The Pembroke is a budget-priced internet radio from British brand Majority. As well as internet radio, it also offers FM and DAB/DAB+ radio as well as Bluetooth. The Pembroke seems to offer a lot for the price, so is it too good to be true? Find out in this review…

Features

Performance and use

The Pembroke is quick and easy to set up, though saving preset stations can be time consuming. If you need it, the instructions manual (available online here) is clear and easy to follow. You have the choice of listening to the radio on FM, DAB/DAB+ and via the internet, which is useful if you want to listen to foreign stations or live in an area with poor FM and DAB radio signal.

The Pembroke has good sound quality for the price, and there’s a nice amount of bass. However, the volume is changed in steps rather than gradually, and sometimes it feels like the distance between one volume level and the next is too big.

One nice feature is that you can use your phone as a remote control by using the AirMusic app, which is available for both Android and Apple. The Pembroke also has Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone, and there’s a useful USB port for charging devices or playing MP3 files from a USB drive.

The Pembroke offers lots of features, but it still has some limitations. It’s mains only, so it’s not portable. It also doesn’t have a headphone jack, and can’t be used with Bluetooth headphones.

Some buyers have found the Pembroke to be unreliable, with software and hardware issues stopping the radio from working properly after a few weeks or months of use.

Verdict

The Majority Pembroke isn’t the highest quality or most reliable internet radio on the market, but it is one of the most affordable. If budget is your main concern, it could be a good choice, but otherwise, we’d recommend looking for something more reliable.

Similar radios

One popular alternative to the Majority Pembroke is the Majority Peterhouse Graduate, which is an internet-only radio with Bluetooth and a USB port. The Peterhouse Graduate has a similar price tag to the Pembroke, and offers great value for money.

One alternative from a more established brand is the Roberts Stream 94i, which offers DAB/DAB+, internet radio and Bluetooth. The Stream 94i is more expensive, but also more reliable. It also has a headphone jack, unlike the Majority Pembroke and Peterhouse Graduate.

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

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The Bar Hill is a budget-priced DAB clock radio with a dual alarm clock and a USB port for charging your phone. It’s made by British brand Majority, who sell a large range of inexpensive digital radios. Is the Bar Hill a good buy or should you look elsewhere? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 14 cm wide x 14 cm deep x 4 cm high

Performance and use

Learning how to save and recall preset stations can be a bit tricky, like on many DAB radios. However, the instructions manual (available online here) is clearly written and all of the features are explained.

As you’d expect given its small size and low price, the Bar Hill doesn’t have amazing sound quality, but it’s good enough for a clock radio. The sound is quite thin without much bass, but this is standard for radios of this size and price.

The Bar Hill’s compact design and alarm features could make it a good choice for a bedside table. It lets you set two separate alarms, so you could have one alarm for weekdays and another for weekends. You can also dim the screen, which has 4 levels of brightness, so it shouldn’t keep you awake at night.

The alarm clock features a snooze function and lets you wake up to either a buzzer sound or the radio. There’s also a sleep timer so you can listen to the radio while drifting off to sleep. You can set the sleep timer to switch the radio off after 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 or 120 minutes.

One downside to this radio is that the display is quite small and can be difficult to read if your eyesight isn’t the best. The display can be especially difficult to read at night, and many users find they need to put their glasses on to read the time.

This radio features a USB port that lets you charge your phone or other device. The USB port is only for charging, not playback, and the radio doesn’t have Bluetooth, so you can’t stream songs from your phone through the radio’s speaker.

You can power this radio by the mains or with four AA batteries, though we’d recommend relying on the mains as much as possible since the Bar Hill gets through batteries quite quickly. The batteries don’t really work as a backup in case of a power cut as the radio will only run off batteries when the power lead is disconnected.

Verdict

The Majority Bar Hill isn’t the flashiest or most feature-packed radio on the market, but it offers very good value for money and is ideal if you want a cheap, compact and functional clock radio. However, bear in mind that the LCD display is small so it can be difficult to read the time at night.

Similar radios

One popular alternative to the Majority Bar Hill is the AZATOM Horizon. The Horizon is more expensive than the Bar Hill, but still offers good value for money. Like the Bar Hill, it features a USB port for charging devices, but it also has some extra features including Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone.

One alternative from a more established brand is the Pure Siesta Rise, which is a clock radio with a large clock display that should be easier to read at night. Another bonus with the Siesta Rise is that it comes with a 3-year guarantee.

