• The BBC has turned off its Long Wave (LW) service
• BBC 4 joins the digital-only party
• Radios will likely soon need to support digital to be viable

If you still rock a retro, decades-old radio (and live in the UK), you're probably going to have to pop down to your local electronics store, because it's well on its way to becoming defunct.

BBC 4, the last radio station in the UK to use Long Wave (LW) radio, has now been taken off the airwaves. And by that I mean, it's still going digitally and on FM analog radio, but it's the final station to be taken off BBC's Long Wave service — and thus, the power there has been switched off.

This follows a several-decades-long trend, which started in 1995 when the Beeb launched its first-ever DAB broadcast. Over time, digital-only stations and the slow shutdown of aging long-wave tech has made digital one of the preferred ways to listen.

Although several medium-wave and FM radio broadcasts persist, most people listen to their stations via digital audio in 2026, with spoken word and songs converted into binary rather than the warmer, imperfect oscillations of wave-based radio. And I've got to tell you: that's the way it'll continue.

Digital is the future

This format shutdown will reduce the complexity of the BBC's stretched multi-signal operation. In theory, it will increase accessibility — you can listen to digital signals wherever you are in the world, without needing to be within signal range — but some listeners with limited internet access or technological ability may be cut off.

For better or worse, this is the way it's going. The UK government is consulting on plans for TV to follow suit, with terrestrial TV proposed to be removed by 2034 or, possibly, 2044.

The proposals are facing the same criticism of reducing access to programming, though an eight-year lead-up gives people plenty of time to upgrade. That's especially true given that all of the best TVs these days are, let's face it, smart ones.

According to the BBC, roughly a third of a million viewers only have access to Freeview currently, and the corporation threatened that channels may be shut down if it's forced to support terrestrial for much longer. It'll depend on the consultation process.

It's too late for long wave radio though which, in the UK, now joins the dinosaurs and passenger pigeon in the category of 'things which are extinct'.

At least we know its death wasn't for nothing: it'll keep the BBC ticking along for a little while longer.

Sharp Osaka: Two-minute review

If you’re the person that loves to have tech to match your personal aesthetic, the Sharp Osaka isn’t really the one for you. What it is, though, is a great value solution for anyone who simply wants to listen to the radio from seemingly any location.

Smaller than my desk calendar, the Sharp Osaka is easily grabbed with one small hand and slips into my coat pocket well enough, too.

As with all DAB radios, the only bulky part is its extendable aerial arm which you can easily hide away when not in use. The Sharp Osaka's battery life comes in at about 15 hours which isn’t above average for such radios but will serve you well for most of your active day. Charging via USB-C means you’re unlikely to need to pack an extra cable any time you go away, too.

Costing £70 – that's about $90 in the US or AU$143 in Australia, where available – when first released in September 2024, the Sharp Osaka is already discounted at time of writing, bringing it down to an even more affordable £50 ($65 in the US and AU$102). That’s a good price for a DAB radio of this standard and it also doubles up as a basic Bluetooth speaker.

Its controls are more intuitive than its convoluted manual suggests, leading you to mostly enjoying the Sharp Osaka without much hassle. One of the best DAB radios? Maybe not, but still a simple solution to your radio listening needs.

Sharp Osaka review: Price and release date

• Released September 2024
• Cost £70 / €90 (currently only available in the UK and Europe)

The Sharp Osaka DAB radio was released in the UK and Europe in September 2024. It costs £70 / €90 depending on your region (unfortunately, it's not available in the US or Australia as it stands) so it’s affordable for a DAB radio.

We’ve already spotted some discounts emerging in the UK with the price more around the £50 mark.

That makes it one of the more affordable portable DAB radios around. It’s much cheaper than the stylish but premium Roberts Revival Petite 2 and also the ageing Sony XDR-P1 DAB radio. It’s slightly more expensive than the Groov-e Boston but that’s far from the right size for putting in your pocket.

Sharp Osaka review: Specs

Sharp Osaka review: Features

• DAB and FM radio, plus Bluetooth speaker
• 12-hour battery life
• 3.5mm headphone jack

The Sharp Osaka DAB radio has all the features you could need without offering up much in the way of surprises. At first glance, it looks like it’s only a DAB radio but it uses a technology it calls BestTune which combines FM, DAB, and DAB+ into a single station list to help you find the best option based on signal strength. I really liked this as it saved me switching between different modes while still gaining the best signal.

In all, the Sharp Osaka has a 120-station memory spread equally across BestTune, DAB and FM and, honestly, you probably won’t have to overthink this either. I simply turned it on and it figured things out for itself, quickly allowing me to find the station I wanted to listen to.

A tap of the source button also takes you to the Bluetooth side of things. Bluetooth 5.3 is in charge here so you won’t need to fret about any drop-out issues when pairing with your phone or tablet. I certainly didn’t have any issues switching between the two.

Sharp's website in various regions differs between 15 and 12 hours of promised battery life, however I found the latter to be the rough sweet spot during use. As is often the way, volume can affect a lot here. The USB-C cable is perfect because on my travels I didn’t have to worry about packing an extra cable to recharge it.

On the side and next to the USB port is a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to connect the Sharp Osaka DAB radio to the best wired headphones for some added privacy.

Other neat extras include an alarm function and a SlideShow tool which displays images from the radio station where available. In reality, I never found a station that offered this but I’m continuing my search in my own time as it sounds fun.

Features score: 4 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Sound quality

• Mono speaker
• A little tinny
• Loud volume but some distortion

The Sharp Osaka is impressively loud, especially given its relative size. Though 10 is the average volume you’re likely to use, it goes all the way to a Spinal Tap-trouncing 30. It travels far, too. I cranked it up then walked a few rooms away and could still hear it.

That comes at a price with the audio quality not the best and offering some distortion but it’s fine for casual listening. I checked out Absolute 90s and found suitably old and nostalgic while listening to Blur’s Tender and The Rhythm of the Night by Corona. The latter lacks some excitement with the Sharp Osaka lacking crispness and spark, but the former translated reasonably well, never once leaving me waiting for that feeling to come.

This is the radio you’ll listen to while doing other things rather than indulging in your audiophile urges.

Sound quality: 3 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Design

• Functional, lightweight design
• Simple-to-use buttons...
• ... but not especially tactile

The Sharp Osaka gets right to the point with its design – it isn’t spectacular looking but nor will it confuse you. On the front left sits the mono speaker, with its controls and screen to the right. The 2-inch color display is simple but clear, other than when looking at it in bright light conditions.

Controls are also similarly easy to figure out although there’s no tactile quality to it which will be an issue for anyone with sight issues. That’s not uncommon with many popular DAB radios but it does mean my search for a more accessible DAB radio will have to continue.

When listening to the radio, you’ll need to pull out the antenna which is quite tightly clicked in at other times. On the side are ports for charging and headphones. There’s also a neat little key lock button which means no one can accidentally tap a button by mistake.

The Sharp Osaka is only available in a black/gray mix but it looks reasonably sleek.

Design score: 3 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Value

• Inexpensive
• Ideal for a quick fix
• Cheaper than most

The Sharp Osaka was pretty cheap compared to the competition even before it went on sale (which seems to be commonplace now). Its primary competition for portability is something like the aforementioned Roberts Revival Petite 2 but it’s far cheaper than that. A closer rival could be the Pure Woodland but that’s less portable.

It might not be as adorable as that Roberts but the Sharp Osaka is far more affordable, which makes it tempting.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Sharp Osaka?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Sharp Osaka review: Also consider

How I tested the Sharp Osaka

• Used the Sharp Osaka over two weeks
• Listened to DAB radio, and music via iPhone 14 Pro and Bluetooth
• Over 10 years' experience testing audio equipment

The Sharp Osaka followed me around the house and the garden. I mostly used it in my home office but I also moved it to the kitchen while I cleaned and the living room while relaxing. On the rare days of good weather, it followed me outdoors for a little bit.

I used it exclusively via the rechargeable battery as it saved me finding a USB port to connect it to. I mostly listened to the radio but once in a while, I listened to some podcasts through my phone. This was typically via Spotify.

Otherwise, there was a lot of Absolute 90s, ranting at LBC, and relaxing with BBC Radio 5 Live.

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee
• First reviewed in March 2025

Groov-e Boston: Two-minute review

If you had a checklist of everything you wanted from a DAB radio, the Groov-e Boston would mark off almost every point. It lacks good looks and its sound quality could be better but for only £39.99 – it's currently only available in the UK, but that would make it approximately $52 or AU$82 where available in the US and Australia – it’s hard to criticize it too much.

Also, I can see it fitting in nicely in any room of your home, or you can always take it with you to a holiday let, a caravan: you get the idea. It’s lightweight for the size so it’s easy to move around.

A wooden frame isn’t the priciest or most exclusive look but it does make the Groov-e Boston appear a little classier than if it stuck with the speaker grilles' metal styling, or went for plastic casework. This isn’t the radio to show off to friends and family (that’s the Roberts Revival Petite 2) but it has, nevertheless an old-school charm about it.

Audio quality could be better but for a basic DAB radio, the Groov-e Boston is fine. Don’t count on using the Bluetooth connectivity too often to listen to your own music, though, unless you’re really stuck for options.

So, the Groov-e Boston isn’t one of the best Bluetooth speakers but who really cares about that? You’re buying something like this to compete with the best DAB radios. The Groov-e Boston may not have stolen my heart, but my head (and bank balance) do certainly love the price tag.

Groov-e Boston review: Price and release date

• Released February 2023
• Cost £39.99 (currently only available in the UK)

The Groov-e Boston was released in the UK in February 2023. Availability hasn’t stretched elsewhere – though if you happen to find it in the US or Australia it'll set you back approximately $52 or AU$82 – but if you’re in the UK, this is a cheap DAB radio while still being from a reputable brand.

It’s far cheaper than my beloved aforementioned Roberts Revival Petite 2, as well as the bulky Pure Woodland. There are some obscure brands with DAB radios around the same price point but none from a reputable brand to compete with the budget delights of Groov-e.

Groov-e Boston review: Specs

Groov-e Boston review: Features

• DAB & FM radio
• Bluetooth streaming
• Built-in alarm clock

Pretty much all the features you could need from the Groov-e Boston are here. It has DAB and FM radio connectivity along with Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing with your phone or other devices. All are easily tapped around thanks to the clearly laid out buttons. It takes seconds to get started with the Groov-e Boston and it never really gets any more complicated.

You can set up 40 presets if you really plan on browsing that many stations regularly and the Groov-e Boston also has an alarm clock function. The latter is a little awkward to set up, though, compared with the simplicity of everything else.

I’d consider the Groov-e Boston primarily as a radio to use at home but it does take batteries if you want to use it out and about. You need four size C batteries to stick in the back – though probably not something you’ll ever actually do, the option is there.

Features score: 4 / 5

Groov-e Boston review: Sound quality

• A little tinny
• Best for spoken word over music
• Some distortion at high volumes

The Groov-e Boston’s sound quality instantly reminds me of almost every car garage I’ve ever been to. That may be too a specific an anecdote but what I’m getting at is the Groov-e Boston is pretty basic-sounding, with that low-level quality you’d get from a small radio trying to expand to much larger surroundings. The Groov-e Boston transfers that tinny sound to a smaller room.

Mileage will vary depending on the strength of the DAB signal, of course. I found it sometimes improved but there was never any punch such as when listening to Beyonce’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) while browsing through some music stations. Spoken word is far better with some time spent with rant-filled LBC sounding reasonably strong, if still a little tinny for want of a better word.

There’s a reasonable stereo effect here but little heft. Crank up the volume and the Groov-e Boston ends up sounding more distorted but it works well enough in a small environment.

Sound quality: 3 / 5

Groov-e Boston review: Design

• Useful carry handle
• Lightweight
• Retro stylings

Reminiscent of electronics' stylings a few decades old, the Groov-e Boston is functional if not exactly the device you’ll be posting across all your favorite social media platforms. It has a great metal carrying handle so you can move it from room to room without any bother, while the antenna pulls out easily enough.

In the center is a simple LED display showing the time, date, and whatever you’re listening to. Underneath that are your control buttons which are well laid out and explained, as well as a volume knob, which feels so much more satisfying repeated button bashing. The buttons on this radio are a tad on the noisy-clunky side but at least there’s never any doubt you’re tapping them. As is increasingly the way, there are no tactile bobbles to help those with sight impairments figure things out but the buttons are spaced out well so you can’t mistap anything.

On the back is simply the place for the batteries. No additional ports or anything like that. Also, if you’re keen to pick the right colorway for your decor, this isn’t the device for you. The Groov-e Boston is solely available in its part-gray/metal, part-wooden build.

Design score: 3 / 5

Groov-e Boston review: Value

• Very affordable
• Reputable name for the price
• Fine for short- or long-term plans

Check out any retailer and you’ll be lucky to find a DAB radio for this price that is also from a brand you’ve heard of. The competition is simply more expensive. The likes of the Sony XDR-P1 are in the same ballpark, but still pricier and also nowhere near as pleasant to place on your shelf.

You’ll be unlikely to find much for cheaper but if you want style or better features, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Groov-e Boston?

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Don't buy it if... 

Groov-e Boston review: Also consider

How I tested the Groov-e Boston

• Used the Groov-e Boston over 14 days
• Listened to DAB radio, FM radio, and music via iPhone 14 Pro and Bluetooth
• Over 10 years' experience testing audio equipment

I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of different DAB radios over the years. I opened up the box and got started with the Groov-e Boston the moment it arrived. It spent much of its time between my home office, bedroom, and living room. The carrying handle came in useful there. I mostly used it connected to mains power.

I listened to a lot of talk radio (LBC and BBC Radio 5 Live) to keep up with current affairs, while switching over to Heart 90s and 00s along with a local music station to calm my nerves after too much news.

When using the Bluetooth functionality, I connected my iPhone 14 Pro, and listened to Spotify and Apple Music.

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee
• First reviewed in March 2025

Roberts Rambler Classic review: two-minute review

The Roberts Rambler Classic is a classy DAB+ radio that takes you back in time, without sacrificing any modern-day benefits. It has a gorgeous 70s-inspired design, which is excellent for fans of a retro aesthetic. With an elegant leather handle, bamboo side panels and shiny speaker grille, the Roberts Rambler Classic earns plenty of style points, but how does it sound?

Well, I’m happy to report that it sounds very good. If you’re mainly going to be listening to radio shows or podcasts, you’ll be pleased with this radio’s super-clear vocal reproduction and separation. And when it comes to music, the Roberts Rambler Classic is equally up-to-scratch. You’ll experience impressively warm bass, clean mids and delicate, controlled highs, as well as surprisingly high volume levels for a radio of this size (a child's shoebox or cute purse, say).

If you’d like, you can connect your phone to the Roberts Rambler Classic with Bluetooth as well and once again, sound quality is clean and free of harshness. You’re not going to get the massive, room-filling sound that some of the best Bluetooth speakers can offer, and the Bluetooth version (4.2) is a little out of date these days, but just having it is useful, nonetheless.

For those looking for a more intimate listening experience, there’s also the option to listen with headphones. You can plug a pair of the best wired earbuds into the port under the Roberts Rambler Classic and experience balanced, decently detailed audio. There’s also an AUX-in port for wired listening (if you've got one of the best MP3 players kicking around), making this a fairly versatile radio in terms of connectivity options.

You’ll be glad to hear there are a wide array of features at your fingertips with the Roberts Rambler Classic. You can switch between DAB+, DAB and FM radio, select up to 40 station presets, set up an alarm or even tailor a sound that suits you best with the onboard EQ options.

This radio can also be used while plugged into a power socket, or on the road, thanks to its inclusion of a rechargeable battery slot. The battery itself, however, is sold separately, so you’ll have to splash some extra cash for the privilege of portability. Speaking of cost, this radio doesn’t come cheap, carrying a fairly premium RRP of £179, though this is matched with high build quality and audio output.

Additionally, this DAB+ radio is super easy to use, in part thanks to the inclusion of a nifty LCD display. Simply use the tactile knobs atop the radio to sift between settings, stations, volume levels and connectivity types and you’re away. The display will provide details of the radio show or content streamed over Bluetooth.

So, all in all the Roberts Rambler Classic is a sleek, stylish DAB+ radio with impressive functionality and sound quality to match. It won’t come cheap and the requirement to purchase a battery separately isn’t ideal, but this doesn’t stop the Rambler Classic from being a great overall package. If you’re looking for your next kitchen-top radio, I can confidently recommend this model, but if you’d like to weigh up your options, why not check out our guide to the best DAB radios.

Roberts Rambler Classic review: price and release date

• RRP of £179
• Launched in November 2024

The Roberts Rambler Classic released in November 2024 and can be yours for £179. It’s available (in the UK and Northern Ireland) in two colour variants, Duck Egg or Navy Blue, which is the model I tested for this review.

At £179, this is a fairly premium radio, suitable for kitchen-top or bedroom play as well as taking out and about. It’s a pricier option than, say, the very cute Roberts Revival Petite 2, which we loved, but not quite as pricey as the even-more premium Roberts Revival Icon, for instance.

Roberts Rambler Classic review: specs

Roberts Rambler Classic review: features

• DAB+, DAB and FM radio
• Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity
• EQ options

The Roberts Rambler Classic has a decent feature-set and is very easy to use. The radio instantly scans for stations when you power it on, there’s no action required on your end. After the Rambler Classic finds all your favourite stations, you get access to up to 40 station presets – double the amount of the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo. You can also easily assign stations to each of the five buttons on top of the radio too, making for a seamless user experience.

There are a number of options accessible through the radio’s display, including EQ presets (like Classic, Jazz or News), loudness levels, standby time and screen brightness. If you’d like, you can also set up an alarm clock or sleep timer, making this a strong all-in-one bedside companion.

The Roberts Rambler Classic supports DAB+, DAB and FM radio, but there are a number of other connectivity options available too. Firstly, this can double up as a Bluetooth speaker, allowing you to connect a phone, tablet or laptop for music or podcasts. This radio uses Bluetooth version 4.2, which is admittedly quite out of date, but it's still compatible with most modern devices. You also get AUX and headphone ports for wired listening.

Finally, the Rambler Classic has the option to be either mains powered, or battery powered – though the latter is a restricted feature. Why? Because you have to purchase a rechargeable battery pack separately, which is capable of a fairly average seven hours of playtime.

Now, I understand that a large portion of customers will simply keep this radio plugged into power at home, but sticking portability behind an additional paywall is slightly frustrating in my view. The battery won’t set you back massively – it's available for less than £40 on the Roberts website and a handful of retailers, but that does take the full package above £200… and that’s not cheap.

• Features score: 4/5

Roberts Rambler Classic review: sound quality

• Clear vocals in radio shows and podcasts
• Impressive bass output
• Solid (if not booming) volume levels

The Roberts Rambler Classic impresses on the audio front. After it swiftly scanned for stations, I tuned into BBC Radio 6 Music and was instantly struck by clear, pleasantly forward vocals from the talk show host. There was not even a slight hint of tinniness or harshness to her voice, something that I’m pleased to report was largely the case throughout my listening.

In All Good by De La Soul, intricate rhymes were communicated rhythmically with immense clarity and balance. Bass was also pleasingly warm and weighty, something I wouldn’t expect from a lot of Bluetooth speakers at this size. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to get booming sub-bass or anything here, but if you tune in to a song like I Want You by Moloko, you can still expect an impactful low-end thump. At the beginning of this track, vocals also maintained their breathy tone and electric guitars in the mid-range were both beautifully weighted and tonally accurate.

As well as DAB+, DAB and FM radio, you can play music or podcasts from your phone, tablet or computer by connecting to the Rambler Classic via Bluetooth. The radio could get surprisingly loud when streaming music over Bluetooth and quality was nothing to be sniffed at either. For instance, when I listened to Rains again by Solji, vocal high notes sounded delicate and carefully separated from instruments in the treble frequency range. Acoustic guitar sounded soft and controlled too, with bass never feeling invasive or overpowering.

That’s not all though. The Roberts Rambler Classic also offers up wired listening thanks to its AUX and headphone ports. I tried listening with the excellent Sennheiser IE 200 earbuds and was again pleased with the Rambler Classic’s sound quality. When listening to talkSPORT, speech was ultra-clear and distortion-free, even at louder volumes.

On top of all of this, you can adjust this radio’s sound signature with a number of EQ presets or your own custom tuning, which enables you to raise or lower bass and treble levels by 5. So, really, there’s a lot to love as far as sound quality goes. I did find, when listening to DAB+, DAB and FM radio, that the Rambler Classic couldn’t get all too loud, meaning it might not be the best for an outdoor gathering or party atmosphere, but otherwise I was a big fan of what this model had to offer.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Roberts Rambler Classic review: design

• Attractive 70s-inspired look
• Neat TFT LCD display
• Tactile knobs, easy-to-use button controls

One of the main selling points of the Rambler Classic – and indeed many of Roberts’ radios – is its retro design. I’m a fan; it has an attractive aluminium grille, sleek bamboo panels and eye-catching leather handle. I also think that both the Duck Egg and Navy Blue colour options aid in giving the model a premium look – they’re reserved yet classy. So, if you’re the nostalgic type, the Rambler Classic is certain to tick a lot of your boxes.

However, it does combine some modern aspects, like a lightweight design, shiny tactile knobs and an LCD display, both of which are elegantly integrated and don’t detract from the retro vibe. There are also some easy-to-use, albeit slightly cheap-looking button controls, which can be used to sift between preset stations and trawl through menus.

On the underside of the radio, you can access the various ports for wired and headphone play and charging. This may not be the most practical placement in the world, but it does make for a more discreet, minimalist appearance. It's also worth noting that this radio is not water resistant, so it’s not the ideal companion for listening in the bathroom or by the pool, for instance. That’s fine in my book, but it's worth noting that there are waterproof alternatives, like the Pure Woodland (more on that in the ‘Also Consider’ section).

• Design score: 4/5

Roberts Rambler Classic review: value

• Not the cheapest radio around
• But great audio and feature-set
• Shame battery pack has to be purchased separately

In all honesty, this isn’t the cheapest radio on the market. But with an LCD display, EQ options and a premium design, that’s to be expected. You’re getting a very attractive package here, from clean audio to brilliant build quality. So really, the £179 price tag is pretty justified. That cost isn’t too dissimilar to a lot of other Roberts models too, with the Roberts Revival RD70 coming in at the same price-point.

