Comparison between DAB, DAB+ and IP in terms of audio quality for mobile users
Brief summary
Best overall audio quality on mobile (when you have reasonable data/WiFi): IP (Opus/AAC) - most efficient, highest perceived quality, adaptive.
Best in places where cellular data is poor but broadcast coverage exists: DAB+ - efficient broadcast codec (HE-AAC), strong SFN coverage, lower battery on devices with a receiver.
Least efficient/oldest technology: DAB (MP2) - requires much higher bit rates for similar music quality.
Below I compare them according to the factors that interest mobile listeners
| factor | DAB (MP2) | DAB+ (HE-AAC / AAC+) | IP (Opus / AAC / MP3, adaptive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical codec | MPEG-1 Layer II (MP2) | HE-AAC (AAC+ / AAC v2) | Opus / AAC / Others |
| Typical bitrate for music broadcasts | 128–192 kbps | 48–128 kbps | 32–256 kbps (adaptive) |
| Perceived quality of speech | Good at low-medium kbps | Very good at low kbps | Excellent (Opus is very effective) |
| Perceived quality of music | OK at 128 kbps, need more kbps | Very good at 64–96 kbps | Best (Opus/AAC at 96–128 kbps competes with or better than DAB) |
| Mobility resistance | Good (COFDM, SFN) | Like DAB | Cellular coverage; capable of buffering and self-adjusting |
| Deception in reception while moving | Low if the cliché is good | same | High chance of areas with absorption gaps, buffering helps overcome this phenomenon |
| Latency Redundancy | Very low | Very low | Higher (buffer-dependent) |
| Cell phone battery usage | Low (if the tuner is in firmware) | Low (if the tuner is in firmware) | High (cellular/Wi-Fi active) |
| Data / Cost | free | free | By the cost of mobile data service |
| Additional features | Disability | Disability | Richness (metadata, artwork, graphics, albums, on-demand content) |
Key technical points
Basic explanation:
Codec efficiency: MP2 used by classic DAB is much less efficient than HE-AAC (+DAB) and modern streaming codecs. This means that MP2 needs a significantly higher bitrate to sound as good. HE-AAC (+DAB) is a big step forward - better music/speech at a much lower bitrate. Opus (the modern internet codec) is even more efficient than HE-AAC in most mobile scenarios, especially at low bitrates and for mixed speech and music content.
Bitrate vs. perceived quality: On a phone with headphones, an Opus or AAC stream at ~96-128 kbps will generally give better, cleaner music than MP2 at 128-192 kbps. DAB+ can sound very close to IP at similar bitrates due to HE-AAC efficiency.
Mobility and resilience: DAB/DAB+ uses transponder modulation (COFDM) and often single frequency networks (SFN) - this provides consistent coverage in well-planned areas and low latency. IP streaming is dependent on the cellular link: if you go through a coverage gap or change cells, you may see buffering or short interruptions; good ABR (adaptive bit rate) and small client buffers reduce quality degradation but add latency.
Latency: Broadcast (DAB/+DAB) has almost instant start and minimal delay (good for live events). IP typically uses buffers of a few seconds (start delay 2-10+ seconds) for smooth playback; can be configured for lower latency at the cost of more drops.
Battery and hardware: If a device has a dedicated DAB tuner, it usually uses less power than continuous cellular streaming. Most smartphones don't come with DAB tuners, so IP is usually the only practical option.
Cost and network availability: DAB/DAB+ is free once you have the receiver. IP uses data - a major concern for users on metered plans or weak networks.
Practical recommendations for mobile users
- If you have reliable cellular or Wi-Fi and want the best audio features: Choose IP streams encoded with Opus (or AAC) at 96-128 kbps for music; 32-64 kbps Opus/AAC for talk radio.
- If you're in an area with strong DAB+ coverage (and your device supports it), and you want low latency and no data usage: DAB+ is a great choice - especially effective for speech and reasonable music at modest bitrates.
- Avoid relying on classic DAB (MP2) if high music quality is your goal - it needs a high bitrate to match modern codecs.