Thanks Brad for the interesting comparison between the AWA Radiolette and the Pure One.

http://vintage-radio.com.au/default.asp?id=awa-radiolette-pure-one-mini


I have been considering buying a digital radio but a few things have stopped me.

The first is coverage which doesn't extend to my area yet without an external aerial which would defeat the purpose for me since my use is mainly portable.

The second is the current consumption - usually around 800 to 1000mA which means digital wouldn't last a day in the garden without a recharge. This might be a good reason why you might use FM instead of digital especially if sound quality is not critical eg listening to the cricket or football. I guess the need for a processor to handle the digital signal means this will probably be an ongoing problem. Is the FM current consumption less than the digital?
Current consumption is the reason why presently I listen to sport on 702 Sydney rather than the local FM local radio using my FM/AM PLL radio - about 50% less current consumption presumably due to the need to handle a stereo output in FM. Also no need for the telescopic aerial.

Cost of course is important but not such an issue if the above are OK.

With regard to AM and FM signal cut-off, hopefully for us old AM radio collectors this won't happen - no cut-off date has been set yet. Perhaps the country lobby will keep a few high power stations going for their use in the long run.

Ultimately though, if you have picked what turns out to be an iconic introduction to digital radio, then you have a collectors' item - the only reason needed to buy it.

On this point the first compact cd player the Sony D-50, a technology leader in 1984 and now iconic, sells for up to $600 in red.