VQ Retro Mini Portable Dab Radio with Bluetooth Speaker and Aux - Dab+ FM Bedside Dual Alarm Clock Radio, Battery Operated Radio and Digital Radio Mains Powered - Light Grey

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Internet-connected radios have wi-fi, usually in addition to DAB and FM radio. They generally now have Bluetooth, too, to stream audio from your smartphone or tablet. This means you get a wide choice of ways to listen. The best internet radios tend to be sold at a premium as a result, and there aren’t that many internet radios on the market to choose from in the first place. They’re usually either tabletop or portable radios. Pros of internet radios: You do also get a greater number of radio stations with DAB+, but they tend to be niche offerings. However, DAB+ is widely used in other countries across Europe, so the main benefit is if you go on holiday: DAB+ support means you’ll be able to continue using your radio when travelling abroad. The VQ Retro mini radio comes with DAB and DAB+ connectivity, as well as standard FM, so you can listen to any station you like. Retro Mini by VQ is small but perfectly formed with a balance of vintage style and modern functionality, making it irresistible. Coming in a comprehensive choice of colours and designer prints to perfectly fit your home. Tabletop radios tend to be larger and heavier than other types, meaning they can often sound better.

The great thing about the Retro Classic is its multi-functionality for such a small device. It has DAB/DAB+ FM Radio, and Bluetooth 5.0, and is compatible with all smartphones and devices. This contemporary, retro-styled digital radio is perfect for listening to music, FM radio, podcasts, or streaming your favourite sounds whilst working at home, cooking in the kitchen, or enjoying being out in the garden. DAB radios are more than just broadcast devices. To get the most out of yours, consider models with the following useful features: Alarms Make sure you're not influenced by cost, style or brand alone when deciding on a radio, as you could easily end up with one you'll regret buying. Some budget, fashion or nostalgia-focused radios in particular may look great, but can have tinny sound and awkward menus and buttons that are a frustrating pain to use. We’ve also found a surprising number of disappointing radios from the biggest brands. Best DAB radio features to look for Retro Mini features a wireless Bluetooth connection. It’s easy to connect your phone, tablet, or any other device, so you can stream content providers, such as; Audible, Apple Music, Deezer, and Spotify. The radio also features a USB charge port so you can charge your phone/tablet. The Retro Mini features DAB & DAB+ Digital Radio along with traditional FM, meaning you can listen to all the available stations broadcast in your area from the likes of; your national, commercial, and local broadcasters. Finding new stations couldn’t be easier. The auto scan finds all your available stations with a simple alphabetical list to scroll through. Once you find a new favourite station, save it to one of sixty available presets.If you’re still having trouble, buying an internet radio may be the answer – this will work in range of your home wi-fi signal, and most models have DAB and FM radio as well in case signal improves in your area in the future. Does DAB radio sound better than FM radio? Our favourite option has to be the walnut-style VQ Retro mini radio. It looks just like a device from Pure, but at a fraction of the price tag. Another excellent feature is that the VQ Retro Mini comes with an equaliser, so you can adjust the sound quality to suit your specific needs. There are 5 different EQ settings built-in.

Additionally, there’s the option to connect your own devices through a Bluetooth connection too. The system works easily with everything from Apple Music to Spotify. Do consider carefully which features you actually need – you’ll save money by avoiding those you’re unlikely to use. Which brand: Roberts or Pure? Retro Mini is born in Britain with expert design & engineering at our studios in the Hampshire countryside. Pros: The easiest design to use when you’re sleepy, often have large screens which are ideal if you have poorer eyesightFor many, a Bluetooth radio is therefore a better choice, as you have a far wider choice of radios, and you save money as well. You’ll usually get better reception with a long, rigid, telescopic aerial than from a wire aerial, so it’s worth trying a model with one of these. Some radios have a dedicated remote control, or an accompanying smartphone app that can act as a remote control. These can be very handy if you’re choosing a radio for a living room or dining room, so you won't have to get up every time you want to adjust the volume or switch stations. According to the design team at VQ, The Retro Mini radio was their chance to create something capable of standing the test of time with modern functionality and unbeatable charm.

You should also consider getting a smart speaker instead of an internet radio. These are also connected via wi-fi, and you control them with voice commands rather that with buttons. You can use a smart speaker as an internet radio by asking for your favourite radios stations, and it will play them through services such as TuneIn Radio. This gives you more choice of models, starting at lower prices – the only disadvantage is that smart speakers don’t also have DAB and FM radio like internet radios typically do. On average, sound quality is often better on smart speakers, too. For more information, see our guide on how to buy the best smart speaker. Five ways to listen to the radio for free Although you will get a little distortion at higher volume levels, it was nowhere near as bad as we expected. Choose an internet radio if you don’t want to use a smartphone or tablet, or listen to internet-only radio for long periods on a daily basis – you won’t have to use two devices, or keep your smartphone in Bluetooth range of your radio, and you won’t have to worry about the Bluetooth connection excessively draining your phone’s battery life if you use it for hours at a time. Unfortunately, there are currently no plans to transition most BBC and commercial radio stations to DAB+, with both consumers and the industry generally happy with the audio quality of DAB stations.

Compact and classic

Below, we round up the various options for listening online, and explain how to access thousands of major radio stations worldwide. Smart speakers People often find that it’s easier to access these internet features via your smartphone’s touchscreen anyway, as it can be fiddly to navigate them using the buttons on a radio. Some internet radios have an accompanying app to solve this issue. Now, don’t get us wrong, there are few elements of the VQ mini radio that don’t quite live up to the experience you would get with something like the Retro Revival Uno from Roberts. Additionally, there are some complaints online about many of these models being delivered faulty – which is a huge issue.