The big issue I have in terms of value, however, is that the battery pack – required to take this radio on the go – is sold separately. That’s going to add another £40 to the price you pay here, which isn’t ideal. That would take the full package to in excess of £200, which is quite a lot to cough up for a model of this size.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Roberts Rambler Classic?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Roberts Rambler Classic review: also consider

Roberts Rambler Classic review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Used in the music testing space at Future Labs
• Predominantly tested using DAB+ radio and Tidal over Bluetooth

I tested the Roberts Rambler Classic radio over the course of one week at our music testing space at Future Labs. I spent hours listening to music, radio shows and more, mainly using DAB+ radio. I listened to a handful of stations, but used BBC Radio 6 Music as my main point of reference.

I also tested the radio’s Bluetooth functionality by playing music from Tidal after connecting up the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. When listening to music, I tuned into tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes songs from a wide variety of genres.

As well as blaring songs and talk shows out loud, I tried listening using wired earphones, specifically the Sennheiser IE 200. For the most part, I conducted testing with the Roberts Rambler Classic plugged into a power socket.

• First reviewed: January 2025
• Read more about how we test

There's something deeply lovely about the design of a Roberts radio: my family had one in the kitchen when I was growing up, and I remember it as much for its gorgeously retro looks – it wasn't that different from the very distinctive Roberts R66 of the 1950s, even though ours was decades more recent – as for its sound quality, which made other radios sound embarrassingly bad. So I'm delighted to see that the latest Roberts radios have packed their distinctly modern tech in designs that Harry Roberts himself could have created.

Roberts has unveiled three new additions to its Rambler family: the Rambler Uno, the Rambler Midi and the Rambler Max. And while they wouldn't have looked out of place in my childhood kitchen they're packed with today's tech.

Roberts Rambler Uno, Rambler Midi and Rambler Max: key features and specifications

The Rambler Uno is the most affordable of the new radios, and it's a replacement for the Rambler Mini. It's a DAB, DAB+ and FM radio and alarm radio with a full-range speaker and passive bass radiator, a clear OLED panel and Bluetooth, and it runs on four AA batteries. It's really pretty and pretty affordable for a Roberts, with a price tag of £129.99 (which is around $171 or AU$254, give or take a dollar). You can choose between duck egg, navy blue or pastel cream.

Next up there's the Rambler Midi at £179.99 (so, around $237 or AU$350). This is a new design that's much more compact, although it shares the same design DNA as the rest of the Rambler range. Once again it's a radio and alarm radio with DAB, DAB+ and FM with Bluetooth, and this time the single full-range driver is ported for better bass. There's a front-facing LCD display and once again it runs off four AA batteries and comes in duck egg, navy blue or pastel cream. 

The Rambler Max is the smartest of the bunch, supplementing its radio features with Spotify, Deezer and SmartRadio integration. a TFT display and an optional Lithium battery pack. There's no cream option for this one so far; the choice is between navy blue and duck egg. The Roberts Rambler Max has an RRP of £199.99 – around $263 or AU$390.

The Roberts Revival Petite 2 is the company's most recent success – yes, it's proudly among the best DAB radios we've ever tested, along with two older Roberts options. Will a product from Roberts' new Rambler trio soon join it? We're working on that…

All three new Rambler radios are available now from RobertsRadio.com and from the usual retailers.

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• See our pick of the best wireless speakers too
• Happy to stick with Bluetooth? You need one of the best Bluetooth speakers
• Heading to a pool party? Check out our guide to the best waterproof speakers

I live in a home full of speakers, but there are some places they just can't go: the steam from my shower would kill them, and the mess I make when I'm cooking curries has created some pretty horrible patterns on my light-coloured HomePods mini. So it's nice to see Majority come to the rescue with a portable audio player that you can splash with the fluids of your choice.

The new Majority Eversden is a cute and very affordable DAB+ radio (one ripe for our best DAB radios buying guide, if the sound is good), a Bluetooth speaker (so it would be a novel inclusion in our best Bluetooth speakers roundup) and FM radio with IPX5 water resistance. 

That means it's capable of withstanding not just the odd splash but actual jets of water, so you can hang it in the shower for your morning sing-a-long. And there's no fabric grille to get grubby so it's a good option for the kitchen too. 

Majority Eversden DAB+ radio: price, specifications and availability

Specs-wise, you're looking at Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 15 hours of battery life, DAB/DAB+ reception from 174-240 MHz and FM reception from 87.5 to 108MHz. There's a dual alarm and a sleep timer as well as a headphone jack for nighttime listening. The dimensions are 5.3L x 13.8W x 15.9Hcm; that small size means there's only room for a mono speaker. 

As with other Majority products (see our recent Majority MP3 Player review for a big hit there) there's a generous warranty period of three years instead of the more common one year, and Majority contributes to its Majority Forest tree planting programme with each unit purchased. 

The Majority Eversden is available now in the UK and in Europe with a price tag of £59.95 / €54.95. At the time of writing Amazon UK is also offering a 10% money off voucher. Unfortunately the Eversden is not currently available in the US or Australia, but that pricing, if it ever does land in these regions, would make it around $76 or AU$116, give or take a few dollars. 

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Pure Classic C-D6: Two-minute review

The Pure Classic C-D6, and devices like them, are enjoying quite the comeback. Once in seemingly terminal decline, radio is back on the up and if you’re anything like me, you’re quietly impressed by the myriad DAB channel options out there. Heart 90s to propel you out of bed in the morning, Classic FM to crawl back there a few hours later.

Tapping into the retro joy that comes from a music system that includes a DAB/FM radio, CD player and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, the Pure Classic C-D6's old-school stylings look the part but won’t suit everyone. It’s squarely designed (literally) for sitting somewhere in a corner of your living room, destined to live out its days there. This isn’t portable and it’s sizeable enough that you won’t even want to move it between rooms unless you have absolutely to. 

However, it has charm. Like other Pure radios, it has all the essentials you could need wrapped up in an easy to use shell. Setup is a matter of plugging it in and leaving the radio to pick out dozens of DAB radio channels before you highlight your presets. 

A remote control simplifies matters further, though I was baffled at not finding any batteries in the (huge) box. A couple of dials on the front also help matters. You’re honestly not going to get lost here.

At £179.99 or €199.99 (and currently only available in the UK and in Europe), cheap the Pure Classic C-D6 is not. But it is a Bluetooth speaker, DAB/FM radio and CD player rolled into one, which makes it a bit better value. 

Once unboxed, it’ll live happily in your living room or on your bedside cabinet and fulfil seemingly all your audio needs at a steady, if not always exciting, pace.

Is it one of the best DAB radios we've had the pleasure of testing? Let's see.

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Price and release date

• Released April 2024
• Cost £179.99 / €199.99 (currently only available in the UK and Europe)

The Pure Classic C-D6 was released in the UK and Europe in April 2024. It costs £179.99 or €199.99 depending on your region, making it a relatively mid-range option compared to the competition.

It’s cheaper than something like the Pure Evoke Home (at £399.99) or on a par with the Roberts Revival RD70, but with the addition of CD playing support. 

The non-portable DAB music system market is a fairly niche one if you want all these features, so the Pure Classic C-D6 feels fairly well priced for what it offers.

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Specs

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Features

• Remote control
• Extensive connectivity options
• Alarm feature

The Pure Classic C-D6 is huge, more on which later. Fortunately, such abundant heft means there’s a lot going on here. The all-in-one unit is packed with options which are easily found by scrolling through the various dials.

At its heart, the Pure Classic C-D6 is a DAB/FM radio but it’s also possible to use it as a CD player, plug in a USB stick or pair a device with it via Bluetooth. In theory, you don’t actually need another speaker or music system in your living space as the Pure Classic C-D6 covers all the bases – it's also got an aux-in.

Its Bluetooth 5.3 is supremely stable and robust – no risk of drop outs here. Switching between the modes takes a mere moment, with no noticeable lag while you go through your options. It’s a relatively minor thing but one that’s immediately noticeable. 

The Pure Classic C-D6 is purely wired so there’s no point worrying about battery life – it needs to be plugged in. Again, due to the not insignificant weight of the Pure Classic C-D6, you won’t be moving it around anyhow. 

Features score: 5 / 5 

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Sound quality

• 2 x 15W speakers
• Crisp sound
• Limited bass

No one is buying the Pure Classic C-D6 and expecting energetic audio that captivates you in every way – reliability and convenience rule all here. That’s not to say that the Pure is poor quality aurally, but it lacks some oomph in the bass department. For instance, you may not notice the precise details of Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie.  

Instead, it does the job just fine while you listen to the radio. Heading over to a 90s-themed channel, I enjoyed being reminded of my youth with the kind of audio quality I expect from my car’s reasonable-but-unremarkable DAB radio. It’s the perfect line in fine. 

That trend continues regardless of how you listen. Bluetooth and even CD playing are available here and it all sounds just... fine. No complaints, but no wow moment either. 

Sound quality: 3.5 / 5 

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Design

• It’s huge
• Clearly laid-out buttons
• Appealing display

The Pure Classic C-D6 is huge, even for what it offers. It’s designed to be fitted sturdily on a shelf or in a unit in your living room so that it can stay there forever more. Potentially, you don’t need any other basic audio equipment in that room so that’s fine but it’s good to plan ahead. 

The 15W speakers sit comfortably either side of a middle section devoted to the controls, screen and CD player. The TFT LCD display is fairly sharp and straightforward, with the buttons and dials around it making intuitive sense. Such a design means it’s easy to figure out everything you need to do and I didn’t really need to go anywhere near the manual to become a pro at navigating my way between all the Pure's various functions. There’s also a remote control for when you don’t fancy walking over to the machine. 

Turn the Pure Classic C-D6 around and there’s the aux-in port and USB port, neatly hidden away but also easily accessible when the time comes. 

It comes in either coffee black or cotton white with a faux wood exterior adding to the suitably retro vibe. I wasn’t a fan at first but the design did grow on me. It also looks and feels reasonably sturdy.

Design score: 4 / 5

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Value

• Mid-range pricing
• A strong investment

The Pure Classic C-D6 is designed to be a long-term commitment. Place it in your home and you’re all set for the long haul thanks to its extensive connectivity options. 

If you want a nice and simple solution for all your audio needs, it’s fairly well priced. There’s always something like the Roberts Revival RD70 but, though it looks nicer, that lacks features like CD-playing functionality.

Spend more and you could get the Pure Evoke Home, but that’s only really necessary if you want built-in Spotify Connect and podcasts rather than simply casting across from your phone. 

Value score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Pure Classic C-D6?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Pure Classic C-D6 review: Also consider

How I tested the Pure Classic C-D6

• Tested for 10 days
• Used at home exclusively
• Over 10 years of audio reviewing experience

The Pure Classic C-D6 lived happily in my home office for most of the 10 days I spent reviewing it, with a brief sojourn to my living room. Throughout the working day, it played in the background. 

That meant talk radio with a mixture of LBC, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio 4. It also meant listening to music via the DAB stations as well as through Bluetooth and my iPhone 14 Pro playing Apple Music and Spotify. 

For the CD player, I dug out a few old CDs to see how things worked there. The Pure Classic C-D6 was my main source of audio-based entertainment while I worked.

Over the past 10 years or so, I’ve reviewed dozens of speakers, headphones and earbuds as well as more than a few DAB radios, too. These all covered a wide variety of price ranges. 

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee
• First reviewed in June 2024

As anyone who read our Pure Woodland Radio review will know, Pure's got a keen talent for fashioning portable, forward-thinking IP67-rated DAB and FM radios. You'll find the name featuring several times in our best DAB radios roundup. 

But what if you want something in a slightly more heritage style? Pure's got an answer for that too – in fact, it's got three. So let's meet them! The new Classic Series includes the "kitchen helper" affordable Classic H4, the mid-range Classic C-D6, and the flagship Classic Stereo.

All promise "timeless style, enhanced connectivity and improved sound quality" within relatively accessible prices – and I'd agree; aside from the top-tier model, prices here are refreshingly palatable. Also, every product within the trio is available in your choice of 'Coffee Black/Walnut' or 'Cotton White/Oak' finish.

Let's start small, with the Classic H4 (pictured above). It's a DAB+/FM radio with Bluetooth. This model has a 10W power output and the ability to store 40 presets – which is a lot for the money – plus a kitchen timer to stay on top of things when making dinner.  

The bigger Classic C-D6 (below) builds on the FM/DAB+ radio idea by adding a CD player, advanced Bluetooth, USB-A and AUX connectivity, 2x15W stereo speakers and a sleep timer. 

The Classic Stereo is billed by Pure as "the gateway to refined HiFi sound wrapped in a comforting, familiar setup" and we see what they mean – it's a set of stereo speakers and a receiver. Power output is a much beefier 100W thanks to the standalone speakers (which should make it a viable option for parties as well as chilled listening at home) and here, you get DAB+/FM radio, Internet radio, Bluetooth, CD playback, Spotify Connect and extra connectivity perks including USB-A, Optical (meaning you could hook it up to your TV), Phono (for a turntable) and 3.5mm AUX ports (for headphone listening, say). 

Prices? Of course. Pure's Classic range is available from today (April 11). The Classic H4 is priced £89.99 (so around $114, AU$174); the Classic C-D6  is priced £179.99 (approximately $227, AU$349). 

The Classic Stereo will set you back a more substantial £449.99 (so around $567 or AU$869) but when you consider the features and connectivity options it's not an unreasonable fee. For instance, it's a DAB+ radio and CD player that can also be used as stereo speakers for your TV, in the same way as the similarly-priced Audio Pro C20 could be your soundbar (although the Audio Pro isn't a DAB+ radio as such, has the speakers inbuilt, and swaps the CD player for HDMI eARC connectivity). 

Still, this flagship Classic Stereo offering is a tempting proposition, if you ask us. 

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Ever experienced cute aggression? The kind of rising urge to squeeze a particularly cute Pomeranian puppy sitting in its tiny puppy bed, wearing the cutest sweater you've ever seen – probably a bit too hard for its personal wellbeing? OK, but have you experienced that with tech? My first time was with the original Roberts Revival Petite, which I reviewed for TechRadar's sister publication, What Hi-Fi? – and awarded five sweet stars to. 

So ridiculously enjoyable, fun, and tiny was this FM/DAB radio and portable Bluetooth speaker (how did they get all of that in there?) that I found myself engrossed in it even in slumber, switching stations while making Chicken à la King in my also-tiny pastel-colored 1960s kitchen, in several retro-fabulous fever dreams.

Now, Roberts has launched the next generation of this palm-sized audio companion, the Revival Petite 2 – and it fixes my only real issue with what is emphatically one of the best DAB radios around. 

While Revival Petite 2 has the same bijou size and retro aesthetic, it now includes an all-new telescopic antenna (the original encouraged you to attach a black rubberised wire antenna to the external antenna socket on the back if experiencing poor signal), plus USB-C charging (the original sported a microUSB port), enhanced Bluetooth, and even a new alarm function.

The USB-C rechargeable battery offers the same 20 hours of uninterrupted playtime as the original (but come on, it's tiny – I've eaten bigger burritos) and an aux-in for listening to good old-fashioned FM radio on your headphones, if you'd like.  

The Roberts Revival Petite 2 is available now in six delicious colors for £99.99 (approximately $127 or AU$195) and will be available in 'Pastel Cream' from April. 

If you've yet to experience the classic wireless, with all its audio imperfections, do

One of the joys of listening to FM radio is that you need to work a little bit to get a good signal. You may need to briefly stick your arm out of the window when holding it, or angle that new antenna in ever-creative ways for the audio floor to drop, thereby freeing itself of background interference. For some, this will be a nostalgia trip, for others it'll be a fun novel new challenge. However, I maintain that there are times when listening to the original wireless – and not knowing what's coming up next – simply can't be beaten.

And a Roberts radio is without a doubt an ideal vehicle with which to experience this. The company was founded by good friends Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead, who began making portable radios from a small shop in London, UK, in 1932. Initially, the duo produced just three products per week, under the simple philosophy: never compromise on quality and keep pushing the boundaries.

The company remains the UK market leader in portable radios – just see our Roberts Radio Pillow Talk Speaker review, our Roberts Rambler BT Stereo DAB radio review or our Roberts Revival RD70 DAB radio review for more examples of what it can do. 

If you need me, I'll be repainting my apartment, digging out my Gran's heavily annotated Mrs. Beeton recipe book, and clearing a spot on the G-Plan coffee table for my new Roberts Revival Petite 2. 

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Pure Woodland: Two-minute review

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker and DAB radio isn’t the cutting edge of modern technology but it knows how to be good at what it does. It has the right name, looking eco-friendly right down to its cardboard and paper only box (besides a couple of cable ties). In a fetching green, it’s just asking for you to hook it up to a tree on a hot summer’s day. 

None of this would matter if it was awful to use but some thought has been put into it. Its carry handle is soft and easy to grip onto while its 14 hours of battery life is about right for a busy day out full of music and relaxation.

This isn’t just about music though as the Pure Woodland also has a reliable DAB and FM radio component. Pull up that antenna and you’re good to go with the DAB radio automatically tuning in and the FM radio only a few steps away. It works well giving you plenty of suitable options with the LCD screen highlighting what station is playing. 

At £139.99 / €149.99, it’s not the most competitively priced radio/speaker combo but it’s reasonable. It’s going to last a while too with IP67 waterproofing and some reinforced bumpers to help it handle a few blows while you take it out and about with you.

Simple to use with its stylish yet easy to distinguish buttons, the Pure Woodland is that device that everyone will figure out making it an easy radio to provide the whole family with. Outdoors, it blends in well while on the living room bookshelf, it’s going to be just as capable with a long USB cable proving useful. 

As its closest rival, the Robert Revival RD70 might be better looking but if you need something that can travel with you, the Pure Woodland is a tempting proposition among a busy world of the best DAB radios and best Bluetooth speakers. 

Pure Woodland review: Price and release date

• Released in July 2023
• Costs £139.99 / €149.99
• Only available in the UK and Europe

The Pure Woodland was released in the UK and Europe in July 2023. It costs £139.99 and €149.99 in respective markets, which places it squarely in the mid-range market. 

It’s a little cheaper than some popular favorites like the non-portable but stylish Robert Revival RD70, although pricier than the Sony XDR-P1, which has proved a hit among those looking for something portable.

It’s bulkier than the latter too although the Pure Woodland would certainly look better in your living room than the dated stylings of the Sony XDR-P1. You also get a rechargeable battery here rather than needing to dig out AA batteries all the time. 

Pure Woodland review: Features

• IP67 waterproofing
• Carry handle
• DAB and FM radio as well as speaker

It’s perhaps weird to think immediately of the carry handle of the Pure Woodland but it feels like a genuine feature rather than a design component. So many portable speakers omit a useful way of carrying them  and are rarely light enough to throw in a bag. 

While at the time of this review, it’s the wrong time of year to be spending long days outside – the Pure Woodland feels like something you could take on a picnic with you alongside your bag of food. The handle is soft to hold too which is so important compared to it biting through your hand. 

Besides the handle, the Pure Woodland is also pretty robust with IP67 waterproofing and a build that’s light to carry yet feels like it could handle a few knocks. Its 14 hour battery life also means you have a day’s worth of picnicking without needing a power source. 

The Bluetooth 5.1 that's onboard is reliable and means no dropouts to speak of. You can also switch to DAB radio mode or a FM radio if you choose. The former is pretty much automatic while the latter requires some adjustments but odds are you’ll be focusing on DAB anyhow. 

Don’t count on any extra physical connections like an aux-in socket but otherwise, the Pure Woodland has it covered.

Features score: 4 / 5 

Pure Woodland review: Sound quality

• 10W speaker
• Crisp audio 
• Lacking a little oomph at times 

I’m not really counting on the Pure Woodland to be an audiophile’s dream. Instead, it’s a balanced mix of offering everything the average person needs. Listening to a talk-focused station like LBC brings out how crisp voices sound while switching over to music demonstrates that this isn’t a bass-heavy party speaker but it still does the job well for adding ambience to your picnic, working day, or general chill out moment.

When my random playlist switched to Corner Shop’s Brimful of Asha (yes, really), I was pleasantly surprised at how enthusiastic it sounded. It broke through the background noise of my dehumidifier and my mechanical keyboard well. Elsewhere, more vocal heavy tracks like Harry Styles’s Sign of the Times feels tamer and not quite as powerful as one might like. Similarly, Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling doesn’t quite get you in the party mood. 

However, it’s all likeable and pleasant enough. As cliched as it might sound, the Pure Woodland is a reliable all-rounder. Nothing sounds poor or over processed and the soundstage is reasonable for this speaker, at least indoors. 

Sound quality: 4 / 5 

Pure Woodland review: Design

• Pleasantly tactile
• Clear preset buttons 
• Reinforced bumpers

The Pure Woodland looks a little dated but on the other hand, it’s also really practical. It has the aforementioned carry handle which has been designed to be soft to hold onto yet sturdy. It’ll easily hook onto something too. It also has a string of tactile buttons laid out well so none of them are too close to each other. Unlike other devices, there are no long presses or double taps necessary so it’s simple enough for anyone to figure out.

Six presets are available in all with three DAB and three FM giving you some options. Pairing to Bluetooth takes mere moments. Next to the buttons is a thin LCD screen so you can see what station you’ve picked. 

On the back, there’s nothing to speak of. A USB-C port for charging. For a change, a long USB cable is included so you’ve got a fair bit of stretch if you need to keep it plugged in. 14 hours of battery life means this won’t be too commonplace, fortunately. Reinforced bumpers at the top and bottom of the device adds to the robustness of the Pure Woodland. 

Design score: 4 / 5

Pure Woodland review: Value

• About average for what it offers
• A little cheaper than more stylish options
• Built to last

The Pure Woodland feels like something that will last a long time. It’s going to handle a muddy picnic in a British summer as well as it’ll handle living comfortably on your bookcase too. 

It’s not as good looking as the Robert Revival RD70 but it’s portable which is vital for some people. On the other hand, it’s far better looking than the cheaper Sony XDR-P1 and will look nice in your home during the winter months. A jack of all trades? Maybe, but it works. 

