Best DAB Radio 2021 – The Ultimate Guide

The radio has been around for a long time, and rightfully so. Even with the modern age of streaming platforms, more radios are allowing for direct streaming capabilities, allowing radio and radio stations as a whole to live on. Thus, some of you are more than likely interested in a DAB radio.

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radios have been around for quite some time, as they’re a great way to keep up with your favourite radio stations, as well as being speakers for popular streaming platforms today.

Our Award Name Image Check Price
Best Premium Roberts Stream94i DAB + Radio
Best Value Groov-e Paris Portable DAB/FB Digital Radio
Highest Rated Roberts Radio Play10 DAB Radio
Easiest To Use Majority Eversden DAB Radio
Best Overall AZATOM Trinity DAB Radio

Today, practically every car is fitted with a stereo set that often comes with a CD player and radio, while many still listen to FM radios. Still, our use of these portable devices is gradually changing.

Thus, if you’re interested in buying a new radio set, it’s always ideal for you to purchase one with DAB/DAB + capability, as this will future-proof yourself. Also, many stations are moving to DAB soon if they haven’t already.

Nevertheless, let’s take a look at five of the best DAB radios!

1. Roberts Stream94i DAB + Radio – Best Premium

Usually, whenever someone begins their process of finding the best of something, they tend to go with the best premium option, and rightfully so. Thus, we have the Roberts Stream94i DAB and Radio as our best premium option. It’s an excellent radio that features internet capabilities, Spotify connect, and Bluetooth.

 

Right away, you’ll notice the number of options you can select from as you can choose either just the radio, the radio and battery pack, radio and Bluetooth adaptor, or the radio and digital radio. No matter what route you go with, it should work out well for you as it allows you to select from a wide variety of functions.

 

The internet capability allows you to select from over 20,000 internet radio stations, as well as thousands of podcasts, both of which are available across the globe. Feature-wise, it has 120 radio station pre-sets and five easy-access pre-set buttons, allowing you to set your favourite radio stations.

 

Considering Spotify is such a massive streaming platform, it’s incredible how easy it is to connect to Spotify. Rather than worry about finding something on the radio, you can easily connect to Spotify without hassle, allowing you to put on your favourite podcast, playlist, or album.

 

Sound-wise, it has an acoustically tuned wooden cabinet, allowing the sound to be surprisingly full for a radio this size. The only real issue is the remote control for it, as it’s not as easy to use instead of going directly to the radio to edit. Nevertheless, still a great radio, you should highly consider checking out.

Pros

  • Spotify connect.
  • Easy to connect to the internet.
  • Great Bluetooth.
  • Good sound for the size.
  • Exceptionally light and easy to move around.

Cons

  • The remote control isn’t that great.

 

Summary

Although the remote control isn’t the best to use for this kind of radio, it’s an all-around excellent high-quality radio to consider. It features Spotify connection, can connect to the internet, great Bluetooth functionality, good sound, and is very light.

What more could you want?


 

2. Groov-e Paris Portable DAB/FB Digital Radio – Best Value

 

As great as it is to look at the best premium option for getting the best of the best, sometimes it’s more ideal to look at the best value option. With this in mind, we have the Groov-e Paris Portable DAB/FB Digital Radio as the most affordable option to consider.

 

This radio is exceptionally light and compact, allowing you to bring it wherever you want without any issue at hand. The radio itself comes with DAB and FM technology, allowing you to choose between 20 preset stations with auto scan tuning for efficient tuning.

 

For those of you searching for an alarm clock as well, you’re in luck as this radio also has a built-in alarm clock. The alarm clock allows you to set your alarm clock as to when you want it to go off so you can stay organized. Plus, it features a snooze and timer function; how cool is that?

 

The radio also has a 3.5mm headphone input, allowing you to plug your own earphones so you can listen quietly whenever you want. The telescopic antenna is also great as it can enable you to find the perfect signal and instantly grant you the best sound-return for a radio.

 

The design itself looks great and will fit well wherever you hope to put this radio. The only real issue with the radio is the sound quality, as it lacks a bit in that regard since it’s so compact. However, the sound can still get the job done, and it’s challenging to find a better radio at this price.

Pros

  • Has a headphone input.
  • Great telescopic antenna.
  • Has an alarm clock.
  • 20 preset stations.
  • DAB and FM technology.

Cons

  • The sound quality isn’t the greatest.

Summary

Although the sound quality is the greatest for this radio, it’s still extremely portable and compact enough where you should consider it. Plus, it has a headphone input, a tremendous telescopic antenna, an alarm clock, 20 preset stations, and DAB and FM technology.


 

3. Roberts Radio Play10 DAB Radio – Highest Rated

No matter what specific area you’re looking at, we tend to look at reviews for a reason. Thus, it tends to become a must for looking at the highest rated products. With this in mind, we have the Roberts Radio Play10 DAB Radio as one of the best all-around positively reviewed radio.

