Philips AE5220 DAB+ FM Radio Review

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The Philips AE5220 is an attractive portable FM/DAB/DAB+ radio that looks great on a kitchen counter. It has a wood-style finish which provides a nice contrast to the metallic carrying handle and silver-grey speaker. But does this radio it sound as good as it looks? Let’s find out.

Features

FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
3 preset buttons, with up to 20 preset FM and 3 DAB radio stations
Comes in two varieties: one with a 3W speaker and one with a 6W speaker.
FM has RDS (Radio Data System), which displays the FM station name
Automatically scans and finds DAB radio stations
Low battery indicator

Dimensions: 28.6 cm wide x 15.5 cm high x 15.2 cm deep
Weight: 1.4 kg

Pros

Looks good, with a stylish retro design
Crisp and clear sound
FM has RDS, which means you can see the name of the FM station you’re listening to
Relatively low price
Good bass levels (if you like a bassy sound)

Cons

Doesn’t come with a manual (it can be downloaded online)
Sound is quite bassy, and the EQ can’t be adjusted
Wooden panels feel quite cheap
Only 3 preset station buttons, so you have to scroll through for the rest
No integrated rechargeable battery

Verdict

While it looks great from a distance, the Philips AE5220 looks and feels quite cheap when you get up close. The sound is rich and generally very good. However, you can’t adjust the bass or treble levels which can be frustrating, especially if you dislike its somewhat bassy default EQ setting.

To summarise, this radio is a good choice if you want a stylish and affordable DAB radio for your kitchen or conservatory. However, the faux-wooden finish and lack of EQ controls prevent us from recommending this radio to everyone.

Similar radios

If you’re not sure about the Philips AE5220, there are several similar radios out there you should consider. One similar radio with a wooden cabinet is the Bush DAB/FM Stereo Radio. It’s a fair bit cheaper than the Philips radio (at the time of writing), and offers good value for money.

If you’re looking for something higher quality and don’t mind spending a bit more, you should consider the Roberts Expression. It has an attractive ash-effect wooden case and offers the quality sound Roberts are famous for. An extra bonus with the Expression is that it has a built-in battery charger.

2 thoughts on “Philips AE5220 DAB+ FM Radio Review”

Anne Mak
March 25, 2018 at 8:13 pm

Within 2 years Volume knop (button defect)
Is ferry week.
Je can’t repear it I have two of them One is broken on this moment. Only foor weak on/of/ Volume button Do not buy it.

1. Kay Rasmussen
  November 3, 2019 at 9:48 am
  
  Hello from Denmark – I have the same problem. Impossible to adjust volume proper. Sometime very loud, or quiet. Must “hammer” the Radio on the table to get better possibilities for adjustings.