The John Lewis & Partners Cello is a complete music system offering FM, digital and internet radio as well as a CD player and Bluetooth. It’s not especially cheap, but it is competitively priced when compared to similar products from brands such as Ruark, Pure and Roberts.

The Cello looks stunning and offers a lot of features, but how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 35 cm wide x 21.5 cm deep x 12.4 cm high
Weight: 4.8 kg (boxed)

Performance and use

The Cello is generally very easy to use and quick to set up, though setting up internet radio can be slightly fiddly. The user manual (available online here) is clearly written and will guide you through all of the Cello’s features.

You can connect the Cello to the internet via WiFi or an ethernet cable, and this allows you to listen to thousands of stations from around the world as well as all the major UK stations.

You can save 20 preset stations on each mode (FM, DAB/DAB+ and internet radio). This means you can quickly access your favourite stations without having to scroll through menus. There are four dedicated buttons on the top of the Cello so you can quickly tune into your most-listened-to stations.

The Cello lets you set two separate alarms, and you can easily select whether you want them to come on daily, just once, on weekdays or weekends. You can set the alarm volume and choose to wake up to a buzzer, FM, DAB/DAB+ or internet radio. The alarm has a snooze function which is easy to access just by pressing the Cello’s navigation dial.

The Cello’s controls are all on the top of the radio and are all the same size except for the large round navigation dial which functions as the on/off button, volume dial and snooze button. You don’t need to rely on the controls on the radio itself, as there’s also a useful remote control.

The Cello has very good sound quality given its modest price and small size. The sound is warm yet clear, and the EQ can be adjusted if you’re not happy with the default bass and treble levels. It also has plenty of volume.

One nice addition is the USB port, which you can use to play MP3 files from a USB drive. This, when combined with the CD player, Bluetooth and internet radio, makes the Cello a very versatile product. It’s also a good-looking product that feels well-made and is available in either a Walnut or Black Ash finish.

Verdict

There’s very little to fault with the John Lewis & Partners Cello, especially at this price point. It compares well with similar products over twice the price.

The Cello is a very versatile sound system with all the features most people could want in a radio or Hi-Fi. It’s also reasonably priced, and comes with a generous 2-year guarantee when bought new.

Similar radios

One of the most similar radios on the market is the Ruark R4 Mk3, which arguably has better sound quality than the Cello but is much more expensive (over three times as expensive at the time of writing!) The Ruark R4 Mk3 has a similar design and similar features to the Cello, though it doesn’t have internet radio despite being much more expensive.

Another option is the Pure Evoke C-F6, which offers a CD player, DAB/DAB+/internet radio and Bluetooth. The Evoke C-F6 is more expensive than the Cello, but not as expensive as the Ruark R4 Mk3. It also comes with a 3-year manufacturer’s guarantee.

If you want something budget-priced, check out the Majority Oakington, which is cheaper than the John Lewis Cello and has similar features except for the lack of internet radio.

For some more options, see our roundups of the best DAB radio CD players and the best internet radios.

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The John Lewis Octave is a stylish and elegant internet radio that also offers FM and DAB/DAB+ radio. The Octave is available in either a black ash or walnut finish, using real wood. The Octave is reasonably priced given its features, but how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 27 cm wide x 18 cm deep x 11 cm high
Weight: 2.6 kg

Performance and use

Unlike many internet radios which often have complicated menus, the John Lewis Octave is intuitive and easy to use. It’s probably one of the easiest internet radios to use on the market, and it’s easy to figure out without having to refer to the instructions manual.

This radio is very versatile and offers a great range of features. Its main feature is internet radio, which lets you listen to almost every radio station in the UK via WiFi as well as thousands of stations from around the world. The Octave also has FM, DAB and DAB+ receivers for when you don’t want to use the internet.

The Octave is more than just a radio. It has Bluetooth so you can use it as a wireless speaker, and there’s also a USB port that you can use to play MP3 and other audio files from a USB drive.

