In the UK, nine out of ten people listen to the radio at some point every single day. In light of our continued love-affair with the radio, Rob Waugh selects the ten hottest sets on the market, all of them combining stylish designs with up to the minute technology
Como Audio Amico
£449
Como Audio’s gorgeous wooden radios brighten up any room – but this tough unit is built to travel as well, with a real teak veneer for weather-proofing, and a bass port that doubles as a carry handle. As well as DAB, FM, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect it has multi-room functions (if you buy more Como Audio gear, that is).
Como Audio’s gorgeous wooden radios brighten up any room – but this tough unit is built to travel as well
Ruark R7 MK3
£2,300
This fancy-looking reinvention of the classic radiogram does everything, plus you can put plant pots, ornaments and cups of tea on top. There’s a DAB aerial built in, and it also offers Spotify Connect, multi-room playback, Bluetooth and internet radio. And if that somehow isn’t enough for you, there’s even a CD player built in (sadly, all too rare these days).
This fancy-looking reinvention of the classic radiogram does everything, plus you can put plant pots, ornaments and cups of tea on top
Pure Highway 600
£120
No DAB radio in your car? Say hello to dozens of new stations with this add-on DAB unit that connects to your existing stereo either via an aux-in cable or by transmitting over an unused FM frequency. It also offers Bluetooth for hands-free calling, or to play music from Spotify or other smartphone and tablet apps.
No DAB radio in your car? Say hello to dozens of new stations with this add-on DAB unit that connects to your existing stereo
Sonoro Stream
£219
A waterproof remote makes this radio a perfect kitchen companion. It offers wi-fi, DAB and Spotify Connect, and it sounds remarkably big even if it’s perched on top of a cabinet, with impressively muscular bass.
A waterproof remote makes this radio a perfect kitchen companion. It offers wi-fi, DAB and Spotify Connect, and it sounds remarkably big
Roberts Stream 94i
£200
This radio makes listening simple, whether it’s via DAB radio or the murkier waters of 10,000 internet radio stations. You can control everything via the radio’s main dial, and it offers pretty much every imaginable way to transmit music from a phone to a speaker, from Bluetooth to Spotify Connect.
This radio makes listening simple, whether it’s via DAB radio or the murkier waters of 10,000 internet radio stations
VQ Susie q
£299
Radios don’t come much more retro-styled than VQ’s wood-or leather-clad Susie Q DAB radio – but under the Fifties-styling exterior there’s an impressive arsenal of technology, from Undok multi-room functions to Bluetooth, internet radio and Spotify Connect. There’s even a USB port to charge your phone.
Radios don’t come much more retro-styled than VQ’s wood-or leather-clad Susie Q DAB radio – but under the Fifties-styling exterior
Audio+ The+ Radio DAB+ Stereo
£300
This set is an affordable way to get stereo sound (or you can pay £225 for a mono version) and it’s currently 50 per cent off at henleyaudio.co.uk. It has Bluetooth for easy pairing with any music app, and in a neat touch, the remote sticks to the unit using magnets.
This set is an affordable way to get stereo sound. It has Bluetooth for easy pairing with any music app
JBL tuner
£90
This cheapie boombox-style DAB portable offers a lot of punch per pound, with Bluetooth, DAB and FM, and a built-in rechargeable battery offering up to eight hours playback. Five presets make it easy to find your favourite stations without too much knob-twiddling.
This cheapie boombox-style DAB portable offers a lot of punch per pound, with Bluetooth, DAB and FM, and a built-in rechargeable battery offering up to eight hours playback
Pure Siesta Charge
£130
We might live in an era of annoying bleepy smartphone alarms, but you can still set the clock back to the Eighties with a bedside DAB radio. This hi-tech new bedside alarm also offers Bluetooth for easy music playback – and a wireless charging pad so you can top up newer smartphones by plonking them on top.
We might live in an era of annoying bleepy smartphone alarms, but you can still set the clock back to the Eighties with a bedside DAB radio
Geneva Labs Touring S
£142
This gorgeous-looking portable is one of the few that doesn’t ape kitschy Fifties style, with a seriously desirable hand-milled aluminium finish. It offers DAB, FM and Bluetooth, and it’s ideal for travel as you’ll get up to 20 hours off one battery charge, and it’s small enough that you can slip it into a shoulder bag.
This gorgeous-looking portable is one of the few that doesn’t ape kitschy Fifties style, with a seriously desirable hand-milled aluminium finish