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

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The Majority Barton II was released in August 2018 as an update to the earlier Barton retro DAB radio released in 2017. The Barton II has updated software and improved alarm clock functions.

This radio has a stylish upright design with a wood effect finish reminiscent of the Pure Evoke H2. Like many of Majority’s radios, the Barton is named after a village near Cambridge where Majority are based.

Find out what the Majority Barton II can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 19 cm high x 12 cm wide x 12 cm deep

Performance and use

The Majority Barton II is quick and easy to set up. As soon as you plug the radio in it automatically sets the correct time via DAB radio. The radio itself is easy to use, and the instructions manual (available online here) is clearly written.

Reception is generally strong on the Barton II, and it picks up both FM and DAB/DAB+ so you can switch between the two if you have problems with the signal.

This radio has a small 12 x 12 cm footprint so it fits easily on bedside tables and kitchen countertops. It can be used as an alarm clock, though it’s not ideal for this purpose for several reasons. Firstly, the LCD screen is small so it’s hard to read the time from a distance. Also, the radio needs to turned on to change the alarm settings, which is inconvenient as you might wake someone else up.

Another issue with this radio is that the lowest volume setting is still quite loud, which isn’t very good if you want to listen to the radio in bed without disturbing other people. The Barton II has a nice design, but the wood effect finish looks quite cheap.

Unsurprisingly for such an inexpensive radio, the Barton II doesn’t have any advanced features such as Bluetooth or a USB port. It’s also not portable, and has to be plugged into the mains at all times.

Verdict

The Majority Barton II is quite a basic product, and doesn’t offer many features. It performs well as a straightforward compact digital radio, though there are lots of better products on the market. The Barton II has quite an attractive design and offers good value for money, but its features are limited.

Similar radios

One similar looking radio is the Pure Evoke H2. It’s significantly more expensive than the Majority Barton, but is made to a higher standard and doesn’t look cheap like the Barton does.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, Majority offer a range of cheap radios including the Majority Shelford II, which has similar features to the Barton but can also be used with batteries. The Majority Little Shelford is also worth considering, as it has a similar price tag but also features Bluetooth.

For some more options, see this roundup of the best DAB radios under £50.

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The Majority Cottenham II was released in September 2018 as an newer version of the earlier Cottenham digital radio, with updated software and alarm functions.

This compact radio from budget British brand Majority is one of the cheapest Bluetooth radios on the market. It has a stylish finish and comes in a choice of either grey or blue. How does this radio perform and is it worth buying? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 30 cm wide x 25 cm high x 8 cm deep

Performance and use

Like most DAB radios, the Majority Cottenham II is quick and easy to set up. It automatically sets the correct time and finds the stations available in your area. It’s quite easy to set the alarms and save preset stations after reading the concise and easy-to-follow instructions manual (available online here).

The Cottenham II can be powered by the mains or used as a portable radio with four 1.5V D batteries. Batteries aren’t included, and are an additional expense. It could be more convenient if the radio had a built-in rechargeable battery, though some people prefer replaceable batteries.

This radio has Bluetooth is good for listening to Spotify, podcasts and internet radio via a smartphone. The range is about 10 metres, which should be enough for most people.

The Cottenham II has decent sound quality for a radio of its size. However, the volume is limited and the sound quality will deteriorate if you turn it up high. It’s fine for listening to in the kitchen or the bedroom, but don’t expect a room-filling sound.

The biggest drawback with this radio is that it’s quite unreliable. You might be lucky and get a faultless model, but several buyers have had issues with the radio freezing or stopping working altogether. You should be able to get a refund if this happens, but buying this radio is still something of a gamble.

Verdict

Overall the Majority Cottenham II is a decent radio. It has a nice design, a good range of features including Bluetooth and a dual alarm clock and a low price tag. However, it’s probably worth looking for a more reliable radio.

Similar radios

There is a number of other budget Bluetooth DAB radios on the market. One interesting radio to consider is the AZATOM Woodlands, which is more expensive than the Cottenham II but offers more features including a USB port for playing MP3s and a remote control. Another good budget option from Majority is the Little Shelford, which has a nice retro design and is very light and portable.

If you’re not keen on the Cottenham II’s design, you might want to consider some of Majority’s other similar radios in this price range, including the Majority Girton and the Majority Histon II.

For some more options see our roundups of the best DAB radios with Bluetooth and the best clock radios.

