Roberts Sound 38 User manual

DAB / DAB+ / FM / CD Stereo Clock Radio with CD Bookmark
Please read this manual before use
ROBERTS

Sound 38 clock radio features.............................................2
Controls ........................................................................... 3-4
Using your clock radio for the first time ...............................5
Operating your clock radio - DAB........................................6
Selecting a station - DAB.....................................................7
Secondary services - DAB...................................................7
Display options - DAB..........................................................8
Finding new stations - DAB .................................................9
Signal strength display - DAB..............................................9
Manual tuning - DAB .........................................................10
Dynamic Range Control (DRC) settings - DAB .................11
Prune stations - DAB.........................................................12
Operating your radio - Search tuning FM ..........................13
Manual tuning - FM............................................................14
Display options - FM .........................................................15
Stereo / Mono setting - FM ...............................................16
Presetting stations....................................................... 17-18
Compact discs / MP3/WMA-CDs................................. 19-20
Playing a CD......................................................................21
CD Bookmark ....................................................................22
Selecting a track................................................................23
Contents
Search function..................................................................23
CD repeat function.............................................................24
CD intro function................................................................24
CD random play.................................................................25
Creating a play list (Program play) ....................................25
Checking and editing a program........................................26
Erasing a program.............................................................26
Setting alarms.............................................................. 27-29
Snooze function.................................................................30
Sleep function....................................................................31
Language function.............................................................32
Clock display .....................................................................33
Dimmer..............................................................................33
USB socket for software upgrades....................................33
Software version................................................................34
System reset......................................................................35
Headphone socket.............................................................36
Auxiliary input socket.........................................................37
Cautions ............................................................................38
Specifications and circuit features.....................................38
Guarantee.............................................................Back page
1

2
Sound 38 clock radio features
The Roberts Sound 38 clock radio provides the following features in
an attractive compact unit.
• Radio for DAB and FM with RDS broadcasts.
• Audio CD player with track search and programming facility (can
also play CDR or CD-RW discs).
• Playback of MP3 and WMA files which have been recorded to
CD-R, CD-RW dics.
• 20 station presets (10 for DAB and 10 for FM).
• The Sound 38 has a CD Bookmark feature which allows CD
playback to resume from the track and time position reached when
the unit was previously put into standby mode or when you have
switched to another mode.
• Clock display with either the time or time and date when in standby.
• Four alarm timers with snooze feature to wake you to either buzzer,
radio or CD.
• Adjustable sleep timer which can be set to turn off after between
0 and 90 minutes.
• A3.5mmAuxiliary input socket for playing audio from MP3 players,
iPods or other audio equipment.
• A standard 3.5mm headphone socket is provided for private
listening.
Note: If the unit is in the CD or the Auxiliary input stop
mode position for more than 15 minutes it will automatically switch to
the standby mode. The operation indicator and the LCD will go off in
such a case. To use the unit again switch on the unit.

Controls
1. Menu button
2. Preset / Album Down button
3. Function button (DAB/FM/CD/AUX)
4. Sleep button
5. Dimmer button
(Front)
11. Tuning Up / Fast-forward button
12. Snooze button
13. Select / Play / Pause button
14. Stop button
15. Intro / Repeat button
1
6. Display button
7. Preset / Album Up button
8. LCD display
9. On / Off button
10. Tuning Down / Rewind button
3
16. Volume control
17. Random / Program button
18. Auto Scan / Alarm button
2345
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
9
14
15
16
17
18

AUX IN DC IN
4
Controls
(Rear view)
19. Open / Close CD button
20. CD lid
21. Auxiliary input socket
22. Headphone socket
21
20
22 23 24
25
23. DC input socket
24. Wire DAB / FM aerial
25. USB socket (for software upgrades)
19