First of all, this radio has built-in FM and DAB capabilities, allowing you a wide range of stations to check out. The radio station pre-sets work beautifully, as you can access your favourite stations at the touch of a few buttons. Rather than take forever getting to the station you want, a simple button click will get you there instantly.

Portability-wise, it works great as the Play10 is powered by batteries, allowing you to carry your precious music and playlists around with you. On the other hand, if you hope to keep it at a home position, you can power it directly through the main socket, allowing you to have an excellent home radio.

The personal listening experience is a massive benefit as it allows you to take your music elsewhere to listen in peace. Plus, there’s a headphone jack, allowing you to listen quietly wherever you want in case you don’t want to disturb others that are around you.

Lastly, the backlit eight-character starburst display allows you to search and scroll through the menus very easily. The only downside for this unit is its battery life, as it tends to die relatively quickly, even on a full charge. Still, it’s still an excellent radio you should highly consider.

Pros

  • Great headphone jack.
  • Extremely portable and easy to move.
  • Great for home-use.
  • Excellent pre-set capabilities.
  • Built-in FM and DAB capabilities.

Cons

  • Battery life isn’t that great.

 

Summary

Although the battery life could be improved, this is still an excellent radio you should consider. It has a good headphone jack, it is straightforward to move, great for home-use, excellent pre-set capabilities, and built-in FM and DAB capabilities.

What more could you want?


 

 

4. Majority Eversden DAB Radio – Easiest to Use

As great as it is to go with the highest rated or most premium option or any other route, simplicity tends to always be a valuable factor in whatever product someone is looking at. Thus, the Majority Eversden DAB Radio has made it onto our as the easiest to use.

Unlike the other radios on this list, you actually choose between a grey or white radio, which is pretty cool since the more options the person has, the better. Functionality-wise, they both have the ability to go to DAB or FM mode to begin listening to various radio stations.

It’s very easy to set-up and auto-scan, meaning you can begin listening to your favourite stations in the show or on the go within no time. It has 20 slots for preset stations, and also includes a great clock and timer. It’s always nice to see a radio include the bare necessity like a clock and timer.

Build-wise, it has an excellent waterproof rating and has shockproof material, making it one of the most durable radios to select from. It has a great rubber hanging strap, as well as over 15 hours of battery life, allowing you to carry the radio on you on-the-go whenever you want.

The company also has an excellent three-year warranty attached to the radio, allowing you the comfort of knowing you won’t necessarily ruin the radio. The only negative tied to this radio is its display, as it can be challenging to read it clearly. Other than that, it’s still an all-around reliable radio.

Pros

  • Good battery life.
  • Excellent waterproof rating.
  • Shockproof material.
  • Excellent auto-scan functionality.
  • Both DAB and FM capabilities.

Cons

  • The display is difficult to read.

Summary

Besides the display not being the clearest to read, it’s still an excellent radio to consider as it has incredible battery life, an excellent waterproof rating, shockproof material, superior auto-scan functionality, and much more. Definitely check it out if you can.


 

 

5. AZATOM Trinity DAB Radio – Best Overall

To conclude our in-depth look at a few of the best DAB radios, let’s end on what we feel is the best overall radio. With this in mind, we have the Azatom Trinity DAV Radio, an excellent all-around radio that leads in British DAB and FM technology.

 

For starters, it’ll secure you optimum digital radio performance, with an easy set-up and quick auto-scanning capabilities. Rather than worry about taking forever to have your radio be how you want it, it’ll only take you a few moments and should fully set-up for you to use.

 

Functionality-wise, it has a CD player, Bluetooth, USB and AUX capabilities, and much more. Considering all of these are considerable pros to any radio, it’s nice to see so quickly outline for us to use in this radio. Plus, the Bluetooth allows you to connect to Spotify or Apple Music very easily.

 

Sound-wise, it’s perfect, as it’s equipped with HD speakers, allowing it to capture everything from deep bass to detailed highs. All of you sound geeks out there should be reasonably satisfied with how powerful this unit is for sound. The unit also has dual alarms, allowing you to set an alarm with confidence.

 

The radio also comes with a three-year warranty and promises you nothing but the best as they have over 30 years of experience in the field. When it’s all set and done, the only issue you may have is how much it costs, as it’s more than your average radio. Still, it’s more than worth it as it’s an excellent radio.

Pros

  • Comes with a three-year warranty.
  • Can play CDs.
  • Has Bluetooth capabilities.
  • USB and Aux options.
  • Great sound quality.

Cons

  • It’s a bit expensive.

 

Summary

Despite not being as expensive as one of the more premium options, this radio still has a hefty price tag attached to it. Still, it comes with a three-year warranty, can play CDs, has Bluetooth abilities, USB and Aux options, and excellent sound quality.

What more could you want?

 


 

How do DAB Radios Work?

Now that we’re done with five of the best DAB radios, let’s go over how they actually work. Finding out how a specific product operates will allow you to continue forward in this regard, as knowledge is critical in any subject. Thus, it’s vital for us to take a look.