Should you buy the Pure Woodland?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Pure Woodland review: Also consider

How I tested the Pure Woodland

• Tested for one week 
• Used around the home and briefly outside (winter!)
• 10 years of audio reviewing experience

I lived with the Pure Woodland by plonking it in the same room as I work while also moving it around the home including my living room. For a brief time, I took it outside but the weather has been awful and I feel less waterproof than the Pure Woodland. 

Around the house, it was used while I worked as background noise as well as while I cooked and cleaned. It was all very domesticated and pleasant -- just like how most people are likely to use the Pure Woodland. 

I listened to a wide variety of music. This included my faithful (and somewhat embarrassing) 1990s playlist along with more recent releases such as those of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. I also listened to the radio a lot -- mostly a mixture of LBC, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio 4. 

Music was streamed through Apple Music and Spotify, while I used the DAB side of things predominantly for the radio with some FM testing too.

Over the past decade, I’ve reviewed dozens of speakers, headphones, and earbuds. Covering a wide range of price ranges, these go from super cheap ‘how could they make it for so little?’ level to much more expensive options.

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee
• First reviewed in January 2024

If you're someone who likes to start your day listening to Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, then Majority has launched a new digital alarm clock made just for you. It may look like something straight out of the 80s (minus the telescopic antenna and turn dial) but it has a lot of the features that you'll find in the best DAB radios and Bluetooth speakers, which we'll cover in more detail below. 

With two full-range drivers, the aptly named Knapwell is built for playing audio first and displaying the time second. It can take you from listening to your favorite jazz station and talkshow to streaming albums and podcasts with the best music streaming services without leaving you hanging (like a yo-yo). 

As one of the few Cambridge audio brands still specialising in radios – last year it launched a DAB radio, Bluetooth speaker and CD player unit called the Oakington – Majority has taken those fuzzy sounding, hard to set, battery operated radio alarm clocks and modernized them for today's world, making the Knapwell a great choice for anyone that wants to give their eyes a break from their phone's harsh blue light. 

Majority Knapwell: key specs

I'll admit, the Majority Knapwell isn't going to appeal to everyone. But I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that miss their digital alarm clock that finally stopped working a little while ago. Whatever the reason, if you're after a new alarm clock that can also play music, then this could be it. 

In terms of connectivity, Majority has given you a lot choice. It's a DAB radio, with FM and DAB+, as well as a Bluetooth speaker (although one thing to note is that we don't yet know which generation of Bluetooth) that also has a headphone jack if you'd prefer to play audio directly via a device like a phone or MP3 player. 

Although the Knapwell is small – it's only 11cm long, 9cm wide and ~3cm tall – it can also charge your phone, which will look about the same size as the device itself, thanks to a USB-C port. The display measures 14cm wide and is a full glass screen.  

Last but certainly not least, there's the digital clock. It uses a seven-segment display, which is probably the biggest design touch that makes it look so nostalgic – these LED figures are synonymous with vintage tech and are still regularly used today in microwaves and ovens. It also has some thoughtful features like a dual alarm and dimmer in case the display light is too bright. 

Can't wait to get your hands on one? The Majority Knapwell will be available to order from January 29 and will cost just £39.95, which is cheaper than some of the best value DAB radios we've reviewed.    

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German audio firm Loewe has been around for a long time – 100 years, in fact. And to celebrate, it's just launched a new Bluetooth speaker and DAB+ radio combo that takes a little bit of inspiration from its very first radio, the local receiver OE333. It's called the Loewe radio.frequency in an homage to the firm's original name, Radio Frequenz Gmbh.

Loewe was founded by two brothers, Siegmund and David Ludwig Loewe, in Berlin in 1923. They made radios and the world's first fully electronic TV, which went into production in 1933, and the following year they turned a lorry into a portable TV to deliver the first live broadcast. The Ortsempfänger OE333 launched in 1926 with three tubes, two capacitors and four resistors – an early version of the integrated circuit.

A few things have changed since 1923: not just the firm's name and its location, which is no longer the faintly frightening factory below that looks like the floor manager may have been Pennywise. Radio Frequenz GmbH is now Loewe, radio has gone digital, and we can stream music from our phones to our speakers. The radio.frequency's exterior may be retro, but inside it's very much a 2023 device.

Loewe radio.frequency DAB+ radio: key specs and pricing

Let's start with the styling. It's an affectionate nod to the OE333 rather than a copy of it, which is just as well as the original is a wooden box with giant valves sticking out of it – fun, but maybe a bit much for your kitchen. The radio.frequency is a slimline radio with curved corners, and while the materials and colours – oak inserts and basalt-coloured acoustic fabric – hark to the past, you still get the key features such as an integrated display and easy access to presets that you expect from the best DAB radios.

As for the tech inside, you're getting DAB+, FM, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging and up to 14 hours of battery life from a single charge. There are two full-range drivers and a bass radiator to deliver room-filling sound, and you can stick one in the bedroom to take advantage of the clock and wake-up alarm. There's even a Kensington anti-theft lock to stop retro-crazed thieves from trying to take it.

It's a good-looking thing, and while Loewe targets more premium buyers in general the price isn't particularly frightening: the RRP is £199 (approx. AU$380 – Loewe doesn't generally sell in the US), which isn't out of line with high-quality options among the best Bluetooth speakers at all, considering this is a digital radio as well.

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Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock: Two-minute review

Sure, you can almost always use a web browser or smart speaker to listen to the radio, but sometimes you want a traditional all-in-one solution like the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock. It offers everything you could need on your bedside cabinet. That means plenty of ways to listen including DAB, FM, Bluetooth and aux-in. It also has simple to use alarm settings and you can always charge other devices with it thanks to a wireless charging pad up top and a USB charging port.

Sounds perfect, right? Yes and no. The coolest thing about the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock is the fact it's named after the Greek god. Other than that, it's not exactly good looking and won't compete with the best DAB radios in terms of style. Plasticky and very lightweight, it feels cheaper than it is. It's cheap anyway but this feels like the bad kind of cheap.

It's solely mains-powered too and has no waterproofing or anything that would suggest it should go any further than your bedroom or maybe your kitchen. Still, it's low in price and it has the essentials. If you prefer to not rely on one of the best smart speakers to keep you entertained, this is a more traditional way to listen to the radio. 

Dozens of presets can be set up across both DAB and FM so a short time spent setting it up soon leads to plenty of time saved. As a radio, sound quality is pretty crisp too although the letdown comes from Bluetooth connectivity. Connect your phone to it and you'll have to crank up the volume to be able to hear it. When we say crank it up, that's across both the radio and your phone. 

If you want great Bluetooth performance, stop reading now and go find something dedicated to the job in our best Bluetooth speakers guide. However, if you want a little bit of everything, the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock will suffice. As a radio, it works well and the convenience of wireless charging is always good, even if it could be faster. At this price, the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock is rather more compelling too, saving you the need to buy multiple devices.

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock: Price and release date

• Released in June 2022
• Officially priced at $69.99 / £59.99

The Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock was released in June 2022 for £59.99. Since then, there have been modest price cuts to £54.99 in the UK, but it's not currently possible to buy outside of the country.

Only the one color option is available: black. This isn't a radio for style fans looking for the perfect aesthetic. At this price, its main rival is the Pure Elan Connect+ DAB/Internet radio, although the Groov-E offers more features like wireless charging. For good looks, you're going to have to spend more.

The Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock: Specs

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock review: Features

• DAB and FM radio
• Wireless charging built-in 
• EQ options

The amount of features within the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock is easily its strongest point. Setting up the radio side of things is likely to be your first port of call. It takes moments for the DAB radio to scan through your options, instantly setting aside relevant presets. What's likely to be less popular these days is the FM side of things, but there's still room for 60 presets with 30 each between the two. 

Working your way through the buttons may take a moment or two but hidden within the options are things like EQ presets and the ability to brighten up the screen. Holding down the Menu button and using the forward and back buttons are the key to finding what you need, and it's worth poking around. None of this is necessary but they're nice additions to have. There are alarm settings too with either a buzzer or the radio waking you up. A sleep timer can put the radio into standby for up to 90 minutes too. 

Adding to your options are Bluetooth connectivity and an aux-in port. Bluetooth is pretty weak here. It takes moments to pair up with your phone but the sound quality is woeful until you crank up the volume. More on this later but don't buy this radio for Bluetooth. Aux-in goes far better than that. 

Also making the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock more something to have by your bedside is its charging options. There's a wireless charging pad on the top of it that promises 10W. In reality, it feels slower than that but as something to leave your phone or earphones on overnight, it's fine. USB charging is also possible if you'd rather go down that route. 

Features score: 4/5

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock review: Design

• Black and plasticky 
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Clearly marked buttons and ports

The Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock won't win prizes for looks. While other DAB radios have delightful retro stylings, this one sticks to the very basics. It is lightweight though and small enough to hold in one hand. The only obtrusive part is the aerial, which sticks out when needed but that's understandable. 

The front of the radio offers up the main buttons along with the LED screen. The screen is bright but sometimes you may find yourself needing to get closer to see what's being displayed. The buttons are clearly labelled, although there's no tactile quality to them to help those hard of sight from knowing which button is which. 

On the back are ports for USB charging, the power port and one for aux-in. The aerial pulls out here too, while up top is the wireless charging pad. It's all just fine but not exactly exciting. The black exterior is functional but distinctly plasticky and uninspired. The lack of accessibility for those with limited vision (or who are simply leaning over without looking) is a missed opportunity though. 

Design score: 3/5

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock review: Sound quality

The Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock isn't really made for fantastic sound quality. That's not to say that audio doesn't sound crisp and clear, but that you're probably not buying this 6W driver-based radio for thumping bass. Listening to the radio is a pleasant experience. With the aerial on your side and everything correctly tuned in, dialogue comes across clearly.

Where the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock falters most is with its Bluetooth connection. It's incredibly quiet. You'll need to turn up the volume on both your phone and your radio to hear music clearly. Go too high and it can sound distorted. It's only really wise to use the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock for streaming music if you absolutely have to. Weak bass and those volume issues really will put you off for future endeavours.

On the plus side, you can pick out EQ settings hidden away in the menu to provide a slightly better experience. Still, stick with these for radio rather than Bluetooth. It really is dreadful. 

Sound quality score: 3/5

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock review: Value

For its price, the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock packs a lot in. It has all the essentials you could need and at a lower price than some of the DAB radio competition. That's in part because it doesn't have the style of pricier DAB radios but if you don't mind having super stylish tech, this is a good deal. 

The only issue that may truly put you off is its poor Bluetooth performance. If you plan on playing a lot of music via Bluetooth, the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock isn't the one for you. Despite that though, the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock does work well as a bedside all-in-one unit.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock review: Also consider

How I tested the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock

• Tested for one week, listened against the JBL Tuner 2, Earfun UBoom L and Roberts Beacon 310
• Used at home (in the bedroom and bathroom)
• Listened to DAB and FM radio, Apple Music and Spotify via Bluetooth and an iPhone 14 Pro

To get a full overview of what the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock felt like to use regularly, I used it throughout the day for a solid seven days. This meant using it as a radio between nine and five every day, usually listening to LBC or BBC Radio 1. Primarily, I listened to it through DAB but tried out FM a few times as well to check it worked effectively.

In the evenings, to test out the Bluetooth facility, I listened to Apple Music and Spotify through it and my iPhone 14 Pro. I also tested out the wireless charging bonus feature by leaving my iPhone on the top of the radio to do its thing. I listened to a variety of music including classical music playlists along with more bass-heavy rock. I also spent some time listening to familiar podcasts to see how it sounded on the Groov-E Zeus DAB/FM radio clock.

I've been testing and reviewing audio products for over 10 years. Outside of doing so for work, I appreciate the delights of great sounding music and crisp audio when I'm going about my day.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: August 2023 

JBL Tuner 2: two-minute review

JBL offers a plethora of useful speakers and earphones. We're not just talking options that sound good either, but robust party speakers that can sit by the pool (or be flung into it) without a problem. These are the kinds of devices that marketing spin would call 'kit for keeping up with your active lifestyle', (omitting the fact that sometimes you want to slob out next to your speaker. It's OK, us too). 

That trend continues with the JBL Tuner 2, which is vying for a place in our best DAB radio roundup. It's incredibly practical. It's robust, it has rubber feet on the bottom to stay secure, it works as two types of radio, and it can easily be paired up with your phone to listen to your choice of music. 

The catch? It's not exactly powerful. Whatever you listen to will sound acceptable, but nothing more. This is far from one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can currently buy. 

When listening to talk radio, the leanness and flatness isn't a problem, but the moment you switch over to your favorite songs, you'll wonder just why Foo Fighters' All My Life sounds so tame. 

Priced at £79.99/AU$169.95 (which is around $95), the JBL Tuner 2 is well and truly aimed at the go-getter market; people who want plenty of options while they hike, swim, or head outside. Up to 12 hours of battery life means you won't need to worry about power so often, and that's where the JBL Tuner 2 feels a decent deal. 

It's a little heavy, but that gives it the sense of robustness you need when heading outdoors. There's no strap or carabiner, which would have been convenient, but it's still easy enough to grip in one hand, even with small palms. 

The JBL Tuner 2 looks fairly unremarkable, but it doesn't take up too much room. Only the aerial will get in your way, but no more so than a regular radio would. 

For anyone looking for a simple-to-use DAB/FM radio that also doubles up as a Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Tuner 2 does exactly what's needed. However, with weak bass and a whole lot of other issues sonically, it won't suit audiophiles keen to get the most from their lossless music collection, but we're not convinced something with a DAB radio built-in is designed for those people. 

Take it with you on vacation, place it in the hotel room, by the pool, or by your holiday home and you'll appreciate how the JBL Tuner 2 saved you packing a few devices, even if it could sound richer. 

JBL Tuner 2: price and release date

• Available in the UK and Australia 
• Priced at £79.99/AU$169.95
• Launched in 2020

The JBL Tuner 2 isn't the newest device out there, having launched back in 2020, but then listening to the radio – even DAB radio – isn't the newest concept on the market, and there are times when sticking the original 'wireless' on still cannot be beaten. 

Since its release, the JBL Tuner 2 has seen a modest price drop, bringing it down to £79.99/AU$169.95.

It's available in two color schemes – white or black.

JBL Tuner 2: design and features

• Up to 12 hours of battery life
• IPX7 waterproof
• DAB and FM radio

The JBL Tuner 2 feels nice and sleek in your hands. While its core purpose means you'll be placing it down either horizontally or vertically, carrying it around feels smooth, even if it lacks a strap to hold. 

On its bottom are two chunky rubber grips that keep the speaker level when you place it pretty much anywhere. You can place it vertically too if you prefer. 

At the top is the aerial that needs pulling out if you want to listen to the radio, while the back offers a USB-C port along with a 3.5mm audio port. 

The front is the most interesting part of the JBL Tuner 2 because it offers up a small display that says hello when you start it up, then tells you which mode it's in and the radio station you're listening to. 

It's also home of the battery indicator, which is fairly woeful. It's just a single bar that goes down in a vague fashion where a series of bars would have been so much more helpful. Still, the battery lasts about 10 hours so at least you won't have to worry too often.

Up top are the controls. There are two big buttons for volume along with a series of numbers for radio presets, as well as a scan button for finding everything that's out there. Scanning is pretty quick, although we did have to delve into the manual to figure out how to find even more stations. 

Mostly though, the JBL Tuner 2 takes only a few minutes to set up to your preference. Also, it's waterproof so you're fine to use it in almost any scenario. 

• Design and features score: 4/5

JBL Tuner 2: sound quality

• Bluetooth 4.2
• Weak bass
• Tinny sound at times

Let's not mince words: the JBL Tuner 2 doesn't sound great. It doesn't sound awful, but you shouldn't go anywhere near it if you want great-sounding audio. 

When listening to FM or DAB radio, it does a job. Voices sound clear if not quite super crisp, and you don't have to turn up the volume too high to hear this. 

Switch over to Bluetooth mode and it's a weaker performance. We tried out one of our favorites, Foo Fighters' All My Life, and we were soon dismayed at how weak and soulless it sounded. Switching over to David Bowie's Under Pressure in the hope of some detailed mids and sparkly trebles also did not yield the performance we had hoped for.

The music is there, of course, but it all lacks the wow factor we know these recordings are capable of, by quite a substantial margin. It's not even that the bass sounds muddy, it's just too weak to be noticeable. There's a bit of grain to the trebles once we listened to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon but still, we were not fans of the audio chops here. 

Cranking up the volume creates some distortion, too, so this is far from one of the best party speakers. When considering the sound quality, the JBL Tune 2 is a relaxing by the pool kind of speaker at best, nothing more. 

• Sound quality score: 2/5

JBL Tuner 2: value

• DAB/FM radio and Blueooth speaker
• Highly portable

The JBL Tuner 2 is fairly well priced for what you get. Saving one the need for a Bluetooth speaker and a DAB radio, it's certainly useful if you're not too fussed about great audio quality but you want plenty of options at your disposal.

Whether that's you ultimately depends on how you plan on using your new purchase. 

• Value score: 3.5/5

JBL Tuner 2: should you buy it?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Also consider…

Think the JBL Tuner 2 might not be the DAB/FM radio with built-in Bluetooth for you? That's OK, here are three alternatives that could offer just the design, feature-set and sound quality you're looking for. 

• First reviewed: August 2022
• How we test: explore TechRadar's review guarantee

The best DAB radios can deliver impressively roomy sound and outperform traditional FM/AM radios by eliminating interference and providing access to a much wider variety of stations. With most broadcasts now primarily digital, a DAB radio is arguably a must-have for enjoying music, news, sports coverage, and talk shows.

Many of the best DAB radios offer many of the same features as the best Bluetooth speakers, including mono and stereo sound, internet radio access, and Bluetooth streaming. Some even rival the best waterproof speakers thanks to their IP ratings, meaning they can weather muggier conditions or unexpected rainfall.

We’ve thoroughly tested all of the leading DAB radios featured in our guide below to ensure they meet the highest standards, so you can rely on our recommendations for an exceptional listening experience. Whether you’re looking for a sleek addition to your kitchen, a multi-functional alarm clock radio, or a portable device for on-the-go use, our expert picks combine intuitive controls, stylish looks, and superb sound quality to suit a range of budgets.

Plus, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming up in June, there's rarely a better time than now to invest in a DAB radio, so you can keep tabs on the action even if you can't watch the games on the TV.

The best DAB radios of 2026

The best DAB radio for most people

There are few better sounding or looking DAB radios for a kitchen than the RD70. A retro-styled DAB/FM radio with a museum-like 1950s look, it brings the wireless bang up to date by adding a large colour LCD display and Bluetooth streaming from smartphones.

Its bulky size is a little too much for the average bedside table – and the colour LCD display is positioned on the top of the cabinet – so it makes for a less than perfect clock radio. However, its faux leather-covered wooden speaker cabinet produces easily enough mid-range and bass for warm-sounding sonics ideal for a kitchen or bookshelf.

In fact, the only downsides are its bulky size, lack of internal rechargeable battery (it’s portable only if you feed it four AA batteries) and underwhelming Bluetooth streaming.

Read our full Roberts Revival RD70 review

• Back to the top^

The best petite DAB radio

The first thing when we noticed when we were testing the Roberts Revival Petite 2 was its cute looks and teeny-tiny size. In our review, we wrote that this is "a truly portable radio that can be easily tossed into your bag ready to emerge looking adorable." That's why it's our top choice if you're looking for the smallest DAB radio that also performs well.

With 20 hours of playtime it's great for listening on the move, whether you want to take it on holiday, camping, to the park or just use it around the house. As well as being easy to carry around, it's incredibly simple to set-up, too.

Expect crisp, clear sound that we called "surprisingly lively" in our Roberts Revival Petite 2 review. But don't expect powerful bass or high volumes at this size. This device isn't going to work for parties, in that case it probably makes sense to get one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers instead.

Read our full Roberts Revival Petite 2 review

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The best DAB radio for bedside tables

What makes the Pure Siesta Charge stand out is – you guessed it – its charging capabilities. If your smartphone or phablet is compatible with Qi wireless charging, you’ll be able to leave it on top of this DAB radio as it fills up your battery.

It has a lovely sound, with simple customization options and presets, while all the practical alarm, timer and radio functions of Pure's popular Siesta range position it as a hugely practical bedside gadget. Not to mention an auto-dimming LED display and dashing glass screen.

Not everyone will make use of the wireless charging feature: but either way you're getting a sleek, well-designed DAB radio and speaker that's well worth a look.

Read our full Pure Siesta Charge Review

• Back to the top^

The best DAB radio for high-end buyers

An exceptional build quality, convincing retro design and good all-round sound quality rule on this excellent, if expensive, DAB radio that also deals in decent Bluetooth streaming. Available in cream, green and blue, the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo features a faux leather (vinyl)-covered carry handle and panels that stretch right across its back, with clean oak panels either side of a chrome and black speaker grille. It’s based upon the original ‘Rambler’ of the 1970s.

It’s primarily designed to look great in a kitchen or bedroom and have wide appeal; it sounds absolutely fine for both voice and music, but there are no EQ settings. We’re also slightly disappointed that a built-in battery is replaced by the need to insert four AA batteries, but there’s no doubting the quality of this DAB radio’s aesthetics and audio.

Read our full Roberts Rambler BT Stereo review

• Back to the top^

The best DAB radio value pick

Digital radio is great, but don’t underestimate internet radio. Accessing international web-based radio stations, but crucially also their catalogues of podcasts, the utilitarian stone grey or charcoal Pure Elan Connect+ gets on your home's Wi-Fi and also offers DAB/DAB+/FM and Bluetooth streaming from a phone.

It does look somewhat plasticky and audio-wise it’s best suited to voice radio and background music, but it’s easy to use and has a large color display. It’s also just 82mm deep so can slide onto any kitchen worktop or bookshelf without looking too dominating. Its slimness is also helped by it’s being charged not by a big power pack, but by a micro USB cable. Either way, the Pure Elan Connect+ is a great value all-in-one for kitchens, bathrooms and patios.

Read our full Pure Elan Connect+ review

• Back to the top^

The best DAB radio for the pool-side

The JBL Tuner 2 is a very portable and rugged DAB/FM radio that also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. The radio itself is excellent, but the pocketability of it means it has to have a relatively small speaker. It's perfectly fine for music and speech but it's not a radio you're going to use for a party. It's also worth noting that the Bluetooth here is 4.2, which doesn't have the range or bandwidth capabilities of more recent versions of the Bluetooth standard.