5
Using your clock radio for the first time
1. Place your clock radio on a flat surface.
2. Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock radio.
Place the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible extending
either above or below the clock radio.
3. Insert the adaptor plug into the DC Input socket located on the rear
of your clock radio.
4. Plug the adaptor into a standard 13amp mains socket outlet.
IMPORTANT: The mains adaptor is used as the means of connecting
the clock radio to the mains supply. The mains socket used for the clock
radio must remain accessible during normal use. In order to disconnect
the clock radio from the mains completely, the mains adaptor should
be removed from the mains socket outlet completely.
5. When your clock radio is first switched on the display will show 'Setting
Clock' and a station search will be performed automatically.
6. When a signal has been found, the clock information will appear on
the display. Press the Display button to toggle between showing the
time only or showing both the date and time.
7. If no signals are found 'Clock not set' will be displayed. It may then
be necessary to relocate your clock radio to a position giving better
reception. You should then carry out an auto scan to find stations as
described on page 9.
AUX IN DC IN

6
Operating your clock radio - DAB
1. Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock radio.
Place the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible extending
either above or below the clock radio.
2. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio. When first
switched on, the clock radio will be in DAB mode. After each use the
clock radio will remember the mode used and then switch on in that
mode the next time it is used.
3. If this is the first time the clock radio is used a scan of the Band III
DAB channels may be carried out (the scan is normally performed
automatically when the clock is first set - page 5). If the clock radio has
been used before, the last used station will be selected. If new radio
stations are found, they will be added to the stored list of stations.
4. When the scan is completed the first station (in numeric-alpha order
0....9, A....Z will be selected. The first station in the list of stations found
during scanning will be played. The display will show the station name
in the first line of the display and other information in the second line.
5. If the station list is still empty after the scan operation your clock radio
will display 'Station not available'.
6. If no signals are found it may be necessary to relocate your clock radio
to a position giving better reception, and then repeat the scan using
the auto scan facility (page 9).
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7
Selecting a station - DAB
1. The top line of the display shows the name of the station currently
selected.
2. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons to scroll through the list of
available stations on the lower line of the display. Stop pressing the
Tuning buttons when you find the station that you wish to hear.
3. Press and release the Select button to select the station. The display
may show 'Connecting' while your clock radio finds the new station.
4. Adjust the Volume control to the required setting.
Note: If after selecting a station the display continues to show 'Station not
available' it may be necessary to relocate your clock radio to a position
giving better reception.
Secondary services - DAB
1. Certain radio stations have one or more secondary services associated
with them. If a station has a secondary service associated with it the
display will show ">>" next to the station name on the station list. The
secondary service will then appear immediately after the primary
service as you press the Tuning Up button.
2. Press and release the Select button to select the station. < BBC R5SX >
Station list
2
2
3
1
2
<BBC R5L > >
Station list

8
Display options - DAB
Your radio has a range of display options when in DAB mode:-
1. Press the Display button to cycle through the various options.
a. Scrolling text Displays scrolling text messages such
as artist/track name, phone in number,
etc.
b. Multiplex Name Displays the name of the DAB multiplex
to which the current station belongs.
c. Signal strength Displays a graphshowing the signal strength
for the currently tuned DAB station. The
clear unfilled rectangle indicates minimum
signal level required for satisfactory
reception.
d. Time and date Displays the current time and date.
e. Programme type Displays the type of station currently being
listened to e.g. Pop, Classic, News, etc.
f. Bit rate/audio type Displays the digital bit rate and audio
type for the currently tuned DAB station.
g. Channel & frequency Displays channel number and frequency
for the currently tuned DAB station.
a
d
e
f
b
c
g
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9
Finding new stations - DAB
As time passes new stations may become available. To find new stations
proceed as follows:-
1. Press and release the Function button until the DAB band is selected.
2. Press and release the Auto Scan button. The display will show
'Scanning'.
3. Your radio will perform a scan of the Band III DAB channels. As new
stations are found, the station counter on the right-hand side of the
display will increase and stations will be added to the list.
Signal strength display - DAB
1. Press and release the Display button until the lower line of the display
shows signal strength.
2. Position your clock radio and try adjusting the aerial as to give maximum
number of black rectangles on the signal strength display. Normally
the best reception will be found with the aerial fully extended.
3. The clear unfilled rectangle indicates minimum signal level required
for satisfactory reception.
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1
1

