Sony XDR-S56DBP DAB+

Total Dissappointment!...After being a loyal Sony customer for years, will never buy Sony again! – Purchased a Sony DAB radio as most expensive at the time. Just after a year when the warranty had expired, radio displayed a defect. Sony told me they do NOT repair them and I had to buy another one. The only offer from Sony was a trade in at more than I can buy the same item new from Amazon. After complaining to their customer service, they told… Read more

me that was the best they would do....

Clearly, Sony does NOT care about customer service or reputation

Stoped working – Why is it only turning on with batteries but won't turn on when I plug into power Show details

Quality, clear sound – After reading some of the reviews posted I thought some new information might be helpful. This radio supplies, clear, quality sound for its size. It has a three line display with top showing the station, the middle as a scrolling title of the music being played, news or upcoming program (not on all stations), and the bottom line shows settings… Read more

such as program number, clock adjust etc. The screen can be lit by a yellow/orange LED that stays on for a short time or while tuning is being selected, before turning off automatically. The screen’s display is big enough to be easily seen.

The radio saves 10 FM and 10 digital stations in the program memory with three quick select buttons on the top for often used stations. Tuning is done by a multi-function knob at the right side, above the volume control. Other buttons across the top allow for FM/DAB selection, program-tuning mode, auto tune, a “hold button” to reduce the risk of accidentally switching on when carried in luggage for example. There is a sleep function to turn the radio off automatically after 15, 30, 45, or 50 minutes of operation.

The best feature of this radio is the clear and rich sound for a radio of this size. The sound comes from 7.7cm (3 inch) speaker. Naturally with higher power comes a higher drain on the batteries, which seems to be the common complaint about the radio. This is probably why it comes with a socket for an external 6-volt power source. I have opted to use quality rechargeable batteries and they work beautifully. It allows me to keep the unit fully portable.

There is also a provision for earphones and the sound quality is better again as well as increasing the battery life substantially. The front screen seems to be metal mesh and the unit has a quality, solid feel to it. Overall this is a radio that gives quality sound well above what I would have expected from its size.

Pretty useless – Bought for my elderly mother. Set up her 2 favourite stations. Took some time to get her used to getting either station (so much for easy to use!). Then when she turned it on the signal dropped out most times. Sometimes it worked for about an hour.before dropping out. Tried different places in the house, including window sills etc. No change. It… Read more

did have a good sound though. Sony wanted to repair it. It was couriered back to Sony (from Adelaide to Sydney). Heard nothing after 2 weeks. Tried ringing them 6 times during one day, each time being told I was first in the queue, then being told they were busy, ring back later. Contacted supplier and am now waiting for a refund.

Stopped working in less than 2 years – Was good while it lasted. We only used it on power not batteries yet it just stopped working at just 22 months old. Tried changing batteries, doesn't pick up new ones and power cord doesn't work. The display just appears to flash twice with an 'out of batteries' signal, but have replaced batteries, and the power cord doesn't work. Disappointing for $100 investment.

It eats batteries – It eats batteries. On FM it takes 170mA and 130mA on DAB (at 6V). This is 1.02W and 0.78W of power.Using the best AA cell at present - the Energizer Lithium AA - which gives you 4 Watt/Hours per cell, you will get 16 hours of FM (for about £6 of batteries). The Sony rinses the batteries like there is no tomorrow. Gak! Battery life

A bit conerned – I like this little radio, although it does not pick up stations as readily as my old radio but is very clear. My concern with it is the amount of batteries it uses. I would like to know whether any others out there have the same problem. It uses 4 AA batteries and Everyready lasted about 4 hours, Duracel lasted about 6 hours and now I have been… Read more

using rechargbles and they still only last about 6 hours between charges. Clear, good size. Great if you run it on electricity all the time. Eats the batteries!!!

Don't waste – It absolutely eats batteries. I only really listen to it in the mornings before work and I'm lucky to get one months worth of batteries. It is costing me a fortune to run. I had an old radio of my father's, sadly it stopped working but must have been 20 years old and I replaced the batteries maybe once a year! Compact size Very poor battery life, just eats up the power