Goodmans Canvas Portable Digital & FM Radio Review

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Summary:
The Goodmans Canvas performs very well all round for the price.

Buy it online:
See on Amazon.co.uk

The Goodmans Canvas portable radio is one of the most popular and cheapest portable radios currently available in the UK. It has a minimalistic design and comes in a choice of colours (Copper, Slate Grey, and Steel). Let’s take a closer look…

Features

3.5 mm headphone jack
LCD screen that displays the station and track name
Uses either mains power of 4 AA batteries
Auto tune feature that finds DAB stations quickly

Dimensions: 18.5 cm wide x 11 cm high x 5.8 cm deep
Weight: 349 g

Pros

Surprisingly good sound quality given the radio’s size and price
Light, compact and easy to carry around
Takes AA batteries as well as mains power, making it versatile
Good battery life – around 8 hours
Made by a reputable company
Attractive design
Good value for money

Cons

Aerial is very long
Feels quite cheap

Performance and use

This radio is very compact and should fit easily on a bedside cabinet or in your kitchen. It’s easy to set up and will find available DAB stations within a few seconds.

You have a choice of using either 4 AA batteries or mains power, which makes it very flexible if you want to move it around the house. Like all radios, the Goodmans Canvas eats through batteries quicker when listening to DAB radio than when listening to FM.

Given the price, the sound is very clear and crisp. As with all radios in this price range, the Goodmans Canvas has limited bass and sounds better for speech programmes than music.

The DAB radio’s performance will vary depending on where you use it. For most people, this radio’s aerial should offer good DAB reception, but some buyers in remote areas may find the signal to be too weak.

Verdict

The Goodmans Canvas is one of the more attractive budget digital radios, and has decent sound quality. Battery life is fairly good at around 8 hours, and the radio is small and lightweight making it truly portable. The radio’s design is elegant and attractive, and the choice of colours means you should be able to find one to match your decor and taste.

Alternative radios

Similar DAB radios include the 1byone Portable and the Majority Arbury. The 1byone Portable is arguably more cutting-edge than the Goodmans Canvas, as it offers Bluetooth streaming. The Majority Arbury digital radio probably has worse sound quality, but it has a built-in battery that can last up to 12 hours, beating the 8 hours offered by the Goodmans Canvas.

You should also consider one of these great DAB radios under £50.