PURE AVANTI Flow Table-top Digital Music System
Posted by Notcot on May 11, 2010 in Portable Sound & Vision |
- Portable Design
- 75W RMS Output
- Wi-Fi, DAB and FM with RDS
- 30 DAB and 10 FM presets
- Alarm and sleep timer
5 CommentsReply |
|
I am enchanted by internet radio and the variety of nearly 8000 stations that are on offer. I bought this radio after careful consideration – the quality of sound is superlative on both DAB and internet radio. The two mid-range/tweeter units and a sub-woofer combine to deliver an unsurpassed quality of sound. The internet reception is very easy to connect and Pure provide a website (The Lounge) through which you can access favourites etc. but you do not have to have your PC on to use the internet radio facility. The remote control works effectively although there are a number of functions that can only be controlled by the radio’s own control panel. The OLED display offers high resolution and luminance even in bright light and scrolls to provide a huge range of detail in textual form.
Other features of note are; there is no external transformer – the power supply is integral to the radio; the Ipod dock is excellent and comes with a pack of adaptors to fit most models; you can control the level of the sub-woofer; and; in internet mode the radio can be searched by station name; genre; country etc. – take it from me you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Overall, this radio reallly does justify its price tag both in terms of form and function – the appearance, ergonomics; versatility and sound are unsurpassed by any radio I have owned.
Rating: 5 / 5
This product is outstanding.
I admit to being nervous about spending so much money on what is my bedside radio.
Let me give you a simple and concise summary of the good and any bad points.
1.Build quality superb.
2.Ease of use, i was seriously concerned about trying to set something like this up regarding the WiFi internet radio. I always seem to encounter hitches and glitches.
Not with the Avanti Flow, i do not exaggerate, i was listening to WiFi radio within 5 minutes and no stress. All you need know is your wireless password and another access code that is emailed from the “Lounge” (Pure). Flawless.
The quality of most WiFi radio services from around the world is as good as DAB reception.
3.The OLED display is pin sharp, and best of all, without a backlight there is no glow in my bedroom when you want darkness.
4.The sound quality, especially when cranked up is outstanding.
5.Functionality, what doesn’t it do? Even the remote is radio signal operated which means you do not have to point it at the Flow to work it.
6.iPod functionality, easy, brilliant and so much choice, what to listen too?
7.Pure sounds, a selection of soothing sounds that really are very good.
8.I cannot think of a single negative point, and i have tried!
I have had this set for a month now and am still knocked out by how brilliant it is.
Buy it, buy the Avanti Flow now.
Rating: 5 / 5
If you are looking for an Internet radio with the option to stream your own music you are likely to choose between the Logitech Squeezebox Boom and the Pure Avanti Flow.
The first thing to say is that the Avanti flow also includes Dab Radio, FM radio as well as an integrated iPod dock that charges the latest nano version. If these are paramount to you then the Pure becomes the only option really. The iPod playback is very good and the Dab reception is also good. On the other hand if you prefer streaming music as opposed to using a portable player and if you find that wifi radio makes Dab and FM no longer a necessity then the following comparison might be of some assistance.
The software: The Avanti relies on the “lounge website” in conjunction with the “flow server” software. The latter is only required for streaming music from one’s PC. The Squeezebox Boom works via the “Squeezebox Network” or the “Squeezebox Center”. The latter is the software running on your PC. After using both it didn’t take long to realize how primitive the Pure Software is in comparison to the Squeezebox one. This greatly affects the quality and functionality of both Internet Radio and Mp3 streaming that these systems offer.
Internet Radio: The Lounge works by storing your preferences: favorite music stations, etc. You can search for stations via genre but the design is cumbersome and finding what you want is a lot harder than in the Logitech. Furthermore, there are many bugs in the program. For instance adding/deleting a station to your favorites is not always straightforward. It might take a day for the change to appear. The main drawback of the Avanti is that you cannot control it via your PC. You need to do so via the main unit or the remote and its screen is not large enough for that. PC control is one of the main advantages of the Squeezebox family. In addition, Internet radio is very well organized within the logitech system with the advantage of using Music services such as Last.FM, Deezer, Napster, Classical.com … This is not an option if you choose the Avanti Flow. Even though connectivity issues and errors may occur they are a lot easier and quicker to resolve as opposed those in the Pure. Another issue is the slow buffering times of the Pure that can be an annoyance if you frequently switch stations. Reception is very good in both and is rarely interrupted.
Streaming Mp3 files: Again controlling the device from your own PC is one of the main advantages of the Squeezebox. Furthermore, squeezebox allows streaming in lossless formats. Another advantage is that non-Latin characters will always be displayed native or converted to Latin ones on the Squeezebox screen or your PC screen. This is not the case with the Pure where you might end up seeing boxes instead and makes it hard to decipher names of artist, songs form your library.
