![]() Presets number 20 in total with 10 for DAB and 10 for DAB, which is less than the Groov-e Zeus but to be honest, twenty seems enough for us to deal with. The screen can flash repeatedly as well for reasons we haven’t figured out. The interface of Zen Plus works fine for the most part, but it can also be slightly unresponsive to touches, leaving us prodding at the screen on occasion. After a few minutes the screen can auto dim, but if you prefer to change the brightness manually, that can be done through the menus. ![]() ![]() The LCD clock screen takes up the front of the speaker and our reviewer found it easy to read even from a distance. Available in three colours we found the Zen Plus to be a simple, modern-looking radio. It’s a stylish effort with a neat textured fabric covering that wraps around the top half of its body, and its compact size ensures it takes up less space on a bedside table. For the performance and feature sets it does feel a little expensive, but considering its size the audio performance is better than some bigger radios. The Roberts Zen Plus is a compact bedside radio that comes with some “wellness” features to help send you off to sleep. However, it is quite treble-forward and compared to the (now unavailable) Pure Siesta Home, it’s mid-range performance isn’t quite as rounded or as natural. We found this offered a good treble clarity for spoken-word stations and solid power for bass when listening to music. The radio’s speaker set-up features two small drivers on the front and a larger one on the back to act as a subwoofer. We did find it rather rather clunky-looking and an additional £40-45 needs to be budgeted as it doesn’t come with the radio itself. There is the option to make this radio portable with a battery pack that offers 6-10 hours of playtime. Spotify Connect is present for subscribers of that music service. We found this particularly useful with Internet radio, with so many stations to browse it’s much easier to do so on a smartphone. The Stream 94i also supports the Undok app, which can be used to stream audio over a home network or used on conjunction with a USB stick to access files. You can set alarms and kitchen timers, There are five presets that double as playback controls when listening to music via Bluetooth with a further 40 station shortcuts available through the Preset button. However, if you’re looking for a more unassuming appearance, the 94i’s wood, plastic and faux leather construction may appeal more.Īlong with DAB/FM radio, there’s Wi-Fi for Internet radio along with Bluetooth for those looking to stream music from another device. The Roberts Stream 94i is the best radio we’ve reviewed for under £200, with our reviewer crowning it as the ultimate kitchen radio. The design isn’t as bright or aesthetically pleasing as Roberts’ wonderfully retro Revival range, from which we’ve tested the Revival RD-60, the Revival RD-70 and the Revival Petite in the past. Battery add-on is a little clunky-looking.Best compact radio: Roberts Zen Plus – check price.Best affordable bedside radio: Groov-e Zeus – check price.Best portable radio: Roberts Revival Petite – check price.Best radio under £200: Roberts Stream 94i – check price.If you’re still on the fence about whether to opt for a DAB radio or some other device then you can always check out our roundups for the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best smart speakers. ![]() If you’re looking for the best DAB radios, we’ll help you find one. Sound quality can impress on a DAB radio, rivalling that of music systems in some cases, and as an added bonus, DAB radios can be stylish, so if you want to avoid an unflattering design, then you’ll appreciate the modern and retro flair of radios. If they have features, we’ll test them and see if they live up the claims of the manufacturer so you what it is you’re getting. We of course test for how they sound, but we also live with them and use them like any other person would, understanding how they work in a real world context. So while some may depend on their laptop, smartphone or smart speaker, like the appreciation for vinyl records, DAB radios still have a fan base that use them day in and day out.Īnd if that’s you, then this list will help set you on the way to finding a new radio. There are plenty of wireless and Bluetooth speakers in the market, but let’s not forget about the mighty DAB radios.ĭAB radios have adapted with the times, and despite what you might think, they remain a very popular way of getting news and music in the home.
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