Go Radio Gaga all over again
Ilove radio. Whether it’s lunchtime chat shows, late night jazz or early morning debate I’m probably tuned in. I’m not alone, and in Ireland more than three million people tune in every day. Radio is changing though. Last year, Denmark switched off FM radio and it’s now a digital-only country. In Ireland we have access to digital, or DAB radio services, as well as tens of thousands of internet radio stations that you can access online.
Roberts is the company that made radios retro again. They have launched a new internet and DAB radio that’s looking to bridge the gap between old and new ways of listening to your favourite crooners or cranks.
The Roberts Stream 94i DAB is a good-looking set. The case is a lovely finished wood and on the front are two large smooth dials for volume and tuning. On the front, there’s a colour screen which displays icons for the set’s various modes as well as more than half a dozen buttons for preset stations and music control. A remote control is included in the box, but I opted to use the free Undok smartphone app that works perfectly with the 94i.
On the back of the Roberts is the power input socket. This is a mains radio, but there is an optional battery pack which would make it truly portable. Also on the back is the antenna for FM radio, ensuring you’ll have good traditional radio reception. There’s also an ethernet socket to connect to your home broadband and a USB input for connection of portable drives.
There are also 3.5mm sockets for headphones and for auxiliary audio in and out if you want to connect the Roberts to a home hi-fi system. That’s plenty of connectivity and means the Roberts is as useful in the living room as it is in the kitchen.
The set-up is easy and once connected to your home wifi you’ll have access to 20,000 internet radio stations. DAB hasn’t proved a ratings winner in Ireland, but it’s available. However, the convenience of FM and internet radio on the same set is a big plus. The omission of a battery option is a miss on this set. It would be ideal for days out or weekends away but a battery pack costs extra. However, that’s one of the few downsides of this impressive radio. Spotify is built in and so is Bluetooth connectivity. The features are comprehensive, but most surprising was the sound quality. It delivers an almost room filling sound with incredibly impressive bass from a small set. This isn’t a feature piece of tech for the living room, but it certainly has its place. It’s great as a kitchen radio, and even has a kitchen timer. Perhaps though, it is ideal for bedroom listening. First, set one of the buzzer or radio alarms for the morning. Then, tune in to a small French jazz station on the internet and drift off to the sounds of a digital radio star.