Group test: DAB radios

Overview: Price: £230 Website: www.tivoliaudio.com Size: HxWxD: 11x21x13cm Presets: 5 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz, AM Speakers: Mono Outputs: Headphone, record, subwoofer, right speaker Display: LCD backlit Power: Mains or 12VDC Weight: 2.3kg Plus points: Sound quality is unrivalled, extremely well made, good connectivity options Minus points: Horribly expensive, styling may not suit everyone's tastes

Tivoli Model DAB

With its sumptuous walnut panelling (beige finish is also available) and audaciously over-sized 5:1 tuning dial, the Model DAB has directly inherited the retro-chic design of Tivoli's older FM portable radios. And although the appearance is a matter of taste, we can't help loving its 1950s coffee cream guise. Tivoli's trademark build quality is present here too, with the unit being satisfyingly heavy and solidly put together. Despite the Model DAB being extremely compact (one of the smallest in the group), Tivoli has managed to squeeze in an FM/AM tuner (hence the big dial) as well as DAB compatibility. In addition to five presets for your favourite DAB stations, you also get an alarm clock and snooze function, making this a perfect bedside companion.

A trip round the back of the unit reveals a host of useful options too, including an input for external devices such as an MP3 player and an output for recording your favourite radio programmes. It's only got the one inbuilt speaker, but thankfully you are able to upgrade to stereo sound with the option of adding another Tivoli speaker as well as a subwoofer. Even with just the one though, sound quality is exemplary, remaining full, warm and well balanced with a surprising amount of bass on offer (so the lack of treble or bass controls aren't missed).

Although the volume isn't massively powerful, it'll be plenty for the kitchen or the bedroom, and even when the unit is cranked up to full blast the sound stays together admirably and remains crystal clear. The ice blue LCD display is just as crisp and is highly responsive to the DAB controls, which are rather more modestly sized than the FM dial. So are there any drawbacks? Well, the big sticking point (and it is a big one) is the price being a whopping £230, making it by far the most expensive radio in the group.

But if you're flush enough to meet this extortionate asking price then you'll find the Model DAB to be a real class act in every respect and in terms of audio performance, it's the star of the group. However, if it's a good value, no frills device you're after, you'll clearly need to look elsewhere.

Overview: Price: £120 Website: www.puredigital.com Size: HxWxD: 17.5x21x11cm Presets: 10 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz Speakers: Mono Outputs: Headphone, stereo, digital, USB, aux speaker Display: LCD backlit Power: Mains only Weight: 1.5kg Plus points: Well built, extremely user friendly, excellent sound quality Minus points: No on-board FM tuner

Pure Sonus-1XT

Based on its best-selling Evoke-1XT, Pure's Sonus-1XT is another compact unit boasting an IKEA-friendly maple and brushed aluminium build. It's a tried and trusted look that perfectly poises the Sonus between retro and modern. However, this model sports a couple of exciting extras unique to Pure's DAB range - the main one being its 'iVox' technology that tells you the time, what station you're on and what alarms you've got set - all via a human(ish) sounding male or female voice. The other useful innovation is the touch-sensitive handle, where with one gentle tap (or hard whack if the radio has just woken you out of your sleep) you can put the alarm onto snooze mode for a few extra winks.

Another smaller, but nonetheless welcome addition is the USB port for connecting to a PC and downloading the latest software upgrades. One main omission is the lack of an FM tuner but nevertheless the Sonus boasts an impressive array of other features - space for ten preset stations, a line-out socket, digital out, a headphone socket and the option to add an extra speaker. But even with the one speaker it's capable of going extremely loud - and unless you really want stereo sound, the volume should suffice for most small to moderately sized rooms.

It's also surprising just how full and rounded the sound is, and even at high volumes it remains balanced neatly so as to be neither too bassy nor too shrill. The interface is similarly impressive and a breeze to get to grips with, and the small blue LCD display is bold and clear. All in all, the layout makes it ideal for those bleary-eyed glances towards the bedside table.

But although the Sonus's features clearly lend it towards use in the bedroom, its excellent sound quality and seamless design means it'll be a welcome addition to any room in the home. At £120 it offers good value, but if you don't think you'll find the voice feedback useful, then for 20 quid less you could always consider the Evoke.

