Digital radio reviews: How to buy a digital radio
The Which? digital radio reviews can help you find the best digital radios, but there are other things you should consider before you buy. From portability to how easy the radio to use, here are the essential things you should think about when choosing a digital radio.
Try digital radios before you buy
Ideally you should listen to a digital radio before you buy it, because we all have different tastes when it comes to the type of sound we prefer.
In particular it’s important to try listening to the type of programmes you normally listen to – if you like Radio 4 at home then ask the shop to tune the digital radio to this station, but also try out some different speech stations to hear how the digital radio reproduces different types of voices.
Buying a digital radio online
Likewise if you buy a digital radio online, you may save money, but you're not going to get a chance to listen to the radio before you buy. If you do want to buy online then it’s worth trying to establish if you like the sound of a digital radio first by listening to your model in a shop.
Having said this, it’s often very difficult to listen to a digital radio properly in a busy high street store, so plan your trip carefully – avoiding busy times such as Saturdays – to get the best listening conditions possible.
Digital radios with two speakers give stereo sound
Digital radios – mono or stereo?
Several of our Best Buy digital radios do not have stereo sound. While they scored high marks with our listening panel, this type of digital radio will not suit everyone – particularly if you’re planning to position your radio in a large room like a lounge.
Many mono digital radios can be connected to external speakers in order to convert the sound to stereo, or can be added to a hi-fi system – but check before you buy.
Digital radio screen size and contrast
If your sight isn’t what it used to be, spend some time checking out the display on digital radios. Look for a bright display with a good contrast between the background colour and the digits and letters.
Also look for a digital radio with a screen that’s wide enough to display several words at once – scrolling text can sometimes be a little difficult to read, and the bigger the screen the less of a problem this will be.
Digital radio portability
Tabletop digital radios vary in size, shape and weight, but if you’re looking for a radio to move round your home, try lifting it by the handle in the shop to check for comfort and to make sure it’s not too heavy.
Digital radio batteries
If you fancy taking your digital radio outside from time to time, a battery powered model is essential. Nearly all of the digital radios we’ve tested can be battery powered.
Digital radios are quite power hungry, so it’s best to invest in a set of rechargeable batteries for your machine. Check out the Which? Best Buy digital radios for radios with the best battery life.
Digital radio manufacturer Pure has developed an alternative rechargeable battery pack, known as a Charge PAK. The Charge PAK can stay in your digital radio and be charged from the mains supply – similar to how you charge an iPod.
These battery packs can be expensive, so try to negotiate a discount when you purchase your digital radio.