10
Manual tuning - DAB
Manual tuning allows you to tune your radio to a particular DAB frequency
in Band III. Any new stations found will be added to the station list. This
function can also be used to assist the positioning of the aerial or the
clock radio to optimise reception for a specific channel or frequency.
1. Press and release the Menu button.
2. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons until the display shows
'Manual tune'. Press and release the Select button to enter the
manual tuning mode.
3. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons to select the desired DAB
channel.
4. Press and release the Select button. The open block in the signal
strength graph shows you the minimum signal strength needed
for good DAB reception. The signal blocks will go up and down
showing the changing signal strength as you adjust the wire aerial
or the clock radio position. Any new radio stations found on the
tuned DAB multiplex will be added to the list stored in the radio.
5. Press and release the Select button to return to the normal tuning
mode.
1
2,3
2,3
2-5

Dynamic Range Control (DRC) settings - DAB
Dynamic range control (also known as DRC) can make quieter sounds
easier to hear when your clock radio is used in a noisy environment.
There are three levels of compression:
DRC Off No compression applied. (default)
DRC High Maximum compression applied.
DRC Low Medium compression applied.
1. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio.
2. Press and release the Function button until the DAB mode is
selected.
3. Press and release the Menu button.
4. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons until 'DRC Value' appears on
the display. Press and release the Select button. The display will
show the current DRC value and it will be marked with an asterisk.
5. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons to select the required DRC
setting (default is off).
6. Press and release the Select button to confirm the setting. The
display will return to the normal radio display.
Note: Not all DAB broadcasts are able to use the DRC function. If the
broadcast does not support DRC, then the DRC setting in the clock
radio will have no effect.
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4,5
4,6
2
11

Prune stations - DAB
Over time, some DAB services may stop broadcasting, or may change
location and then not be able to receive a station. In order to remove such
stations from the DAB station list, the Prune stations function will delete
the DAB stations from your station list that can no longer be received.
Stations which cannot be found or which have not been received for
a very long time are shown in the station list with a question mark.
1. Press and release the On/Off button to switch on your clock radio.
2. Press and release the Function button until the DAB mode is
selected.
3. Press and release the Menu button.
4. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons until 'Prune' appears on the
display. Press and release the Select button.
5. Press the Tuning Up or Down buttons to select 'Yes'. Press and
release the Select button to cause the stations list to be pruned,
eliminating unavailable stations.
6. If you do not wish to prune stations select 'No' in step 5 and then
press and release the Select button. The display will revert back
to the previous display.
Note: If you have moved to a different part of the country you should
also carry out a search for new stations (please see the section
'Finding new stations' on page 9).
12
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4,5
4,5
4-6
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13
Operating your radio - Search tuning FM
1. Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock radio. Place
the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible extending either
above or below the clock radio. Press the On / Off button to switch on
your clock radio.
2. Press and release the Function button until the FM band is selected.
3. Press and release the Tuning Up button and then press and release
the Auto Scan button to cause your radio to search from low frequency
to high frequency and to stop automatically when it finds a station of
sufficient strength.
4. After a few seconds the display will update. The display will show the
frequency of the signal found. If the signal is strong enough and there
is RDS data present then the radio will display the station name. The
display will also show 'St' on the upper line if the station is received with
stereo.
5. To find other stations press and release the Auto Scan button as above.
6. Press and release the Tuning Down button and then press the Auto Scan
button to cause your radio to search from high frequency to low frequency and
to stop automatically when it finds a station of sufficient strength.
7. When the end of the waveband is reached your radio will recommence
tuning from the opposite end of the waveband.
8. Adjust the Volume control to the required setting.
9. To switch off your clock radio press the On / Off button.
Note: If you find that FM reception is poor, try repositioning the wire
aerial. Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock
radio. Place the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible
extending either above or below the radio. If you find that an FM
broadcast has a lot of background hiss, this may often be reduced
by setting the radio into Mono reception mode for the current FM
station. Please refer to the section "Stereo / Mono setting - FM" on
page 16 for further details.
1,9
2
3
63-6 8

