I currently have a crappy Argos radio-alarm clock that wakes me up to the delightful (?!?) smoove.fm every morning along with a whole lot of interference and the odd pirate station.
Should I be looking to upgrade to DAB or just a better quality analog radio - I heard that the Tivoli ones are actually better quality than DAB - do they come in radio-alarm mode does anyone know.

Advice much appreciated.

I'd say go for DAB, I don't know if Tivoli are better quality than DAB but it seems unlikely. If tivoli is recieving an anologue signal there's only so much it can do with it. Regardless anyway DAB will give you more choice and save you from smooth fm, if you want to be saved that is!

How much would you be looking to spend?

I was hoping for about 50 quid - it only gets 10 mins of semi-conscious listening per day - but having said that when a fine slice of soul is served up I really do want to hear it in as close to its full glory as my semi-conscious state will allow. Any recommendations?

According to this website, they say you don't need to use an aerial, just their internal one, but you'll have to buy one for Dab...


Tivoli
http://www.hificorner.co.uk/products/tivoli.htm

Dab
http://www.hificorner.co.uk/products/dab/index.htm

I reckon it might be best if you just go for a micro hi-fi system, they all have sleep and timer (alarm) functions and you also get the advantage of being able to wake up to your favourite cd or tape rather than just the radio.

There's quite alot of choice and some attractive designs, they don't take up alot of space and aren't an eyesore but they will provide you vastly better sound quality than a standard clock radio. You may have to extend your budget if you want DAB to about £100, but its always worth checking sales etc. There's a good selection here to give you a taster:

Micro hi fi's

If you are dead keen on DAB and only want to spend £50, what about Sainsburys? They sell the 'Red' DAB radio that got a rave review in 'What Hifi?' (Yeah, I know, like that’s any recommendation!)

I have the Tivoli Model 3 Radio/Clock Alarm and its very good, FM reception and sound quality is superb - the only downer is that you set the alarm with a 'hand' on the analogue clock face - so you can never get an exact wake up time...

Might also be worth considering the Matsui DA-1. It connects directly to your existing amp and speakers, effectively updating your current hi-fi to DAB. At £60 it's quite a bargain.

Blimey, Christian - that is a bargain! I take it its a Currys special? Most Matsui kit seems to be Currys own brand. Any personal experience of the overall performance?

I'm afraid not... that insightful information I churned out was straight from a magazine.... I'm not the hi-fi guru I might appear.

Thanks for all of your comments. Actually I was given the Hitachi TRK100 DAB/FM Radio yesterday to try but it is basically unusable as it gives off a constant, and actually quite loud, hum even when on stand by.

So it seems like the Sainsbury's 'Red' DAB radio could be the way to go for me - Thanks James.

Bloody hell Musique I can't believe how crap that is of the Hitachi, how can there be Radio's in the 21st century that hum even on standby?! That really is disgraceful.

I used to have a buzzing radio in my room that kept me awake and full of rage a few years back. That and ticking clocks, when you're trying to get to sleep, are so annoying.

I had a Hitachi video recorder years ago but it didn't last very long. So I have never been a big fan of them.