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The Histon II is an affordable digital radio from budget radio brand Majority. It was released in April 2018 as an update to the original Histon model, with updated software and extra alarm functions.

At the time of writing, the Histon II is one of the cheapest DAB radios on the market, and appears to offer a lot of features for the price. But how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 18 cm wide x 11 cm tall x 5 cm deep
Weight: 249 g

Performance

The Majority Histon II automatically sets the correct time and date when you first turn it on, making it very easy to set up. It lets you save 10 preset stations on both FM and DAB, and you can also set an alarm or a sleep timer.

Given the radio’s small size and low price, you can’t expect to be blown away by the sound quality. However, the Majority Histon II sounds reasonably good for a radio in this price range. It’s a bit tinny, but sounds crisp and clear.

The radio reception on both FM and DAB is relatively good on this radio, and there is minimal interference and crackling. This is thanks to the Histon’s large telescopic aerial which is longer than most small radios’ aerials.

Design-wise the Histon II is modern and minimalistic. It’s very thin and elegant and looks more expensive than it is. It looks very similar to the Goomans Canvas radio, though with a black or rose finish rather than grey, silver or copper. The Histon II’s slim design means it will fit easily on a shelf or windowsill.

Like most portable DAB radios, the battery life is quite poor, so it’s best to plug it into the mains if you can. The radio comes with both a mains lead and a USB cable that lets you power the radio from a computer.

FAQs

Do the AA batteries charge when the radio is plugged in?

No, this radio doesn’t charge the batteries. One portable DAB radio with a built-in battery charger is the Roberts Play.

Are batteries included?

No, batteries aren’t included with this radio.

Verdict

The Majority Histon II is one of the cheapest DAB radios in the UK at the moment, and it offers great value for money. If you’re expecting hi-fi quality sound you’ll be disappointed, but if you want a functional and cheap DAB radio it’s a good choice.

Alternatives

One radio with an almost identical design to the Majority Histon is the Goodmans Canvas. It might cost a bit more, but the Goodmans brand name is better known, and this radio also comes in a few different colours to choose from.

A popular alternative from respected British radio brand Roberts is the Play 10, which has some nice features such as dedicated preset buttons so you can quickly access your favourite stations.

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

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The Majority Shelford II is a budget vintage-style DAB radio with an attractive design and a leather handle. The Shelford II was released in April 2018 as an update to the earlier Shelford radio, which was released in 2017. The main difference between the two versions is that the Shelford II has updated software and extra alarm functions.

The Majority Shelford II is one of the most popular DAB radios in the UK at the time of writing. Find out what it can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 24 cm wide x 15 cm high x 10 cm deep

Performance and use

The Majority Shelford II is generally simple and easy to use. It automatically sets the correct time and date the first time you turn it on, which makes it very quick and easy to set up. The instructions manual (available online here) is clearly written and easy to follow.

Reception on DAB is generally decent, though you might need to extend the telescopic aerial to get the best signal. The Majority Shelford II sounds decent for the price, though it sounds quite thin and doesn’t have much bass. It can go fairly loud for a small radio.

This radio lets you set two separate alarms, and there’s also a sleep function so you can fall asleep without having to worry about turning the radio off.

As on many DAB radios, saving and accessing preset stations is quite fiddly and requires you to press a sequence of buttons. It would be nice if there were dedicated preset buttons as there are on some rival products such as the Roberts Play, which would mean you could quickly access your favourite stations with just a single button press.

This radio is available in either cream or red and has a nice retro design. It looks and feels a bit cheap, though you’d expect that from a radio at this price point.

Several buyers have had problems with their radio stopping working properly after a few weeks or months of use, so this is definitely something to consider before buying this radio.

Verdict

The Majority Shelford II offers good value for money and is a good choice if you want something with a smart retro at a budget price. There are better DAB radios out there in terms of sound quality and ease of use, but the Shelford II generally performs well for the price. However, there seems to be a quality control issue with this radio as several buyers have found that theirs stopped working after just a few weeks or months of use.

Similar radios

Another DAB radio from Majority with a similar price tag and similar list of features is the Little Shelford, which as the name suggest is very similar to the Shelford II but smaller. One good reason to consider the Little Shelford over the Shelford II is that, unlike the Shelford II, it has Bluetooth.

