The world has become on-demand.
It is a quaint memory to recall the days when the TV guide ruled our watching schedule or the radio wore the hat of a DJ. Thanks to streaming and instant downloading, our need for instant gratification is completely and wholly satisfied.
And yet there is a reason that I still keep a radio in almost every room of my house. Sometimes it’s a relief to allow someone else to take control of the musical steering wheel and just go with the flow. You’re delighted by old favourites and discover new tracks that you may not have opened your ears to otherwise. News, weather and traffic updates. And the rather entertaining talky bits in between.
Then, of course, there are the countless digital stations and podcasts dedicated to debate, comedy, politics and more, underscoring the fact that entertainment doesn’t live and die on a black mirror alone. The best way to soak it up? For me, it’s DAB.
What is DAB radio?
Standing for Digital Audio Broadcasting, DAB operates on digital radio, which comes from a network of transmitters across the UK. This allows broadcasters to group several stations; offering an efficient way to provide listeners with more radio stations using fewer frequencies. Digital radios can pick up 60+ stations, while some FM radios can only manage 15 or so.
What is DAB+?
The next step up is DAB+, which rolled out in 2007, making it the Gen Z of radios. It’s a step up from its predecessor, offering clearer sound and even greater radio station selection. When shopping for a new radio, ensure it has DAB+ capability - it’s the future of radio.
Embrace the wire-free wireless
The one thing we’re quite happy to leave in the past is wires. Corded radios, while always ready to play thanks to constant juice from mains power, are also liable to become trip hazards and break the nice clean lines of your interiors. Plus you can’t chuck one into your bag when you’re headed to a park or festival.
A rechargeable option is best from a usability standpoint and a sustainable one too, skipping the need to buy batteries on repeat. Just be sure to fully charge your device from time to time, and you’ll spare yourself onward expenses past the initial outlay.
Best of all, most rechargeable DAB radios offer a speaker function too, so you can switch to Bluetooth and rev up your own playlist if you don’t like the noise it's making.
Sound good? We’ve rounded up the best rechargeable and portable DAB radios to pick up below.
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Ruark Audio R1 MK4 Bluetooth DAB FM Radio
Regular visitors at The Savoy may have spotted Ruark’s radio on the nightstand; the R1 is a popular choice in luxury hotels. Bring some of that flavour into your quarters and you’ll be rewarded with precision sound, Bluetooth connectivity and a neat OLED display, all handsomely packed behind a vintage-look exterior that comes in black, grey or cream.
Buy now £299.00, Amazon
Roberts Revival Rest Alarm Clock Radio
She may be small, but she sure is mighty. The latest addition to Roberts is the Revival Rest, a scaled-down version of its iconic radios. The alarm clock radio is made for serial alarm snoozers, switching on to your preferred station come wake-up time. It doesn’t come in Roberts’ full suite of colours yet, but both the duck egg blue or black will make worthy additions to your bedside table.
Buy now £129.99, John Lewis
Pure Classic Mini
Whether you’re making dishwashing less of a bore or you’re happy to surrender your music selection to your favourite station, Pure’s Classic Mini is to the rescue. The dinky DAB+ is rechargeable (bye-bye batteries) and will last 15 hours on full juice with static-free sound projecting from the 5W speakers. It’s Bluetooth-enabled too, so you can use it like a regular travel speaker.
Buy now £79.99, Pure Audio
Loewe Klang S1 Smart Radio in Light Grey
Smart in every sense, this stylish radio comes from Loewe. The Klang model does it all, from playing FM, DAB and DAB+ to broadcasting Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer over the power of Bluetooth. There's even a USB port to play MP3 files (if you're old enough to remember those).
The elevated design continues to the outside, where the body is crafted from aluminium and a large display makes it easy to tune into whatever you're looking for. A triumph - and for this price, it has to be.
Buy now £429.00, Crampton & Moore
Philips Audio DAB+ Internet Radio
A leader in home audio, Philips naturally offers a digital radio to covet. This is no shrinking violet; it’ll overwhelm most bedside tables so it’s just as well you can mount it to the wall. It’s worth the DIY: the Internet radio can be hooked up to multiple devices, stream global stations and connect to Spotify, filling rooms with superior sound through a pair of 2.75-inch broadband drivers.
Buy now £131.74, Amazon
JBL Tuner 2 Portable Radio
If you're looking for a new portable speaker, why not ensure it comes with a radio function too? That way the music doesn't have to stop at the end of your playlist.
JBL has this portable and waterproof radio, boasting beautifully sharp audio that's perfect for playing anywhere from the park to the beach. Boasting a Lithium-ion battery that can go 12 hours on full juice, it comes with five pre-sets to save your favourite stations and an LED screen for news and weather updates.
Buy now £81.32, Amazon
Lexon TYKHO 3 FM Radio + Bluetooth Speaker Red
Why risk water damage to your tech when this splash-proof shower buddy can provide ample singalong entertainment? In a silicone casing, it has a 20-hour playback time and charges with a USB port. It doesn’t offer DAB (FM 88-108MHz only) but it can connect to Bluetooth to 10m, so you can still use it to play your Spotify playlist from elsewhere in the house.
Buy now £64.50, Amazon
Echo Show 8 (1st Gen, 2019 release)
Why buy a product that can only do one thing when Amazon’s Echo is so great at wearing multiple hats? This bedside companion has it all, from an 8-inch screen that can display time, date and temperature, to a stereo speaker that allows you to play music, the radio or talk to folks back at home. The smart assistant speaker can even set your alarm for you just by issuing a simple voice command. It doesn’t get higher spec than this.
Buy now £117.03, Amazon
Roberts Revival iStream 3L DAB+/FM Internet Smart Radio with Bluetooth
A retro design with contemporary functions, this Roberts radio is the perfect gadget to keep around the house or office.
The vintage 50s-look body is armed to the teeth with the latest tech, including a smart radio that can broadcast web radio as well as DAB+ and FM stations. It can transform into a Bluetooth speaker and play your favourite tracks from Spotify and Deezer, all with crystal-clear audio.
Available in a range of bright and muted shades.
Buy now £199.00, John Lewis
