Recommendations for stereo radio with low standby power requirements

Poey50

Poey50

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I want to replace my stereo radio which is located inside the cabin so no need for a waterproof variety. The current one uses 0.5amps on standby and I'd be interested in any model with stations retained by internal battery, which is then charged when the unit is active, rather than have a vampire load on the house bank to retain stations.
 
I think you'll find that standby consumption is very rarely quoted in specifications. Most non-marine radios are automotive-based and the standby consumption isn't seen as important. So it's probably a case of finding a few radios which you like the look of, then asking the manufacturer what the standby current is. The 0.5A of your current radio sounds very high.

Ideally, I'd guess you'd look for a radio with DAB capability. Most of the DAB car radios now seem to have power-hungry colour touchscreens, and more features than you can shake a stick at, and have prices to match. There are cheaper DAB radios around though, and this £150 Kenwood is said to have a "dark current consumption" of <1mA.

Receivers • KMR-M506DAB Specifications • KENWOOD Europe
 
0.5A in standby would be unacceptable in a car. How are you measuring that?
My intimate knowledge of some DAB radios is probably well out of date now, but they used to store FM and DAB channel data in non-volatile memory, so would remember channels with no battery.

Back in the dark ages, I had a Mondeo Ghia which displayed all the available FM stations in a menu, using RDS, so you didn't really need presets, which may be wrong if you sail too far anyway.
 
pvb said:
I think you'll find that standby consumption is very rarely quoted in specifications. Most non-marine radios are automotive-based and the standby consumption isn't seen as important. So it's probably a case of finding a few radios which you like the look of, then asking the manufacturer what the standby current is. The 0.5A of your current radio sounds very high.

Ideally, I'd guess you'd look for a radio with DAB capability. Most of the DAB car radios now seem to have power-hungry colour touchscreens, and more features than you can shake a stick at, and have prices to match. There are cheaper DAB radios around though, and this £150 Kenwood is said to have a "dark current consumption" of <1mA.

Receivers • KMR-M506DAB Specifications • KENWOOD Europe
Click to expand...

That could be the one PVB. Thank you.

Update: it is the one.
 
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TernVI said:
0.5A in standby would be unacceptable in a car. How are you measuring that?
My intimate knowledge of some DAB radios is probably well out of date now, but they used to store FM and DAB channel data in non-volatile memory, so would remember channels with no battery.

Back in the dark ages, I had a Mondeo Ghia which displayed all the available FM stations in a menu, using RDS, so you didn't really need presets, which may be wrong if you sail too far anyway.
Click to expand...

Thanks - it's a stupidly high standby figure. I've no idea why but it is measured accurately.
 
My Fusion one (RA205) doesn't need a standby feed, has proper memory. Not cheap unfortunately.

Thats with power comp.etely off so won't lose its settings etc. Don't know what it draws when just switched off.
 
Poey50 said:
I want to replace my stereo radio which is located inside the cabin so no need for a waterproof variety. The current one uses 0.5amps on standby and I'd be interested in any model with stations retained by internal battery, which is then charged when the unit is active, rather than have a vampire load on the house bank to retain stations.
Click to expand...
I installed a Blaupunkt stereo receiver in our previous boat. Stations are retained without an external feed.
 
I’m with Paul on this. Bluetooth amp and regular speakers £50. Not audiophile grade, but my ears can’t tell the difference anyway. As much music, audiobooks, radio as you want. Connect to iPad for watching the occasional film or tv too.
 
MarkCX said:
I’m with Paul on this. Bluetooth amp and regular speakers £50. Not audiophile grade, but my ears can’t tell the difference anyway. As much music, audiobooks, radio as you want. Connect to iPad for watching the occasional film or tv too.
Click to expand...
We use the stereo as a bluetooth amp and speakers, works well!
 
I bout my radio from Aldi, no power needed for memory retention and Bluetooth for connection to phone or iPad for movies with good sound, as you can guess it was cheap, I think under £50.
 
I agree with wiggy, my last boat had an Aldi radio and i fitted an Aldi radio in my new boat today BRILLIANT radios ( bluetooth /usb/face off) but the radio i fitted today needs a permanent supply for memory retention . Jim
 
My Kenwood radio arrived today. The specs say that the current on standby is less than 1mA. The lowest my cheap multimeter will read is 2mA and it failed to register. About 8ah per year - that'll do nicely.
 
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pvb said:
I think you'll find that standby consumption is very rarely quoted in specifications. Most non-marine radios are automotive-based and the standby consumption isn't seen as important. So it's probably a case of finding a few radios which you like the look of, then asking the manufacturer what the standby current is. The 0.5A of your current radio sounds very high.

Ideally, I'd guess you'd look for a radio with DAB capability. Most of the DAB car radios now seem to have power-hungry colour touchscreens, and more features than you can shake a stick at, and have prices to match. There are cheaper DAB radios around though, and this £150 Kenwood is said to have a "dark current consumption" of <1mA.

Receivers • KMR-M506DAB Specifications • KENWOOD Europe
Click to expand...



Thanks for this suggestion, I bought the next model down KMR-M308BTE and its a great head unit and very shallow depth (y) (haven't tested the standby consumption yet)
 
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