Group test: Budget portable DAB radios

Overview Price comparison: Philips AJ5100 More info: Philips Size (HWD): 430x59x299mm Features: DAB/FM tuner (5 presets each), sleep timer, headphones in, mains or battery operated Philips AJ5100 Shunning the retro flavours so popular in the DAB world in favour a modern look with iPod-inspired nav buttons, the AJ5100 is minimal and slick, if a bit plasticky. The white on blue display meanwhile is small but bright enough to read from a distance. The subtly hidden four-way switch does a good job of scrolling through DAB stations, although it's a bit more laboured with FM. Ten presets for DAB and FM should be plenty, although the only other feature to speak of is a sleep timer. However, reception is clear and there's a healthy amount of mids and bass on offer. We would have liked a slightly crisper overall sound though, as higher tones can be muffled. The lack of a line-in for your MP3 player or iPod is a bit of a surprise, but all in all the AJ5100 is a decent - if not class-leading - effort.

Verdict Plus points Clean design, good reception Minus points Short on features, sound isn't top notch

Overview Price comparison: Pure Oasis More info: Pure Size (HWD): 420x79x318mm Features: DAB tuner (5 DAB presets), 3.5mm line-in, headphones in, USB, mains or ChargePAK battery operated (included) Pure Oasis Fully water resistant, the Oasis can be used outdoors as well as being more kitchen and bathroom-proof than most. While pretty heavy for a portable, it's reassuringly rugged and fairly compact, too. Pure's usually exhaustive feature list has been omitted in favour of functionality (there's no FM tuner or clock alarm for instance), but not to worry; tuning is nippy, DAB reception is strong and the large buttons are fat-finger friendly. Even better is the canny inclusion of an internal rechargeable battery (for 15 hours playback) - no more shelling out for a ton of gas-guzzling cells. Sound quality is a cut above the rest and surprisingly full for a mono speaker, with generously punchy tones that go to patio-filling volumes. Topping things off is a handy line-in for your MP3 player or iPod plus a USB port for software updates. The Oasis may hit your wallet harder than others, but it's also the easiest to get along with.

Verdict Plus points Perfect for the outdoors, great sounding, rechargeable battery is really handy Minus points No FM tuner

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