DAB is set to become the defacto radio standard in the UK and its current success in the portable radio market is starting to be mirrored both in car and more importantly in the home, however it is important that the home HiFi devices are of sufficiently quality to be accepted by audiophiles and gadgeteers alike.

Pure have made a good name through their portable product range and the home HiFi offering the DRX 701ES continues the family trait of well crafted technology that is both pleasing to the eye and the ears. The 701ES is fully compliant with ETS 300 401 and capable of decoding all DAB transmission modes 1 to 4 ensuring it is compatible with the Uk standards for DAB transmission, it also utilises PAC-II technology (psycho-acoustic compensation) which provides a sound of intense clarity. The PAC technology was developed by video logic after years of studying the DAB transmission standards to date this is the only receiver on the market with this technology as standard.

Despite a plethora of technology inside the Pure DRX 701ES is simple to use with one touch tuning and scanning and a very logical control panel and remote control layout, in fact so good that what HiFi awarded it five stars in its tests for overall ease of use and sound quality. The blue backlit display shows all of the navigation information and function adjustments and can display the enhanced text supported by the DAB standard. In fact you can change the ordering information to suit you either alphabetically or by favourites / most listened to stations

The Pure DRX 701ES is also no slouch in the style department, finished in silver and measuring just 430 mm (w) x 65 mm (h) x 270 mm (d). it is an ideal partner for midi / HiFi systems now popular with the UK market.

Pure have ensured that the 701SE is future proof too it has USB connectivity, making it capable of flash upgrades via your PC’s USB port, providing access to future product enhancements to change the user interface or receive additional data services when they become available.

Its hard to believe that Pure could improve on the DRX-601E which won accolades across Europe but the 701SE shoes the kind of thought and attention to detail that means that one of the toughest markets to crack (home HiFi) is proving rich pickings in these early days of DAB rollout.

Pure DRX-701ES DAB Digital Tuner