One alternative from a rival brand is the AZATOM Woodlands, which is a bit more expensive than the Shelford II, but has a lot of extra features including a USB port for playing MP3s, Bluetooth and an adjustable EQ. It also has a built-in rechargeable battery, which you might find more convenient than the Shelford II’s use of C batteries.

For some more options to consider see our roundup of the best DAB radios under £50.

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The Peterhouse Graduate is a very affordable stereo internet radio from budget radio brand Majority. It’s the model up from the regular Majority Peterhouse, which is similar but only has a mono speaker.

This radio connects to the internet via WiFi, allowing you to listen to thousands of radio stations from around the world, including all the popular UK stations. It’s internet-only, so there isn’t an FM or DAB tuner, but you can pick up almost all FM and DAB stations online.

The Majority Peterhouse Graduate appears to offer great value for money, but how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 30.5 x 13.8 x 13.6 cm
Weight: 2.08 kg

Performance and use

Even if you’ve never owned an internet radio before, the Peterhouse Graduate should be quick and straightforward to set up. If there is a WPS button on your router you can use it to make connecting it to the internet even quicker.

Finding stations can be time-consuming due to the way the user interface is designed. However, you can save over 150 presets so you can access your favourite stations more quickly. The choice of stations to listen to is huge, with thousands of stations available.

The sound quality is better than you might expect for the price, and it has a decent amount of bass. It can sound a bit muffled when listening at lower volumes, especially when listening to speech programmes.

This radio has a remote control that takes 2 AAA batteries, which aren’t included. You can also use your phone as a remote control using the AirMusic app (available for Android and iOS).

One disappointing thing about the Peterhouse Graduate is that it doesn’t have a headphone jack, and the line out can’t be used with headphones. You can’t use it with Bluetooth headphones either as it only has a Bluetooth receiver, not a transmitter.

This radio could be a great choice if you live in an area with poor FM and/or DAB signal but have a reliable internet connection. If you don’t have enough bandwidth it will buffer.

Verdict

The Peterhouse Graduate is one of the cheapest stereo internet radios on the market, and it offers great value for money. The build quality isn’t as high as it could be, and this radio is unlikely to last as long or be as reliable as more expensive alternatives from brands such as Roberts. It can also be quite fiddly to use but overall, it’s a better radio than you might expect given the price.

Similar radios

The most similar radio to the Peterhouse Graduate is the regular Majority Peterhouse, which is essentially the same except that it has a single mono speaker and is even cheaper.

A more high-end alternative is the Roberts Stream 93i, which is one of the most popular and highly rated internet radios on the market. It’s more expensive than the Peterhouse Graduate, but still relatively affordable.

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

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The Majority Peterhouse is one of the cheapest and most popular internet radios available in the UK at the time of writing. Rather than using an FM or DAB tuner, the Peterhouse connects to your WiFi to stream radio via the internet. You can use this radio to listen to all the major national and local UK stations as well as thousands of stations from all over the world.

The Majority Peterhouse appears to offer a lot for the price, but how does it perform? Find out in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 23 cm wide x 13.8 cm high x 13 cm deep
Weight: 1.4 kg

Performance and use

The Peterhouse is easy to set up and start using, even if you haven’t used an internet radio before. You can connect to WiFi manually or using WPS. It should only take a minute or so to connect it to your WiFi network, and then you’ll be ready to start listening to the radio.

It’s easy to find the stations you’d get on a regular FM/DAB radio by using ‘Local Radio’ mode, which shows you the national and local stations that broadcast in your area. You can also browse stations from all over the world, which is great if you’re learning a foreign language or just want more choice. There’s also a ‘Sleep Radio’ mode which plays relaxing wave noises etc. to help you sleep.

For a small and inexpensive radio, the Peterhouse has decent, clear sound quality. In addition to listening to the radio, you can also connect the Peterhouse to Spotify if you have Spotify Premium to stream millions of songs.

The instructions manual (available online here) is clearly written and quite comprehensive.

Verdict

The Peterhouse offers great value for money and is a good option if you want to try internet radio without investing in a high-end radio.

It’s important to note that this radio doesn’t have an FM or DAB tuner. It’s internet only, so you will need a fast and reliable WiFi connection.

The Peterhouse could be a good choice if you want a larger choice of stations to listen to or if the FM/DAB reception is poor where you live but you have a good internet connection.

