Dualit Plays a Different Tune and Enters DAB Radio Market for First Time

28th March, 2006 -Dualit enters the consumer electronics market for the first time with its digital kitchen radio.

Destined to become an instant kitchen classic, the radio is designed to complement other products in the coveted Dualit collection while offering advanced sound quality for DAB and FM reception.

The first thing you notice when you take this radio out of the box is the reassuring weight and unique design. The polished aluminium casing and softly rounded corners bear more than a passing resemblance to the iconic Dualit Vario toaster, and that’s because the radio is deliberately styled to coordinate with the rest of the Dualit collection. The new radio has a cast aluminium front and rear as well as an aluminium handle, creating a reassuringly solid product with a high quality feel.

The Dualit DAB kitchen radio incorporates advanced technology to deliver excellent sound quality for DAB and FM reception. The high performance 8W, 4 inch speaker works together with the large reflex bass port to create a rich, clear and rounded sound. There are five presets for each mode – FM and DAB - allowing you quick and easy access to your favourite radio stations.

The top of the radio is where you control your listening. There’s a dial on each end, one for volume control and the other for auto station search/manual tune, both offering great tactile feedback for a satisfying, classy feel. All the user interfaces are designed to be intuitive and straightforward, whether you’re tuning, searching for stations, altering clock menus or setting up pre-sets.

Between the two control knobs is a large white-on-blue easy-view LCD display. This helps maintain a luxury feel, thanks to a dimmed light that can be enhanced when you need it with a simple touch of a button. There are three brightness settings for the display: high, low or off - although “off” thoughtfully still provides enough light for you to see what’s going on. This is a useful addition as it means you don’t have unnecessary glare from your radio. A stylish blue LED power indicator on the front panel matches the light display at the top of the radio.

The radio incorporates a built-in rechargeable NiMH battery, providing flexibility if you want to move the radio out of the kitchen for a period of time – perhaps out into the garden or into the utility room to catch the end of a show. When in DAB mode, the radio’s battery life is 3-4 hours; and 7-8 hours for FM.

Being primarily designed as a kitchen radio, the Dualit model includes a cooking timer – ensuring that you don’t over-boil the eggs while dancing around the room. The snooze and alarm functions are a clever addition just in case you want to enjoy the quality sound of your radio in your bedroom too.

Flexibility is key with this radio – you can connect your MP3 or CD player to enjoy your own music through the radio speaker, listen in peace through stereo headphones (not provided) or add your own additional speaker via the 3.5mm output jack.

“We believe that there’s a gap in the market for a quality kitchen radio that coordinates with other high end domestic appliances, yet stands out as unique in the sector,” says Leslie Gort-Barten, Managing Director of Dualit Ltd:

“This radio certainly meets these requirements. It complements the rest of our collection and has been created for people who appreciate exceptional design, quality performance and reliability.”

“We have purposefully kept the design and functionality straightforward. The radio is not “over-featured” but easy-to-use, with a focus always on quality of sound and performance. We’re confident that this radio will find its own place in the market, thanks to our established reputation in the kitchen appliance sector and the undoubtedly unique design,” concludes Gort-Barten.

The Dualit DAB radio comes in three colourways: polished aluminium, black and cream, and will be available in the UK from mid-may 2006 at John Lewis.

Dualit DAB digital radio: key features

Distinctive design with cast aluminium casing
Advanced sound quality for DAB and FM reception
High performance 8 W, 4 inch speaker and bass port
Mains or rechargeable battery
Extra large, dimmable LCD screen
Kitchen timer and alarm with snooze/sleep options
Stereo & optical output
Aux in
Dimensions: (cm) 2.75 x 18 x 13.5
Weight (kg): 2.55

For more information please visit http://www.dualit.com