Ten digital radios to suit all budgets
Tunesmiths and stream catchers
Product Round-up After a slow start, digital radio might finally be getting somewhere. More people are buying DAB radios, coverage is increasing and, digital stations account for a growing share of the radio audience, according to the stats [PDF]. The BBC’s four main exclusively digital radio stations, for instance, reach a combined total of well over 5m listeners a week, mostly received using DAB.
Whether this format could or should replace FM is another matter and one that probably doesn’t concern typical digital radio users. They’re going to be more interested in the bigger choice of stations, the naming system that makes it easier to find what’s on, and other extras.
Depending on the price, you can also get added features such as an iPod/iPhone dock or an internet connection for audio streaming. So here's a selection of what's out there that can find a place in any home and suit a range of listener needs.
Philips AJB7038D
This metallic-looking Philips model is compact and ideal for bedside use, as it has dual alarms and a handy snooze button. There’s a top-mounted iPod/iPhone dock and iPads work if you have a dock extension cable. For less sophisticated audio tethering, there's an aux input jack at the back along with a wire antenna for FM/DAB attached. The latter is not swappable to anything sturdier but it performs well for digital tuning and signal quality.
As expected from a small radio, there’s not much bass, however, it has a clean stereo sound that’s pleasant to the ears, striking a good balance between quality and value for money.
Reg Rating 85%
Price £99
More info Philips
Pure Contour 100Di
The Contour 100Di is a hybrid FM/DAB radio and speaker dock that charges and controls an iPhone, iPad or iPod from its remote or top-mounted buttons. Its curvy looks are understated rather than retro or garish. An aux input at the back will dock, but does not charge nor control another audio device.
It’s easy to use and the stereo audio quality is fair for its reasonably small footprint, with a decent bass and overall warm tone. Vocals could do with more crispness but that also depends on the source material. A terrific user-friendly all-rounder.
Reg Rating 80%
Price £100
More info Pure
Next page: Pure Sensia 200D
COMMENTS
this is radio
Worth nothing more than a £19.99 jobbie from asda. I suppose the idiots actually paying 249 are the same fools who think we need more radio than radio 4, test match special and world service.
"To suit all budgets?"
A quick trip to Amazon revealed a lot of sub-£100 digital radios (some as low as £24).
What happened to the reviews for these?
Re: "To suit all budgets?"
That, surely, is a better investigation for a reviewer: out of all the sub £100 gadgets, which ones aren't going to fall apart in a week?
Honestly, El Reg, you keep doing this. No one has any bloody money, so we need to know how to squeeze every last penny.
Re: this is radio
When I read the article "to suit all budgets" i thought to myself, I bet the cheapest one will be around £100 and I was spot on, the writers here are out of touch with reality when it comes to some peoples finances.
