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The Longstanton is a compact bedside clock radio from budget radio brand Majority. It offers FM as well as DAB/DAB+, and comes with a handy USB port for charging your smartphone overnight. This radio seems reasonably priced, but how does it perform? Find out in this review…
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Dimmable LCD screen
- USB charging port
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Saves 20 presets (10 on FM and 10 on DAB)
- Dual alarm clock with snooze
- Sleep function
- Telescopic aerial
Dimensions: 20 cm wide x 6.5 cm high x 5.5 cm deep
Performance and use
The Majority Longstanton has a different design to most radios—it’s shaped like a long thin bar with speakers on both ends. The Longstanton automatically sets the correct time and date via DAB radio, so you don’t have to set it yourself.
The radio lets you set two separate alarms, and you can choose the source (radio or buzzer) and volume. You need to turn the radio on to set the alarm, which isn’t very convenient as you might disturb your partner or someone else in the house.
The clock is large and easy to read, and has three display brightness modes: bright, dim and off. Unfortunately the clock only illuminates when the radio is on, so you need to turn the radio on to read the time during the night.
This radio sounds good for its size, with crisp and clear sound quality. However, one annoying thing when listening on DAB is that the radio signal frequently cuts out for a millisecond. You might not notice this when listening to speech programmes, but when listening to music it can be very annoying.
Some of the Longstanton’s other features include a USB charging point, a headphone jack and a sleep timer which can be set for 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Large and easy-to-read clock display
- Decent sound quality for the size
Cons
- Some buyers have found that the radio turns itself off at random times
- You need to turn the radio on to set the alarm
- DAB radio signal frequently cuts out for a millisecond
Verdict
The Majority Longstanton
While the Longstanton has some nice features, there are better designed and more reliable DAB clock radios at this price point, so we’d recommend looking elsewhere.
Similar radios
One of the best alternatives to the Longstanton is the AZATOM Horizon, which is a compact DAB clock radio with strong DAB reception and a reasonable price tag.
Another good option is the Majority Madingley Hall, which is a small bedside radio that offers two USB charging points in addition to FM/DAB radio and a dual alarm clock.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more money, check out the Pure Siesta Rise which has great sound quality and is backed by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty to give you peace of mind.
For some more options see our roundup of the best clock radios in the UK here.