![]() ![]() I get the feeling that the iStream 3 is the type of radio which will keep evolving as it ages and that fills me with excitement for its future. So the Revival iStream 3 is effectively a wireless speaker as well as a digital radio. While we're talking about streaming, you can send music from your smartphone (which can also control those streaming apps I mentioned) over Bluetooth. You can also stream internet radio, which is a useful function if your DAB signal is poor. Hook it up to wifi and you can use a variety of streaming apps: Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal. It can also connect to the internet, and that's where the iStream 3 reveals a variety of new tricks. As I mentioned, this is a radio built for 2019, so it can do more than just pick up a radio signal. That combination, of clarity and power, was unsurpassed by the other radios I tested, and a major reason why I chose this one as my favourite.Īnyway, banging out a radio tune is only half of the magic here. Once you settle on a station and start listening to music, you learn that the iStream 3 is blessed with clean, clear sound, and it can really blast it out at high volume. There’s a satisfying ratchet as you turn them which feels very precise and deliberate. This is probably my one criticism of the product (the display is a bit small to easily use setup menus) but I'm going to forgive it because the knobs you use to navigate it are so good. You can choose up to ten presets to jump back to if you want to be able to find your favourites quickly – although it's worth noting that setting up those presets can be a bit fiddly. Out of the box, the radio scans for DAB radio signals, opening up a portal into a world of hundreds if not thousands of radio stations. Yes, this is very much a 21st Century radio. ![]() There are two old-school knobs, a few press buttons, and a digital screen that displays square 'app' icons much like you see on a smartphone. The radio's control panel is on the top, and it's here where you start to see how Roberts are melding old with new on the Revival iStream 3. ![]() It uses rechargeable batteries, so powering it on the go is straightforward. For my money, put this on your kitchen window and you've got a status symbol to rival that Le Creuset cast iron frying pan on the stovetop.ĭespite the very premium look and feel, Roberts have somehow managed to keep the radio light and easy to move – ideal if you fancy taking it out into the garden while you’re mowing the lawn. That deep blue you can see in the picture (also available in four other colours) is leather it combines perfectly with the gold detailing on the straps, logo, and speaker face. It drips retro charm – a reminder of radio's golden years. Even so, during testing I was genuinely blown away by how good this radio is. Given that this radio proudly bears the royal seals from both the Queen and the Prince of Wales, you’d expect big things. But for a premium quality, stand-and-deliver DAB radio, the company's Revival iStream 3 is as good as you can get. Today, their range is extensive, spanning wireless (there's that word again) speakers and turntables. Roberts are the radio manufacturers to beat, having been making wirelesses (ah, remember when the word wireless didn't refer to internet connections?) since 1932. What we like about it: A retro design and modern tech combine to fantastic effect Here's what I found on my search for the best DAB radio out there, starting with my favourite. When testing the products for this review, I tried them out at home, using them while I did the everyday tasks that the radio accompanies so well – getting ready for work in the morning, cooking at night, cleaning at the weekend. Listening to the radio in your kitchen while washing up has never been easier, or clearer.Īs with most technology products, this is a crowded space and there's a lot of very good devices for sale. The best digital radios today offer top sound quality and slick interfaces – and at a reasonable price point too. According to Ofcom, around 90pc of adults in Britain listen to the radio weekly and the amount of time we spend listening is on the up.Ī big part of that is thanks to the advent of digital radio, which allows for more stations, stronger signal, and less interference. The advent of Spotify, Apple Music, podcasting and the rest was supposed to herald the passing of good old airwave broadcasting – but the statistics tell a very different story. Don't believe what they say: radio is alive and kicking. ![]()
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