Features
There is a huge range of personal radios available these days and if you're buying one, it's worth taking some time to think about what you want from it. The very cheapest devices may use an analogue tuner, but most these days will have a digital tuner, which can automatically find stations for you. You'll be able to see where you are via a digital display and many will allow you to preset your favourite stations - very useful, especially if you're on the move and don't have time to faff about searching the airwaves for your favourite station.
An additional aerial can also come in handy, especially if you're likely to be moving out of urban areas while you're listening, but they can be awkward and bulky, so don't bother unless you think you're likely to need it.
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| Roberts Gemini DAB: Click for bigger pic
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Style
There are many stylish models available, from brushed-chrome hi-tech futuristic devices to stylish retro designs. As with all things portable, size is at a premium, and if you want something smaller, and lighter, you'll generally have to pay for it. Prices can start around the £5 mark though you could pay upwards of £60 for plain radio. DAB versions will cost considerably more, starting around the £100 mark.
Wavebands
Virtually all portable radios use the FM (frequency modulation) waveband. For many, that's all they use and if it's music you're after that's probably all you'll need. But remember that there can be a wealth of local and international programming on other wavebands, MW (medium wave), LW (long wave) and of course new-fangled DAB (digital audio band).
Sound
Some portable radios may offer better reception and sound quality than others, but don't forget that much of this may be down to the headphones you're using. The headphones that come supplied are rarely of the best quality, so if you have a favourite pair, bring them with you when you buy to check that they're compatible with the radio you want.
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| Sony's SRF-M95S
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Power source
Most portable radios will run on standard alkaline batteries and the size of the radio is often dependent on the amount of batteries it can accommodate. For portables of course, size is key, and it can be worth considering a radio with a rechargeable battery. They won't last as long between charges as standard batteries, but it will save you shelling out on new batteries from time to time.
There are a few solar-powered models available (HR-1's radio headset, £40, a set of headphones with built-in radio, for example, which claims 18 hours of listening when fully charged) but they're still something of a novelty.
Convergence
Modern technology and manufacturing techniques mean that radios can be inserted into almost anything. Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia for instance is now routinely including an FM receiver in many of its phones. It incorporates automatic tuning and around 20 presets, with its aerial housed in the supplied stereo headphones.
MP3 players are an obvious choice for convergence, such as the Rio Chiba (£140), though if you also want to record from the radio you'll need something like the Radio YourWay (£140), so far the only pocket FM radio/MP3 player that allows you to set a record time so you can play back radio stations at a more convenient time.
Good examples
Roberts Gemini 1 £200
Roberts' latest promises to beat virtually all other pocket DAB radios on everything but price. And size - but then it is very well specced. Like all DAB radios it automatically searches for stations and lists them alphabetically on its LCD screen. It includes an aerial (it's a popular misconception that DAB always offers perfect sound quality - it doesn't, though it's less susceptible to interference than analogue wavebands). The aerial can also be used for the Gemini 1's FM tuner (it has MW and LW too) if you're completely out of DAB reception. It has bass and treble tone controls, 24 station presets, a digital recorder with SD card slot and a rewind button that allows you to go back to the beginning of a song and begin recording from there. Clever.
Sony SRF-M95S £50
This diminutive little number ain't cheap, but you're paying for style and size (lots of the former, little of the latter). At just 85x32x28mm and 30g it comes with a tie clip and holds up to 20 presets for its FM and MW bands. You can find stations automatically using the digital tuner or search manually using the jog dial. It runs on a single AAA battery, which helps keep the size down, but will only offer around two days of continuous use.
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| Phillips' AE6775
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Philips AE6775 £30
Cheap, but generally cheerful, Philips' diminutive (78x80x18mm, 70g) FM/MW radio has a digital tuner which can save ten preset stations and its bass boost facility, while crude, can come in handy for dance stations. It comes with a winder for the headphone wires. Did we mention it was diminutive?