Overview: Price: £140 Website: www.robertsradio.co.uk Size: HxWxD: 22.5x30x11cm Presets: 2 x 5 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz Speakers: Stereo Outputs: Headphone, line Display: LCD backlit Power: Mains or 6x LR14 (C size) batteries Weight: 1.34kg Plus points: User-friendly, Pauseplus feature is excellent Minus points: Sound breaks up at high volumes

It feels like Roberts has been bashing out quality analogue radios almost since the technology was invented, so you'd assume it would have no problems when it comes to creating one geared towards digital broadcasts. The RD-11 is one of its higher end products in an extensive range of retro-looking DAB portables, and straight out of the box it exudes class - with twin speakers set into a classic looking wood and fabric frame, it has all the hallmarks of a quality product. And although the fascia may be a little traditional, the technology inside certainly isn't, as the RD-11's trump card is its impressive 'Pauseplus' function, giving you the option to pause a station for up to 35 minutes and then play it back - very handy if you have to dash off somewhere in the middle of your favourite programme.

Other than this, the RD-11 has a standard set of features including ten preset stations (five FM, five DAB), a headphone socket and a line out for recording on to another device. There's also the option to run it off batteries rather than the mains - useful if you're looking for some sounds in the bathroom or on the move. Furthermore, the orange LED display is large and much easier to read than some other radios here although as it's mounted on the top of the unit this may not make for convenient bedside viewing.

However, things are more muddled when it comes to sound quality. Although the volume is mighty loud (outperforming nearly all others in this respect) and reception is generally strong for DAB and FM, the sound does have a tendency to break up at high volumes and there is a distinct lack of bass on offer. To tweak matters there's bass and treble controls, but they don't altogether solve this rather nagging problem.

Sure, the RD-11 is sturdy, easy to operate and features that smart Pauseplus feature, but the sound at high volumes does let it down a little. At 140 quid it's not that cheap either, but if it's that vintage Roberts look you're after, there are more affordable models in its range that'll do the job.

Overview: Price: £150 Website: www.sony.co.uk Size: HxWxD: 15x32x15cm Presets: 4 x 10 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz, MW, LW Speakers: Stereo Outputs: Headphone, line, optical, Display: LCD backlit 2x20 character display Power: Mains only Weight: 1.34kg Plus points: Lovely design, host of frequency ranges, remote control Minus points: Operation is a little slow, sound quality is disappointing

Sony XDR-S1

In a landscape teeming with retro designed portables, Sony's XDR-S1 is a refreshingly modern sight with its sleek aluminium contours and not a single rotary dial to be found anywhere. It's quite large compared to others in the group but also the only one to offer a remote control, which like the unit as a whole, is built to Sony's usual imperious standards. Impressively, the XDR-S1 not only offers DAB reception but FM, MW and LW, meaning it could be a suitable direct replacement for any trusty old three-band tuner you might have knocking around in the home.

There's also a host of handy functions on the unit including ten preset stations for each frequency range (so that's 40 in total), a timer standby and a sleep function. The LED display is pretty good too - although it's not that bright, the screen is satisfyingly large. Nestling in the plastic casing round the back are a welcome set of features including line in, line out and digital out sockets.

So far so good, but when it comes to operating the player things aren't quite so rosy. Firstly, the buttons are a bit fiddly and navigating with them feels a little slow and unresponsive. Furthermore, tuning and searching for stations takes longer that it should, and once you finally reach your destination the reception is not particularly strong. Indeed, sound quality in general is a surprising problem - although it will go to impressively loud volumes (enough to fill almost any room), there's a lack of definition to the bass that's particularly noticeable during songs, and higher frequencies are a little harsh. That said however, the XDR-S1 boasts the most impressive sound tweaking options of the group and these can remedy the situation - sometimes.

A bit of a mixed bag then - there's no doubt it looks the business and it's got all the functions and connectivity options you could hope for, but if you've got £150 to spend then there are others in the group that can offer superior usability and audio performance.

Overview: Price: £100 Website: www.panasonic.co.uk Size: HxWxD: 16.5x26x7.5cm Presets: 2 x 10 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz Speakers: Stereo Outputs: Headphone, line Display: LCD backlit 2 x 20 character display Power: Mains or 6 x LR14 (C size) batteries Weight: 1kg Plus points: User-friendly, competitively priced Minus points: Sound is average, suspect build quality

Panasonic RF-D1

As with so many manufacturers, Panasonic appears to have delved into the past for design inspiration - the RF-D1's chrome frontage and circular volume/tuning dials are reminiscent of something you might have seen on the shelves of Dixons circa 1978. However, on our review model these dials had a worrying tendency to fall off, suggesting the build quality isn't quite cutting edge either. However, it is an extremely light unit and the fact that it'll work off batteries as well as the mains makes the RF-D1 a highly portable proposition. For your money you'll get FM reception as well as DAB (with room for ten preset stations on each frequency) and although features are on the thin side compared to others in the group, you still get a sleep timer function plus the standard headphones socket and line out options.

Once up and running, the LCD screen omits a rather lovely blue glow and the unit will auto tune in a matter of seconds. Reception is strong and clear for both DAB and FM, although sound quality isn't quite as impressive, being generally on the tinny side, and lacking a bit of fullness, especially with music. However, it's far from disastrous with the sound remaining admirably crisp and clear until it's cranked up to really high volumes.

