Radio has played a huge part in the lives of many British people, being one of the first forms of communication and providing many a household with important news announcements during the wars.
Listening to the radio was a group activity, much like sitting to watch the television is today, so it’s no surprise that the UK was at the forefront of development in radio technology.
British manufacturers have produced several classic models and continue to do so, developing with the times and incorporating DAB/DAB+ functionality and now internet radio and Bluetooth.
You can’t quite beat British brands when it comes to radio, so here’s a brief exploration of some of the best British radio manufacturers still around today.
Bear in mind that while these brands design their radios in the UK, almost all radios are now made in China and other parts of the Far East.
Roberts Radio
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Homepage: robertsradio.com
Founded in: 1932
Headquarters: Mexborough, South Yorkshire
Roberts is a British radio manufacturer based in Mexborough, Yorkshire. The company was founded in 1932 by Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead and has produced some classic models over the years.
Roberts Radio is one of the most popular and well respected British radio brands. Harry Roberts got a letter in 1940 telling him that the Queen had bought a Roberts radio, the first of several owned by the family.
Some of Roberts Radio’s classic models include the R200, created in 1956. The radio’s appearance in a Martini advert helped turn it into a design icon and one of the most popular radios of the ‘50s.
This classic design is now available with DAB radio in the Revival range.
Roberts Radio has shown an impressive ability to adapt to embrace new technology without abandoning its classic designs.
Recommended radio: Stream 94i
The Stream 94i is a stylishly designed internet radio that also offers FM and DAB/DAB+. It’s one of our favourite internet radios on the market at the moment due to its versatility and user-friendliness.
Ruark Audio
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Homepage: ruarkaudio.com
Founded in: 1985
Headquarters: Southend on Sea, Essex
Ruark Audio was founded by Brian O’Rourke in 1985. O’Rourke was a carpenter who worked on wooden radio cabinets in the ‘50s and ‘60s. O’Rourke became a radio enthusiast, leading him to form Ruark Acoustics with his son Alan.
Alan O’Rourke is a keen guitar player who earnt his engineering chops at Ford Motor Company and Marconi.
Ruark Audio remains a family-owned company known for its high-quality engineering and stylish design. The Sunday Telegraph called its R1 model, “the Aston Martin of DAB Radios”.
The company’s high-end radios can be found in the suites of prestigious hotels like the Savoy Hotel in London.
Ruark is popular among audiophiles who appreciate the brand’s attention to detail in working to create the perfect sound.
Recommended radio: Ruark R1 Mk3
The Ruark R1 Mk3 is a high-end radio with excellent sound quality. As well as DAB radio, it also has FM, Bluetooth and a dual alarm clock.
Revo
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Homepage: revo.co.uk
Founded in: 2004
Headquarters: Lanark, Lanarkshire
Revo is a relatively new company when compared with the others in our list, founded in Lanark, Scotland in 2004. Following the principle of “quality in, quality out”, Revo uses the audio industry’s most respected component suppliers for its radios.
As a result, its radios are highly praised, top-of-the-line models that have garnered very positive reviews from audio enthusiasts.
Revo has won several awards for its products, including What Hi-Fi?’s “Radio Product of the Year” award in 2011 and 2012 for its AXiS radios.
Recommended radio: Revo SuperSignal
The Revo SuperSignal is an attractive wood-effect radio with FM and DAB/DAB+ tuners. It also offers a dual alarm clock, Bluetooth and handy remote control.
Pure
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