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Best DAB radios: FAQs Which is better: DAB or FM? There are no sales teams involved in our verdicts, which means if we don't like it for sound, design, usability and features, we simply won't recommend it. Having spent more years in this game than we'd care to admit, we are truly confident that our star-rated reviews are the best indication of the quality of the DAB radios in this list.
RADIO TUNER BLUETOOTH
On this, we test the audio performance using a range of musical genres and across FM, DAB and Bluetooth streaming if the product supports it, to ensure that the radio can handle everything from death metal tracks to softly-spoken poetry jams. We live with these radios in our homes to make sure that the performances are consistent, and we don't finalize our testing until we are certain of the sound quality. We make sure to test each model in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you can be sure that the product will work just as well in your home, in whichever spot you've chosen to put it.
RADIO TUNER PORTABLE
It's important for us to compare the performance of each product against the specs claimed by its manufacturers, which is why we take the time to ensure the battery life (in portable models), connectivity, feature set and sound quality is as good as the brands say it is. We test countless DAB radios every year at TechRadar, and that means we know exactly which features and specs to look out for. There are times when sticking the radio on simply can't be beaten and we want you to experience that at its best. Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.
RADIO TUNER FULL
We're just finalizing our full JBL Tuner 2 review now, so stay tuned (sorry) for our more in-depth verdict soon. The USP here is IPX7 waterproofing, which makes this a particularly good option for travelling or for poolside listening: where many portable speakers are splash-proof, the Tuner 2 is much more protected against accidental drops and deluges. Perfect by the sink, by a pool, at the beach, or if it's in danger of getting hosed while you're watering the garden. The charger here is USB-C but you'll need to provide your own power adapter.
RADIO TUNER FREE
It's also worth noting that the Bluetooth here is 4.2, which isn't quite as free from interference as more recent versions of the Bluetooth standard.ĭespite those niggles, though, this is a typically well-built JBL speaker that's very easy to use and you can get up to 12 hours of radio playback between charges. It's perfectly fine for music and speech but it's not a radio you're going to use for a party. The radio itself is excellent, but the pocketability of this small radio means it has to have a relatively small speaker. The JBL Tuner 2 is a very portable and impressively rugged DAB/FM radio that also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. We also listed the features of each proposition so you know what you're getting – and you may be surprised at the features you can get for the money, too. We've taken the best DAB radios that we've had the opportunity to test ourselves and rounded them up into a single, unified list for you. So, we know which ones to recommend and which ones to skip. We've tested many DAB radios here at TechRadar, putting each one through its paces and using it in our daily lives. What's more, many of them feature mono and stereo arrays, access to internet radio stations, and even wireless Bluetooth streaming, which means some can double up as your portable speaker. You’ll find portable, pocket-sized DAB radios for taking out of the house – and maybe to the cricket. In fact, it's an essential companion to many, whether they need something in the kitchen, in the garden, or at the beach. The best DAB radios still have a big place in our lives, despite the increase in popularity of smart speakers and Bluetooth boxes. That means that you can pretty much take and use a digital radio anywhere. In addition, DAB radio do not need an internet connection or Wi-Fi to get these digital streams as they’re getting the signal directly from these digital transmitters. Although not all stations have digital transmitters, which means you might have less stations available to you with a DAB radio, you'll be rewarded with uncompressed audio quality.
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