Despite those niggles, though, this is a typically well-built JBL speaker that's very easy to use and you can get up to 12 hours of radio playback between charges. The charger here is USB-C but you'll need to provide your own power adapter.

The USP here is IPX7 waterproofing, which makes it a particularly good option for travelling or for poolside listening: where many portable speakers are splash-proof, the Tuner 2 is much more protected against accidental drops and deluges. Perfect by the sink, by a pool, at the beach, or if it's in danger of getting hosed while you're watering the garden.

Read our full JBL Tuner 2 review

• Back to the top^

The best DAB radio for the garden

The Pure Woodland DAB radio is our top pick for the garden, because it's portable, boasts a good 14 hours of battery life and has some solid waterproofing – in short, it won't let you down. As we wrote in our Pure Woodland review: "it’s just asking for you to hook it up to a tree on a hot summer’s day."

During our testing we found the DAB radio element incredibly easy to set-up. All you need to do is pull up the antenna and you’re ready to go with the DAB radio, which automatically tunes in and the FM radio only a few steps away. It worked well for us, giving us plenty of suitable options with the LCD screen highlighting what station is playing.

In our review we wrote that the Pure Woodland isn't going to be an audiophile's dream. However, it has everything most people would need, including a reasonable soundstage, some power and performance and clear vocals – ideal for radio shows.

If you want a reliable portable speaker/radio combo, the Pure Woodland is a top choice. It's not the smallest in our guide, but it is easy to carry around.

Read our full Pure Woodland review

• Back to the top^

The best all-in-one DAB radio system

If you like the idea of a DAB radio but also want other ways to play music, consider an all-in-one solution, like the Pure Classic C-D6. It includes a DAB/FM radio, CD player and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, enabling you to stream your music from any other device.

Despite the fact this is a comprehensive system, it's very easy to get started with the DAB radio. Just plug it in and leave it to pick out dozens of DAB radio channels before you highlight your presets.

The sound is good and powerful, but not sonically brilliant. In our review, we wrote: "No one is buying the Pure Classic C-D6 and expecting energetic audio that captivates you in every way – reliability and convenience rule all here." That doesn't mean the audio is poor quality, it's bound to appeal to most people.

Like a lot of the options on this list, it has retro styling with a premium look. It's big and designed to sit in the corner of a room or on a sturdy shelf. If you want portability, look elsewhere in this guide. The Pure Classic C-D6 isn't cheap, but it does have everything you need wrapped into one great-looking device – you don't need anything else in your set-up unless you're an audiophile.

Read our full Pure Classic C-D6 DAB radio review

• Back to the top^

Other DAB radios to consider

Groov-e Boston: This radio is aggressively priced. In fact, we doubt you'll find a much cheaper DAB radio. But sadly, that's not necessarily a good thing as the tinny sound really reflects the price tag. Have a read of our full Groov-e Boston review to find out more.

Sharp Osaka: Read our Sharp Osaka review and you'll see we enjoyed this nice and compact choice that's easy to use and relatively inexpensive. But unfortunately the sound struggles and gets distorted fairly easily.

Meet the team

How we test the best DAB radios

We test a lot of audio gear every year at TechRadar, and that means we know exactly which features and specs to look out for. There are times when sticking the radio on simply can't be beaten and we want you to experience that at its best. To make this guide, we consider the size of the screen (if there is one), features, number of presets and, of course, sound quality.

Features: It's important for us to compare the performance of each product against the specs claimed by its manufacturers, which is why we take the time to ensure the battery life (in portable models), connectivity, screen size (when there is one), number of presets, feature set and sound quality is as good as the brands say it is.

Performance: We make sure to test each model in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you can be sure that the product will work just as well in your home, in whichever spot you've chosen to put it. We live with these radios in our homes to make sure that the performances are consistent, and we don't finalise our testing until we are certain of how the devices sound.

Sound quality: On this, we test the audio performance using a range of musical genres and across FM, DAB and Bluetooth streaming if the product supports it, to ensure that the radio can handle everything from death metal tracks to softly-spoken poetry jams.

Having spent more years in this game than we'd care to admit, we are truly confident that our star-rated reviews are the best indication of the quality of the DAB radios in this list. There are no sales teams involved in our verdicts, which means if we don't like it for sound, design, usability and features, we simply won't recommend it.

• Back to the top^

Best DAB radios: FAQs

Latest updates to the best DAB radios guide

May 5, 2026
Refreshed the introduction and ensured all copy is up to date. The previous quick list has been replaced with a slimmer 'tabletop' widget that makes it easier to view products and prices at a glance. We've also adjusted the intro copy to reflect next month's airing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

April 25, 2025
Refreshed the introduction. Added a new gallery photo section to each entry so readers can get a better idea of how each model looks. Wrote a new 'Other DAB radios to consider' section at the bottom of the guide with several other recommendations that might suit readers but aren't quite up to the standard of our top picks.

January 3, 2025
Rewrote the introduction. Added 'buy it if/don't buy it if' box-outs to each DAB radio we recommend so readers can see which best suit them at a glance. Added a 'meet the team' section to introduce TechRadar's audio testing experts. Checked all of the copy to ensure it's up to date.

September 27, 2024
Updated the introduction with additional information. Added a new 'What's the difference between DAB and internet radio?' section to our FAQs to make it easier for readers to figure out the best device for them. Restructured our 'how we test' section to focus on the key things to consider when looking for the best DAB radio for you.

Two-minute review

Do you need one of the best DAB radios? It's not difficult to listen to digital radio. From your smartphone you can fire-up any number of apps and choose from thousands of global digital radio stations, streaming them live in an instant. If you’re in front of a PC or Mac and you can easily do the same via a web browser. 

However, it’s much quicker just to hit a big orange button on a small box the size of a can of beans. 

That's the thinking behind this latest DAB radio from Roberts Radio, which has come up with a diminutive and rather cute-looking box that delivers everything a regular size digital radio can, but in a small package. It also acts as a Bluetooth speaker. 

The Revival Petite doesn’t connect to the mains. Instead, it’s battery-powered, with its internal battery recharging over micro USB and going for about 12 hours on a single charge. It’s not pocket-sized as such, but cube-shaped, measuring 73 x 124 x 76mm and weighing a reassuring 430g. 

We love the styling – its mottled vinyl covering and unusual colours lend retro goodness while its small OLED screen updates it to the present – and we’re almost as impressed with the audio. The Revival Petite may appear to be more about convenience and portability than sound quality, but it features an impressive bass response that’s good enough for music. It doesn’t quite go loud enough,  cleanly enough to be a candidate for using outdoors for, say, a BBQ, but it’s highly impressive at slightly lower volumes or when used indoors. 

The most unusual-looking and smallest-yet DAB radio isn’t the best-sounding around and nor is it the most fully-featured, but it’s easily good enough for a kitchen worktop, bedside table or a desktop.

Roberts Revival Petite price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £99.99 

The Revival Petite is a new addition to the Roberts Revival range, which has been around for many years and is one of the UK’s best-selling radio ranges – it’s flagship is the Roberts Revival RD70. Available in black, yellow, pink, orange, blue and duck egg blue, the Revival Petite is by far the smallest and most unusual-looking product in Roberts Radio’s stable. 

Design

• 50 x 23mm OLED screen 
• Diminutive size
• Rechargeable battery

The Revival Petite has a highly unusual look. The initial unboxing was a shock, revealing the Revival Petite to really live up to its name. At a mere 73 x 124 x 76mm this is a tiny digital radio, though it’s much deeper than your average portable DAB radio. That bodes well for the sound we expect to come from its small mono speaker. Its 430g weight is reassuring, too; the Revival Petite is much heavier than it looks. 

Although it’s a (highly) miniaturised DAB radio it sports the same styling as everything else in Roberts Radio’s Revival line-up; there’s a mottled vinyl covering and a highly tactile button protruding 12mm from the front of the product’s right-hand side. It acts as the main control. It’s ranged between four other buttons, but below a 50 x 23mm OLED screen. 

As space-saving designs go it’s hard to beat the Revival Petite – it’s tiny! 

Setup

•  DAB/DAB+/FM and Bluetooth 
•  20 presets (10 DAB and 10 FM) 
•  OLED screen is very small 

The Revival Petite couldn’t be easier to set-up, but there are a few options depending on the scenario you want to use it in. Switch it on using that big orange button and it instantly goes into autotune, which during our tests took less than a minute. 

In our initial test zone it failed to keep a steady signal, with lots of drop-outs. So we moved it around the room and found that it mostly achieved an excellent reception. Roberts also provides a 65cm long aerial cable that fits in the 3.5mm jack in the back of the Revival Petite (though you can also use that input to attach almost any audio device). 

Although you can use the Revival Petite as a portable, standalone device just by topping up its internal battery every 12 hours using any micro USB cable, Roberts does include a 100cm micro USB-to-USB cable in the box. It’s specifically designed to let you attach the Revival Petite to a main plug sporting a USB slot.

The only thing we had a slight concern about is the size of the text on the tiny OLED screen. Scrolling through a list of DAB radio stations was relatively easy – as is assigning regularly-used stations to one of the 20 presets (10 for DAB and 10 for FM), though if you have poor eyesight this could be a struggle. 

Attaching a smartphone to the Revival Petite is easy; you just toggle the input button until it reaches Bluetooth, and it’s a cinch to find it on a smartphone. It remembers up to eight devices. 

Audio performance

• 40mm speaker with passive radiator 
• Surprisingly good bass response 
• Some distortion at highest volume 

Nobody is expecting the tiny Revival Petite to offer anything special when it comes to music, right? However, despite being so small it has a surprisingly good bass response, with both voice-based DAB radio and music – including that streamed from Bluetooth – demonstrating impressive depth given its size. 

It’s certainly good enough for any kind of voice radio and podcast, but adept enough for music, too. It’s not going to get loud enough for an outdoor garden party or BBQ, but used indoors it’s an impressive performer.  

We were also fairly impressed by the quality of music streamed to the Revival Petite from a smartphone, though there are a few caveats. To get even a basic performance it’s necessary to turn up the volume on a smartphone to max, and to whack it up to a relatively high level on the Revival Petite, too. 

That’s not unusual for DAB radios with Bluetooth modes, but while we did hear a little fling and buzzy distortion at the very highest volume, the Revival Petite managed to produce a reasonably good soundstage from streamed music. The one issue is that you must remember to turn down the volume before swapping to the built-in DAB or FM tuner to avoid being blasted. 

Should I buy the Roberts Revival Petite DAB radio?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

• Need something more rugged? Read our guide to the best waterproof speakers you can buy today

One-minute review

The best DAB radios are all about the simple things in life. Classic tunes while you create in the kitchen, football commentary in the bath and Test Match Special in the garden. 

Cue the Roberts Revival RD70, a retro-styled DAB/FM radio that attempts to bring the ‘wireless’ bang up to date by adding a large colour LCD display and Bluetooth streaming from smartphones. 

Since it can also run on battery power, the RD70 is also a well-disguised portable Bluetooth speaker. Is this the go-anywhere all-in-one of your dreams? Well, perhaps not. The RD70 is great as a DAB and FM radio. It’s faux leather-covered wooden speaker cabinet gives plenty of mid-range and bass (a tad too much, even) and it looks good on a kitchen counter or in a bathroom. 

However, it’s not as portable as you might think, thanks to its use of four AA batteries – no easily rechargeable battery here. It’s also not waterproof and its Bluetooth streaming is also quiet and underwhelming. 

So what should we make of the RD70? Well, don’t buy it for its portability or for its basic Bluetooth features – both of which are the wrong side of retro – and focus on its core skill as a DAB radio for a kitchen or bathroom. Yes, it’s expensive and misfires on a couple of features, but the vintage-styled RD70 is one of the best-looking, easiest to use DAB radios for the home. 

Roberts Revival RD70 DAB Radio price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £199.99

The original Revival had been around for years and was one of the UK’s best-selling portable radios. 

This new version originally launched in 2018 updates the tech inside, but barely touches the retro design. It’s available in red, black, dove grey, duck egg blue, leaf green and pastel cream. 

Design

• Retro 1950s styling
• Portable with handle
• Weighs 1.7kg

If there is an iconic design in the world of DAB radios, it’s Roberts’ Revival. Styled as a 1950s ‘wireless’ in the old sense of the word, the RD70 now tackles the modern meaning of that phrase to add Bluetooth streaming from smartphones. 

Do you remember what radios were like in the 1950s? Nope. Nor us. In fact, you could argue the vintage styling is a tad overdone, and the RD70 more museum piece than truly retro – but either way there are few more design-led DAB radios out there, save for the Ruark R1 Mk4. 

It’s mostly aimed at kitchen sides, window sills, bathrooms and bedside tables. The latter is obvious from its provision of a sleep timer (for up to 90 minutes), two alarms and a snooze function (you just hit the right-hand knob), though we think its bulky size is a little too much for the average bedside table. 

There is another reason to keep it away from the bedroom; its 36 x 48mm colour LCD display is ranged on the top of the device so it makes for a less than perfect clock radio.

Measuring 106 x 250 x 160mm and weighing 1.7kg, the RD70 looks like it’s covered in leather. It’s not – it’s merely a synthetic faux-leather – and on older incarnations of the Revival this layer hasn’t aged well. Cracks and tears have appeared in the covering after a few years. We’re hoping that has been addressed on the RD70, though only time will tell. 

It’s an eye-catching look and the designers have gone all-in on the 1950s look, right down to a soft faux-leather carry handle, bronze-coloured speaker grille and knobs that turn and click to navigate menus. It will probably appeal more to older users than younger. 

However, there are plenty of contemporary touches on its top-mounted control panel, from that great-looking colour LCD display to playback buttons that let you control your music when streaming from a smartphone. Also on that panel is a headphones jack and a 3.5mm line-in for attaching other audio devices. 

Setup

• 10 DAB and 10 FM presets
• Six display themes
• Portable with AA batteries

The RD70 has a telescopic aerial extending to a maximum of 60cm, but it only feeds upwards. While that adds a little stability (side-ranging aerials tend to droop after a while), it’s not great news for anyone wanting to put the product on a kitchen surface underneath cupboards. That goes doubly so because in our tests the aerial was mostly required to get a stable signal. 

We managed to tune-in myriad DAB radio stations using the auto-tune function and found the combination of clicks and turns of the left-hand knob fairly intuitive. We were then able to set specific stations as presets and easily navigate between stations, though the RD70 lacks dedicated preset buttons that take you straight to a specific radio station. 

A colour display is pretty advanced for retro products like this and it comes with some interesting options. It offers six display themes to choose from, including ruby, emerald and sapphire-coloured backlights. It makes use of the sheer size of its color display to show a digital version of a clock face. In theory you get album artwork on the display from DAB and via Bluetooth, but this didn’t work in our tests. It’s hardly a necessary feature, anyway. 

Bluetooth streaming is easy enough. You just toggle to Bluetooth on the source button and find the RD70 in your phone’s settings. Does the RD70 work well as a portable Bluetooth radio? It can, but it comes with a catch. In place of a built-in lithium-ion battery that’s easy to recharge, the RD70’s undercarriage includes a slip-off hatch for four AA batteries.

They’ll add up to 25 hours of portability. If you only plan to use them irregularly that’s fine, but think twice before you buy the RD70 intending to take it everywhere, since you’ll need a stash of rechargeable AA batteries and the patience to frequently replenish them. We would expect the next version of the RD70 to be a rechargeable unit. The RD70 is also not waterproof, so be careful taking it outside. 

Audio performance

• Warm and detailed DAB / FM sound
• A touch bassy for some
• Lack of volume via Bluetooth

FM and DAB broadcasts sound excellent on the RD70, but it won’t be for everyone. A result of its wooden cabinet housing a mid-size driver, the sound quality is warm, detailed and has plenty of bass, but isn’t designed for high volumes. 

As its styling suggests, you’ll hear warm, round tones perfect for voice, and for music radio, too. However, it will be a little bassy for some; in our test a DJs with a low voice did sound rather boomy. 

You can dive into the RD70’s EQ settings if it’s too much; here you’ll find classic / jazz / pop / rock / news sound presets (though none are standout) alongside basic tweaks to treble and bass. 

We found that for DAB radio – music and voice – the bass needs to be at -4. For Bluetooth streaming we settled on -2 for bass and +3 for treble, though the major issue we had with this mode was volume.

It’s just so quiet when you swap to playing podcasts or music from a smartphone, even with the smartphone on full volume. As well as lacking volume, the sound appears slightly muffled, too. This unfortunately isn’t rare on DAB radios, which roundly fail to treat Bluetooth streaming with any kind of skill. 

If you want a ‘new’ wireless speaker, go elsewhere, but if you want a good ‘old’ wireless, the RD70 impresses. 

Should I buy the Roberts Revival RD70 DAB radio?

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• Need a battery built in? Check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy today

One-minute review

If there’s one niche where retro styling concepts modelled on products from the 20th century has caught on it’s with DAB radios. 

Perhaps the most impressive example of all is the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo, which makes a play for being one of the best DAB radios by pairing an unusual but convincing design with a simple and fuss-free execution of its digital radio duties. 

Able to tune in DAB/DAB+/FM radio stations, the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is essentially a souped-up version of the Roberts Rambler BT – it adds extra audio oomph and charges for the privilege. 

That makes it an expensive product for what it is – a good-looking DAB radio with thoroughly acceptable sound quality – but it does come with a few extras. 

Its faux leather (vinyl) covered carrying handle and battery option enables the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo to go places. Sure, having to insert four AA batteries is a little awkward and it’s hardly as impressive as a built-in lithium-ion battery would have been, but it does the job. 

What we also liked about the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo was its Bluetooth streaming, which we (for once on a DAB radio) executed without any serious issues with volume when playing music from a smartphone. 

Is the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo going to blow you away? No – it’s primarily going to look great in a kitchen or bedroom, and send your ears more than acceptable sound quality. Easy to use and to live with, the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is expensive for a modestly ambitious product, but worth it if you want a good-looking retro DAB radio that’s easy to live with. 

Roberts Rambler BT Stereo DAB radio price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £149.99

Launched in 2021, the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is essentially a Roberts Rambler BT with souped-up audio. 

Consequently, it costs more than the £119.99 asked for the original. As well as that price difference, this improved version comes in different colour options; duck egg, dusky pink, navy blue and green.  

Design

• Retro 1970s styling
• Weighs 1.15kg
• Faux leather and carry handle

A smaller, cuter and not quite as retro take on a DAB radio compared to Roberts’ flagship Rambler RD70, the intriguing design of the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is based upon the original ‘Rambler’ radio of the 1970s. 

That’s an era a lot of potential purchasers of this DAB radio will remember, unlike the ‘museum piece’ look of the 1950s-styled Roberts Rambler RD70. While the sides of the Rambler BT Stereo are simple and clean oak panels, its front is mostly taken up by a chrome and black speaker grille with faux leather vinyl on its carry handle, and on panels that stretch right across its back. 

You’ll even notice the same feature colour on the sides of the two tactile knobs that sit either side of the top-mounted control panel. That panel also hosts a 3.5mm headphones jack. 

Measuring 94 x 235 x 142mm and weighing 1.15kg, the Rambler BT Stereo is relatively small. That has consequences for the modest quality of its audio, but it looks great on a kitchen countertop, in a bathroom or on a bedside table. It’s got a long, angled telescopic aerial that stretches to 78cm and, accessed from underneath, a 3.5mm line-in for cabling-up any audio device you can dream up. 

Its aesthetics are impressive – and important – because that’s essentially what you’re paying for here. Sure, this Rambler BT Stereo does sound good, but its status as one of the best-looking DAB radios around is really what’s on offer here. Either way, the Rambler BT Stereo is the most convincing ‘retro’ DAB radio around – and the build quality is excellent. 

Setup

• 20 preset radio stations
• LCD brightness can be tweaked
• Battery life is 10 hours

The Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is simple to set-up – perhaps too simple. It has five buttons on the top, one of which is autotune. That makes it easy to use right out of the box, but how often does one need to autotune? Not often, which makes it being assigned to its own button something of a waste. 

What we did like is the dedicated dimmer button, which toggles through high, medium, low and off for the LCD display. That’s useful when using it on a bedside table, as are its dual wake-up alarms and small snooze button. 

While it lacks a colour LCD display, at 82x23mm its display is unusually long and has very large lettering, which at least makes scrolling text easy to read.

It’s easy enough to switch to battery power by inserting four AA batteries, though the 10-hour battery life that creates isn’t much; a lithium-ion battery would be hugely preferable. 

Audio performance

• Stereo speakers
• No EQ settings
• Bluetooth streaming works well

What you hear is what you get on the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo. Having no EQ settings accessible in the onscreen menus is an oversight; being able to tweak just treble and bass settings can make such a big difference. 

Lucky, then, that the default sound on the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo is very acceptable. The extra £30 you’re paying for the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo over the Roberts Rambler BT gets you a well balanced soundstage that easily fills a kitchen or bedroom with audio containing plenty of treble detail and just enough low frequency backup.

Its sound does lack a bit of width, but it’s not a huge issue. Just be aware that, if you’re a fan of bass-heavy music, this definitely isn’t the sound system for you. 

We’re reasonably impressed by Bluetooth streaming, too. It’s easy to pair a smartphone and you get either song titles or the album name as scrolling text on the LCD panel. Though the streamed audio is rather quiet and lacks sparkle, it’s not as poor as what you get from most DAB radios that offer this feature. 

Should I buy the Roberts Rambler BT Stereo DAB radio?

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• Need something more powerful? Check out our guide to the best wireless speakers you can buy today

One-minute review

For those looking for a radio for the kitchen or bathroom, the Pure Elan Connect offers a fantastic one-box solution. A simple DAB/DAB+/FM radio that can play internet radio stations – including podcasts – as well as stream from a smartphone, the portable Pure Elan Connect delivers maximum flexibility for minimum spend. 

Among the best DAB radios, these two sides to its character can be seen all-round. Utilitarian plastic chassis meets an advanced colour display; slightly hollow-sounding clicky buttons but access to 25,000 web radio stations; and clunky AA battery-powered portability with impressive Bluetooth streaming. 