Similar radios

One popular alternative to the Majority Peterhouse from a more established brand is the Roberts Stream 93i, which is available with a battery pack and Bluetooth adapter (which both cost extra). Like the Peterhouse, the Stream 93i is compatible with Spotify Connect and also features an alarm clock and a USB port for playing MP3s. The Stream 93i is quite a bit more expensive than the Peterhouse, but you might feel more confident buying from a well-known brand like Roberts.

Another quality internet radio is the John Lewis Octave. The Octave has a very stylish design and comes with Bluetooth by default. While it’s more expensive than the Peterhouse, it offers good value for money when compared to radios from high-end brands.

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

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The Petersfield-Go is a pocket digital radio that lets you listen to FM, DAB and DAB+ radio while you’re on the go. It’s made by budget radio brand Majority and is an update to the earlier Petersfield pocket radio the company released back in 2016.

At the time of writing, the Petersfield-Go is one of the most popular digital radios in the UK. Find out what it can do and how it performs in this review….

Features

Dimensions: 7.9 cm high x 5.4 cm wide x 2.2 cm deep
Weight: 61 g

Performance and use

At just 7.9 cm high by 5.4 cm wide, the Petersfield-Go is very compact, which is a big plus if you’re going to be keeping it in your pocket. The earphones function as an aerial so you don’t need to worry about having a long aerial sticking out of your pocket!

The radio should arrive partially charged, though you might want to charge it for a bit before you use it the first time. Before turning the radio on for the first time, you should connect the earphones and position it near a window or even outside. This will allow it to pick up the greatest number of DAB stations possible, since the earphones work as an antenna and the DAB will be better near a window.

The stations the Petersfield-Go picks up will depend on where you use it. It automatically scans and saves all the stations it can find when you first turn it on. It receives FM, DAB and DAB+ stations, so if you live in a strong signal area you should have a large choice of stations to listen to. When we tested this radio, it picked up 69 DAB stations which is very good, though it will pick up less stations in rural and hilly areas.

Like most digital radios, the Petersfield-Go automatically sets the correct time and date via DAB radio, so you don’t need to manually enter this yourself.

Overall, the Petersfield-Go is very straightforward and easy to use. You can save and access presets with just two button presses, which is very easy. The instructions manual included clearly explains how to do this.

The radio has a clip-on clasp so you can easily walk around with it attached to your clothes. This is useful if you listen to the radio while walking, jogging or just pottering about the house. However, it feels a bit flimsy and is unlikely to last forever unless you’re very careful.

There’s also a key lock function which means you won’t accidentally change the station or volume if you knock the radio while moving around. Putting the radio in your pocket doesn’t seem to affect the signal, which is good.

The radio has a built-in rechargeable battery that you charge using a USB cable. Having a built-in battery is more convenient than having to replace the batteries frequently as you do with some pocket DAB radios. The manufacturer states that the battery will last for 10-12 hours, though in practice this is likely to be quite a bit less.

The sound quality will depend on the reception, the radio station you’re listening to and the earphones/headphones you use. The earphones included aren’t very high quality and feel cheaply made, so you might want to use a better pair.

You can use this radio to listen to digital radio in the car by connecting it to the car stereo via an aux cable. However, a better option might be to get a DAB car radio adapter.

Verdict

The Petersfield-Go is much cheaper than pocket radios from more established brands such as Pure and Roberts. It doesn’t have particularly high build quality and you can’t expect it last forever, but overall the Petersfield-Go performs well for the price. It’s nice and small and features a pocket clip and a key lock function which make it very convenient for listening to while moving around.

Similar radios

Another popular pocket DAB radio at the moment is the AZATOM Pro Sports S1. The Pro Sports S1 has a similar price tag to the Petersfield-Go and has similar features except for the addition of a built-in speaker. The speaker makes the Pro Sports S1 a good choice if you don’t want to use headphones the whole time.

One very cheap pocket radio is the Lava Kaliko Personal DAB radio. The Kaliko has similar features to the Petersfield-Go and a similar design, though it’s slightly larger. It’s a bit simpler than the Petersfield-Go and doesn’t feature a clip to attach it to your clothes. The battery life also isn’t as good, but it might be worth considering if you can get a good deal.

For some more options see our roundup of the best pocket DAB radios here.

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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

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.

Verdict

The Majority Longstanton has a nice compact design and decent sound quality for its size. However, the radio has a few issues which need considering before you buy it. The radio seems to be quite unreliable, as several buyers have had issues with it turning itself off at random times. There is also an issue with listening on DAB radio where the signal cuts out for a millisecond every six seconds or so.

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.

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