Incidentally, there is an EQ button with presets to play with but we found that the standard 'XBS' setting consistently yielded the best results for both music and voice broadcasts. In terms of performance, its most clear-cut virtue is usability - the RF-D1 is a breeze to get to grips with and tuning is speedy and gratifyingly responsive. In this respect the radio is one of the group's top performers.

Granted, it's not truly spectacular in its looks or performance but it'll get the job done nonetheless. And amidst a group of radios loaded with attention-grabbing extras, the simplicity of the RF-D1 may appeal, as might the sub-£100 price tag.

Overview: Price: £100 Website: www.acousticsolutions.net Size: HxWxD: 18x24x8cm Presets: 2 x 6 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz Speakers: Stereo Outputs: Headphone, line Display: LCD backlit 2 x 16 character display Power: Mains, 6 x LR14 (C size) batteries or 9V DC Weight: 2kg Plus points: Well designed, easy to operate, rewind function is useful Minus points: Extreme styling might not suit

Acoustic Solutions Portal 3

Designer IDEO has clearly played the retro card for Acoustic Solutions' Portal 3, as its smooth cream and brown livery is more 1950s Habitat catalogue than 21st century chic (although there is a more contemporary looking red version available). Nevertheless, the minimalist façade is extremely striking and has clearly served the company well - this radio is almost identical to its successful Portal 2 predecessor in both appearance and functions. Again there's FM reception as well as DAB with room for six presets on each and the only difference with this new model is the addition of a handy rewind function whereby you can pause and then listen back to up to five minutes of DAB broadcasts (not quite up there with Robert's offering of 35 minutes, but useful nonetheless).

Neatly hidden away underneath a rubber flap on the side is a headphones socket, a line out for connecting to an external amplifier, and on the bottom of the unit there's space to put batteries in if a mains connection isn't possible. Once tuned in, the Portal 3 shows there's some substance to match the style. The first thing to impress is the extremely nippy auto tune that gets DAB reception up and running in no time. Furthermore, there's a neat rotary dial that lets you browse through stations with ease, and with a simple press, selects the desired one.

The sound isn't half bad either, with a healthy amount of presence and clarity, which is especially noticeable with DAB broadcasts and reception is strong for both DAB and FM. In an interesting innovation the unit not only can be sat upright, but also on its front with the handle tucking in underneath to provide support. Although this means it's convenient for bedside viewing (with the LCD display now facing outwards rather than upwards), when sat horizontally like this the sound does muffle a little as the speaker faces the floor.

The Portal 3 offers a great deal for the modest asking price and although there are a couple of others that offer ever so slightly higher sound quality, you'll have to pay more than £100. So if the style will suit your surroundings then this is the one to go for.

Overview: Price: £80 Website: www.intempodigital.com Size: HxWxD: 15.5x25x10cm Presets: 2 x 4 Frequency ranges: Band III DAB 174-240MHz, FM 87.5-108MHz Speakers: Stereo Outputs: Headphone Display: LCD backlit 2 x 16 character display Power: Mains, 6 x LR14 (C size) batteries or 9V DC Weight: 1.6kg Plus points: Cheap, sound quality is impressive Minus points: Not particularly attractive looking

Intempo KTB-01

Available in a range of sporty colours, Intempo's latest DAB portable is a refreshingly unpretentious gadget. Although rather basic in design and lacking the luxuriousness of its contemporaries, it's nevertheless a sturdy little unit. It'll run off batteries too, which means that although perhaps a little short on designer-lounge panache, the KTB-01 will liven up any room in the home or even add musical spice to your outdoor barbecues.

For the extremely reasonable asking price you get FM and DAB reception (with four presets for each), an alarm, a sleep function and a headphones socket. In terms of features, that's your lot but considering the price we're not going to grumble. The interface is an unfussy affair - there's an easy to reach rotary dial for volume, with all other functions are operated by push-in buttons. It's a system that works fairly well, although scrolling through stations can be a little slow and the unit as a whole doesn't feel as much fun to play with as others in the group.

Nevertheless, when it comes to the all-important sound quality, it's a real surprise package. There's an impressive amount of presence and balance to the sound, and furthermore the low-end manages to have more punch than many far more expensive radios in the group. Furthermore, it can be cranked up to the max and everything holds together with ease. Very occasionally the signal would abruptly cut out and then come back in after a few moments, which was worrying, although generally signal strength is strong.

Okay, so looks-wise it's not the biggest head-turner and the controls are a little basic, but for the money the KTB-01 really pulls out the stops in terms of performance. The sound leaves more fashionable (and expensive) radios in the shade, and overall it's a strong contender.