Sound Quality : Very good for both within their price range. The Avanti is somewhat brighter while the Boom is warmer. Treble/Bass can be adjusted in both. I find the the Pure sounds better with low bitrate Internet Radio than the Logitech. The Avanti has an integrated Subwoofer but this actually may be a disadvantage for some people who would prefer to use their own sub. The squeezebox has a sub out.
Design, Built-in Quality : I like the looks in both. The Avanti has a retro style in a black gloss finish and is a more eye catching item. Yet I prefer the understated looks of the Boom as well as its screen. The both feel sturdy and the Avanti is a lot heavier and quite more sizable. One design problem of the Avanti is that the buttons are misplaced and that they operate in a counterintuitve fushion. The Boom, on the other hand, is very easy to operate from its scroll wheel that is similar to that of the iPod.
Conclusion
The Avanti is a more complete product, does nearly everything a mini hifi would do and is therefore the logical mini hifi replacement. However, if the typical hifi features are not important to you or if you plan to keep your CD player anyway and view streaming music as an addition to your current set-up then the Boom or any other Logitech Product is the one to go for. The Boom can be part of a multi-room set up where the Squeezebox Classic or the Squeezebox Duet receiver can take their place in your living room next to your hifi set up while the Boom can be used in the Bedroom/Office. Everything can be controlled from your PC or from the Duet controller and different players can also be synchronized. If you are ready to make the switch to the Squeezebox family you will enjoy your music in a whole new light.
Rating: 3 / 5
I’ve had the MP53 for only a few days and it is much better overall than the Flow. Both systems offer DAB with ipod docking, but where the Pure Avanti Flow provides internet radio and streamed music from your pc, the Roberts MP53 has a more traditional cd player but with USB and SD card play/record functionality. The sound on the Pure is better, but not that much, but where it falls down is in the functionality and the remote. The Roberts however is a doddle to use, in fact it’s a joy. I sent back the Flow after deciding I just couldn’t live with the cluncky functionality and I’m so glad I did. Some reviews give a negative view on the MP53’s remote as you need to use it for just about everything, but as it’s all so easy, it’s fine. Navigating the ipod, or any media via the remote is quick and easy. And if you think you will really miss the streaming of music from your pc that the Flow offers, trust me, after endlessly scrolling through hundreds of albums to get the one you want, you’ll give up and end up with an expensive Flow system that plays DAB and ipod and that’s it. After putting up with the Flow for 2 weeks I sent it back to Amazon and swapped it for the MP53. A 16GB SD card is good enough storage to keep your choice music on, or you can always plug in an apple airport express if you want all your library streamed.
The perfect choice would be the sound of the Flow with the functionality of the Roberts, but as the functionality of the Flow is so poor, you won’t listen to it anyway. The Roberts certainly wins hands down.
Rating: 2 / 5
Most of the reviews here have already lavished heavy praise on the Avanti Flow. So, I’ll try to keep things as objective as possible…
Sound quality is top notch from all media – ipod and radio – although you tend to find yourself running at maximum volume…and although this limit is achieved distortion free, I would have liked the unit to be a little louder. My neighbors perhaps wouldn’t agree, full volume is more than adequate for most. I just feel that the unit is capable of a little bit more, but like a speed limiter on a car, the clearsound technology is holding it back.
Minimal setup required, it was playing out of the box instantly, and took minutes to get the wi-fi sorted.
The internet radio side of things is controlled by Pure’s “Lounge” portal which organizes and lists all the stations, podcasts, etc. Don’t think that you will have the entire internet’s radio to play with, but the 30,000 or so stations should keep you entertained whilst your recommendations for additions to the Pure play list are processed.
It works…it works well, and is much more accessible than having to boot up a PC. Although its easier to manipulate the favourites from there as you can’t delete single items from the unit. Only a blanket “delete all” option
DAB reception is fantastic, and far superior to another dab unit in the house.
The ipod dock? The supplied adaptors fit my new 4th Gen Nano perfectly and unlike all of my existing Ipod accessories, this DOES charge the thing. Everything else I own from previous Ipods other than the USB cable fails to do so.
The only (minor) niggle I have about the Ipod dock is that none of the track information is transferred to the unit’s screen. I know the Ipod’s screen is but a few inches away but unless I switch the backlight to “always on” it is invariably dark, so I can’t see what the unit is playing. My car stereo shows track info, so why can’t this?
One positive is that the remote control does give full access to the ipods controls so you don’t have to physically move to the ipod to change playlists etc. Experiment with the “select” and “options” buttons on the remote if you don’t believe me! You’ll just need binoculars from any distance though as you will have to be able to see the Ipod screen!!
The unit is reassuringly heavy, and the fit and finish is impeccable. The only drawback is that it shows up every fingerprint and dirty mark, so I suggest keeping a dedicated duster nearby!
Yes it’s pricey, but when only the best will do, this is it…the best alarm clock radio in the world.
Rating: 5 / 5