DAB+ was created as part of the continuous development of the DAB standard [link to R&S technology page for DAB]. With DAB+, the audio source coding has been changed from MUSICAM to state-of-the-art HE-AAC. The RF coding and frequencies used are identical to those for DAB. The only preparatory work necessary is to exchange the DAB audio coder to switch from DAB to DAB+. The DAB transmitter can be used for DAB+ as well. Due to the improved performance of HE-AAC, two to three times more audio channels can be encoded for each DAB+ ensemble. A new superframe structure is being introduced that makes DAB+ incompatible with existing DAB receivers.