14
Manual tuning - FM
1. Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock radio.
Place the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible extending
either above or below the radio.
2. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio.
3. Press and release the Function button until the FM band is selected.
4. Repeatedly press and release the Tuning Up or Down buttons to
tune to a station. The frequency will change in steps of 50kHz.
If the radio is tuned to a station of sufficient signal strength with RDS
information present, then the display may change to show the station
name.
5. When the waveband end is reached the radio will recommence tuning
from the opposite waveband end.
6. Adjust the Volume control to the required setting.
7. To switch off your clock radio, press the On / Off button.
Note: If you find that FM reception is poor, try repositioning the wire aerial.
Fully extend the wire aerial located on the rear of your clock radio. Place
the wire antenna so that it is as straight as possible extending either above
or below the radio. If you find that an FM broadcast has a lot of background
hiss, this may often be reduced by setting the radio into Mono reception
mode for the current FM station. Please refer to the section "Stereo / Mono
setting - FM" on page 16 for further details.
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3
4
4
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15
Display options - FM
Your clock radio has a range of display options for FM mode:-
The Radio Data System (RDS) is a system in which inaudible digital
information is transmitted in addition to the normal FM radio programme.
RDS offers several useful features. The following are available on your
clock radio.
1. Press the Display button to cycle through the various options.
a. Scrolling text Displays scrolling text messages such
as artist/track name, phone in number
etc.
b. Programme Type Displays the type of station being listened
to e.g. Pop, Classic, News, etc.
c. Time and date Displays the current time and date.
d. Frequency Displays the frequency of the station
being listened to.
Note: Your radio will display 'No RT' if there is no scrolling text and 'No
PTY' if there is no programme type information.
a
c
b
d
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16
Stereo / Mono setting - FM
Your radio will play stereo FM broadcasts in stereo provided that the
received signal is of adequate strength. However, as a stereo signal
becomes weaker the audio signal will become poorer. It may be preferable
to force the radio to play the station in mono in order to reduce the level
of background hiss.
1. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio.
2. Tune to the required FM radio station as previously described (see
pages 13, 14).
3. Press and release the Select button. The 'St' Stereo symbol will be
removed from the display and the radio will play the current station in
mono.
4. If you wish to cancel the Mono override while listening to the currently
tuned radio station, press and release the Select button. The 'St'
Stereo symbol will appear on the display and the radio will play the
current station in stereo if the signal is sufficiently strong.
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4,6
5
5
Presetting stations
You may store your preferred DAB and FM radio stations to the preset
station memories. There are 20 memory presets in your clock radio, 10
for DAB and 10 for FM. Presets are remembered by your clock radio in
the event of a power failure.
The procedure for setting presets and using them to tune to stations is the
same for FM and DAB modes, and is described below.
1. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio.
2. Press and release the Function button to select the DAB or FM
waveband.
3. Tune to the required station as previously described.
4. Press and release the Rand/Prog button, the display will show 'Preset
Store'.
5. Press the Preset Up or Down buttons to select the desired preset
number under which you wish to store the station.
6. Press and release the Rand/Prog button again. The display will show,
'Saved'. The station will be stored under the chosen preset. Repeat
this procedure for the other presets as needed.
7. Stations stored in preset memories may be overwritten by following
the above procedure.
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18
Recalling a preset station
1. Press the On / Off button to switch on your clock radio.
2. Press and release the Function button to select the DAB or FM
waveband.
3. Press the Preset Up or Down buttons to select the desired preset
station. The display will show 'Preset Recall'.
4. Press and release the Select button. Your clock radio will tune to the
station stored in preset memory.
Note: The display will show 'Empty' if no station has been stored to
that preset.
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3
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Compact discs
Use only Digital Audio CDs which have the symbol.
Never write on a CD or attach any sticker to the CD. Always hold the CD
at the edge and store it in its box after use with the label facing up.
To remove dust and dirt, breathe on the CD and wipe it with a soft, lint free
cloth in a straight line from the centre towards the edge.
Cleaning agents may damage the CD.
Do not expose the CD to rain, moisture, sand or to excessive heat. (e.g
from heating equipment or in motor cars parked in the sun).
CD-R/CD-RW discs
Your Sound 38 can playback CDDA format audio CD-R/CD-RW discs that
have been finalised* upon completion of recording.
Your Sound 38 may fail to playback some CD-R/CD-RW discs due to poor
recording and wide variation in quality of the CD-R/CD-RW disc.
*Finalising enables a CD-R/CD-RW disc to playback on audio players
such as your Sound 38.