The John Lewis Octave has very good sound quality with a decent amount of bass thanks to the bass woofer. It has enough volume for a kitchen or living room. If you’re using it in the bedroom, you might find the lowest volume setting to be too high as it could wake someone else in the room.

This radio offers a dual alarm clock so you can set two separate alarms. It’s quite a good radio for the bedroom, though the display needs to be dimmed manually at night as it doesn’t have a sensor to allow it to dim automatically. Display light can’t be turned off completely without unplugging the radio, though the lowest setting should be dim enough for the bedroom.

One nice thing about this radio is that it comes with a useful remote control. This is great if you want to listen to the radio in bed or in the living room.

Verdict

The John Lewis Octave is one of the best internet radios in its price range on the market. It’s easy to use, has good sound quality and offers a great range of features.

The Octave is more expensive than a regular FM/DAB radio, but cheaper than similar internet radios from brands such as Pure and Roberts. Given its features, attractive design and performance, it offers good value for money.

Similar radios

One of the most popular internet radios in the UK at the moment is the Roberts Stream93i. It has a similar price tag to the John Lewis Octave and offers similar features including Bluetooth and a dual alarm clock.

A more high-end and expensive option is the Revo SuperConnect, which is a good choice if you want something with excellent sound quality.

If you’d like an internet radio with a CD player, check out the Pure Evoke C-F6. The Evoke C-F6 is a complete music system with stereo sound, internet radio and Bluetooth.

For some more options, see our roundup of the best internet radios.

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The Tempo Solo is a small and stylish digital radio with a minimalistic Scandinavian-style design. It’s one of the cheapest offerings in John Lewis’s line-up of own-brand digital radios and could be a good choice if you want a basic yet reliable radio.

You can buy this radio with either a grey or a navy speaker, though there isn’t much difference between the two finishes. Like most John Lewis radios, the Tempo Solo is currently sold with a 2-year guarantee.

Find out what the Tempo Solo can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 15.5 cm wide x 15.3 cm high x 8 cm deep
Weight: 650 g

Performance and use

The Tempo Solo’s compact size and dual alarm clock make it ideal for using as a bedside radio. The radio also has a sleep timer which is good if you like to fall asleep listening to the radio as it will turn the radio off after a set period of time.

The clock is on the top of the radio which can be inconvenient if you’re using it as a bedside radio as it means you have to sit up to see the time.

For such a small radio, the Tempo Solo has good sound quality. It’s not very powerful or detailed with just a 2W mono speaker, but the sound is clear.

There are three preset buttons: buttons 1 and 2 let you access your favourite two stations easily while the 3+ button lets you access stations 3-10. Many people only listen to 2 or 3 stations, so this is quite convenient.

You can plug the Tempo Solo into the mains using the adapter provided or use it as a portable radio with 4 C batteries, which aren’t included. The Tempo Solo only weighs 650 grams, so it’s easy to carry around the house.

Verdict

The Tempo Solo has a very stylish design and produces a nice, clear sound. It offers good value for money and makes a great bedside radio if you don’t mind the clock being on the top of the radio.

Similar radios

The model up from the Tempo Solo is the Tempo Duo, which is essentially the same as the Tempo Solo except for being twice as wide and having twice the power output, with stereo sound. If you want something with the same minimalistic design as the Tempo Solo but with more volume, the Tempo Duo is ideal.

If you want a clock radio with a few more features, you might want to consider the AZATOM Horizon. It costs less than the Tempo Solo (at the time of writing), but offers Bluetooth and a USB charging point in addition to digital radio and a dual alarm clock, so it’s great value for money.

For some more options see our reviews of the best DAB clock radios and the best DAB radios under £50.

The post John Lewis Tempo Solo DAB Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The John Lewis Aria is a compact digital radio with an attractive minimalistic design. The radio is available in a choice of three smooth wood finishes: black ash, walnut and light oak.

