Seven Top Digital Radios

Best DAB and internet radios money can buy

The humble radio is enjoying a bit of a renaissance these days, thanks to a world of new internet stations and the wonders of DAB. We figure they’ll be on a lot of Christmas lists this year, so as a starting point we’ve put together a list of seven of our favourites.

Pure Evoke Flow

DAB specialists Pure have built a great reputation for making some of the best DAB radios on the market. The UK company’s current flagship, launched last year, is the Evoke Flow. Winner of a shedload of awards from gadget and audio reviewers, the Evoke hides a lot of grunt beneath its retro stylings. So expect not just DAB and FM, but also streaming Wi-Fi and internet radio. An audio-in allows you to plug in a personal media player, although we wish that Pure would start putting iPod docks on all their products. Sound is great, especially when you invest in the auxiliary stereo speaker, and DAB reception is unmatched.

Roberts Gemini 55

Why did we plump for what is surely the ugliest radio Roberts has ever made? Well, great stereo sound quality goes a long way. As does the ability to play back from not just PMPs but also SD cards – although as with the Evoke, there’s no iPod dock. But what really swung it was the ability to pause, rewind, and even record live radio. The radio itself can store between six and 15 minutes of music or chat, but with a 1GB SD card that figure jumps to 20-30 hours. Ideal for recording Adam and Joe on Saturday morning while you have a lie-in.

Gear4 KRG-D50

Gear4’s stuff is always pretty decent, and the KRG-D50 doesn’t disappoint. It’s not a world beater, but if you’re simply after a bedside or kitchen radio with good sound and reception, reasonable battery life, and a dock for your iPod you could do far worse. It’s mono, and the matt black stylings wouldn’t have been out of place in an MFI catalogue from 1991, but at a lowish price point the D50 represents great value.

Intempo RDi

Less a digital radio, more an iPod dock with DAB capability, the RDi is a sleek piece of kit that would be ideal for a kitchen or study. With speakers that dwarf those of your average radio, Intempo’s system predictably sounds ace, although it’s not as powerful as some other iPod docks. Some early models had reliability and reception issues, but Intempo has sorted these out since the system’s 2007 launch: the RDi series has also just been expanded with the addition of a Wi-Fi enabled model.

Vita Audio R2i

If you’re looking for a portable radio with great sound quality, this is the product for you. Vita’s R2i has a 20-watt amp and stereo speakers, giving an audio response that’s far more punchy and direct than most DAB radios. It’s not cheap, and the FM reception has been criticised, but when it sounds this good we aren’t complaining. Also includes the de rigueur audio-in and a few more sound-enhancing options than your average radio.

Cambridge Audio Azur 640T

Cambridge Audio’s Azur tuner receives both FM and DAB, and sports classic good looks to boot. Natural Contour Technology, developed by the manufacturer, adds warmth and life to DAB signals that can sometimes sound slightly flat thanks to the compression involved in digital signals. Another award winner, the Azur is certainly among the best options if you want to add DAB to your hi-fi separates.

Logitech Squeezebox Radio

With no DAB or even FM reception, and only a mono speaker, it would be easy to dismiss Logitech’s portable radio as a gimmick. But rather than being a jack-of-all-trades, the Squeezebox is quite happy to be the master of one. Internet radio streaming is straightforward thanks to an uncluttered and simple interface; your music library is also easy to browse via Wi-Fi, and Logitech has built in support for every format you care to mention including FLAC and OGG. And although it’s only got a single speaker, the Squeezebox is perfectly capable of delivering the goods in the right environment. Oh, and yes, you can plug an iPod or pther media player in if you need to.