Budget, portable and Bluetooth options…
Best DAB radios Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi?’s round-up of the best DAB radios you can buy in 2020.
In these uncertain times, we have a lot of love for the original ‘wireless’ – the radio. OK, we have myriad options for listening to music and accessing news in this day and age, but there are still times when sticking the radio on in the kitchen just can’t be beaten.
With the advent of DAB, internet radio and Bluetooth streaming, the humble radio has come a long way since its bedside clock integration.
What follows is our pick of the best DAB radios we’ve reviewed. They all give you access to hundreds of digital radio stations, as well as a number of useful features such as Bluetooth and live recording. Our round-up includes budget and premium options, from dependable brands such as Pure and Roberts. Learn the names of these top DAB radios now and be first in line to snap up a deal when discount events roll around. PLAY SOUND
How we choose the best DAB radios
We review hundreds of products each year. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Bath, where our team of expert reviewers do all the testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency and of course, impartiality.
All products are tested in comparison with rivals in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
We choose the best products from all of these reviews to feature in our Best Buys, as listed below. That’s why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended here, or on any other Best Buy page, you can rest assured you’re getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.
Read on for our pick of the best digital radios.
- Roberts Stream 94i
A 2019 Award winner, the fantastic Stream 94i sets the bar high for DAB radios..
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB, internet | Connectivity: Bluetooth, wi-fi, USB, ethernet, 3.5mm | Spotify Connect: Yes
Reasons to Buy
Great sound
Modern design
Spotify Connect
Reasons to Avoid
Nothing of note
Today’s Best Deals
The Stream 94i is a great upgrade on previous, excellent Roberts radios and includes FM, DAB and internet radio, plus Spotify Connect, wi-fi connectivity and USB playback. A basic radio, this is not.
Build quality is excellent, it looks smart and has all the functionality you could need in a radio. There’s a subwoofer on the back to boost the bass, and two drivers at the front which, together, deliver great sound quality.
The Stream 94i is the complete package, and that makes it the best sound-per-pound radio we’ve tested. A What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 winner – for the second year running.
- Pure Evoke H2
Another What Hi-Fi? Awards 2019 winner. A refined-sounding DAB radio for the money.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB | Connectivity: 3.5mm input, headphone socket | Battery pack: Optional | Dimensions: 18 x 11.5 x 12cm (HxWxD)
Reasons to Buy
Clean midrange
Detailed sound
Low price
Reasons to Avoid
Outdated display
Not immediately portable
The Evoke H2 continues the fine work of a multiple Award-winning range – and indeed, the product won our What Hi-Fi? 2020 Award for the best radio priced under £100. This is the budget DAB radio to beat, frankly, offering an excellent affordable option if you just want a simple and great-sounding radio.
As well as FM and DAB radio, there’s a 3.5mm input for connecting other music sources, and a headphone socket if you need to listen in silence. Ideal for a bedroom or kitchen, there’s a clock, sleep timer and kitchen timer.
It’s not a portable radio out of the box, but you can buy an optional Pure battery pack if you want that functionality. Available for well under £100, it’s a real bargain.
- Roberts Revival iStream 3
A stylish modern twist on the traditional wireless.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB, DAB+, internet radio | Display: Full-colour | Connectivity: Bluetooth, DLNA | Spotify Connect: Yes | Built-in services: Tidal, Amazon Prime Music, Deezer
Reasons to Buy
Full, musical sound
Built-in streaming services
Portable
Reasons to Avoid
Nothing at this price
It’s been more than 60 years since Harry Roberts took a look at his wife’s handbag and decided to design a radio in its image, and it’s an aesthetic that’s still going strong today.
Integrated music streaming apps sets it apart but it still has FM, DAB, internet radio and Bluetooth, too. There’s a full colour screen, a 3.5mm headphone output and aux line in, USB input and buttons for presets, playback and alarm. It can even be voice-controlled when partnered with an Amazon Alexa device. Add six AA batteries and it’s a portable radio, too.
The combination of connectivity, classic design and fine build quality feels good value for money. It’s Roberts’ sonic presentation that makes the Revival iStream 3 an obvious choice at this level though, thanks to a warm, welcoming sonic character that’s great with music and speech.