 

Nevertheless, DAB radios work by turning sound into digital signals for transmission. From there, that signal is decoded at the other end using digital radio receivers, allowing the sound to be as close to CD-quality as possible.

 

Considering sound is such a primary area when it comes to radios, the sound tends to be the most significant benefit of a DAB Radio. Regardless of how expensive of a unit you get, realize the sound will always be better than your traditional radio.

Purchasing a DAB Radio

DAB radios’ main benefit is their ability to offer more stations and better listening quality with less interference. Buying a DAB radio might seem like a straightforward task at first, but considering the vast number of features each brand offers, as well as innovation in the field, can make it a difficult task.

Thus, be mindful of looking out for the big brands when purchasing a DAB radio, as it’ll give you some leverage considering the fact that many of these brands have been known for fantastic electronic gadgets. It makes sense why a company becomes popular if so many people swear by their products.

 

Still, if a particular product is highly regarded, don’t be afraid to try it out, even if it’s not a part of the usual click of companies. There’s a reason why reviews are out there, so be sure to take the time necessary to read them and see how a particular radio will work for you.

Features to Look Out For When Purchasing a DAB Radio

Now that we’ve discussed a few topics related to purchasing a DAB radio, you might be wondering what you should be aware of while trying to buy one. Considering every product has a plethora of things to look out for, the same can be said for DAB radios.

 

Keep in mind, this isn’t necessarily everything you should make a note of while searching for a DAB radio. Still, definitely realize that’s what noted is worth highlighting while you look at DAb radios. There’s a lot of information available, so do what you can to find the best route. Let’s take a look!

DAB+

Definitely make sure you look out for this feature to future-proof yourself, as it offers a broader range of channels and stations to listen to. Considering the radio industry is moving in this way, always do what you can to stay ahead of the trend.

Presets

For a broad general notion, the more presets you have the better your listening experience is. Thus, always be aware of what preset options your radio has, as it can be a massive factor in the long-run functionality-wise.

Alarm clock

Whether you’re aware of it or not, many DAB radios come with alarm clocks while some don’t. However, this all depends on your need for a DAB radio. Whether you need it as a bedside clock or a portable device that you can carry with you will be a deciding factor for an alarm clock need.

Bluetooth

Some top of the range DAB radios come with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to play music wirelessly. In recent memory, Bluetooth has grown immensely to be significantly more powerful than it once was. Thus, it’s always a plus to have Bluetooth capabilities.

Battery Life

While many DAB radios are AC powered, some are battery powered while also being powered by both. Thus, if you’re interested in having a portable radio, you need to make sure it is first, and then make a note of how long the actual battery life is.

Benefits of DAB Radios

Now that we’ve gone over an endless sum of information related to DAB radios, it seems fair to end on the various benefits of these radios. Considering there’s such a vast number of benefits tied to DAB radios, it’s worth highlighting as a final push for you to consider buying.

 

Once you’re totally concluded, be sure to head back up to read more about the DAB radios we discussed, as it’ll do you wonders to find which one is best applicable to you. Trust us when we say that you won’t be disappointed as DAB radios are amongst the best in the radio world. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the benefits of DAB radios.

They’re Portable

As you can imagine, by the size of DAB radios, it’s easy to assume they’re portable. If you thought this, you should be pleasantly surprised to find out that one of their main benefits is their portability.

 

Even if the DAB radio you end up going with isn’t entirely portable, they’re still light enough where you can easily carry them to wherever you want to plug them in. Either way, be mindful of their battery-life if you genuinely want a portable option.

They’re Easy to Use

Overly complicated products are always a hassle to use as it’s never ideal to rely on a product that can seem overwhelming to actually use. Thus, it’s always more of a perfect matter to find a product that’s easy and isn’t overly complicated for you to utilize.

 

Thus, it’s another benefit that DAB radios are so easy to use. You don’t have to scan away for hours trying to find a station. Instead, you can smoothly go to any of your presets and lets it operate in that regard only if you want.

They’re Great for Listening to the Radio

If you’re someone who loves the radio, then a DAB radio is definitely the route to go with. As we discussed earlier, DAB radios provide the best sound quality as the digital capabilities offer the closest sound to a CD without the CD.

 

Thus, if you’re crazy about the sound quality of your radio while listening, definitely seek out a DAB radio. Obviously, some DAB radios aren’t as great sound-wise as others, but don’t let this ruin it for you. Find a good DAB radio and try it out!

They Have a Great Compact design

Having a compact design isn’t always ideal, but when it comes to something like a radio, this is undoubtedly an advantage. With something like Alexa, it’s compactness is a big reason why it’s such a popular product.

 

Thus, the same can be said with DAB radios as a large portion of them are incredibly compact, light, and easy to move with. Of course, you can find a large DAB radio if you search hard enough, but realize most are reasonably compact.