DBT station is an asset.

Equipped with a Bluetooth connection, the device can also be used as an extra speaker in a small room, such as a bedroom.

This is also where the Muse radio will be able to fully express itself since it also acts as a clock radio with the possibility of setting two alarms and a Snooze function (to postpone the time to take off your duvet a little longer. !).

We can simply regret that its surface does not act as an induction charger for a smartphone, which, on a nightstand, would have made sense.

A Snooze function allows the M128 DBT to play alarm clocks.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Sold for 89 euros, the M-128 DBT ultimately offers good value for money.

But its sound quality without brilliance will confine it to a function of auxiliary device, whereas it could have nourished more beautiful ambitions.

Expanded DAB +

The Superior Audiovisual Council (CSA) has set July 15, 2021 as the date of entry into force of authorizations to broadcast in DAB + for 25 radio stations in France.

Until then confined to certain areas of France, these stations such as those of Radio France (France Inter, France Culture, FIP, etc.), such as Latina, Nostalgie, NRJ, RMC or Radio Classique, will gradually be able to broadcast their programs to the nationwide.

A further step towards the deployment of listening to digital radio in the car.

  • Music

  • Smartphone

  • Radio

  • 20 minutes video

  • High-Tech