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DAB radios range a great deal in price, from under £30 to over £300. While a cheap digital radio might be enough for some people, you have to spend more to get the best sound quality, construction and features.
Here’s an overview of some of the best high-end DAB radios currently available in the UK. These radios have cutting-edge features, are sturdily constructed, and have beautiful designs.
We have reviewed these radios in ascending price order (though prices might be different when you read this article).
Best High-End DAB Radios in the UK
Ruark R1 Mk3
The Ruark R1 Mk3 is one of the most affordable DAB radios that can still be considered “high end”. It’s relatively limited in terms of features, so you’re paying for the sound and build quality rather than lots of flashy features.
This radio is fairly compact and could fit on a bedside table or bookshelf. Despite being so small, the sound quality is superb.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Bluetooth
- Dual alarm clock
- Headphone jack
- Line-in port
Dimensions: 13 x 13.5 x 17 cm
Weight: 1.5 kg
Pros
- Very good sound quality
- Well made
- Easy to use
- Compact design with a small footprint
Cons
- Display can be too bright if you use it as a bedside radio
- Relatively few features for the price
Summary
The Ruark R1 Mk3 produces a surprisingly clear, rich and detailed sound for such a small unit. It’s also easy to use, even if you’re a technophobe.
If you want a simple yet stylish radio with Bluetooth and excellent sound quality, the Ruark R1 Mk3 is ideal. Read our full review if the R1 Mk3 here.
Roberts Blutune 200
The Roberts Blutune 200 is an attractive DAB radio CD player with a wealth of advanced features. Using Bluetooth, you can stream audio from your smartphone, MP3 player or laptop through the radio’s high-quality speakers.
One of this radio’s best features is that it lets you record from the radio onto a USB or SD memory stick.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- CD player
- Bluetooth
- USB charging for charging a smartphone or other portable device
- Record to SD or USB
- Alarm clock
- Six-position equaliser
- Remote control
- Saves 20 preset stations
- Headphone jack
Dimensions: 36 x 27 x 12.5 cm
Weight: 3.95 kg
Pros
- Attractive piano gloss wooden cabinet
- The record feature is very easy to use
- Clear display
- Good built-in aerial
Cons
- Recorder can’t be timed or programmed in advance
- Remote control is very small and easy to lose
- Lights are still quite bright when in standby mode
Verdict
This is an attractive all-in-one DAB radio/CD player with great in-built speakers. The record feature sets this radio apart and is very useful for recording your favourite radio programmes.
Despite having more than enough features for the average buyer, the Roberts Blutune 200 is very easy to use. This radio is fairly expensive, but it looks great and has excellent sound quality. Read our full review of the Roberts Blutune 200 here.
Pure Evoke C-F6
The Evoke C-F6 is quite similar to the Roberts Blutune 200 reviewed above. It has a similar design and price tag, but also offers internet radio so you can stream thousands of stations from all over the world via WiFi.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Internet radio
- Bluetooth
- CD player
- Remote control
Dimensions: 38 x 22.3 x 14.5 cm
Weight: 4.2 kg
Pros
- Versatile, with lots of features including internet radio
- Good sound quality
- Attractive wood-effect finish
Cons
- Some people have had issues with the CD player swallowing CDs
Summary
The Pure Evoke C-F6 is a quality radio with lots of useful features. It’s generally easy to use and has excellent sound quality. However, the CD player seems to be somewhat temperamental. Read our full review of the Evoke C-F6 here.
Revo SuperConnect
The Revo SuperConnect picks up FM, DAB and DAB+ stations, as well as the 20,000+ stations that broadcast worldwide via the internet.
It will also connect wirelessly to your computer, smartphone, or tablet via Bluetooth or DLNA, allowing you to stream music through its high-quality speakers.
Features
- FM, DAB, DAB+ and internet radio
- DLNA technology makes it easy to stream music wirelessly from your PC or Mac
- Spotify Connect lets you stream music from Spotify (Spotify Premium account required)
- Comes in an all-wood American walnut cabinet
- Graphical OLED display
- 15W speakers
Pros
- Sound quality is very good
- Plays any station available online, which is a lifesaver if your FM or DAB reception is poor
- You can create your own equaliser settings, for example to boost the bass
Cons
- Mains powered only, so not portable
- No Ethernet cable connection
Verdict
Like all the radios on this list, the Revo SuperConnect is expensive. However, if radio is a big part of your life, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with radio; it’s a serious piece of kit for serious radio lovers.
It looks great, sounds great, and has a wealth of smart features. Read our full review of the Revo SuperConnect here.
Ruark R4 Mk3
The Ruark R4 Mk3 is one of the best-sounding digital radios money can buy. It features 3D stereo sound which adds real depth to its sound.
It’s one of the priciest high-end DAB radios out there, but its sound quality is in another league compared to most cheaper radios. This radio received five stars from the BBC Music Choice Awards and was also selected as Android Magazine’s Editors’ Choice.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- CD player that plays MP3 CDs
- Bluetooth
- USB port for playing MP3, WMA and AAC files
- Alarm clock
- Headphone jack
Dimensions: 44 x 20 x 15 cm
Weight: 7 kg
Pros
- Adjustable bass and treble
- Nice and compact
- Easy to set up
- Aerial included with the radio has good reception
- Looks beautiful
- Detailed sound quality for appreciating classical music
Cons
- No WiFi – many radios that are much cheaper have WiFi
- Remote control only has a few functions
Summary
You get what you pay for when it comes to sound quality. If you really want to get the most out of your music, you need a really top-of-the-range radio like the Ruark R4 Mk3.
This radio will be out of most people’s budgets, but if you have the cash and really care about audio quality this is radio is a good investment.
If you like the look of this radio but aren’t bothered about having a CD player, you should consider the Ruark R2 Mk3, which is essentially the same radio but without the CD and with a correspondingly lower price. Read our full review of the Ruark R4 Mk3 here.
