AZATOM Pocket C1 DAB Radio Review

Summary: Compact, light and versatile with good sound quality for its size.

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The AZATOM Pocket C1 is a small portable DAB radio. Despite the name ‘Pocket’, it’s not really designed for using in your pocket and features a speaker and telescopic aerial, unlike most ‘pocket’ radios. Nevertheless, it’s a very compact radio that could be great for listening to around the house or while travelling. Find out what the Pocket C1 can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 12.5 cm wide x 7.2 cm high x 3 cm deep
Weight: 155 g

Performance and use

The Pocket C1’s sound quality is surprisingly good given its tiny size. While the sound isn’t very rich or warm, it’s not tinny like you might expect. If you’re listening through headphones the sound quality will depend on the headphones you use. The Pocket C1 doesn’t come with any headphones included, so you will need to use your own.

The radio has generally good reception on both DAB/DAB+ and FM. However, reception will vary depending on where in the country you use it and also where in the room you position it. If you find a station cuts out on DAB you can always try switching to FM.

One unique thing about the Pocket C1 is that there are three ways to power it:

1. Using the rechargeable 800 mAH battery provided
2. Using 3 AAA batteries
3. Using mains power

This makes the Pocket C1 quite versatile. If you’re listening on a long journey you might want to take some AAA batteries so you can keep listening using AAA batteries even if the rechargeable battery runs out of juice. The rechargeable battery can be easily removed and replaced, which is a plus.

The three power options make the Pocket C1 a good choice for taking with you on trips, as you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of power. Unfortunately, the radio doesn’t have a keylock function, so you might accidentally press a button if you’re using it while moving around.

According to the manufacturer, the battery can last for up to 16 hours. In practice, it’s unlikely to last quite this long, especially if you’re listening through the speaker rather than headphones. Unfortunately, the radio doesn’t have a “low battery” warning message, so it can turn off unexpectedly. Also, it’s not clear how long the radio should be charged for, as it doesn’t tell you when the battery is fully charged up.

You can listen to it through your car stereo by connecting a cable from the headphone jack to your stereo’s aux-in port. However, a plug-and-play DAB adapter might be a better choice if you’re looking for something specifically for the car.

Verdict

The AZATOM Pocket C1 is an impressive little radio with surprisingly good sound quality given its small size. One of the best things about this radio is that it can be powered in three ways (rechargeable battery, AAA batteries and mains). This makes it very versatile as a portable radio and could be a good choice if you want to listen to the radio while travelling or working.

This radio could be improved with a clearer battery indicator on the display and a keylock function, but overall, it’s a good choice if you want something compact, light and versatile.

 

Similar radios

Another small radio with surprisingly good sound quality is the Sony XDR-P1DBP PocketRadio. The Sony XDR-P1DBP looks a bit dated compared to the AZATOM Pocket C1, but it functions very well. It’s slightly smaller than the Pocket C1 and can be powered using the mains or a lithium-ion battery.

Another popular small DAB radio is the Roberts Play 10. At 18 cm wide by 10.5 cm high, it’s a bit bigger than the Pocket C1, which is 12.5 cm wide by 7.2 cm high. This means it’s not such a good choice for travel but could be a good option if you want something more substantial. It can be plugged into the mains or run off 4 AA batteries.

For some more options, see our roundups of the best portable DAB radios and the best pocket DAB radios.