My trusty Roberts radio has played its last tune and sadly needs to be replaced. In these times where I can not go and browse and try out a suitable replacement i come here asking for recommendations. It must have the following. Good clear sound, DAB+, 3.5mm aux in, memory for saving favourite stations and Bluetooth would be good.
The budget is up to £100
I’d go for smart speaker instead and use radio over Wi-fi. You could get one with a screen if you wanted. e.g. an Echo Show.
Yep DAB is a bit old school
Wifi or Bluetooth speaker and your mobile phone
I've got a Polaroid thing at work which I got from Asda in a panic after my old one died halfway through a test match. Wasn't expecting much but it's great! Does everything you want and was about £35.
Google nest or Alexa.
I'd a similar question recently
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bluetooth-speaker-or-dab-with-bluetooth/
Have decided to stick with the idea of DAB with bluetooth then I can just play radio without needing a phone. Not bought as yet but been looking. Roberts Rambler has DAB, line-in and bluetooth for £88 most places
We've just got a Google Nest for free from Spotify - it's brilliant, just tell it what to play & it doubles up as a kitchen timer.
It's also wall mounted so it doesn't take up any worktop space in our small kitchen.
I know dab is a little dated but a stand alone unit is what I am after so no hassle with connecting phones when just flicking it on to wash up. I will take a look at the recommendations above and the other thread which I must have missed earlier.
I know dab is a little dated but a stand alone unit is what I am after so no hassle with connecting phones when just flicking it on to wash up. I will take a look at the recommendations above and the other thread which I must have missed earlier.
But if you got a smart speaker you have zero hassle once set up - just say 'Alexa or Google or Siri play [radio station, playlist, streaming service]' and it does it.
We have a Sonos One (upgraded from a cheap Echo when we realised how useful it was) and I can just say 'Alexa, play Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd' and it does. When my hands are wet because I am washing up, I can just say 'Alexa, turn it up to 11) and it does.
No faffing with phones or anything.
Dunno maybe it's an accent* thing but no one I've been around attempting to use an Alexa has made it look as slick as you describe it.it usually results in a squaking match of best telephone voices trying to get it to do what the user wants and not what I thinks the user wants
*Scottish. - more so usually Dundonian or aberdonian
I'm with the OP on this - wanted a DAB radio for the shed, I spend enough time with screens and kit so wanted the simple turn on and listen to cricket option.
I got one of these which is £40, works fine and has Bluetooth for occasionally streaming podcasts, no 3.5 jack though.
We just use a Google mini. Much easier when you are busy with food prep or washing up.
I’m with the OP on this – wanted a DAB radio for the shed, I spend enough time with screens and kit so wanted the simple turn on and listen to
cricketR6Music option.
Yup, same here. Plus, and I know I'll have to get used to it at some point when there's no other option, I just have no desire to talk to my household appliances.
We've got a Goodmans Heritage something or other in the kitchen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and 3.5mm aux (which does have a Chromecast audio into it for streaming stuff and linking to the soundbar in the lounge for around-the-house tunes when we want to).
Typical, you ask a question and people prefer to say you’re wanting the wrong thing and suggest stuff you haven’t asked for.
I’d like a similar thing, do not want a smart or Bluetooth speaker myself.
I’ve been looking around and the Roberts stuff seems to be quite expensive, seen a couple of Sony ones which might be good but no way to test them at the moment.
Typical, you ask a question and people prefer to say you’re wanting the wrong thing and suggest stuff you haven’t asked for.
As far as I can see, people are suggesting devices suitable for playing radio stations.
I've got Echos in the house and still use old Pure DAB radios in both garage and workshop. Dust, woodchip, paint, grease, oil have all been chucked on them. Wouldn't want anything with fiddly buttons or screens. Big knob (ooh err!) to push and switch on and turn it to change station. In answer to the OP, I've never had an issue with the Pure DAB radios. Mine don't have the bluetooth but i'm pretty sure they have models that do.
The thing the OP asked for is a JVC RD-D80
Dab+
Bluetooth
3.5mm in
USB
FM
CD
10w Stereo
Sounds great
£80
Typical, you ask a question and people prefer to say you’re wanting the wrong thing and suggest stuff you haven’t asked for.
I’d like a similar thing, do not want a smart or Bluetooth speaker myself.
Yeah, but you do though... 😉
I prefer an actual radio like the op. I use my Bluetooth speaker a lot from my phone at work and it does me head in when someone rings me and I have to hurriedly turn off Bluetooth before answering, else my convo is broadcast to the immediate world (not that it's usually anything interesting mind)
I an not adverse to new tech but all I want is a radio with some up to date features. I don't want to be in range of WiFi or need to connect to some device. This sony one looks good but again I would rather try before I buy
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/dab-radios/xdr-s61d
Brilliant. the responses to the OP are peak STW. 'Sorry OP. I think you have it wrong....this is what you want'!!!
we have the older pure evoke (non-bluetooth). its great. good sound, nice looking.
i dont want a smart speaker in the house at all. dont want amazon and google listening to me all the time! i do use the BBC sounds app though with a portable bluetooth speaker. can be handy....but also nice to just press a button and the radio comes on.....it doesn't interfere with just using the phone too.
I would not have expected it any other way. 😆
Dunno maybe it’s an accent* thing but no one I’ve been around attempting to use an Alexa has made it look as slick as you describe it. It usually results in a squaking match of best telephone voices trying to get it to do what the user wants and not what it thinks the user wants
My only experience of an Alexa is the one some friends have, the above description pretty much sums it up. On that basis, there’s no way I’d want one. If I want the radio on, I’ll turn it on before I start doing whatever, and leave it on. If I want to listen to music from my phone, I’ll stick earphones on. I really can’t see the point in telling a machine to do something that I’m perfectly capable of doing myself.
The only speakers of that nature I’d seriously consider buying are the Apple HomePod or HomePod Mini, because they’re designed from the ground up for sound quality, and they pair up for stereo as soon as a second one is detected, their performance is about as good as it gets, and the smart side of it is about as much use to me as the smart functions on a modern telly; ie not much at all.