This radio is exclusive to John Lewis and comes with a 2-year guarantee. Find out how more about what the Aria can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 19 cm high x 11.8 cm wide x 11.8 cm deep
Weight: 1.2 kg

Performance and use

With its small 11.8 x 11.8 cm footprint and two independent alarms, the Aria makes a good choice for a bedside radio. The Aria lets you set two independent alarms, which is useful if you like to wake up at a different time on weekdays to weekends, for example. You can set the alarms to use a buzzer sound or a radio station of your choice.

The display brightness can be adjusted so it shouldn’t keep you awake at night. However, you have to adjust the display manually which can be inconvenient. It might be better if the Aria could automatically dim itself at night and then make the display brighter during the daytime. Many other clock radios such as the Pure Siesta Rise have an auto-dimming display.

The Aria’s buttons are all on the top of the unit, with a large round ‘Snooze’ button surrounded by the other buttons. The large snooze button is easy to find when you’ve just woken up. There are also 4 handy buttons for accessing your favourite 4 preset stations, so you don’t need to scroll through a menu to change the station.

While it’s easy to set the first few presets, it can be fiddly to set preset stations after the 3^rd station as the process becomes more complicated from then on. The instructions aren’t very clear about how to set presets 4-10.

John Lewis state that the casing is made from real wood, though it doesn’t feel especially durable and looks a bit plasticky.

The Aria works well with Bluetooth, and it’s quick and easy to pair it with a phone so you can stream music from your phone through the radio speaker.

For a small radio, the John Lewis Aria has very good sound quality. It’s not especially detailed or loud, but it’s more than adequate as a bedside radio. The reception is also relatively strong on both DAB and FM.

Verdict

Overall, the John Lewis Aria is a great bedside radio. It has a nice design, good sound quality, strong radio reception and is easy to use with Bluetooth. However, it can be fiddly to use, especially when it comes to setting the preset stations. If you only listen to one or two stations this shouldn’t be a problem, but many users have found setting the presets to be frustrating.

The Aria is relatively expensive given its size and features, and there are cheaper radios out there with similar specs. However, it has a very attractive design and is backed by a 2-year warranty, so it might be a good investment.

Similar radios

John Lewis have quite a large range of own-brand digital radios, some of which are quite similar to the Aria.

The John Lewis Spectrum Solo is a similar shape to the Aria, but a bit smaller. It also has a more modern-looking plastic finish and is cheaper than the Aria. The Spectrum Solo is a portable radio that can be battery powered. It doesn’t have an alarm clock, but it could be a good alternative to the Aria if you want something small, light, portable and inexpensive.

One radio with a similar design to the Aria is the Pure Evoke H3, which also has a wood finish. The Evoke H3 has almost exactly the same dimensions as the Aria and a very similar list of features. There isn’t much to distinguish the two, though the Evoke H3 is more expensive, can be used with a battery pack and lets you save more preset stations.

If you want something cheaper, you should consider something like the AZATOM Horizon, which is a digital clock radio with Bluetooth and a USB charger. The Horizon only costs a fraction of what the Aria does, so if you want something functional and cheap it’s a good choice.

For some more options, see our roundup of the best DAB clock radios or our reviews of the best DAB radios under £100.

The post John Lewis Aria DAB Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The Note is a compact and affordable portable DAB radio from respected department store John Lewis. It has an elegant and minimalistic design, and comes in a choice of colours (blue, pink, white and yellow). What can this radio do and how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 17.7 x 12 x 5.3 cm
Weight: 375 g

Performance and use

Given the small size you can’t expect this radio to have a rich and detailed sound. It sounds a bit thin and tinny, but the sound is clear and overall the sound quality is good for a small portable radio.

This radio is very light at 375 g. That makes it easy to carry around the house or into the garden, but it also means it can easily get knocked over.

You can plug this radio into the mains or use it with 4 AA batteries. However, like all portable DAB radios it eats through batteries very quickly. Batteries are unlikely to last more than 5 hours, which is disappointing if you’re used to portable FM radios that can run on batteries for much longer.

With its compact design and attractive colourful finish, the John Lewis Note is a good choice for the kitchen or bathroom. It’s not especially loud and the sound quality isn’t ideal for listening to music, but it’s fine for listening to speech programmes.