- Pure Move T4
The Move T4 is a neat little DAB radio with the additional benefit of Bluetooth streaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB | Battery: Rechargeable | Streaming: Bluetooth
Reasons to Buy
Easy to use
Portable
Bluetooth streaming
Reasons to Avoid
A little expensive
Sound is good but not great
If you want something neat and portable to take on your travels (or just into the garden), the Move T4 will serve you well, thanks to a 15-hour rechargeable battery.
This great portable radio has FM and DAB radio, Bluetooth streaming, alarm and clock functions and a headphone output.
It may not go terribly loud, but it’s a whole lot better than just playing from your phone’s speaker, and ideal for talk radio or background tunes.
- RevoSuperConnect
A feature-packed, attractive DAB radio with good sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB, internet radio | Display: OLED | Connectivity: aptX Bluetooth, DLNA | Spotify Connect: Yes
Reasons to Buy
Attractive retro/modern look
Spotify Connect, aptX Bluetooth
Nice to use
Reasons to Avoid
A bit bass-heavy
At this price, the Revo is head and shoulders ahead of other DAB radios. It’s jam-packed with extra features, including Bluetooth, DLNA streaming and Spotify Connect, so you should be able to play music from just about any source.
We like the design; it’s easy to use and the audio quality is impressive, too, with a weighty, grippy sound. You have to pay for those extra features (and the room-filling sound) but if you want a premium radio with a whole lot more on offer than just DAB, this could well be the one for you.
- Pure Digital Highway 300Di
No DAB radio in your car? This could be the answer.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: DAB | Connectivity: 3.5mm aux in, iPhone connectivity
Reasons to Buy
Pretty neat
Easy to use
Sounds crisp and clear
Reasons to Avoid
Needs professional installation
Also needs dedicated aerial
Most new cars now come with DAB radio fitted as standard, but if you have an older model you may be stuck with FM/AM. So here’s a simple solution from Pure. As aftermarket in-car DAB solutions go, this is a fine option, and it’s simple enough for almost anyone to use. There are aux and USB inputs, too, so you can connect an iPod or smartphone.
And how does it all sound? Well, that will depend massively on the quality of the amplifier and speakers already built into your car, but having experimented with three different models we can say that the Highway delivers clear, crisp and neutrally balanced sound. A good in-car DAB option.
- Ruark Audio R2 Mk3
A gorgeous looking, multi-talented system that sounds superb.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB, internet radio | Display: OLED | Connectivity: aptX Bluetooth, DLNA, 3.5mm, analogue inputs | Spotify Connect: Yes
Reasons to Buy
Excellent sound quality
Stunning build and design
Extensive streaming features
Reasons to Avoid
Nothing of note
The Ruark R2 Mk3 is a gorgeous looking system packed with streaming features that delivers an effortlessly musical and richly detailed performance.
It’s much more of a complete music system than ‘just’ a DAB radio – a viable option if you want something more substantial. Sonically it sounds big, spacious, detailed and dynamic; a truly hi-fi sound.
There are a whole wealth of features here, including the ability to form a multi-room music system with other Ruark devices. If you want a serious radio system, this might just be it.
- Geneva Touring S+
A desirable DAB radio with retro styling and Bluetooth connectivity.
SPECIFICATIONS
Radio: FM, DAB | Display: Yes | Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm | Spotify Connect: No | Battery life: 20 hours
Reasons to Buy
Endearing looks
Solid build
Impressive power and scale
Reasons to Avoid
Not the best display
Disappointing DAB interface
The Geneva Touring S+ is a classy-looking DAB radio. Clad in aluminium and a faux-leather material, its buttons and volume knob feel great, while that big dial on top of the radio gives a satisfying clunk when you switch it on. It’s practical too: the aerial is telescopic and its built-in battery provides around 20 hours of juice from a single charge.
One area that needs a little work is DAB reception. It scans and find stations, but it’s limited to showing just 99, which means some bigger stations can be missed off the list.
Sonically, the Touring S+ is solid and weighty and its tone is pleasing. It also sounds surprisingly composed at higher volumes, which isn’t always the case with portable radios.