While there’s no confirmed date when FM radio will go the way of the dodo and analogue TV, UK radio increasingly means DAB. Digital audio broadcasting has matured nicely, offering a wider range of stations and great sound quality across most of the UK. What’s more, you don’t have to suffer the interference that plagues FM radios. With DAB radio, a poor signal means you won’t be able to receive some stations, but as long as reception remains above the required level, you’ll still get flawless sound.
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How to buy the best DAB radio for you
While DAB used to come with a high price of entry, you can now pick up a simple, mono DAB radio for well under £50. A higher spend will get you more luxurious materials, a larger speaker, a more powerful amplifier, stereo and more features, but you don’t have to spend more than £200 unless you’re looking for something that’s less a radio than an all-in music system with DAB built in.
Is DAB available in my area?
DAB reception now stretches across most of the UK, covering 97% of the UK population. If you want to check whether it’s available in your area – and which stations you’ll receive – there’s a simple postcode checker at GetDigitalRadio. In the event that you’re not covered, or your station selection is poor, you could opt for an internet radio station instead. This streams radio stations from the internet by connecting through your household Wi-Fi network. This is great, but it might restrict where you can listen. DAB, in case you’re wondering, uses a broadcast DAB signal, so it’ll work in places where Wi-Fi isn’t available.
How good is the sound?
One of the most confusing things about DAB is that there are actually two standards in play: vanilla DAB and the newer DAB+. Most UK stations broadcast over the older DAB standard which uses the dated MP2 codec. In a bid to cram more stations on a single multiplex and keep costs down, they also tend to use low bit-rates in their broadcasts. The result? DAB doesn’t necessarily sound that amazing and can even be inferior to the more old-fashioned FM. Don’t get us wrong: a good DAB radio makes the most of every station, bringing talk shows and music to life, but if you’re expecting Hi-Fi quality audio, you may feel mildly disappointed.
DAB+ is supported by most newer radios – it’s a requirement for the green digital tick mark – and allows broadcasters to use the more efficient HE-AAC v2 audio codec, providing space for more stations without the same compromises on sound quality. The only problem is that the government has ruled out a switchover to DAB+, and only a handful of stations are broadcast in the format. If you’re hoping to listen to Radio 6 Music, Classic FM or Absolute Radio with CD quality sound, you’re sadly out of luck.
The best DAB radios make up for this by designing radios tuned to hide the weaknesses of DAB (chiefly, thinness of sound and a lack of mid-range warmth) and focus on the good points; clarity and solid bass. Carefully selected speakers, different cabinet designs, EQ and loudness settings, passive radiators and bass ports can all help.
What other features should I look for?
DAB radios usually have buttons or a dial to quickly scroll through and select a station, but nearly all will also allow you to assign your favourite stations to a preset button. Some also have features that allow you to pause and even rewind live radio so that if you’ve missed the start of a programme or have to answer the door in the middle of a song, you don’t lose out.
Otherwise, the best bonus feature is extra connectivity. Headphone sockets are standard, but some DAB radios have an analogue line-in for connecting a smartphone or Amazon Echo as a source. Better still, a growing number include Bluetooth connectivity, while a few cram in Wi-Fi to function as an internet radio, too. Some DAB radios work better as Bluetooth speakers than others, but it’s definitely a handy option if you’d rather drop the DJ and listen to your own playlists for a change.
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The best DAB radios you can buy in 2018
Azatom Sonance T1: The best budget DAB radio
Price:£29 | Buy now from Amazon
It’s not exactly the last word in looks or sound quality, but if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful DAB radio you won’t do much better than the Sonance T1. With a dual alarm, adjustable screen brightness and a snooze function it’ll work as a bedside radio, but there’s just enough power to work in the kitchen – and the rechargeable battery means it’s portable as well. It’s even got a USB port to charge your phone, though you can’t use this to play music.
You’ll have to live without mod-cons like Bluetooth, but the Sonance T1 is easy to use with 60 presets, and the sound quality is very good considering the diminutive size and price tag. And if you don’t like boring black, it also comes in a choice of three bright colours.
Key specs – Output: 3W; Display: clock with 2-line LCD; Bluetooth: no; Connections: headphone, USB (charging only); Batteries: 1200mAh rechargeable; Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 44mm
John Lewis Spectrum Duo II: The best affordable and portable DAB radio
Price:£70 | Buy now from John Lewis
John Lewis’s own-brand radios have earned a reputation for good value, though there have been some issues with reliability along the way. The Spectrum Duo II is the pick of the bunch, giving you DAB, DAB+ and FM radio along with Bluetooth streaming in a surprisingly stylish unit with soft-touch rubber finish and a choice of four colours. The Duo II improves on the old Duo with a colour TFT screen that gives you a wealth of station and track detail, plus easy Bluetooth connection using NFC.
It’s very easy to use, with simple knobs for station and volume and 10 DAB presets available. The worst thing you can say about this radio is that, while very clear especially with voices, the sound is a little light on bass and somewhat thin. All in all, though, it’s another great, affordable DAB radio that’s easy to recommend.
Key specs – Output: 3W; Display: 2.8in colour TFT; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in; Batteries: 4x Type C; Dimensions: 240 x 150 x 70mm
Pure Evoke H3: The best DAB radio under £100
Price:£100 | Buy now from Amazon
Push your budget up to the £100 mark and you get a whole other class of DAB radio. The Pure Evoke H3 is a lovely example, with a choice of oak and walnut cabinets in a compact bookshelf format that’ll fit as well in the kitchen or bedroom as the lounge. It’s easy to tune, switch sources and flick between stations, thanks to the clear 2.8in colour screen and a dual-mode dial that scrolls through menus and changes levels.
