This evening I've been at the launch of Pure's new DAB car radio retrofit kit.

For those with Swing, Amundsen or Columbus head units without DAB, and who might be tempted to add DAB to their car (a new multiplex was launched today adding an additional 18 stations that nobody will miss), this might be a contender. And I do mean MIGHT. Until I get a review unit and look at it properly, I'm still not entirely sold on this.

Pure has launched two variants of its new DAB kit: The Pure Highway 400 (£129) and the 600 (£149). Both prices exclude installation. Pure's launch partner is Halfords. So, if you would like an unqualified Saturday lad to trash your interior trim trying to do a discreet install, you have that option and there will probably be some free or half price install offers. However, having seen the kit this evening, I can say with reasonable confidence that self-install is entirely doable as no cable splicing or invasive wiring is required.

Pure_Highway_400_DAB_Car_System_201601_The_Fixer_Upper_2 by Chris Green, on Flickr

Some of you will be familiar with Pure's last in-car DAB add-on (the Pure Highway 300DI, also rebadged as the Alpine EziDAB). The 300DI featured a small-ish digital display unit with a knob and a few buttons on it that you stuck on your dashboard somewhere, connected by a wire to a large control and connectivity box stashed behind your head unit. This box did all the actual DAB reception work and to which a separate glass or roof-mounted aerial would connect. This box would also be the point of power (hard wired to your car stereo loom switched live or straight to the fuse box) and enabled connection of an iPod or USB storage device, as well as an analogue audio loop through. It used FM retransmission to inject audio into your existing head unit.

Highway400_Commander_3Q_Left_Dynamic_CMYK by Chris Green, on Flickr

Both new units still feature a very similar display widget with the selection knob and a few buttons. The difference is that this is now wireless, allowing you to stick it wherever you want with no trailing cables. It runs off two AAA batteries, good for up to a year. It is supplied wth an internal-fit stick on glass aerial. This has a long grounding strip that you need to stick to the metal roof of the car (sorry panoramic roof owners, this is no good for you), so you will need to carefully pull back the headlining where it meets the windscreen in order to get the grounding strip in and touching painted metal (rather than plastic or foam or an airbag). At one end of the aerial is a small plastic box with a two-core cable coming out of it. This is in fact the control box where all the actual work happens (replacing the large box that used to be hidden behind the dash). Thanks to reductions in chip sizes and power needs, and the removal of the USB, iPod and other connections, this has been shrunk to almost nothing.

Highway_400_Commander_Front by Chris Green, on Flickr

The two cables leaving it consist of a 3.5mm audio output (it also does FM transmitter output if preferred - the transmitter housed in the tiny plastic box on the screen aerial) and a 12v cigarette lighter/accessory socket plug for power. I asked about a hardware kit, and it doesn't look like they thought people would want to hardware it. Luckily I have an extra switched live 12v accessory socket hidden behind the dash on my Rapid (left over from my pre-Amundsen sat nav days). The 3.5mm output is welcome, as with some creative cable routing I might be able to get this to the 3.5mm input on my MDI connector. Not a fan of the FM retransmitted approach, rarely works well in my experience.

The 400 does DAB, as well as allowing Bluetooth audio streaming from your phone or tablet. It also has some integration with Spotify and Pure's own mobile app that enables Shazam-like lookup of whatever song is currently playing. It also has a button to activate Siri/Cortana or voice control on your phone (using your phone's own mic for sound input).

The 600 does all the 400 does, but adds Bluetooth hands free calling, and includes an external microphone which connects to the plastic block on the glass-mounted aerial. The mic can then be mounted on the headlining, visor or A-pillar. The mic is also used for Siri/voice control as well, potentially improving sound pick-up and accuracy.

For those of us with no DAB, but factory fitted Bluetooth, the 400 would be the appropriate model. For those with absolute poverty spec cars, the 600 is the one to go for as it is a cheap and potentially tidy way to add a lot of missing functionality to our cars. The 600 is a very compelling alternative to a high-end Parrot Bluetooth kit.

I asked about whether the Pure unit would compete with the car's built-in Bluetooth for control of the phone. Did not get a definitive answer - another aspect that Pure appears not to have considered at launch. If you have a car with built in Bluetooth, I would suggest not nothing to pair your phone with this at all and just use it for DAB (assuming you even want DAB).

Static DAB reception in a Volvo parked outside the London Transport Museum this evening (where the launch happened) was good. Obviously not had a chance to do a real-world moving test yet. Hoping to have a review unit in a couple of weeks.

Chris

Edited 2 March, 201610 yr by chrisgreen

I am quite interested in this for my wife's Fabia, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I'v been interest in this. Thanks for the info. 

I also found this video.