Digital radios: How to buy
Sound quality – Listen In
Ideally you should listen to a 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 radio to this station, but also try out some different speech stations to hear how the radio reproduces different types of voices.
Likewise if you buy online you may save money but you're not going to get a chance to check out the model before you buy. If you do want to buy online then it’s worth trying to establish if you like the sound of a radio first by listening to your model in a shop.
Having said this it’s often very difficult to listen to a 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.
Tabletop Models
Mono or stereo?
Radios with 2 speakers give stereo sound
Several of our Best Buys do not have stereo sound. While they scored high marks with our listening panel this type of radio will not suit everyone – particularly if you’re planning to position your radio in a large room like a lounge.
Many mono 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.
Screen size and contrast
If your sight isn’t what it used to be, spend some time checking out the display that your potential purchase has. Look for a bright display with a good contrast between the background colour and the digits and letters.
Also look for 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.
Portability
Digital radios vary in size, shape and weight but if you’re looking for a model 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.
If you fancy taking your radio outside from time to time then a battery powered model is essential. Nearly all of the products we’ve tested can be battery powered.
DAB radios are quite power hungry so it’s best to invest in a set of rechargeable batteries for your machine.
The manufacturer Pure has developed an alternative rechargeable battery pack, known as a Charge PAK. The Charge PAK can stay in your 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 radio.