Verdict

If you want a simple and stylish portable DAB radio, the Note is a great choice. It only has the most essential features, but it has an eye-catching design and good sound quality for a small, affordable radio.

Similar radios

John Lewis sell a few other inexpensive own-brand DAB radios. A good alternative to the Note could be the John Lewis Spectrum Solo. The Spectrum Solo has a similar size, weight and price to the Note, but with quite a different design.

Another good choice is the Roberts Play 10, which is one of the most similar radios to the John Lewis Note. It has a compact portable design, FM/DAB/DAB+ radio and can be powered by 4 AA batteries. Like the Note, the Play 10 is inexpensive and offers very good value for money.

For some more options, see our roundup of the best portable DAB radios in the UK.

The post John Lewis Note DAB Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

As the name suggests, the John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio is a radio for using in the shower. It’s designed to be water resistant and has a carrying handle which could be used for hanging the radio up in the shower.

Find out more about what the John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Performance and use

The John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio looks great in the bathroom and is available in either Azure or White. It looks classy even if the build quality isn’t as high as it could be.

One of the best things about this radio is that it offers strong reception, even in the shower. While this radio is designed for using in the shower, there’s no reason why you can’t use it elsewhere in the house, especially since it’s so light and easy to carry.

John Lewis state that the internal battery can last for up to 12 hours, which isn’t bad for a digital radio (digital radios typically get through batteries quicker than FM radios).

The radio is generally very easy to use. However, the on/off switch is tricky to use, and requires you to hold the radio with both hands and apply some force. It would be better if the radio had a simple on/off switch.

This radio has all the essential features you’d need in a shower radio, but it could be improved with a few extra functions. It would be nice to have an alarm and timer, and adding Bluetooth would really set the radio apart.

Verdict

Overall, the John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio is a very well designed shower radio. It has an attractive minimalistic design and offers strong reception, clear sound and is also water resistant so you can use it in the shower without worrying about getting it wet.

The biggest issue with this radio is it’s poorly designed on/off switch, which is awkward to use. However, this doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience of using this radio.

Similar radios

One of the most popular DAB shower radios in the UK is the Sony ICF-S80 Splash Proof Shower Radio. Like the John Lewis radio reviewed here, the Sony ICF-S80 has a carrying handle and is water resistant. One drawback with the Sony ICF-S80 is that it only offers AM/FM radio, not DAB, though this does mean that it has better battery life.

Another alternative is the Roberts Splash, which doesn’t have as stylish a design as the John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio, but is well made and offers reliable reception. It offers FM/DAB radio and comes with a fixing bracket for attaching it to a shower or bathroom wall.

For some more ideas, see this article: Best Shower Radios.

The post John Lewis Spectrum Shower Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The Aston MK2 is a stylish portable FM/DAB radio from the department store John Lewis. It’s very reasonably priced and could be a good radio for listening to around the house. Find out how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 22 cm wide x 18.5 cm high x 7 cm deep

Performance and use

The Aston MK2 sounds very clear and isn’t as tinny as many other portable radios. The radio has an extendable aerial which you can use to get the best possible reception.

This radio has a very stylish design. It is made of plastic, and on close inspection the build quality could be higher, but for the price it’s very well made—as you’d expect from John Lewis. The Aston MK2 is light and easy to carry around, which makes it a good radio for listening to around the house.

The Aston MK2 offers the features most people are looking for in a portable DAB radio. However, it does lack many common features you can find in other radios, in particular an alarm clock. It doesn’t have any advanced features like Bluetooth or a USB port for playing MP3s or charging a phone.

Verdict

Overall, the John Lewis Aston MK2 is an excellent portable DAB radio. It has an attractive design, clear sound and offers good value for money. As long as you don’t need any advanced features, it’s a good choice.

Similar radios

If you like the Aston MK2’s design, you might want to check out the KitSound Jive, which is a great-looking 1950s-style portable DAB radio with a carrying handle. Like the Aston MK2, it’s reasonably priced and is a good budget option.