Measuring just 109 x 85 x 187mm and weighing just 438g, size-wise it will take up barely any space. Its shallow depth means it will happily slip onto a kitchen side, bathroom shelf or beside table without fuss – a physical trait partly helped by its lack of power bank. 

The majority of DAB radios are both deep and supplied with a bulky power supply adapter. The Pure Elan Connect ships with just a micro-USB cable, helping its form factor to remain slim. Sure, it’s a tad old fashioned – we’d have preferred a more up-to-date USB-C slot – but it cuts down on hardware. Besides, you have a spare USB plug – and perhaps even USB ports on the power sockets in your kitchen. 

Corners have been cut to squeeze the generous number of features into one small unit, but the Pure Elan Connect’s audio is good enough to justify the price tag. It won’t suit everyone, and doesn’t get close to audiophile-quality, but for casual users who insist on internet radio and/or podcasts playing in the background, the Pure Elan Connect could be the perfect choice. 

Pure Elan Connect price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £79.99

Originally launched back in October 2020, the Pure Elan Connect costs £79.99 from the manufacturer’s website, but look online for deals and discounts. 

It’s the mid-range product in Pure’s Elan family of travel-friendly DAB radios, which also comprises the Pure Elan DAB+ (£49.99) with DAB and Bluetooth, and the Pure Elan Connect+ (£99.99) with DAB, Bluetooth and Internet radio. 

The former is essentially identical to the product on review here, but doesn't include internet radio, while the latter is a stereo version of the Pure Elan Connect. So, if internet radio isn’t essential, then you can spend less; if you want the same features and stereo sound, you can spend more. 

All three models feature colour displays, are powered by a micro-USB cable and/or four AA batteries, and come in either Stone Grey or Charcoal finishes. 

Design

• Weighs 455g 
• Lightweight plastic chassis
• Comes in Stone Grey or Charcoal

The Pure Elan Connect’s design is unlikely to catch the eye. While other manufacturers of DAB radios deliver retro designs or opt for post-modern use of wood panels, the Pure Elan Connect’s shell is plastic. On the positive side, this means it’s extremely lightweight at 438g – although the four AA batteries you’ll need to make it portable will increase its bulk. 

Sadly, it doesn't feature a handle, but at 109 x 85 x 187mm, it’s easy enough to move around the home. To call it travel-friendly would be going too far, though; the Pure Elan Connect is best left in a kitchen or bathroom and only occasionally taken outside. 

It may have a plastic build, but that’s not to say the Pure Elan Connect is unattractive. Dominating the front is a 2.4-inch colour LCD panel, with three preset buttons sitting above it, and playback buttons, on-screen menu controls and a large tactile volume dial positioned below. 

On the rear is a panel including both a 3.5mm headphone jack and micro-USB slot. The latter is used to power the Pure Elan Connect via a USB plug – slightly unusual for a DAB radio – but only a micro-USB cable is supplied in the box. 

Pure presumes you’re likely to have a USB plug already. Our eco-conscious side agrees with this, but … micro USB? Really? Sadly, you can’t power the Pure Elan Connect from a portable battery. Instead, you’ll need to open up a hatch on the product’s rear and insert four AA batteries. Also on the rear is a telescopic aerial that measures 52mm when fully extended. 

Setup

• Connects to a Wi-Fi network via WPS
• 25,000 internet radio stations
• Colour display shows icons and artwork

Pure’s Elan Connect DAB and Internet radio is mostly a cinch to use. The highlight for some will be its tactile dial for navigating the colourful on-screen menus and volume, although note that it does produce a rather loud click.

Switch-on the Pure Elan Connect and you’ll be taken straight to network settings, not only for fetching internet radio stations and podcasts, but also to keep time. There follows a slightly confusing set of choices for things such as daylight savings – for which the default is ‘no’ … why would anyone want a radio that gives the wrong time for half the year?!. Nevertheless, at least connecting to the home Wi-Fi network is easy if you’re using a WPS-enabled Wi-Fi router. 

Once setup is complete – the world is your oyster, with the Pure Elan Connect providing access to 25,000 radio stations. But the real advantage of web radio is access to podcasts, which the Pure Elan Connect presents in a simple file structure. You can scroll down lists of podcasts and episode titles, for which the display is just about large enough. 

With DAB selected as a source, we were able to tune in a plethora of digital radio stations in under a minute, each one with scrolling text and other station information nicely presented in a compact and colourful way. 

Switch to Bluetooth and the Pure Elan Connect immediately pops up in a smartphone's Bluetooth menus, with a big green tick appearing when a connection is made. You can then operate music either from a smartphone or via the playback buttons on the front of the unit. 

Audio performance

• 3W speaker
• Spoken word sounds great
• Bluetooth streaming is underwhelming

The Pure Elan Connect isn’t the best-sounding DAB radio on the market, but it’s pretty good considering its tiny size. It lacks depth when compared to many of its DAB rivals, presenting a soundstage that’s all about the mid-range. However, for voice-based content it’s absolutely fine, with spoken word radio plenty clear enough. Music, too, is acceptable – as long as it’s ‘background’ rather than hi-fi. 

Can you use the Pure Elan Connect outdoors at a party or a BBQ? Sure, it goes loud enough without any distortion. However, it’s better for Test Match Special than Last Night Of The Proms. That goes double for Bluetooth streaming, which is a tad underwhelming and suffers from a distinct lack of clarity. 

Should I buy the Pure Elan Connect?

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• Want something designed for music? Read our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy

One-minute review

Love listening to radio, podcasts and Spotify? Then how about a product that can deliver all of them in one unit. Easily one of the best DAB radios available if judged largely on value, Pure’s Elan Connect+ offers DAB/DAB+/FM, internet radio – including scrollable lists of mainstream radio podcasts – and impressive streaming from a smartphone over Bluetooth.

The latter works better here than on most DAB radios, and the Pure Elan Connect+ is all-round easy to use. However, there are a few things to note when it comes to the hardware. 

The Pure Elan Connect+ looks a little plasticky, with a build that feels slightly hollow. A press of the main menu button creates a very loud click, which can be annoying. It doesn’t have the audio capabilities to pump out refined and/or powerful tunes; we’re talking voice radio and background music here. 

So why do we love the Pure Elan Connect+? Value, plain and simple. It’s an easy-to-use DAB radio, Bluetooth streamer and podcast-player in one. 

It features a large, cute colour display. It can work off four AA batteries. At just 82mm deep, it will easily slide onto any kitchen worktop or bookshelf without dominating – and it’s powered by a micro-USB cable, which saves on having to use a big heavy powerpack (although why not USB-C?). 

It’s far from perfect, then, and its utilitarian design will be off-putting to some – but the Pure Elan Connect+ seems to us to be a great value all-in-one for kitchens, bathrooms and the occasional patio, too.

Pure Elan Connect+ price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £99

Originally launched in October 2020, the Pure Elan Connect+ costs £99.99 from the manufacturer’s website, but keep an eye out for deals and discounts online. 

It’s the flagship product in Pure’s Elan family of travel-friendly DAB radios, which also comprises the Pure Elan DAB+ (£49.99) with DAB and Bluetooth streaming and the Pure Elan Connect (£79.99) with DAB, Bluetooth streaming and internet radio. The latter is essentially a smaller, mono version of the product we have on review here. 

All products feature colour displays, are powered by a micro-USB cable and/or four AA batteries, and come in either Stone Grey or Charcoal finishes. 

Design

• Lightweight plastic chassis
• Nicely sized for worktops and shelves
• Stone Grey or Charcoal finishes

The Pure Elan Connect+ isn’t going to win any awards for its design. It’s far from ugly, but compared to the faux leather and wood panelling that features in the design of rival DABs, the Stone Grey (an off-white) or Charcoal-coloured plastic chassis is utilitarian.

That comes with advantages, however – not least a 643g weight (around 770g, if you insert the four AA batteries to make it portable). We also liked its unusually small depth; measuring 115 x 82 x 247mm, it’s far less dominating on a kitchen workshop than some rival DABs.

On the front of the Pure Elan Connect+ you’ll find a simple setup: three preset buttons above the 2.4-inch colour screen, and six buttons below. The buttons below the panel are arranged either side of a click-wheel that can be turned to scroll through menus and adjust volume, and pressed to select things. However, the click-wheel makes a loud and hollow noise that quickly becomes annoying. 

On the rear of the Pure Elan Connect+ is a telescopic aerial that unfurls to 52cm, a 3.5mm headphones jack, battery compartment and a micro-USB slot for attaching the product to a power source. There’s a 1m micro-USB cable included (a little old-school given the rise of USB-C), but no USB plug; you’ll need to supply your own. 

Setup

• DAB/DAB+/FM
• Pairs with a smartphone via Bluetooth
• Streams internet radio stations

Initial setup is a bit fiddly. A setup wizard first presented a weblink to take you through the privacy policy, which self-scrolls extremely slowly. Following this are rudimentary on-screen menus for getting the Pure Elan Connect+ online. 

The Pure Elan Connect+’s 2.4-inch display may be colour, but it isn’t a touchscreen. There’s no app, so it connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network via the WPS button on a Wi-Fi router. Easy if you know what you’re doing – and it worked fine in our test – but this isn’t ideal if you’re gifting this product to someone who may be less tech-savvy. 

You need to get online to tune internet radio stations, of course, which may be of only secondary interest to some users. As such, setup should start with an auto-tune of DAB radio stations, which is surely its core offering. Nevertheless, it didn’t take long, and within seconds we were listening not only to an internet radio station, but a BBC podcast, too. 

The graphical presentation on the unit’s screen is decent, with the title of the podcast sitting over a small colour icon and a timeline showing the duration of the episode and how far you’re into it. It’s possible to go back and scan through all available podcasts while you continue to listen – although there’s only space for five titles to be listed simultaneously on the small screen, with only enough room for about 28 characters. 

It’s a bit of a squeeze, then, but we found it relatively easy to locate and play podcasts, even if the constant clicking on the wheel did become annoying. Crucially, it’s easier to find a mainstream podcast on the Pure Elan Connect+ than messing around with a smartphone. 

Note that there is a home button, but it merely takes you to the hub screen for the source you’re already on. You have to hit the source button to reach the ‘real’ home screen that hosts four icons: internet radio (a globe), DAB (the DAB logo), FM radio (an image of a small radio) or Bluetooth (the Bluetooth logo). 

We selected DAB and it immediately tuned-in dozens of stations, presenting them in a linear list that was easy to scan through. Each channel features a colourful display that shows an icon and scrolling text, although the text is reduced to a size where most of it can be presented at once. 

With Bluetooth selected, the display flashes-up ‘Bluetooth discoverable’ on its screen, and it’s then a cinch to pair from a smartphone. 

Audio performance

• 2 x 2.5-inch 3W speakers
• My EQ for personalised sound
• Bluetooth audio impresses

The Pure Elan Connect+ isn’t really designed for parties or even BBQs, although it does a reasonable job outdoors. However, even with basic stereo imaging from its two speakers, the 3W units don’t provide much power. 

You can make adjustments to the sound via the ‘My EQ’ area, where you can play with the bass and treble. There’s a ‘loudness’ option, too – this adds some depth, but also some muffle. That equaliser also presents presets, including flat, jazz, rock, movie, classic, pop and news. None were particularly stand-out, although across all sources we found sound quality was more than acceptable.  

Perhaps the clearest sound comes via Bluetooth streaming, which was a surprise (it’s so often the low point of DAB radios attempting to also be streaming devices). So if you mainly listen to podcasts that aren’t accessible via internet radio, then this unit could work well for you. 

Switch back to DAB and the volume remains at the same volume as you had it on Bluetooth streaming, which is another rarity in the DAB world. 

Should I buy the Pure Elan Connect+?

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• More of a music fan? Check out the best MP3 players of 2021

One minute review

Are you after the best-sounding small DAB radio? Designed for kitchens, bookshelves and bedside tables, the stylish and solid R1 Mk4 radio from British audio brand Ruark Audio easily ranks as one of the best DAB radios judged on sound, style and usability.

Equipped with a 9W digital amplifier and able to go up to high volumes hiss-free, it tunes-in DAB, DAB+ and FM radio stations, it’s got a USB-C slot for recharging smartphones and it has Bluetooth to stream from a smartphone. 

That last feature comes with caveats, but the feature-set never misses a beat. There are alarms, adjustable EQ settings, a high-contrast OLED display that for once doesn’t flood a bedroom with unwanted light, and a RotoDial that makes it easy to navigate lists of radio stations and other menu options. 

Where the R1 really impresses is on the quality of voice. We’re talking lush, warm, yet precise and powerful spoken word. There’s also plenty of bass response for music, and although it’s only got a mono speaker it supplies small enclosed spaces with great-sounding music. Bluetooth streaming works easily enough, but it lacks volume and, unless you use AAC files, can sound rather flat. 

Still, if you’re after the best-sounding, best-looking DAB radio with the best build quality, stop looking – this is it.

Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 price and availability

• Out now 
• Costs £229.99

The Ruark Audio R1 has been around since 2006, albeit then sold under the brand Vita Audio. In that time it has gone through four iterations (along the way adding new features like Bluetooth connectivity and DAB+ compatibility), the latest of which debuted in late 2020. It’s sold for £229.99 on the Ruark Audio website and by myriad high street and online retailers. A remote control, £15, for the R1 Mk4 is also available, as is a battery pack. The second-generation of the latter costs £59, though Ruark tells us that there will be a third-generation version launching in August 2021. 

Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 design

• Light cream, espresso and ‘beach hut blue’ colours
• USB-C will charge-up smartphones, tablets and laptops
• OLED display with auto-dimming

Available in light cream and espresso colours – as well as a limited edition ‘Beach Hut Blue’ version launched in the summer of 2021 – this latest incarnation of the R1 looks a little different to its predecessors, but it’s just as striking. Measuring 175x130x135 mm and weighing 1.4kg, it’s nevertheless fairly deep and protrudes significantly when put on a kitchen side. It’s got a classic modern look of slatted wood grille and lacquered enclosure, with this version tapering to a narrower rear. 

Inside is Ruark’s 75mm NaturalSound+ neodymium driver and a 9W digital amplifier while on the top is its trademark RotoDial, which acts both as the volume control and station/source selector. On the rear is a removable telescopic aerial that unfurls to a maximum of 73cm, a useful headphones jack, but also a 3.5mm auxiliary input for cabling-up a smartphone. However, what really surprised us is the inclusion back here of a USB-C slot, which can be used to charge-up a smartphone (in our tests it also charged-up an iPad and a Macbook Pro). That’s a nice touch given that bedside tables and the kitchen are often where devices need to be recharged. However, it would be handy if there was a USB-C to USB-A adaptor supplied to cater for more devices. 

Don’t underestimate the R1’s excellent 2.5-inch display. It uses OLED, which means a very clear, precise and high contrast display. Crucially for anyone wanting to use the R1 on a bedside table it boasts auto-dimming so you’re not going to have your bedroom annoyingly lit-up at night. This one tiny feature alone makes it a real standout. 

Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 setup

• RotoDial impresses
• DAB/DAB+/FM stations auto-tune quickly
• Expect to use the telescopic aerial

Using the R1, like its forebears, is all about that RotoDial. It’s flanked through 180º by seven buttons, with a further standby button at the front. You turn the dial to tweak the volume, but also to scroll through on-screen options to engage the auto-tune, find radio stations, assign preset radio stations (up to 10), set alarms, and switch between the various sources of audio (DAB, FM, Bluetooth, USB and line-in). It’s intuitive and very easy to use. 

After an auto-tune we found DAB reception to be stable, albeit only with the telescopic aerial fully extended, which interrupts an otherwise immaculate aesthetic. 

The R1’s Bluetooth receiver is also easy to set-up, with a simple selection of the R1 on a smartphone's Bluetooth devices list. During our test we got artist and track names scrolling on the R1’s OLED display when streaming from an iPhone, but from a MacBook Pro all we got was ‘unknown’.

The R1’s USB-C charge port is more disappointing. Despite the promise that it would play music from an attached smartphone, neither an iPhone or an Android smartphone were even recognised in our test. Still, the R1’s USB-C slot is useful for recharging devices while cooking or sleeping. The rear also hosts the input for the AC power adaptor, which is pretty small. 

Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 audio performance

• Excellent mono sound from DAB
• Bluetooth streaming lacks volume and clarity
• AAC streaming over Bluetooth impresses

The R1 is the best-sounding one-box DAB radio around. It’s a mono speaker, so you can forget stereo sound unless you plug-in some headphones, but it’s perfectly suited to kitchens, lounges, home offices and bedrooms. It doesn’t just treat voice radio well, it gives the presenters a quality of tone that almost lends them gravitas. Warm, deep and well rounded, with crisp treble highs, you can stand anywhere in a room and hear the same reassuring sound from the R1. 

For a DAB radio to add Bluetooth streaming isn’t anything new, and it continues to come with the usual caveats. Stream music to the R1 over Bluetooth from Spotify on a smartphone and the results are … acceptable. There’s a slightly muddier sound that lacks the clarity, punch and volume the R1 produces from its DAB tuner. Streaming is also quiet, particularly from a smartphone, though from a laptop it’s not much louder. We had to ramp-up the volume on the phone/laptop and also on the R1, which brings obvious problems when switching back to DAB later.  

The trouble with Bluetooth streaming is that it’s lossy, so always about convenience over audio quality, though on the R1 it does depend on your source file. The R1 is primed for AAC files, and when streamed from a laptop these did sound much clearer when compared to music from Spotify from a smartphone.

Should I buy the Ruark Audio R1 Mk4?

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• The best DAB radios: tune in, zone out

One-minute review

The Sony XDR-P1 is one of the best DAB radios you can buy, but why do you need one in your life in the first place? Imagine you’re going to the cricket, the park or to an Airbnb for a few days and you want to listen to some sports commentary. Your phone will be fine for that, right? You can try, but we guarantee you’ll have problems. Unless you’re on fast Wi-Fi, you’re going to suffer from bandwidth issues and delay. 

If you’re among a crowd of thousands in any kind of stadium – including the likes of Edgbaston, Headingley, and Trent Bridge cricket grounds – you’re definitely going to struggle even to get a stable stream. Even if you succeed, what you hear will be a minute or so behind what you’re seeing in front of your eyes. 

Cue the Sony XDR-P1, a portable DAB/DAB+/FM radio that will fit in your top shirt pocket. Lasting about 15 hours on a single charge, it’s got a headphones port and a small 1.5W mono speaker that’s perfect for voice radio. It’s also got a few tempting features that make it an attractive proposition for using around the home. 

It's not the best-sounding radio on the planet, but it does offer lots of convenience, and it could be perfect if you mainly listen to spoken word as opposed to music. There's no Bluetooth connectivity either, so it won't double up as a portable speaker,  and the micro-USB charging port is a little dated, but there's still lots to love about this neat DAB radio.

Sony XDR-P1 price and release date

• Out now
• Costs £83

The Sony XDR-P1 is available to buy for £83. It’s sold both on the Sony website and from a range of big brand high street retailers. Although it’s been available for a few years now, we can't see any major updates incoming, so we expect the Sony XDR-P1 to be on sale for a few more years yet. 

Design

• Weighs 169g
• Headphones port
• Stylish orange backlit LCD

Available in black or white, this pocket-sized DAB radio from Sony is ideal for sports fans, but it’s also got a nice design touch that makes it very useful around the home, too. 

Measuring 115x57x24.5 mm and weighing 169g, on one side the Sony XDR-P1 has an extendable aerial (it goes to 50cm) arranged just above a couple of volume buttons and a headphones port, and on the other it sports a micro USB slot. 

On the rear is a small fold-out flip-stand, and although the radio can stand freely on its own, that flip-stand does add stability. It means the Sony XDR-P1 is as useful around the home as it is on the go, though volume-wise it’s best used in a bathroom or bedroom and not in a noisy kitchen. Although the small LCD screen can be hard to read at times, we like its stylish orange backlight. 

Setup

• DAB/DAB+/FM tuners
• 10 station presets

The Sony XDR-P1 is a cinch to set up and use. An auto-tune button takes care of scanning for available DAB/DAB+ radio stations in your area, which can be assigned to 10 presets, though only three are easily accessible on the top of the product. There’s a button for switching between DAB/DAB+ and FM and a small rocker for moving between radio stations on a list presented on the LCD screen. 

Our only concern is that the buttons are very small, as is the LCD. If you only listen to one or two different radio stations then it’s not really an issue, but we’re not convinced anyone with poor eyesight is going to like the Sony XDR-P1. 

One design flourish we like about the Sony XDR-P1 is its power button, which can be pushed into ‘hold’ mode to avoid any accidental button presses. This is wise, given that the Sony XDR-P1 is a small and slightly fiddly size and it’s quite easy to touch buttons you didn’t mean to when picking it up. 

Just in case you thought the Sony XDR-P1 was exclusively for using on the go, it’s also got a few sleep timers (60/45/30/15 minutes) so you can use it on a bedside table and nod off while listening to the radio and not get woken by it later. 

Audio performance

• Mono sound
• Stereo sounds requires headphones
• More suited to spoken word than music

Although we love this DAB radio’s lightweight form and function, it's hard to deny that the Sony XDR-P1 is best suited to those who listen primarily to voice radio and sports commentary. Used extensively for listening to BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Xtra and TalkSport, its 1.5W speaker delivers clear, concise and fully rounded vocals and speech, but it does struggle with music. Its 45mm speaker just can’t muster much bass. That shouldn’t come as a surprise from such a diminutive product, and besides, music doesn't sound half as bad as you might expect. 

However, if you are after a DAB radio primarily for listening to music then you should look elsewhere at beefier, home-bound DAB radios from the likes of Ruark, Pure, and Roberts. 

For some reason, Sony tends to specialize in portable products in the DAB radio niche. That single 1.5W speaker also means that you’re restricted to listening to mono sound, with stereo sound only possible if you listen through a pair of headphones or earbuds. 

Battery life and connectivity

• Rechargeable internal battery
•  Lasts 15 hours, or 20 hours using headphones
• No Bluetooth

While many portable digital radios use disposable batteries, the Sony thankfully has an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It runs for about 15 hours in speaker mode, extending to around 20 hours when being used exclusively with headphones.

That’s more than enough for a day at the cricket without having to worry about recharging, though that’s easy enough to do on the go using any external portable battery. The Sony XDR-P1 has a micro USB slot on one side, which is convenient, though a little old fashioned. We would prefer a USB-C slot. However, you can listen to it while it recharges, which is handy if you are mid-match when it blanks. 

