Bush BMS05DABIP DAB+ CD Micro System with Dock for iPod

Bush BMS05DABIP review: A budget mini hi-fi system that has plenty of features, including digital radio

Good Gear Guide

The Bush BMS05DABIP DAB+ CD Micro System with Dock for iPod offers plenty of features. It can play CDs (with support for MP3 CDs), digital and FM radio, music from Apple iPods and Apple iPhones (the latter is not officially supported but will still play music), and it has an auxiliary input to plug in any other audio device. However, it likes Wi-Fi or Ethernet networking, so it can't stream Internet radio like the Kogan Wi-Fi Digital Radio can.

Pros

  • Cheap, good sound quality, packed with features

Cons

  • Poor build quality, remote-only functions

Bottom Line

The Bush DAB+ CD Micro System with Dock for iPod is a low-cost system with plenty of features. Although it has questionable build quality, we were impressed with the sound that it produced.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 199.00 (AUD)

We don't think the Bush DAB+ CD Micro System is going to win any design awards. The system consists of three cube-shaped components: a central control unit and stereo speakers on either side. The centre console is finished in a black, glossy plastic which feels slightly thin, especially on the CD door and iPod dock. Placing an iPod or iPhone into the dock did not feel entirely secure, and we're not sure if it can withstand the dangers of a clumsy owner for long. However, the twin 3.5in stereo speakers are built solidly. The layout of the centre console is simple and not too confusing, with a backlit, dual-line LCD screen and a rotating control dial.

The Bush DAB+ CD Micro System is a breeze to use. Setting up digital radio is as simple as it is with products like the Bush Walker. You can scan for both DAB+ and FM stations and then select which stations you want. Docking an iPod is easy as well — you can control your iPod through the centre console or remote control, which is a handy feature since it's difficult to use an iPod's controls when it's docked. Although it's not officially supported, an iPhone 4 worked with the Bush mini hi-fi and during testing we received phone calls and text messages without any audio interference.

Interestingly, many of the Bush DAB+ CD Micro System's advanced features can only be accessed using the remote control — buttons for DAB+/FM presets, equalizer controls and X-Bass functions aren't on the centre console. When we listened to digital radio, we found that reception was extremely clear. There was occasional interference with FM radio, but fiddling with the antenna fixed this.

The sound quality of the system was better than we expected. It has consistent treble and middle tones, but we felt that the bass was a bit lacking. The five equaliser functions colour the music well and add depth to the sound.

The Bush DAB+ CD Micro System surprised us with its performance. Despite its sub-par build quality, it produces good sound and will work well in a small room.

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Read more on these topics: Bush, digital radios, home entertainment, ipod docks,

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