A more high-end alternative is the Roberts Vintage, which is another 1950s-style portable radio. The Roberts Vintage is substantially more expensive than the Aston MK2, but comes with the prestige of the Roberts name.

For some more options, see our roundup of the top portable DAB radios here.

The post John Lewis Aston MK2 Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio is a compact and affordable FM/DAB bedside clock radio. Its features include a dual alarm, a dimmable LCD display and a headphone jack for private listening.

Find out more about what the John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 15.7 cm wide x 8.9 cm high x 11.3 cm deep

Performance and use

The John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio sounds very good for a small bedside radio. It has a clear sound with a pleasant tone quality. Obviously there isn’t much bass or depth to the sound, but the sound quality is more than adequate for its purpose. The radio also has a headphone jack so you can listen without disturbing anyone.

The instructions manual (available online here) has very small text and is quite confusing at times. Setting the alarms on this clock radio is relatively complicated, and it takes a lot of button presses to change the time of the alarm. This can be a serious issue if you are using it for its intended purpose as a bedside radio, especially if you want to change the alarm time frequently. Like most clock radios, the alarm gives you the choice of waking up to an alarm buzzer sound or a radio station.

The John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio has an attractive minimalistic design and looks very smart on a bedside table. It’s also nice and compact at roughly 16 centimetres wide by 11 centimetres deep. It’s made from a soft touch plastic which feels nice at first, but easily picks up dust over time and is hard to clean.

The radio’s LCD display is a good size and the digits can be easily read. The blue digits can be quite bright at night, and although you can dim the display it still might be too bright even on the lowest setting. You also have to adjust the brightness manually, unlike on some other clock radios that have an auto-dimming feature. This means you will probably need to dim it at night and then increase the brightness when you wake up so that you can read the display during the day.

This radio lets you save 2 preset stations on DAB and 2 on FM. This is much less than most other radios which let you save 10 or more. However, if you only have a couple of stations you listen to most of the time this won’t be a problem.

Verdict

The John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio looks very smart and has above average sound quality for a clock radio in its price range. It’s attractively priced and feels well made, but isn’t the easiest clock radio to use. The main drawback with this radio is that setting and adjusting alarms is quite fiddly, which is a shame as this radio is great in other respects.

In conclusion, it’s a good choice if you’re willing to spend a bit of time learning how to use it, but should be avoided if ease of use is your main priority.

Similar radios

If you don’t mind investing a bit more money, a good alternative clock radio is the Pure Siesta Rise, which offers FM/DAB radio as well as the ability to set 3 separate alarms and a USB charging point.

A more affordable alternative is the AZATOM Horizon, which is one of the best budget DAB clock radios on the market at the moment. One great thing about the Horizon is that it has Bluetooth so you can use it as a wireless speaker.

For some more options, see our roundup of the best clock radios available in the UK.

The post John Lewis Spectrum Clock Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The John Lewis Spectrum Duo is an FM/DAB radio from British department store John Lewis. It’s essentially a stereo version of the Spectrum Solo, and could be a good choice if you want an affordable yet quality portable DAB radio.

Find out how the John Lewis Spectrum Duo performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 24 cm wide x 15 cm high x 7 cm deep

Performance and use

The John Lewis Spectrum Duo is very easy to set up—you just turn it on and let it find the stations available in your area. It’s also very straightforward and easy to use.

You can use Bluetooth to turn the radio into a wireless speaker and stream music or other audio from your phone or tablet.

The sound quality isn’t particularly impressive, but it’s good for a radio of its size and price. It doesn’t have much bass, but the John Lewis Spectrum Duo sounds better than most other small radios.

The radio has relatively good reception on both FM and DAB, and performs better in this regard than many other portable digital radios.

The John Lewis Spectrum Duo eats through batteries quickly, and the batteries will probably run out after a week or two of regular use. However, this is a common issue with portable DAB radios since digital radios use more power than AM/FM radios.

Apart from Bluetooth this radio doesn’t have many extra features, and is somewhat unusual in that it doesn’t offer an alarm clock function.