Should I buy the Sony XDR-P1?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

• Need something for your music? Check out our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers

Streaming platforms like Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music may be the most popular way to listen to music these days, but sometimes you just can't beat a good digital radio – and Ruark's colorful new model proves the humble DAB is very much still in style. 

The Tempo radio sees the British audio company teaming up with furniture designer Linley, to create what looks to be a refreshed version of the popular Ruark R1 radio.  

• The best DAB radio: the best digital radios you can buy
• Read our Pure Evoke C-F6 review
• Want something more portable? Check out the best Bluetooth speakers 2019

When we tested the portable version of the Ruark R1, the Vita Audio R1 MkII we were impressed by its detailed soundstage and neutral presentation, and with a custom-tuned 75mm high-fidelity drive unit and Class A-B 9W amplification, the Tempo promises more of the same. 

Style comes at a cost

The new DAB Radio features a "goatskin-clad front panel", brightness-adjustable OLED display, and a sycamore cabinet, with the striking inlayed design inspired by sound waves and 20th century graphic design.

The Ruark Tempo supports DAB/DAB+ and FM radio, and can be used to play music from your smartphone over a Bluetooth connection. It also features AUX and headphone inputs, and USB charging port, which means you can use it to top up your devices when you're running low on battery. 

The radio is available in yellow, blue, burgundy, and pink color schemes, and costs £1295 (around $1680 / AU$2400). Currently it's only available in the UK, but according to Linley, will be available in "most countries from July".

The nearly £1300 price tag represents a significant step up from the Ruark R1's original price of £220 (around £280 / AU$400), and is pretty expensive for a DAB radio – as the technical specifications look largely the same, it seems as though you're paying over five times the price of the original for that striking design.

Whether that represents good value for money to you depends on how much of a focal point you want your radio to be – and how much cash you have to spare.

• If a DAB radio sounds too 'dumb', check out the best smart speakers 2019

Truly wireless earbuds are undoubtedly the future of portable audio but they still present compromises in battery life and wireless reliability. Plus, they’re easy to lose if you’re not careful. 

Neckbuds, or earbuds that are worn around the neck, are a great alternative to true wireless earbuds as they offer longer battery life for continuous listening and stronger wireless performance. Case in point: the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, which we gave the Best in Class award to. 

We loved the Bullets Wireless for their balanced sound, strong wireless connection, and unique magnetic on/off switch. However, OnePlus should be worried about the RHA MA390 Wireless, which we’ll be reviewing today. 

For the same price as the Bullets Wireless, the MA390 Wireless trumps it in build quality, slightly more dynamic sound, and understated design. It’s a tough choice between the two but here’s what you need to know about the RHA MA390 Wireless to help you make a purchasing decision.

Design

RHA is known for its excellent build quality and the MA390 Wireless is no exception. Its earbuds are milled out of a solid piece of aluminum. Even the in-line microphone is made of aluminum, making it feel much more premium than its $70 (£60, about AU$106) price tag suggests. 

Thankfully, RHA ditched the aluminum for the neckband, which is made of silicone, making it IPX4 sweat and water resistant. There’s also a rubber door that hides the USB-C charging connector and we’re glad RHA jumped to USB-C, unlike other headphone makers who are sticking with microUSB. 

While the neckband terminates with plastic at each end, it doesn’t feel cheap and keeps the headphone lightweight appeal. The lightweight design is great for long listening sessions and working out, though the MA390 Wireless don’t feature the wing tips like the OnePlus Bullets Wireless which help to keep the earbuds in when exercising. 

In terms of fit, we found the RHA MA390 Wireless extremely comfortable thanks to its smaller earbuds. They’re so small that we felt comfortable sleeping with them, can’t be said about many wireless earbuds. 

RHA packs in small, medium, and large ear tips to help you find a good fit and the company also includes a pouch ... which would've been nice if it wasn't much too small for the MA390 Wireless. We hope RHA will include a bigger pouch in the future.  

Performance

While we loved the OnePlus Bullets Wireless for its neutral tonality, there are times we wished for more bass. If you like your sound slightly on the warm side of the spectrum, you’ll love the RHA MA390 Wireless. Bass is full and punchy, mids let vocalists shine and the highs are energetic and feature a good amount of resolution thanks to aptX support. 

Compared to the Bullets Wireless, the MA390 Wireless feature a slight “V” shaped frequency response, though we hesitate to call the mids recessed. Instead, it sounds like there’s more bass and treble energy.

Wireless performance is excellent and we never had audio dropouts that are common with truly wireless earbuds. We could move around the house in a few rooms before the connection stuttered. If you have your phone close by, you’ll likely never experience an audio dropout. 

For battery life, The RHA MA390 Wireless are rated for 8 hours and we saw slightly below that. At moderate listening levels, we saw 7 hours of listening consistently. Thankfully, the USB-C connect means these earbuds charge up fast, but not as fast as the OnePlus Bullets Wireless when paired with OnePlus’ proprietary fast charger, which only ships with its phones. 

Verdict

After spending several weeks with the RHA MA390 Wireless, we came away extremely impressed with the package RHA has come up with. The headphones are built extremely well, have a fun sound signature, and can take a beating. And all at an affordable price. 

It’s main rival, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, are also excellent, however we give the nod to the RHA MA390 for its more dynamic sound and better build quality. 

Popular neckbuds like the Beats X and the Jaybird X3 are more expensive and sound worse, making the RHA MA390 Wireless a no brainer if you want fun sound, better build quality, and an understated design.  

• These are the best wireless earbuds in 2018

 John Lewis has made in-house designed radios, washing machines and other home appliances for years. There are exclusive homewares and fashion buys too. 

A real pick of the moment is the new John Lewis Aria DAB radio, which will get you excited for several reasons. Firstly, John Lewis made some top DAB units over the last five years, and the Aria one has also already has a What Hi-Fi? award under its belt. 

It combines John Lewis’s renowned quality, which made it the UK’s most trusted brand of 2017 according to a YouGov study, with a price that won’t leave you eating noodles until payday.

You can’t argue with its looks either. The John Lewis Aria comes in wood finishes of walnut, black ash and light oak, helping it fit the style of your living room. Now you just have to choose which one to match your home furnishings. It’s a tricky one.

It’s an upright design, and as such it can use a large driver for better sound quality without taking up too much space. The John Lewis Aria will be as at home on a bedside table as the kitchen counter or a bookshelf in your lounge. 

And if you are looking for a bedside buddy, the Aria has dual alarms and a snooze button. We’d like to live without “snooze” but, well, we just can’t. 

The key tech you need inside

There’s more tech inside than you might imagine too. The John Lewis Aria has Bluetooth, so you can stream any audio you like from your phone. A headphone jack is on hand too, for those evenings when you want to listen to BBC 6 Music, but no-one else in the house does. 

Dedicated preset buttons and a clear front LCD that doubles as a clock finish off the list of elements we look for in a modern, easy-to-use DAB set. 

If you’re new to John Lewis’s range of electrical exclusives, be sure to check out its new blender and hand mixer online or in store. Just like the Aria DAB radio, they look smart and their prices are dangerously tempting. All three come with free delivery and a generous two-year warranty.

The John Lewis Only Here range also features exclusives from some of the most popular brands. Favourites include the charming concrete finish UE Wonderboom.

The Roberts Revival iStream is now six years old, but thankfully its retro design has kept it from looking too dated. It lacks Bluetooth, which is undoubtedly a feature that it would feature if it came out today, but is still a very capable (and good looking) speaker.

Best known for its classically styled desktop radios, Roberts has launched a feature packed contemporary radio, that retains the iconic 'Revival' look that keeps them selling by the truckload.

What makes this black-only beauty so special is its connectvity: FM; DAB; Wi-Fi internet radio; media streaming; USB-A and a traditional line-in.

So, not only are you spoilt for choice in terms of receiving broadcasts, you can also playback lossless audio files from your home computer, with all the portability that comes with a small 1kg box. The 100-page manual explains all, but ours was ready in just five minutes.

A wireless, wireless

Calling this a 'radio' distinctly undersells it, but it's true, not least because its most impressive functions rely on wireless connection to a computer network and, hence, to the internet.

This at once means that you have access to not only your local quota of DAB and FM stations, but also the 17,000 or so internet radio stations. Foreign radio, special interest stuff, or even your usual fare which may very well be available in better quality via the internet than on DAB.

The bitrate may be the same, but the coding systems used for internet radio are generally more efficient than DAB's MPEG 2.

Personalised radio

Since you're connected to your home network, it makes sense that the Revival iStream can also play audio files on your home computer, as long as they are the right format. Obviously that includes the usual MP3 and also MP4/AAC and, we were delighted to discover, FLAC as well.

WAV doesn't seem to be, though, nor are other lossless formats. It's not that it matters so much for a little portable, just that true audiophiles are likely to have their digital music library in an uncompressed or lossless format anyway.

There's also the option of tuning to the subscription 'personalised radio' service at last.fm, and a USB socket on the top of the unit allows you to plug in suitable music players or memory sticks.

Modern traditional values

The retro look of the Revival iStream conceals the inevitable hi-tech innards, though the loudspeaker is nothing fancy – a single drive unit, bass reflex-loaded by the case. The back side of the case hinges open to give access to the battery compartment.

On the top, the layout manages to be nearly as retro as the rest of the case, with a pair of knobs and some push-buttons. The knobs are twist-and-push controls, which look after tuning, input selection and also a selection of options in menus, while the push-buttons bring up the main menu, give information choices and so on.

Shock verdict

When we reviewed the non-iStream Revival a few issues ago we were rather disappointed by its dull sound. Either the iStream was always different or Roberts agreed with us, as this radio seems very well balanced on the whole.

It's not the cleanest, or least coloured, or loudest table radio we've ever heard, but it does have a nice general quality that makes the most of lively music, does a fair job of quieter, more subtle stuff, and reproduces voices very well with excellent intelligibility.

Bass is obviously limited, while treble consistency is good off axis. Maximum loudness is fine in a room of about 20 square metres and we didn't detect any obvious rattles or whistles from the cabinet.

There are quite a few competing products around, but as internet-compatible table radios go this is good value in terms of both features and sound.

The Roberts Revival DAB RD60 is now a few years old, but thanks to the fact that it was designed to look old-fashioned it's aged remarkably well. It doesn't contain Bluetooth, so if you're looking for a retro speaker to play tunes from your phone, and your phone doesn't have a headphone jack, this one isn't for you. 

That said, if you're looking for a DAB/FM radio that isn't black and chrome, it's a very good looking option. 

The writer of this review is certainly not the only person to have walked into a shop and asked, in all innocence, "How much is that second-hand Roberts in the window?" only to be put right with the answer, "It's new."

Roberts has always been the king of the retro, making radios that were straight out of its 1950s catalogue, generations after that decade had ended. Or at least, radios that bore a strong external resemblance to those trusty old models.

100 hours

Long gone are the 10-transistor circuits of yesteryear. The current FM models are powered by integrated circuits and this DAB model probably includes about as many transistors in its construction than Roberts used in an entire year in the early days of the 'tranny'.

The case is made of MDF and there's a text display on the top: tuning of both channels is digital (the usual twist'n'push control) and the push-buttons are momentary action types, rather than the latching ones used on the originals. But the overall effect is well done, complete with carrying handle and the use of four large 'D cell' batteries, which gives the RD60 a playing time potentially in the region of 100 hours.

Creature comforts

Other modern creature comforts include a couple of mini-jack sockets for headphones and line output, another for line input, a USB socket for firmware upgrades and full text information on both DAB and FM. There are presets and a useful one-touch 'Favourite' button to bring up your main station in a single press.

Casual duty

One doesn't expect a small, mono radio to sound amazing. Nevertheless, the use of headphones does allow the electronics to give their best (in stereo) and frankly the DAB performance of this model is more than acceptable. FM's not bad, either if you can arrange the antenna for good reception. (You could in principle attach an external antenna, but who on earth is going to go to that trouble?)

Compared with a dedicated, hi-fi, FM tuner, clarity is lacking, but it's perfectly listenable for speech and casual music duty. But that's not the most likely mode of operation and the internal loudspeaker is far more to the point.

Its success varies considerably from station to station, for the simple reason that it sounds extremely dull. That's easy to verify by moving from headphones to speaker and it's true even when listening on axis, even more so when off to the side.

One can mitigate this somewhat, bizarrely, by opening the back of the radio (it's hinged with a simple catch, to allow for access to the battery compartment) and listening from behind, but then the bass goes all to pot because the case is designed as a simple reflex-loaded speaker enclosure.

Ear-splitting

Bass and midrange are not bad tonally with the radio conventionally closed up and we were quite impressed at how loud it will go without any obvious rattles. The dull treble is most obvious on stations such as Radios 3 and 4, but works much better on highly-compressed pop stations which tend to be ear-splittingly bright.

Detail is fair for the breed and it's reasonably easy to hear everything that's going on, but things do tend to sound a bit flat dynamically. Of course, on the stations with the best subjective tonal balance, they are a bit flat.

We're torn between admiration for the looks and general build quality of this radio and reservations about its sound. On the whole, we prefer the sound of the fine models from Vita Audio, but there's a certain charm inherent in a Roberts and we could probably get used to it...

With most music listening now taking place on the go on mobile apps, it’s easy to forget that, for many of a certain age, falling in love with your favorite tunes and bands first took place on the radio or stereo. Settling down with the Pure Evoke C-F6, which marries modern connectivity options with old-school CD playback, offers the best of both worlds, and is just about the best stereo system you can buy today.

The list of audio sources you can tap into with the Pure Evoke C-F6 is almost overwhelming at first. Top of the feature list for many will be the inclusion of Spotify Connect, letting you control Spotify playback from your device of choice and effortlessly beam the sound direct to the Evoke C-F6. With Bluetooth streaming also supported, the only notable wireless audio omission is Google Cast, which the other two options easily pick up the slack from.

DAB, DAB+ and FM radio options are joined by thousands of Internet Radio stations, with the Evoke C-F6 allowing for a generous 36 saved station presets to save you having to trawl through the wealth of shows available. 

If you prefer the more direct approach, you can plug a device in through the Evoke C-F6’s Aux-in port (perfect if you’ve got an Amazon Echo Dot you’d like to hook up, for example), or use the so-often-so-sorely-missed front loading CD slot drive that sits just below the device’s screen. If you’re looking for some privacy, there’s a headphone jack that's somewhat confusingly located on the rear too.

A set-up wizard makes hooking up these myriad options a breeze, right down to programming wake up and sleep timers, meaning you’ll have a world of sound at your fingertips minutes after taking the stereo out of its box.

Design

The Pure Evoke C-F6 has a lot going on (those CDs have to fit in somewhere), so you shouldn’t be surprised to hear it’s got some size to it, measuring in at 380 mm wide x 145 mm high x 223 mm deep and weighing just over 4kg. 

It’s very much designed to take pride of place on a living room or bedside table, and with its Alder-style wood finish and white front, it should fit comfortably among most decors.

The stereo has a range of control options, but if you’re not opting to use its mobile app, you’re going to spend time looking at its 2.8” color screen. It’s a TFT display type, which pales in comparison to what you’d get from a modern mobile device. But in a device that’s ostensibly to be listened to rather than looked at we thought the screen didn't negatively impact the overall experience. 

Indeed, the TFT display is more than large and clear enough to easily navigate menus, using a combination of a chrome control dial and clicky face buttons.

Sound

The most important point of course, is whether or not the thing sounds any good – all the connectivity options in the world are meaningless in a speaker if the resultant playback sounds like a can of nails rattling around in a washing machine.

Thankfully, the Pure Evoke C-F6 sounds incredibly pleasant. With 3-inch stereo speakers and a 20W output, it can crank up to party levels without distorting untowardly.

“Pleasant” shouldn’t be read as faint praise here, either – its digital amplifier provides warm and rich bass levels without overpowering the sound, with an overall clarity to the default mix that feels close to how you’d imagine a studio monitor mix intended it to sound. Either way, if the default sound isn’t to your liking, there are tailored EQ mixes for different genres of music in the settings menu, as well as the option to fine tune your own personalised levels.

Be aware however that, with app-controlled volume levels, you’ll have to keep an eye on the individual volume levels set for each source, or you could get a surprisingly loud shock.

Remote control and Pure Select app

As well as the onboard controls, the Pure Evoke C-F6 ships with a white IR remote control that matches the front plate of the stereo. It (slightly frustratingly) runs off watch batteries, but gives you control over the system when out of arm’s reach.

However, with so many options onboard, you’re really going to still need to see the screen on the radio to do much more than turn it on and control volume levels, making the included remote a little moot. 

That’s where the Pure Select App comes in. Available for both iOS and Android devices, it lets you control every function of the speaker from within the app on your mobile screen. And, unlike so many connected speaker apps the wrong side of Sonos, this one actually works. So much so that, on the rare occasion that its connection times out, you’ll very much miss its instant remote control options. It’s easily the most intuitive way to browse the thousands of internet radio stations on offer, and is a must download if you grab the stereo.

Final verdict

It’s hard to find fault with the Pure Evoke C-F6. It’s a fully-equipped all-in-one music machine with practically every bell and whistle you could need from a single-room audio device. 

A premium price tag is expected then, and the $425 (£349.99 / AU$ 565) asking price certainly isn’t pocket money. But it’s also very competitively priced against its competition – the comparable Ruark Audio R2 MK3 weighs in at least at $485  (£400 / AU$ 645), depending on retailer, and that hasn’t even got a CD player.

The Pure Evoke C-F6 is a delight then, and comes highly recommended for anyone looking for a complete one-stop audio box.

• For some other options, check out our guide to the best connected speakers.

Hot on the heels of the GoPro Karma drone is the DJI Mavic Pro, a portable drone featuring a built-in 4K video camera.

The Mavic Pro sports a unique folding design that allows it to collapse down to an incredibly compact size, with the four rotor blades tucking into the body when folded away. DJI claims it's small enough to chuck in a bag or backpack (though we're not sure what size bag as DJI haven't shared the dimensions with us just yet), with the whole system taking less than a minute to set-up and be airborne.

Range and time

The completely new air frame when paired with DJI's propulsion and battery system allows the Mavic Pro to fly for up to 27 minutes, while it can zip along at speeds up to 40mph.

To help capture smooth video footage, the Mavic Pro should remain stable in winds up to 24mph, while DJI's geofencing system can identify restricted areas to avoid you encroaching on areas that will cause safety or security concerns.

Just like other DJI drones, the Mavic Pro will automatically return to its launch location should it ever lose contact with the controller or runs low on power. To avoid embarrassing crash landings, the Mavic Pro records the take off with two cameras, then uses this information along with GPS data to ensure it lands within an inch from where it left.

Camera system

The Mavic Pro features DJI's smallest-ever three-axis gimbal that DJI believes will deliver shake-free videos and photos. The autofocus camera at the end of the gimbal offers a minimum focusing distance of 19-inches (0.5m) and can also be flipped 90 degrees for portrait format capture, though we'd avoid shooting video in this way unless you want annoying black bars either side of your video when you play it back.

Capable of shooting 4K footage at 30fps, it can also capture 1080p full HD video at 96fps, meaning it should be possible to record some relatively slow-motion footage. For stills, there's a 12MP camera that can output raw files in Adobe's DNG format, allowing you to draw out the most detail possible from the files. DJI also believe that thanks to the high precision of the gimbal, users should be able to shoot 2-second long exposures that has the potential to produce some really striking results.

Taking control

The Mavic Pro also comes with a new remote controller that can accommodate a smartphone or be used to control the drone on its own, with a host of dedicated buttons.

There's a built-in LCD screen that displays a range of data, while the Mavic Pro's video link system, OcuSync, supports a range of 4.3 miles with Live View resolutions being fed back from the drone of up to 1080p.

Alternatively, the Mavic Pro can also be controlled via your phone's touchscreen using the TapFly app, with the advanced hardware and software in the Mavic Pro making it possible to take control of it with gestures.

There's an updated version of DJI's ActiveTrack that recognizes common subjects such as people, bicyclists, cars, boats and animals, which you can then use to set the Mavic Pro to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside the subject. This sees the Mavic Pro keeping the camera focused on your chosen subject while you cover the rest of the controls and navigation.

Pricing for the DJI Mavic Pro starts at $749 for just the drone by itself, meanwhile, getting the drone with the remote control is priced at 1,199 or $999, which roughly works out to £1,033 or AU$1,750. Lastly, DJI is also offering a bundle that includes the drone, remote control and two space batteries for $1,299.

Shipping is expected to start on October 15 and it will arrive to Apple Stores starting November 2.

DJI Goggles

In a last surprise announcement, DJI introduced a pair of Googles that allow the users to see everything the drone does as if they were sitting on its front lip. The built-in 1080p screen display an 85-degree view directly from the drone rather than through the controller thanks to OcuSync.

As of this writing, DJI has not announced pricing and release date information.

• How to safely and legally fly a drone

Before Bluetooth came along, most speakers lived a sedentary life in an entertainment center. Connected directly to the media source, these cabinets were massive by today's standards because you simply never needed to move them. But now that it's possible to listen to music wirelessly, bigger speakers don't get the same love they used to, as people prefer little ones instead that can come along for the ride.

The Fluance Fi30 wants to bring back that classic style to the Bluetooth market, offering a solid wood construct packed with power for the stunning low price of $149 (about £137, AU$192).

It has no problem with visual presence and fortunately, this large Bluetooth speaker hits most of the key notes in sound performance.

Design

Harking back to the time when beehive updos were common, the Fluance Fi30 sports a mod appearance. It checks all the boxes required for a speaker to be timeless and delightfully retro by today's standards: it's wooden, curvy and monochromatic.

Yep, the 8.3-pound (about 3.7 kg) Fi30 is comprised mostly of wood, an unpopular material among many cheaper Bluetooth speakers today. This choice to go with wood could have backfired with cheap implementation, but the detailing on the whole offers a satisfying and dense heftiness, not to mention a polished look.

Glossing over the build, the frame is made up of two pieces of wood. The first is a hollowed-out shell that offers a smooth, rounded appearance from top to bottom. Around the back, a rectangular-shape section is punched out for the power components of the cabinet.

