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Price: £200
More info: Pure Digital
Size (HxWxD): 21x29x12cm
Presets: 99 DAB, 24 FM
Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, L-Band 1452-1490 MHz and FM 87.5-108 MHz
Speakers: Stereo
Inputs: USB, line
Outputs: Headphone, line, optical digital
Display: Eight-line graphical LCD display
Power: Mains, six size C batteries or ChargePAK
Plus points:
Tons of useful features, solid build, great sounding, handy remote
Minus points:
Same old design, Bigger SD card should come as standard
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For its latest powerhouse DAB radio the Evoke-3, Pure has defiantly stuck to the middle of the retro road with a look that bears an uncanny resemblance to its best-selling predecessor, the Evoke-2. Indeed at first glance the only additions appear to be a larger LED display and a somewhat random extra handle on the top of the unit. However, closer inspection reveals there's much more to this sturdy little number than meets the eye - not only does it draw in many features seen on Pure's other models, but also tops things off with a couple of its own.
The most exciting of these is the new on-board Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). Just like you'd find on a Sky box or digital TV recorder, the EPG offers a seven-day listings schedule for upcoming programmes, of which 20 different broadcasts can be set to record (at different times of course). These are then stored in MP2 format onto an SD card via the slot on the front of the unit. As a rough guide, the supplied 64MB card will only give you about an hour's worth of recording from a 128kbps broadcast, so bear in mind you'll need to buy at least a 512MB sized card if you want to use this feature extensively. This aside, the EPG is a brilliant function and makes recording your favourite programmes much easier than having to set up a manual timer (although you can still do that if you wish).
The Evoke-3 also boasts ReVu - a feature that lets you pause and rewind live DAB radio. It works by constantly storing audio from the station you are tuned to in its memory, and depending on the broadcast it can store anything from 20 minutes to an hour's worth of audio (a big improvement on Pure's older Bug DAB radio). But if you'd rather unleash your own tunes onto the Evoke-3, then the SD slot means you can play back MP3 files you may have stored, and there's also a 3.5mm stereo line-in on the back of the unit letting you plug in your iPod or other music device.
The touch-sensitive snooze handle (first seen on Pure's Sonus model) means you can turn off any alarms or illuminate the display just by tapping it and with the option of up to 20 different alarms with station and tone settings for each, the Evoke-3 makes for an ideal bedside partner. Handily, the Evoke-3 can be powered by batteries as well as the mains, so it's good for those harder to reach places in the home as well, such as the bathroom. A fully functional remote comes as standard too, making it even more versatile.
Performance
The Evoke-3 auto-tunes quickly and despite the glut of features, the interface remains clear and intuitive to navigate. Reception is strong for both FM and DAB with the two 3in drivers pumping out a perfectly rounded and detailed sound, even if it can feel occasionally restrained. And with just the slightest tweaking to the bass and treble, the Evoke-3 copes equally well with whatever you care to throw at it, whether it be music or spoken word broadcasts.
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Pulling out more stops than a DVLA driving test, the Evoke-3 has everything you'd want in a DAB radio. It looks good, sounds great and has a wealth of unique features, the most notable being its on-board EPG and fully functional remote. Granted at £200 it's not the cheapest DAB portable out there, but considering what's been crammed into its wooden-coated walls, we think it's worth every penny.
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