Verdict

The John Lewis Spectrum Duo performs very well for the price when it comes to radio reception and sound quality. It’s also very straightforward and easy to use.

However, this radio does have some issues with reliability, as several buyers have found that the power cable broke, or that the radio frequently froze.

Overall, the Spectrum Duo is a good budget DAB radio, though there probably are better options out there.

Similar radios

A good alternative to the Spectrum Duo could be the Philips AE5020, which comes in a choice of 3-watt and 6-watt versions. The Philips AE5020 is a portable FM/DAB radio with an attractive wood-effect finish and three dedicated preset buttons so you can quickly access your favourite stations.

Another radio to consider is the KitSound Jive, which is a 1950s-style retro FM/DAB radio with a carrying handle. Unlike the Spectrum Duo, the KitSound Jive offers an alarm clock function.

For some more options in roughly the same price range, see our roundup of the best DAB radios under £100.

The post John Lewis Spectrum Duo Radio Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The John Lewis Astro is a futuristic-looking digital radio from one of Britain’s best-loved department stores. Available in either black or white, the Astro has FM and DAB/DAB+ radio bands plus Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming.

The Astro is just one in a range of own-brand radios that appear to offer good value for money when compared to similar products from brands such as Pure and Roberts. So how does the John Lewis Astro perform? Let’s find out…

Features

Dimensions: 20.7 cm high x 11 cm wide x 13.4 cm deep
Weight: 1.276 kg

Performance and use

The John Lewis Astro is very easy to set up, and you should be listening to your favourite station in no time. The radio has dedicated buttons for preset stations, which makes saving and recalling preset stations quick and straightforward.

The John Lewis Astro is nice and small, and should easily fit in your kitchen, bedroom or living room. The vertical design saves space, as it means the radio has a very small footprint (11 x 13.4 cm). It’s a great size for crowded desks and kitchen countertops.

The Astro has good reception on both FM and digital radio, and it compares very well with other radios in its price range. As well as regular DAB radio, it also picks up DAB+, which is the newer form of digital radio. This means the Astro is ‘futureproof’ against future changes to how radio is broadcast.

The radio sounds crisp and clear, and can go quite loud if you need it to. The volume knob clicks into predefined volume levels rather than letting you fine-tune the volume. The gap between some of the volume levels seems quite big, so it would be better if the volume could be adjusted more precisely.

One issue with the Astro is that the tone is rather bassy, and it’s not possible to adjust the bass level. If you’re not a fan of bass, you should think twice about buying this radio. While some people will dislike the Astro’s bassy sound, others will appreciate it—many other small radios sound thin and tinny, so it’s nice to have some warmth to the sound.

The Astro has an optional dynamic range control (DRC) setting, which compresses the range of volumes. This is useful if you’re listening to something like classical music in a noisy kitchen and want to hear the quiet bits of the music without needing to turn the radio up ridiculously loud.

Verdict

The John Lewis Astro radio is a great choice if you want a reasonably priced digital radio with Bluetooth. This radio performs well all-round and has a stylish design that would be ideal for the kitchen.

Where the Astro falls short is in the lack of control you’re given over tone and volume. The tone is too bassy for some people, and can’t be adjusted. The volume control lacks nuance, so the jump from one setting to the next feels too big at times. However, if those don’t sound like major problems to you (and for most people they won’t be), the John Lewis Astro is a fine choice.

Similar radios

The vertical design of the Astro is similar to the Pure Evoke H2, though the H2 has a wood effect finish rather than the more metallic look of the Astro. The H2 is likely to cost you more than the Astro and it doesn’t have Bluetooth, though it does have useful alarm and kitchen timer functions. The model up from the Pure Evoke H2 is the Pure Evoke H3, which has Bluetooth and a colour screen, but is quite a bit more expensive than the John Lewis Astro.

A cheaper alternative from John Lewis is the Spectrum Solo, which is a simpler model than the Astro but still a decent FM/DAB/DAB+ radio.

For some more options see our reviews of the best kitchen radios and the best digital radios under £100.

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