Taking a closer look at the selection of ports on the back reveals that there isn't much to see here. A single 2.1-amp USB port is nice for charging a device quickly that would otherwise be draining battery over a Bluetooth connection. Next to it is a 3.5mm input for alternative wired listening. As it states on the label, the Bluetooth capability powers down while connected via 3.5mm.

Attached to the front is the second piece of wood, making up the body where you'll find more smooth edges. Similar to the back of the Fi30, two front-facing sections are punched out to make room for the speaker grilles. These black grilles, rimmed with a metallic band, offer a peek inside to the dual 3-inch drivers.

Unlike most modern Bluetooth speakers, the Fluance Fi30 is only powered through a power outlet and packs no internal battery. This alone will turn away people with portability at top of mind, but the Fi30 offers oomph that battery-sipping speakers can't offer.

Performance

The Fluance Fi30 makes a bold claim to, at the very least, fill the mod-themed void missing in your entertainment setup, but it also rocks the house with raw performance.

Getting the Fi30 connected is simple. Flip the power switch "on", wait a few seconds for the speaker to get picked up by your phone's Bluetooth antenna and connect. The process mirrors pairing with other Bluetooth speakers in simplicity, but I noticed that the Fi30 lagged behind a bit in its tethering speed, but not to the point of being a deal breaker.

Set up in my studio apartment, the Fi30 is wholly capable of filling the space with sound at a low volume. For a bit of fun, I maxxed out the volume to annoy the neighbors, but also to see if the sound performance translated well to loud volume. Checking specifically for the bass to drop out and the highs to get grainy, I was pleased that the Fi30 scaled well no matter the volume level.

The profile of the sound is full-bodied, but not as warm as I was hoping for with the deluxe wooden frame, like a coffee sitting at room temperature for just a little too long. In all seriousness, the listening experience won't wash you over in detail, but for the low price of $149, good luck finding another speaker that can put out good sound at an incredible volume.

It sizes up to 16.5 inches (419 mm) in length and 5.5 inches (139 mm) deep, which is about the size of a standard boombox. Get the idea out of your head that this is portable. If you're still having trouble with that, the fact that this is a battery-less speaker should do the trick.

We liked

Just because the Fi30 is big doesn't mean that it can't be beautiful. The wooden construct adds an appealing visual element to this speaker.

For the money, it's hard to get a better value elsewhere. The sound performance is there and powerful. The functionality, while limited, works flawlessly and the build quality is on point.

We disliked

The battery-free design narrows the reach strictly to those looking for a wireless home audio solution. This means that, if your power goes out, you can forget about listening to it.

Sound performance lacks the warm qualities of most wood-bodied speaker cabinets. That said, it's tough to expect comparable quality from something so small and affordable in comparison.

Final verdict

The Fluance Fi30 is the reigning king in a lonely subcategory of sedentary Bluetooth speakers. On the downside, it's big, heavy and requires a constant power source. That said, if you're looking for a product made with care and able to serve loud and full-bodied audio, the Fluance Fi30 is precisely what the doctor ordered.

DAB radios are often primed for life on a bedside table, but nobody said that they have to stay on the same one. Frequent travellers after a high-end alarm clock/music centre will love this retro clamshell device, which houses a seriously impressive DAB radio and Bluetooth speaker.

Available in piano-lacquered red, white or black finishes and selling for the high price of £219 at the time of review, the Swiss-made high-grade Model XS includes DAB and DAB+ tuners and adds an FM radio and two separate alarms, which will be as handy in hotel rooms as on the bedside table.

If those alarms are useful on the road, so are the touch-sensitive buttons, a line-in for attaching any audio device via a 3.5mm audio jack, and a hard carry case that both protects and props-up the stereo 2.1 speaker. Shut the clamshell case and the Model XS instantly powers-down. Somehow the designers have managed to get a retractable FM aerial slotted into the rear, too.

The speaker grille is gun-metal and strong enough for a life on the road, though I particularly like the classy way its LED display is mounted behind; the glowing red numbers that tell the time shine from behind the grille, which looks great. That LED display also shows the volume level, and whether the Model XS is in DAB, FM, aux-in or Bluetooth mode. Looking just as good are the top-mounted TouchLight controls, which are backlit when touched.

Despite the alarms and the carry case, what really makes the Model XS standout for portability – and that could just mean around the house rather than across the globe – is its built-in rechargeable 2,700 mA lithium battery.

However, it does only last five hours; I could have guessed that by looking at its 1570 x 102 x 115mm, 500g bulk, so it's not quite enough for the Model XS to be parted from its power cable for long.

Music from this tiny 2.1 system is surprisingly refined. Delivered by two one-inch tweeters and a two-inch woofer, audio is all about detail, giving five hours of bright yet warm stereo sound. Wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth is more rudimentary, though it can take a few attempts to establish a connection with a smartphone. Bluetooth music sounds good, though music via the line-in does sound more robust.

Verdict

With DAB, DAB+, Bluetooth, touch-sensitive buttons, line-in and a hard carry case that both protects and props-up the stereo 2.1 speaker, the Model XS is excessively impressive. Music is refined, well balanced and gets to high volumes without a hint of distortion; for DAB fans who like taking radio around the world, or want a cute desktop option, this is the best compact all-in-one in the business.

However, pairing with a smartphone can take a few attempts, and the rechargeable battery lasts only five-hours on what is an expensive product.

Ultimately, this pricey slab of Swiss-engineering might be a tad retro for some, but there's no doubting the top tech going on inside a solid build quality; DAB, Bluetooth, wake-up alarms and a five-hour battery make this baby blaster the best all-in-one around.

Bluetooth is everywhere. The once-ubiquitous iPhone dock has almost vanished from bedside DAB radios and now Bluetooth is taking its place, enabling both iOS and Android smartphones to stream music and more around the kitchen or bedroom.

Revo's stab at a Bluetooth DAB showcases an all-new look. Selling for around £149 at the time of review, the SuperSignal has a large anodised aluminium plate/speaker grille across its 10W speaker within a hand-made American walnut chassis.

It's not just the mono speaker that marks out the Revo SuperSignal as a DAB radio for the bedroom. Digital alarm clock functionality is expansive; as well as once, daily, weekday and weekend settings, there's a dual alarm and both sleep and snooze features. The latter is a winner, with the SuperSignal going into snooze mode if any part of the aluminium front panel is touched while the alarm is sounding.

However, what really makes the SuperSignal great in the bedroom is its use of an OLED display. While most DAB radios use always-on LCD screens that even when dimmed can intrusively spray light around a pitch black bedroom, the SuperSignal's 93 x 47mm OLED panel achieves almost zero light spillage except for the time display.

The SuperSignal's control mechanism consists of a small joystick and a 'select' button; it's quick, simple and easy to operate. So too is the volume control, a knob on the top that's hard to miss, a bit like the chunky 154 x 21 x 53mm remote control that weighs a whopping 185g and really isn't necessary.

Connectivity is good, too, with a headphones slot on the front and a set of left/right analogue audio inputs and a 3.5mm aux in.

With tuners for DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS, the SuperSignal adds not only Bluetooth streaming from smartphones and tablets, but Bluetooth with aptX tech. That means CD quality sound, though only if the source device is aptX-compatible (Sony, Samsung and HTC phones, plus all Windows phones).

The SuperSignal is chunky at 2.16kg and measuring 135 x 140 x 207mm, and it's really pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable for a bedside table.

However, the SuperSignal quickly gives us a reason to love its size; the 10W Class-D amplifier and BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) inside delivers pin-sharp, bass-heavy tunes with plenty of mid-range, and that's just via Bluetooth. Music on DAB is always warm and nuanced, while dialogue is clear, crisp and with plenty of treble detail.

Verdict

The build quality is excellent, and so is the sound, though it's how Revo has addressed the needs of real people in real rooms that I like most.

The touch-snooze feature, the volume dial and Bluetooth are all brilliantly convenient, though I reserve most praise for the use of an OLED screen that keeps the bedroom dark. The OLED screen uses some great-looking typography, too. Sound is the most important feature and the quality here is precise, warm and powerful.

That said, a mono rather than stereo speaker is always a shame, though it does make sense on a bedside table. However, we're not convinced that Bluetooth – and aptX-compatible Bluetooth, at that – is wholly necessary in the bedroom, and the same goes for the giant-sized remote. The jury is out on that, but it certainly adds to the price.

What the SuperSignal does lack – and what every DAB radio should have, especially if aimed at the bedside table – is a USB slot to help charge-up a smartphone or tablet.

In the end, The Revo SuperSignal is a top class DAB radio going for a high price. The arrival of Bluetooth on a DAB radio finally sees the death of the complex 'smart' radio with web connectivity, and here that wireless streaming tech is well implemented and sounds better than ever.

Sound quality is consistently excellent – the Revo SuperSignal is one of the best-sounding DAB radios around – while the almost unique use of an OLED screen gives it a nice high-end look and feel.

Roberts has been making DAB radios since the genre was created over a decade ago, but while its rivals are concentrating on paring-down their efforts and replacing iPhone docks with Bluetooth modules, the BluTune 65 is trying to be all things.

Bundling the now obligatory Bluetooth streaming module with stereo speakers and an iPhone dock that's fitted with an Apple Lightning connector, the BluTune 65 is more a tabletop hi-fi than a one-trick DAB radio.

Selling for around £150 at the time of review, the BluTune 65 is a soft touch. Available with orange, blue and black faux leather and a snap-off fabric speaker grille it all looks good but the build quality is pretty basic for the money.

However, the 191 x 274 x 96mm, 1.8kg BluTune 65 has hardware where it counts, with a 3.5mm aux in and aux out (the latter is a rare feature on a DAB radio) alongside a headphones jack. Inside are tuners for DAB, DAB+ and FM RDS, though it's surely that double-act of Bluetooth and an Apple Lightning-equipped docking area that are the key add-ons. The latter is optional, and physically hidden beneath a flap; the 'open' button springs-up that flap to reveal the dock.

I'm not convinced Android phone users will pay extra for such a dock if they're not planning on using it, though the provision of source-neutral Bluetooth connectivity probably does widen the appeal of the BluTune 65. Roberts suggest putting the BluTune 65 in the kitchen and using it as a stand for an iPad while displaying recipes and simultaneously recharging.

That's not a bad idea, though there's some recharging fun for Android devices too, with a fully functional USB 2.0 slot on the rear; I know of no other tabletop or bedside DAB radio with such a thing. Excellent work, Roberts.

The control panel on top of the BluTune 65 is very well thought through, though it's not exactly high-end in terms of materials and build quality. Nicely backlit when touched, there's a button to dim the LCD screen on the front, one to set a couple of alarms, a toggle to set a sleep timer – a great feature for those who like to fall asleep to radio.

There are also dials for both volume and station select that are easy to use. A single button gives access to twenty station presets, which is a rather messy solution since two hands need to be used to toggle through them. A tiny remote control is included, too.

However well designed the BluTune 65 is, the convenience of its many features can't completely hide the fact that sound quality isn't up there with the best DAB radios and tabletop hi-fis. The passive bass radiator behaves well, with refined low frequency effects within music, and there's some decent stereo separation, too, though the overall sound is a little muffled.

Verdict

It might sound like a small thing, but an easily accessible, dedicated dimmer switch that dulls the LCD screen instantly makes the BluTune 65 suitable for a bedroom. Other real-world touches exist on the BluTune 65, such as a control panel that is gently backlit only when touched, and control dials that snag with each change of station, making it harder to overshoot when choosing a DAB station. Ditto a sleep timer, which can be toggled from 15-90 minutes.

Kudos also to Roberts for including a USB 2.0 slot on the rear of the BluTune 65 for recharging any smartphone or tablet; the unit's likely placement on a bedside table or in a kitchen make this especially useful.

However, the soft-touch faux leather doesn't look very heard-wearing, while the deep chassis of the BluTune 65 will completely dominate most bedside tables. Sound quality, while hardly poor, isn't quite up there with the best when it comes to music.

Ultimately, the optional Apple Lightning connector on the top of this tabletop DAB – along with a USB slot for recharging a phone, a dim-able LCD screen, and excellent sleep timers/alarms – makes the BluTune65 ultra-convenient on a bedside table.

Hasn't every kitchen in Britain at some stage had a Pure DAB radio on the windowsill?

Pure Digital virtually invented the DAB radio market over a decade ago and it's dominated it ever since, but early adopters of DAB are now replacing those first forays into digital, so it's about time the famous Evoke line-up got a proper refresh.

That's definitely the case with the Evoke D6, which was selling for £179.99 at the time of review.

It adds not only wireless Bluetooth streaming but also stereo speakers packed inside a 300mm-long chassis of real oak veneer.

The Evoke D6 is a thing of beauty, a great example of modern product design with a valuable lightness of touch, but it's packed full of features, too. The front is clean, with five preset buttons ranged above controls for source, timer, alarms and a menu toggle, while the touch-sensitive SnoozeHandle on the top is good for an early morning slap.

There are trademark Pure design flourishes on the retro knobs; one for controlling the volume and another for selecting the radio station or menu item.

Above those is a small LCD screen that displays the time. On the rear, meanwhile, is a headphone jack and a 3.5mm aux-in for hooking-up almost any audio device you can think of.

Weighing a seriously heavy 2kg and measuring an ultra-wide 300 x 100 x 154mm, the Evoke D6 isn't exactly portable, yet there is technically a way of making it so. Pure makes the optional rechargeable F1 ChargePak, which costs about £30 and gives the Evoke D6 an incredible 65 hours of cable-free audio performance.

That's quite something in theory, though the Evoke D6 is simply too heavy to travel far. The package also includes a small credit card-sized remote, which is a nice option, though it's not strictly necessary to operate the Evoke D6.

The Evoke D6 has three tuners inside of it; FM, DAB and DAB+. Inside is an integrated 20W digital amplifier, which together with the stereo speaker drive unit deliver some excellent sonics.

Some music streamed from an iPhone's iTunes app definitely benefit from the stereo treatment – something that DAB radios too often ignore in a bid to be compact – while the long, open chassis gives the music room to breathe. It's always warm, with plenty of width and mid-range, while treble peaks are precise. That skill helps speech radio sound marvellous, too.

Verdict

The provision of two excellent speakers brings stereo to the tabletop DAB market, with good quality, reliable Bluetooth streaming lending the Evoke D6 a valuable all-in-one feel. Could it replace a hi-fi? Absolutely. The design is clean and fresh, the radio's core functions are easy to use, and the sound quality is warm yet precise.

That said, I'm not convinced that a 2kg radio needs a portable option, though it does at least have a fine handle to aid portability.

Ultimately, Pure has once again come up with a fine DAB radio, though with great quality Bluetooth streaming and a fresh design it threatens to become an all-in-one hi-fi box for the modern age.

It's decent value considering both its stereo speaker array and the price of the competition in the tabletop DAB/hi-fi market, the Evoke D6 boasts a marvellously warm, detailed sound and an excellent build quality.

After rumour followed speculation followed rumour, it has been announced in typically laborious fashion that no firm date has been set for the digital radio switchover in the UK.

This doesn't mean that the digital switchover for radio is never going to happen, but it does put a red line through the 2015 date that was laid down back in 2010.

But what does this delay actually mean for digital radio? Should we all invest in DAB radios now even though a switchover date is no longer in sight? And how in the name of Wogan do you get digital radio into your old, very analogue car?

TechRadar was one of the lucky few to be invited to this year's Go Digital conference where answers were given (and more questions raised), so here's everything that is driving the UK gaga when it comes to digitising our airwaves...

When will the UK switchover to digital?

Ed Vaizey, UK minister for culture, communication and creative industries, revealed that he wasn't going to put a date on the digital switchover (very helpful) but did announce that the government was entering into "phase two" of the digital radio switchover which will bring a new national multiplex, called Digital 2, to expand the reach and the amount of digital radio stations across the UK.

The Digital 2 multiplex will mean more digital radio stations, which can only be a good thing for radio listeners.

What's the reason for the delay?

We are sorry to say it is YOU. Well, you if you haven't yet bought yourself a DAB radio and gone digital.

Vaizey didn't mean this in a horrible way (we don't think), but explained that he has always said that "it is the radio listener that will push the drive to digital." He said that at the moment "it is not the time to switchover but is emphatically the time for the next phase."

Cutting through his political prose, there are not enough people listening to digital radio to make the switchover a priority – 35% of the UK at the moment listen digitally and he isn't going to do anything until that number is up past 50%.

Er, when will that be then?

Tentatively, the switchover will be seven years from now – in 2020. Vaizey wouldn't be pushed on an actual date but people in the know tell us this is a decent date to expect the digital switchover to take place.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, is personally backing 2020, for example, believing that it "is not a bad target."

He explained at the GoDigital conference: "2015 has been taken off the table but 2020 is definitely possible."

What has to happen before this?

A lot. Before a date for the switchover can take place, over 50% of the UK needs to be listening to digital radio. And herein lies the 'chicken and egg' situation.

Essentially, the government doesn't want to set a date until more people are DAB ready. But to get more people DAB ready the digital radio industry want a date from the government.

This isn't stopping Arqiva putting in the digital groundwork, though. It played a big part in the TV switchover and now it is erecting masts up and down the country that will boost digital radio coverage both in the home and the car.

According to Steve Holebrook, MD of Arqiva, if all goes well the digital radio coverage in the UK will be the equivalent to FM by 2016.

To reach that point, 200 more sites will get masts and seven new multiplexes will be commissioned which will bring in 8 million more DAB listeners to the UK. Currently only 70% of homes can receive local DAB and this is being improved to 90% which will make local radio stations happy.

What about the car situation?

This is where it gets interesting. Unlike the TV switchover, the transition from analogue to digital in radio has to include cars.

As a nation, according to Helen Boaden, BBC director of Radio, 20% of radio listening is done in the car but 90% of cars on the road don't support digital.

Arqiva is currently busy making sure that a further 7,500km of road coverage gets DAB coverage which should put our roads in good stead for digital radio. New technology that seamlessly changes the station (called service linking) once you go from one local station to another has also been developed.

Mike Hawes, CEO for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, believes that cars are in a good place for the digital transition. He said that "62% of cars now come fitted with digital radio."

That's made up of 42% with DAB as standard and 20% as a requested extra - and by 2014, it is believed that this number will be 100% for new cars.

But most of us have old cars...

Do not fear. Despite Vaizey not coming up with a date for the switchover, Halfords is already on board to help convert analogue radios to digital ones and in 2014 Kwik-Fit will also offer this service.

If you are a Ford customer you will be pleased to note that all of its Transit vans will come with DAB as of 2014 and there is also a digital radio conversion program in place.

The CEO of Halfords Matt Davies explained that "equipping 30 million cars on the road already with a digital radio is a prime focus of us going forward."

He also said that: "In car audio, the right technology is digital technology. We can see a day very soon when all radios sold from Halfords stores will be digital."

Pretty much everyone is backing digital radio, then?

Despite that elusive switchover date, everyone at the conference said that "phase two" was very welcome. But it was also clear that if the government actually set a date, then that would have been welcomed with a massive hug and a glass of fizz.

Date hater Ed Vaizey assured everyone that "the future of radio in this country is digital."

He went on to say that: "We can't go backwards. We in the UK are at the forefront in digital radio – our new measures will cement this lead and herald a new digital age. But, crucially, a new digital age when the listener is ready."

But, isn't digital radio expensive?

The price for DAB radios has dropped significantly in recent years and it will continue to drop. This is because the technology within the radios is changing.

Anthony Sethill, CEO of Frontier Silicon, has just come off the back of a multimillion pound development of a new chipset that reduces DAB costs, reduces power consumption and can be fitted into mobile devices making them DAB friendly.

Frontier Silicon's chips have been in Pure radios since 2002 – Pure is one of the biggest providers of DAB radios in the UK – and since then a whopping 90% has come off the cost of creating the chips.

Now that the cost is so similar to an FM radio that Sethill believes that retailers should to stop selling FM radios as keeping them in the market could be "doing a disservice" to users.

And finally, what are those D Love adverts on about?

Ah, yes. There is currently a big campaign to get everyone on to digital radios, with D Love as the star. Not everyone is impressed.

Radio DJ Simon Mayo took to the stage to say how much he loved digital and that his movie programme is the most time-shifted programme for the BBC (over 2 million downloads). But he also said that D Love was "patronising" and he "couldn't understand how that tells me how the services work."

Lucky TechRadar is here to help, Simon.

• Not fussed about radio? Here are the eight top music streaming services compared

Radio will remain in flux for years to come with no digital switchover date in sight, but the government is going to ramp up investment in DAB and add a second national multiplex to allow more digital stations to be broadcast.

Although the industry has moved to welcome announcements from minister for culture, communications and creative industries Ed Vaizey's commitment fell well short of providing the digital switchover date that is needed to propel the radio world to digital.

"I absolutely believe that the future of radio in this country is digital," said Vaizey.

"We cannot go backwards. The radio listener will get a much better service, and better functionality. There will be far more choice, with many more stations."

Forefront

"The UK is at the forefront of developments in digital radio. This package of measures is intended to cement this and herald in a digital age, as and when the consumer is ready," he added.

Without a firm date, it seems unlikely that the radio world will experience the seismic shift that television did, despite a raft of government measures.

Those measures include the promise of investment in local DAB transmitters and a second national commercial multiplex in 2014.

Vaizey insisted that the radio switchover is not something he felt the country was in a position to bring about, stating that the number of digital radio listeners and DAB coverage needed to be improved before a date can be offered up.

Some critics will suggest that, until a hard switchover date is enforced by the government, the impetus towards DAB will never hit critical mass, but Vaizey appears to believe that a softly, softly approach is the only way to go.

And, of course, it's liable to be the option that ruffles the fewest feathers in the short run.

The Edifier e10 Exclaim is one of life's nice surprises: a 2.0 speaker system that not only looks a lot more expensive than it is, but sounds it too.

The key to the Exclaim's success appears to lie in its unusual design. The base at the bottom of each one contains a 76.2mm woofer and a matching bass radiator, while the silver column that rises from the front contains two 38mm high-frequency/mid-range tweeters and another 38mm radiator.

Because the silver columns are angled backwards, the sound is more or less aimed directly at your ears, enabling them to make the most of the two 8W and two 10W of power they have on tap, the amplifier for which is built into the left "active" speaker, with the right "passive" speaker connecting to it using the cable supplied.

