Intempo GX 01 Review
Published by Budda November 9th, 2007 in Gadgets, Wi-Fi, Audio, DAB, Home, Reviews.
DAB radios have been around for a while now, and whilst the quality can often be great, the channel selection still sucks in the UK. Enter Internet Radio without the need for a computer, and you have what seems like a winning formula!
I took the latest GX 01 unit from UK based Intempo for a spin over the period of 3 weeks.
The unit build quality is great, in a chunky feel kind of way. The buttons and knob on the front of the unit are sturdy and click nicely. The knob is used for navigating through the setting menus and radio stations, as well as entering text - video game style.
Using your homes wi-fi network, the GX 01 claims to provide access to nearly 5000 stations, i’ll take their word for it because there was just too many to count. Categories by country and genre made it easy to zip through them and find something for your mood.
A slim remote was also provided, although mine was a bit temperamental in use - with a fair few buttons requiring some massaging to make them do anything.
Streaming worked perfectly all the time, and the initial buffering was quick (I’m testing on a 10MB cable connection).
The GX 01 also featured a handy alarm clock facility, and when the device isn’t powered on the display has a large clock display which glows blue. Annoingly, as soon as the unit is on - the clock is no longer accessible, which isn’t good for the morning when you are wondering if you are running late!
The GX 01 is a mains only device, using a standard looking transformer. Other connections on the unit are an RJ45 ethernet port, USB for streaming audio from a hard disc or flash drive, and a head phone socket.
Overall the GX 01 is a great unit that functions well and didn’t appear to suffer from technology crashing problems. However, the reason I no longer own the GX 01 is because, at low volumes, the sound/speaker has a constant crackling noise that repeats constantly - probably caused by electrical interference.
Having contacted Intempo in Manchester I tried the unit in a number of locations around the home to no success. I then returned the unit to Argos for a replacement. Really hoping the replacement would solve this I was disappointed to find the new unit suffered from the same problem at low volumes (ie. when you are going to sleep at night).
Because of this technical fault I have returned my second unit and Intempo stopped responding to my technical support request emails. Because of this I can only suggest you avoid the GX 01 unless you are planning to play it at a reasonably loud volume all the time - such as in an office.
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I bought a GX01 last week. The first one I got would not pick up my WiFi signal outside of the room where the router was. Undettered, I connected it via a cable. It was then I realised how appalling the sound was. At low levels it was really distorted. I took it back and got another one. The second one was fine on the WiFi all over the house, but the distortion was still there. On external speakers it was OK. I liked the radio in general and thought I could live with using external speakers. But at night I noticed that when the radio was turned low, the crackling noise was still coming through the radio speakers even with external speakers plugged in. I took it back. Rather tellingly, the girl on the till asked a supervisor just to verify it as a return. The supervisor took one look at the box and with a knowing look said “quality is it ?”
I’ve now got a Bush. No distortion at all. I was really dissapointed with intempo, I had always believed that they were the best.
Shame to hear about the poor sound quality. Personally for me the fact that you can now get internet radio out and about on mobile devices is also a very useful function.
Nice review, shame it sounded like it could have been much better.
The clock disppearing when the radio goes on is a big problem in my opinion, the low level noise issues sounds bad also.
Intempo customer service leaves a lot to be desired too!
I too have just bought the GX01 as a gift for my boyfriend, he is spanish and I was hoping that he could listen to stations from home. Unfortunately I am unable to connect it via wifi and even when I connected it via a cable it is contatantly cutting out on several stations.
Shame really because it looks great and is a great idea, I suppose the technology is perhaps a little young.