Best DAB Radios with an iPod Dock 2023

Since iPods are gradually becoming less popular as smartphones take their place, it’s now harder to find a DAB radio with an iPod dock than it used to be.

Several digital radios with iPod docks have now been discontinued, including the Pure Contour D1 and the Roberts Dreamdock.

While there are fewer DAB radios with an iPod dock on the market than there were in the past, there are still a few good options out there. We’ve researched the market and picked out the top three.

Best DAB Radios with an iPod Dock

Roberts Blutune 65

The Roberts 65 is a high-quality DAB radio with Bluetooth and a Lightning dock which is compatible with newer iPods. It’s not compatible with older iPods such as the iPod Classic. One nice thing about this radio is that it comes with a remote control that you can use to skip tracks on your iPod.

Features

Dimensions: 27.7 x 22.5 x 9 cm
Weight: 1.44 kg

Summary

The Blutune 65 is a well-made DAB clock radio. It has good sound quality and is easy to use with an iPod. However, it’s relatively expensive and is only compatible with newer iPods that use a Lightning connector. Read our full review of the Roberts Blutune 65 here.

 

VQ Retro Mk II

The VQ Retro Mk II is a stylish digital radio that comes in a large choice of colours. It features a Lightning dock, making it compatible with the iPod Nano 7^th generation and the iPod Touch 5^th and 6^th generations. One good thing about this radio is that it comes with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Features

Dimensions: 36.5 x 27 x 17 cm
Weight: 1.66 kg

Summary

The VQ Retro Mk II is cheaper than the Blutune 65 and offers a good range of features for the price.

It has a stylish retro design, and would look great in a kitchen. It has an alarm clock, but the bright screen means it’s not ideal for the bedroom. Read our full review of the VQ Retro Mk II here.

 

Acoustic Solutions DAB Radio with Dock

This inexpensive DAB radio from Acoustic Solutions could be a good alternative to the more expensive products listed above from Roberts and VQ.

This compact radio offers FM/DAB/DAB+ radio as well as a dock for a 30-pin iPod and iPhone. This could make it a good choice if you have an older iPod rather than one with a Lightning connector. You can use it with a newer iPod or iPhone if you have a 30-pin to Lightning adapter.

Features

Dimensions: 20.3 x 14.9 x 12.4 cm

Summary

This is the cheapest DAB radio with an iPod dock we could find at the time of writing. It’s a good choice if you want something that works with an iPod Classic that has a 30-pin connector.

One downside to this product is that Acoustic Solutions aren’t a very well-known brand, and we’re not sure who makes their products or how to contact them. The brand appears to be associated with Argos.

 

DAB iPod Dock FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about DAB iPod docking stations and adapters.

What is an iPod docking station and how does it work?

A docking station allows you to connect your iPod to a separate piece of audio equipment such as a radio. This means you can listen to your songs through the radio’s speakers while the iPod charges.

You connect an iPod to a docking station using a dock connector. If your iPod was made between 2003 (the iPod Classic 3^rd generation) and mid 2012 (the iPod Touch 4^th generation), it will have a 30-pin connector. If your iPod is newer, it will use an 8-pin ‘Lightning’ connector.

Which DAB radios have an iPod Classic dock?

The Acoustic Solutions DAB Radio with Dock has a dock that works with the iPod Classic and other older iPods that use a 30-pin connector.

However, most new docking station radios aren’t compatible with older iPods that use a 30-pin connector.

If you have an older iPod and want a docking station radio, you could consider buying an older docking station radio such as the Pure Contour D1 second hand or refurbished on Ebay. Alternatively, you could connect it to a radio using an aux cable.

Which DAB iPod docks have an alarm clock?

The following DAB iPod docks have an alarm clock:

• Roberts Blutune 65
• VQ Retro Mk II
• Acoustic Solutions DAB Radio with Dock

Which DAB iPod docks have a CD player?

The only products we know of that combine a DAB radio, iPod dock and CD player are the Sony CMTBX77DBI and Panasonic SA-PMX5DB.

These hi-fi systems appear to have been discontinued, but you might be able to find one second hand on eBay.

Do Bose make a DAB radio with an iPod dock?

Bose produce a range of ‘SoundDocks’, which are iPod/iPhone docking stations that allow you to play music while charging your device. However, they don’t include a radio feature.

Can you get an iPod DAB radio adapter?

Yes, you can buy a DAB radio that plugs into your iPod, turning it into a portable DAB radio.

These products include the Intempo iDab DAB Adaptor and the Roberts Robi DAB/FM Radio for iPod.

These products have received quite poor reviews due to reception problems and poor user interfaces. If you want a small DAB personal radio for listening to while travelling, a pocket DAB radio might be a better choice.

 

Conclusion

If we had to pick just one DAB radio with an iPod dock to recommend it would be the Roberts Blutune 65 as it’s a high-quality product with great sound quality and a useful remote control that you can use to control your iPod.