As should be obvious by now, sound quality is where the Exclaim excels. It won't be the loudest or most audiophile-friendly system you've heard, but it sounds better than you'd expect given its price. Movie dialogue, vocals and instruments are all rewarded with decent fidelity, while the bass is weighty without being thunderous or overbearing. Not bad for £70 / $99US / $120AU.

Apple's moving to the Lightning Connector for the iPhone 5 and new iPods, and then dragging its heels when it came to licensing the technology, has led to a spate of audio docks offering wireless streaming.

Docks like the Logitech UE Boombox, Libratone Zipp AirPlay speaker and Creative's Sound Blaster Axx SBX10 were all quick to take advantage. Revo's AXIS XS is another such device.

An update of 2010's award-winning AXIS multifunction digital radio, the new XS adds Bluetooth audio, a side-mounted USB port for charging and an in-the-box remote controller.

Just like its predecessor, the new AXIS offers DAB/DAB+ and FM radio. Connect it to your network through Wi-Fi and you can also stream audio from your Mac or UPnP-compatible NAS drive, putting your digital record collection at your fingertips.

You can tune in to internet radio stations and podcasts too, giving you a huge range of streaming broadcasts from all over the world.

If you want to use it as a bedside radio it has two alarms, and the 30-pin dock on top of the unit is retained. Around the back, an AUX port lets you play audio from anything with a headphone socket, and stereo RCA ports mean you can connect the radio to your existing stereo setup. There's also a composite video out port.

Excellent Interface

As you'd expect from a Revo radio, the interface is a pleasure to use. Instinctive menus make it easy to navigate. You can select local UK stations, BBC services or podcasts, or choose from the full range of over 16,000 internet radio stations from all over the world, logically grouped and sub-grouped according to genre and location.

You can also select from your self-chosen favourites, popular internet stations or streaming services you've added yourself. As a result, finding your way through the huge range of streaming broadcasts is a simple affair, and not the chore it can prove on some internet radios.

The 3.5-inch colour touchscreen is attractive and responsive, though the buttons are a little small and some are too close to the edge of the screen, making them slightly awkward to press due to the bezel getting in the way. It's only a trivial irritation, though.

The AXIS XS supports Colour DAB Slideshow and RadioVis, so images and textual messages provided by DAB and FM stations are displayed. These can include station logos and information about the programme or song currently being broadcast.

Minimalistic Appearance

Its lightly redesigned appearance is minimalistic and modern. The front of the AXIS XS is dominated by the screen, which shows the time and date when the radio is in standby mode, and its rather large volume knob. The only other physical control is the power button. Sleek and stylish, you could put a Revo AXIS XS just about anywhere without it looking out of place.

It also comes supplied with a remote controller, unlike the previous version where this was an optional extra. Unfortunately it's very limited in function, with volume and track controls but nothing to help navigate through menus or select a pre-stored favourite radio station at the touch of a button. This is annoying as most Revo radios have a more comprehensive controller, and with touchscreen controls still a necessity, you can't put your AXiS XS on a shelf out of easy reach and rely on the remote for general operation.

The new XS adds Bluetooth connectivity for streaming your sounds from an iPhone 5 or other Bluetooth-enabled device. It isn't apt-X compatible, though, so you can't benefit from the superior codec when streaming from your Mac.

A USB port on the side lets you charge your mobile gadgets while streaming, and it's 2000mA, so it can charge an iPad. There's still a 30-pin dock connector atop the device, with Universal Dock Adapters for a wide range of pre-Lightning iPhones and iPods supplied.

Quality Sound

Revo has a reputation for getting quality sound from relatively small devices, and the AXIS XS is no exception. Despite its single driver, its sound stage is broad and well defined. Lively treble sits atop a crisp, clear mid-range, and a bass port at the rear makes sure the lower end of the sound spectrum isn't neglected. It has enough volume to fill a reasonable sized room without distorting, and if you need more, you can connect it to an external speaker set-up.

Unfortunately, audio streamed through Bluetooth is noticeably weaker than the sound you get from a mobile device connected directly to the radio. It's far from poor, but it's a little less lively, losing some of its definition. To an extent this is what you'd expect, but we've heard better from other Bluetooth streaming audio devices.

Verdict

AXIS XS is another fine product from Revo. It looks good, has a great build quality and packs in a huge range of features without ever becoming unwieldy. We'd have liked apt-X and a better remote, but we're very happy with everything else.

How stylish is your radio? How stylish do you want it to be?

Radios, including the slightly more recent DAB+ radios, have transcended purely functional designs, and given that the electronics needed to make them tick have shrunk in size, this means you can make a radio almost any size and shape you like; which is pretty much what Sonoro has done with this, the Cubo GoLondon.

The Cubo GoLondon is a portable FM/DAB/DAB+ radio that resembles a drinks cup - the likes of which you can buy from certain fast-food outlets.

Thanks to a healthy rechargeable battery, it can be used indoors and outdoors and boasts a drip-proof casing and offers an AUX-in should you want to hook it up to your MP3 player or mobile phone.

A Bluetooth version is promised as well, although here you'll have to make do with using the included cable to enjoy your favourite music.

The Cubo GoLondon impresses in the sound department, offering excellent clarity and a good balance between the bass and treble.

The speaker itself is surprisingly loud too, and even when you're outside you won't have to go much beyond half way to enjoy your music. If you're sat next to it, then getting much beyond a quarter turn of the top-mounted volume knob is probably pushing things.

You'll find the telescopic antenna also on top of the unit, at the opposite corner to the aforementioned volume control (which also acts as the on/off switch).

Peer round the back and there's a small cut-out section in the bright-red sleeve that holds the FM/DAB selector, the power connector and the AUX IN jack.

The more eager-eyed may have noticed the lack of a way of changing channel at this point. Could it possibly be the two large black buttons on either side of the Cubo GoLondon? Actually no, these are merely to enable you to easily slide off the red cover so that you can replace it with something that is more in-keeping with your environment.

Separate sleeves are available at £16 a pop in either coloured 'soft-touch' sleeves, or as fuzzy, textile covers. There should be something for everyone.

The actual controls can be found underneath the Cubo GoLondon.

Heavily recessed into the base of the unit you'll find an LCD screen and three buttons – left, right and menu. These enable you to change your channel easily, while the display shows channel text, battery life, the current time and the radio signal strength.

This dims when you're not looking for channels, but given its location that's not much of a problem.

In use we were impressed with the sound quality of the Cubo GoLondon, the excellent battery life – 14 hours from a single charge should be good for any practical use – and the signal strength.

We're slightly less convinced about the replaceable coloured sleeves – surely you just buy the one that you like the look of and leave it at that.

Even so, the rubberised cover, combined with the weight of the unit, gives it a sturdy feel.

We do think that £130 is a bit steep too, especially as prices of DAB radios have dropped so much recently.

Pure's latest DAB radio comes with a little something extra: Pure Stream, so you can wirelessly play music from your smartphone.

Launching alongside Pure Stream is the Pure Sensia 200D Connect, a touchscreen DAB radio with wireless pretensions.

The bright 5.7-inch touchscreen should make controlling the egg-shaped radio super simple, displaying album artwork, relevant radio station information and even things like weather reports, Twitter feeds and photos via Wi-Fi or Picasa.

More than just a radio

You can stream music in a couple of ways: either using Pure Music, Pure's Spotify-like music service that will set you back £5 a month, or with the new Pure Stream service that allows you to send music from your iOS or Android handset (including iPod Touch, iPad and Android tablets).

Pure Stream works over DLNA and is free to use – you'll just need to download the Pure Lounge iOS or Android app.

Pure says the device also offers better audio performance than its predecessor, the original Sensia, with 30 watts of digitally-processed sound (DSP) coupled with high efficiency class-D amplifiers and custom-designed speakers.

If you like the sound of this one-stop-listening-shop, you can pick up the Pure Sensia 200D Connect from today, with UK pricing set at £249.99.

The design of the Roberts Stream 83i Wi-Fi streamer/internet radio/DAB radio has proved to be particularly divisive within the office.

The phrases 'ugly' and the slightly more diplomatic 'lacking in style' have been bandied about, but so too has 'retro' and 'I like it'.

Looks aside, it has the solid build quality we've come to expect from Roberts, and it's easy to connect the Stream 83i to a wireless network and browse the huge range of internet radio stations and podcasts.

Plugging in a USB stick containing MP3s brings up an easy-to-navigate file system. Whilst the dials and buttons work pretty well when editing and tweaking settings, if you sign up for an account you can tweak via a web browser.

Connecting to PCs on the network via a UPnP (such as Windows Media Player) also works well and adds an extra layer of functionality, letting you play all your music from your computers.

The fact that it doesn't need extra software installed on your PC to work, unlike the Logitech Squeezebox, is an added bonus.

Whilst the aesthetics might not be your thing, the sheer amount of features makes the Roberts Stream 83i an excellent device - and it sounds great too.

You might never have heard of Pure, especially if you live in America, but it's a British brand that has built a tremendous reputation for solid, well-engineered DAB radios - and DAB doesn't exist in the US.

'Solid' might give the impression that Pure's stuff might be a little staid, and it's true that the radios it's best known for have a certain boxy, wooden, let's-call-it-classic feel, so this new Contour range is something of a departure.

It still feels like a Pure product, though. The build quality is good, the design well thought-through, and in general we'd feel good about owning one.

The DAB system is clean and easy to use, and there's FM as well if you live in an area where DAB is either non-existent or too weak to tune into.

The reason we're reviewing it, though, is that it also has a dock connector so you can charge and play music from your iPhone or iPod - and even from the iPad. Rather than putting the dock connector on the top where the device would be unsupported and would spoil the line of the Contour 100Di, you press the corner of the panel next to 'Pure', and the dock rotates out smoothly. It's commendably robust too, and feels like it would last for years.

The little rubber nub you can see halfway up the speaker in the picture above acts as a rest for the iPhone or iPod to lean against so it feels secure, and even when you put an iPad into the dock, the whole setup is really stable.

There are other good design touches as well; the remote control, for example, latches magnetically into a recess on the back. Ironically, though, the remote itself is a bad design; the grid of buttons is undifferentiated, making it impossible to identify functions by touch alone.

It all sounds good

We've been listening to Pure radios for years, and this new model sounds just like its older siblings. And that's actually a compliment - though one with caveats.

The audio from the 100Di is clean and clear. It sounds great for almost everything at low volumes - when used as a bedside radio, for example - and its great to find a speaker with small enough volume increments that it's easy to find a comfortable listening level even in a silent room.

Start cranking it up, however, and it starts to feel a little light, a little thin, when playing music. Note that it never sounds like it's struggling - rather, it's almost like the radio has decided to be very good at calmly and clearly reproducing the speech of Radio 4, say, and finds Radio 1 just a trifle brash. Imagine Jeeves singing Rihanna, if you will.

Regardless, nobody would call the audio from this as anything other than good. It doesn't match our Tap! Top 50-listed Logitech S715i for pure music fidelity and richness, but it is overall a great speaker dock for the bedroom, kitchen or small lounge - and remember that it also works well with an iPad.

Yes, you could add digital radio stations to just about any dock with an app such as TuneIn Radio, but we like just being able quickly to switch on the radio rather than tapping through an app. We like this. It's well designed, well specced and well built.

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Radio manufacturer Pure has announced Pure Music.

It's a new subscription-based service available in the UK through the company's Wi-Fi capable DAB radios, smartphones using the Pure Lounge app and via its website.

Taking a leaf out of Spotify's book, the service is all-you-can-eat, with a monthly subscription of just £4.99 giving you access to millions of songs.

Given this is half the price of Spotify Premium – the top version of Spotify which allows music streaming to phones – it's certainly enticing price-wise, but how does it compare when it comes to usability?

TechRadar has been playing with the service for a good few weeks now and, on the whole, we're impressed with it.

We've been trying it out using the iOS app - an Android version is also available - the website and through a Pure One Flow. And, while the experience on each platform do differ quite significantly, the service is easy to use as long as you can forgive the rather fiddly set-up process.

Before you can use Pure Music on your DAB radio you need to make sure it is registered to your Lounge Account. This does take a few minutes but once it was done we never had any problems with the service not recognising our devices.

We had to do the same thing with our iPod touch – once the app was downloaded, our device then had to be registered to our Lounge Account.

It's easy to keep track of the devices you have registered as they all appear on the favourites section of the Lounge website.

Playing a song on our devices was a cinch – on both the app and the website, the service is fairly easy to get around.

There's a search bar in the top right of the site and this feature is also situated on the top of the app.

One other way to drill into the content when using the app is to use the A-Z quick jump feature. Unfortunately, the presentation of this leaves a lot to be desired. When we searched, we got plain old folder icons instead of album art. Hopefully this will be something that is ironed out when the service officially comes to market.

When we did find the song we were looking for, we found that buffering took quite a while. In the iOS app, it seemed that song choices lingered on 'now tuning' for quite some time. When tracks did eventually play though, the quality was decent.

Buffering is a lot quicker through both the Pure ONE and the website.

One of the great things we found with Pure Music is that we could use multiple devices streaming off of the same account.

We had the Pure OneFlow radio going, while a song was also streaming through our iPod touch. It's a nice addition, given the amount of devices you can have tethered to the service.

As for the content available, the majority of chart hits were at our fingertips and when we delved a little deeper, the archive content seemed plentiful – everything from Rihanna to the Wu-Tang Clan seemed to be catered for.

At the moment, there are a few things missing from the service that need to be added if it is to have any longevity.

For example, there's currently no offline access to tracks. Pure is promising this in the future. There also seems to be a lack of collaboration and social features with Pure Music.

Spotify thrives on its playlists and this doesn't feel like a service that will garner the same sort of collaborative community.

If you have a Pure radio with Wi-Fi connectivity then signing up to Pure Music is definitely a logical step. It may be a touch fiddly to search for content through your radio but once mastered it's great to know that pretty much anything you want to listen to is a knob twiddle away.

Pure Music UK release date is out now and the first month is free. Go to TheLounge.com for more information.

Pure launched two new radios at CES 2012, with the most eye-catching being the Pure Sensio 200D Connect.

This is a radio which has its fingers in all the audio pies. The music player allows you to listen to DAB radio, stream music over the internet and also surf the web if you so feel like it.

It also has the usual ports for connecting up an iPod plus a USB port so you can nab whatever you have recorded and listen to it on your laptop or anywhere with USB connectivity.

On board is a decent 5.7-inch colour touchscreen and this acts as a portal to all your menu options. It is also here where you can hook up to Pure's latest music offering Pure Music.

Looking to take on Spotify and set to launch very soon – originally it was back in December and this was when we did our hands on: Pure Music review – this subscription-based music service will set you back £4.99 a month.

While there were a number of audio options on show at CES 2012, the Pure Sensio 200D Connect was one of the smartest we have seen.

It offers decent audio output for its size, too, with the device piping out 30W RMS of digital sound via DSP tuned class-D amplifiers and twin speakers.

It has Wi-Fi connectivity, allows you to hook up to Twitter and Facebook, and you can also record any music that you listen to from the radio – which is bound to bring back memories for any '80s child which sat listening to the Top 40 with their finger poised on the tape record button.

When it comes to a Pure Sensio 200D Connect UK release date, you don't have to wait long – it will be out in Q1 and is priced at £249.99.

Designing an audio product presents manufacturers with a dilemma. Do they forego convenience and build a great sounding but bulky system, or sacrifice audio quality in favour of a smaller footprint?

Thankfully, Revo's new K2 iOS dock, radio and audio streamer makes no such compromises.

The K2's square-shaped base with sides of just 10.6cm and two alarm settings make it ideal for your bedside table. But its brushed aluminium bodywork, black rubber details and invisible-until-lit OLED means it looks good just about anywhere.

Its 30-pin connector can be retracted when not in use, and can hold any iPod or iOS device, including an iPad. DAB/DAB+ and FM with RDS radio formats are covered, as is internet radio, Last.FM (a month's free trial supplied) and streaming audio from your Mac or any DNLA-compliant source.

You can join it to a home network through Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and connect it to an existing stereo setup through RCA or digital optical out. There's also AUX-in, a headphone socket and a composite video-out port for watching iPod videos or slideshows on your TV. A handheld remote augments the neat on-board buttons.

Sound quality is excellent. Its stereo effects are surprisingly good given the narrow form factor, and thanks to the rear-mounted bass port, the low end of the sound spectrum is clear and crisp. The audio as a whole is complete and lively, with a detailed top end, bouncy midtones and a near 360-degree dispersion.

The user interface deserves a mention too. Revo products are famed for their accessibility, and the K2 is no exception – steady improvements make it the best yet. If you have a sound system you're not using to its fullest because you can't be bothered to keep dipping into the instructions, you should have bought a Revo.

Revo's K2 delivers a sound that belies its small form factor. It's possible to get more out of bigger, more expensive systems, but for a compact £300 device, it's among the best we've heard.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview

Roberts has unveiled a new DAB radio that allows you to record broadcasts to an SD or SDHD card, in the form of the Roberts RecordЯ.

Although we admire any company brave enough to take a leaf out of Toys'Я'Us's branding handbook, we're going to call it the RecordR from now on.

The company claims that using the SD recording functionality is easy as pie; inserting an SD or SDHD card and long-presing the record button ought to do the trick.

Ordr a Recordr

This way you can record up to 24 hours of radio, or pop the station on pause for an hour. Presumably, recorded radio can be transferred to another device by removing the SD card and moving the files via a computer - although we're waiting to hear back from Roberts on that.

Technically you could 'tape' music off the radio just like the olden days - albeit in better quality and with a growing sense of pointlessness.

Sadly the radio is as ugly as the ones we used in our last batch of mixtape-making - always disappointing when we know Roberts is capable of better.

As well as recording as you go, you can set the Roberts RecordR to record up to four different radio programmes, listen to DAB or FM radio, set 10 station presets and play MP3s via the line-in socket.

Yours for £99.99, the Roberts RecordR is available now.

TechRadar has once again joined forces with UK DAB radio colossus, Pure, to give away some ultra cool digital radios.

The Pure EVOKE-1S Marshall DAB radio combines the award-winning quality of Pure's EVOKE-1S radio with the legendary style of Marshall Amplification to deliver a DAB radio that really rocks.

EVOKE-1S Marshall is wrapped in black vinyl, just like a Marshall amp, with solid wood construction, brass-effect control panel and a black metallic speaker grille. The fierce yellow-on-black display features adjustable brightness and just like its predecessor, the volume dial goes up to 11!

Other features include ChargePAK compatibility for rocking out on the go for up to 24 hours between charges; an OLED display; a light sensor which automatically adjusts display brightness; 30 station presets (30 digital radio or FM); an auxiliary input to connect an iPod or MP3 player; and FM with RDS for maximum station choice.

TextSCAN and Intellitext are also included so that scrolling text can be paused and controlled as well as stored for browsing at a later date.

We have five of these Pure digital radios to give away to UK readers, so to have a chance of winning, click the link below.

This competition is now closed. The winners are Mr R Lane, Ms G Husband-Major, Mr S Geer, Mrs M Dodd and Mrs K Harrison.

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Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.

The Q2 brings the content-rich world of internet radio into your home with style. And because this button-free 10cm cube incorporates a rechargeable Li-ion battery you can take it outside, too – as long as your Wi-Fi coverage matches your territorial ambitions.

It's easy to use, thanks to an accelerometer similar to that built into the Wii controller. Placing the cube onto one of four sides selects a different station. Tilting the radio up or down adjusts volume, while the face-down position shuts it up.

And from a single charge, you can expect to get over 10 hours of moderate-level listening.

There are no physical buttons to trap dust or malfunction. The only switch, on the rear panel, turns the thing off altogether.

Alongside this are a small bass-reflex port and an earphone socket. Behind the speaker grille lurk LEDs showing power and connection.

Sound quality is great for the size. The Q2 goes far louder than expected, without unacceptable levels of distortion. Its speaker's range is unexpectedly wide, too.

If you don't like the swirly floral motif decorating our review sample, there's a choice of other patterns and styles available including plain white, black, or green, and a floral pink. Lovely.

However, you only get an immediate choice of four stations or podcasts from a choice of thousands. To change them, you have to plug the Q2 into a computer via its USB port, and use downloadable software to assign new stations to these 'presets'.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview

The Pure One Classic Series II has had a lick of paint and a bit of an upgrade with new 'Listen Later' functionality added to the DAB radio.

The play/pause button can be used to pause live radio as well as having the ability to schedule a recording – be it a one-off or a recurring show – using the clock programming function.

There isn't much memory on the radio, so you can only store one recording at a time and the length of the programme you can record depends on the bit rate of the station broadcasting it (but it's generally somewhere between 30 and 180 minutes).

EPG-less

Safe to say, if you're looking for something that uses an electronic programme guide (EPG) to schedule multiple recordings, this isn't the radio for you.

But it's not a bad little DAB for what it is; you can use batteries or the mains to power it (or an optional rechargeable pack from Pure that will set you back £30), and its LCD screen offers all the usual information.

There's also an MP3 input jack, clock-timer, space for 30 station presets and comes in black and white finishes.

If this tickles your fancy, the Pure One Classic Series II hits the shops this month, with a UK price tag of £64.99.

Pure has revealed a new personal DAB radio, the Move 2500, which offers 14 hours of digital radio life from the confines of your pocket.

The new gizmo builds on the successful PocketDAB 1500, which we reviewed way back in 2007, and Pure reckons it has upped the audio quality on the new model, with equaliser settings so you can tweak the levels.

It may look a lot like a chunky iPod classic, but the Move 2500 is much lighter than its style icon, and svelter than the PocketDAB 1500.

Tune in

The other new feature on the Move 2500 is that it offers DAB+; this means you can tune in to digital stations in countries where they transmit DAB+, but is no great shakes to UK dwellers who won't be taking their radio on holiday with them.

The Move 2500 has an FM tuner as well, with the silicon-tipped noise isolating earphones acting as the radio antenna, so you can try plugging speakers into the 3.5mm headphone jack for communal listening, but Pure points out that it hasn't tested this and therefore can't recommend it.

That's a bit of a pain for anyone rushing out to buy the Move 2500 imminently, but Pure says it has a range of dedicated accessories, including speakers, on the way.

The Move 2500 also offers 14 hours of listening per charge and its UK release date is set for 3 August, with UK pricing coming in at £89.99.