COCOON
Distributed & supported by Winplus Melbourne
Model: 150112
Mantle Retro cabinet design
Features:
DAB+ receiver
FM Stereo analog receiver - for old school FM stations
AUX input via a standard 3.5mm socket - use with external music source
Bluetooth - any bluetooth device (such as a mobile phone with bluetooth) can play music through this unit
In built clock with alarm features
Dimensions: 315mm wide x 170mm height x 150mm front-back
DAB receiver details:
Easy to use single button access to station information such as audio bitstream rate, transmission frequency, station text messages etc
Memory buttons to store favourite stations
Easy to use volume and tuning functions
COSMETIC CONDITION:
As new - purchased for a client in 2015 who asked us to evaluate various DAB receivers and then we stored away as we have DAB equipment already.
Nice retro look, faux woodgrain finish (veneer in other words)
Easy to read blue display which changes intensity according to ambient light conditions
TESTING:
Known to be fully functioning originally but we put it through it paces today to ensure everything was still fine - no issues at all.
It runs from a plug pack - there is no facility for a battery power source.
When first powered up, it shows the current time.
Push the POWER button and it searches for the last DAB station tuned to - in the photographs this happened to be the excellent FBI Radio here in Sydney.
NOTE: On the rear is a telescopic antenna, these are a MUST with DAB radios because if the receiver cannot get a sufficiently strong signal (data stream) then you will hear absolutely nothing on DAB! Think of DAB as being very similar to digital television, if the signal is weak then there is no "in between signal" the radio will just go dead until it receives an acceptable datastream.
It is very important to check that the user's area does in fact have local DAB stations transmitting if wishing to listen to DAB, otherwise the user MUST use good old traditional FM radio which this receiver does provide as an alternative.
Nice stereo sound and PLENTY of volume is available!
Tuning is very easy, unlike other DAB receivers we have evaluated in the past. This receiver was designed for a user who just wants their radio to play great music without being too complicated to use (and some are)
Next we pushed SOURCE and checked the old analog FM Radio stations - all is fine here as well.
We then selected AUX and used an old iPod for the music source, all good too.
Lastly, bluetooth. This is a really great feature. Using an android mobile with bluetooth turned on, it searched and easily found the DAB receiver and paired itself without any issues (no complicated passwords etc)
Grabbed some music from Utube and hey presto! it played without any issues through this receiver.
SUMMARY:
Aesthetically very pleasing to the eye (if you are into the retro look) and technically it works great!
Supplied with the powerpack and user instruction manual (on a CD as we have lost the original booklet)
Two limitations of this model should be kept in mind
a) NO internet radio facilities
b) NO ability to use the DAB receiver as a source for a stereo system i.e no audio output socket
This is intended as a bedside radio or in the kitchen and for those purposes it does its job very well.