There are four buttons for up to 40 presets and the H3 has two alarms plus a handy kitchen timer feature; ideal for those inclined to burn the dinner. Pure has done some clever audio tuning here to make the best of DAB and DAB+, and the Evoke H3 has a really crisp and lively presentation that’s superb on talk radio and great for rock, pop, classical and jazz. Switch to Bluetooth or an Amazon Echo connected by the 3.5in line-in, and the sound lacks a little warmth and weight, but this is arguably – pound for pound – the best-value DAB radio in town.
Key specs – Output: 6W; Display: 2.8in colour TFT; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in; Batteries: Optional ChargePak B1 Dimensions: 115 x 110 x 180mm
Pure Evoke H3 Portable DAB/DAB+/FM Radio with Bluetooth, Dual Alarms and Full Colour Display - Oak
Roberts Revival RD70: The most stylish portable DAB radio
Price:£180 | Buy now from Amazon
Like vintage style and old-fashioned class? The Revival RD70 combines the best of 1950s style and modern features, hiding a colour TFT screen amongst the old-school knobs and buttons at the top, while cramming in DAB, DAB+ and Bluetooth. The two push-to-click knobs – one handling volume and the other handling channel and menu selections - make everything intuitive, and you have to love the small touches like the custom display themes you can use to match your radio’s finish.
The display even shows station or album art. The big surprise here, though, is that the sound is so warm and punchy, though it takes on a slightly boxy tone as you push the volume up. It’s not quite as brilliant as a Bluetooth speaker, where it goes slightly woolly with a soft high-end, but it’s nigh-impossible not to love this blast from the past.
Key specs – Output: n/s; Display: 2.4in colour TFT; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in; Batteries: 4x AA; Dimensions: 252 x 160 x 104mm
Pure Evoke H6: The best DAB radio under £200
Price: £170 | Buy now from Amazon
The Evoke H6 is a step up from the H3, giving you double the power, double the knobs and double the speakers, while not quite doubling the price. Much as we like the H3’s dual-mode control dial, the H6’s two silver knobs make volume adjustments and station selection even easier, and the H6 has six preset buttons for flicking between the 40 DAB and FM presets. The H6 also earns brownie points for the way you can snooze the alarm by touching the handle on the top, and it has the same alarm and kitchen timer functions as its baby brother.
Is sound quality doubled? Not quite, but given that the H3 already sounded good, it’s pretty stellar. You still get excellent clarity and a lot of energy, but the tone has a bit more warmth and presence – which helps it work slightly better as a Bluetooth speaker too. If you can afford it, the H6 is worth the extra.
Key specs – Output: 6W; Display: 2.8in colour TFT; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in, micro-USB (software updates only); Batteries: Optional ChargePak F1; Dimensions: 305 x 128 x 185mm
Roberts Radio Stream 94i: The most versatile DAB radio
Price:£190 | Buy now from Amazon
DAB is great in good signal areas, but if you live somewhere with poor signal strength you could be missing out on a lot of the best stations. The Roberts Stream 94i gets around this by incorporating Internet radio streaming too, giving you the choice of DAB and DAB+ when you’re out of WiFi range and Internet radio in the house. It also features Bluetooth and Spotify Connect. Sure, the 1.7Kg Stream 94i is a little heavier than most portable radios, and you’ll need to pay £40 more for a rechargeable battery pack that really should be included, but it’s still the most versatile DAB radio around.
Like the Revival RD70, it’s easy to use, and it sounds even better, with two drivers at the front and a bass unit at the rear delivering beefy, warm lows and mids and crystal-clear highs. While it was outperformed in side-to-side tests by a Sonos Play 1, it’s one of the few DAB radios that can really double as a streaming speaker.
Key specs – Output: Not stated; Display: 3in colour TFT; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in. Ethernet, USB; Batteries: no; Dimensions: 162 x 25 x 163mm
Roberts Stream94i DAB+/DAB/FM Internet Radio with Spotify Connect and Added Bluetooth - Black/Wood
Ruark Audio R1 Mk III: The best luxury bookshelf DAB radio
Price:£209 | Buy now from Amazon
Ruark Audio’s DAB radios have earned a reputation for elegant design and exceptional audio, and the R1 Mk III gives you plenty of evidence to back this up. It’s a gorgeous-looking radio, finished in a walnut veneer or a choice of black and white lacquers, making most rival models look cheap by comparison. Ruark has also nailed ease of use, with a dial at the top used to select stations or settings and make adjustments, surrounded by a selection of buttons for switching between presets and sources or calling up the menus.
The OLED screen might seem a bit minimalist, but it’s clear and easy to read, while the USB port for charging smartphones and the analogue line-in make it a useful addition to the bedside table or the lounge (we’ve been running an Amazon Echo through the R1 Mk III for the last week). The best reason of all to pony up the dough, however, is the sound. It’s crisp, open and incredibly detailed, but also smooth and controlled in the mid-range. It hasn’t quite got the volume or depth of, say, the Sonos Play 1, but it still works brilliantly as a Bluetooth speaker, particularly with jazz and classical. It’s a luxury radio, but you’re paying for more than just the brand.
Key specs – Output: 9W; Display: 2-line OLED with clock; Bluetooth: yes; Connections: headphone, line-in, USB (charging only); Batteries: optional Backpack II; Dimensions: 130 x 135 x 170mm
