Digital Radio Explained
More stations, more choice, more Downtown!
A radio for every room? What type of radio should I buy?
Choosing the right radio for your home depends on the room you intend to listen to it in.
Kitchen radio – A kitchen digital radio must be easy to use. Forget slick touchscreens – not practical when you’ve wet or sticky hands – and look instead for large, easy-to-operate knobs and dials. If space is limited, consider a front or top-facing speaker model, which can slot in next to other kitchen gadgets without the sound becoming muffled.
Bedroom radio – All bedroom radios need an alarm. And the best digital radios have plenty of options such as a buzzer, radio alarm, ambient noises or even the option to use your own music. Look for a radio with a dimmable display – overly bright ones can be annoying when you’re trying to get to sleep. An easy to locate snooze button is a vital, too.
Living room radio – In the living room you need a digital radio that offers top-quality sound wherever it’s positioned. That generally means one with stereo speakers. Consider a digital radio that can access internet radio if you’d like to listen to a wider range of stations, including podcasts and catch-up services. If you own an iPod or iPhone, a radio with a dock connector is a good idea.
What makes a good DAB radio? Great sound quality – Above all else, you want your new digital radio to sound good. There are many variables that could have an effect on this – the build quality of the radio, the number of speakers and their placement, and the aerial. That’s why sound quality accounts for 45% of our test score. Our panel of five experts listen to a various types of radio content from several angles, so we can tell you which radio’s are pleasant on the ears, and which ones will have you reaching for the off switch.
Easy to use – A radio might have the looks, but if changing the station involves delving into complex menus, it’s going to lead to a frustrating experience. We check how easy each radio is to operate, and let you know what room it’s best for. Does it have an easy to find snooze button? Can you operate it with one hand? Is setting up the alarm straight forward? Ease of use accounts for 35% of our test score, so we can tell you how easy a radio is to use before you buy it.
Features – Digital radios come in many shapes and sizes, and while some are basic, others are feature rich. We take a look at what features the radio has – is there an iPod dock? Can it record onto memory card? Is there a pause function or kitchen timer? With 15% of the total test score allocated to features, we can tell you which models are worth splashing out on.