![]() ![]() Up to 20 presets can be stored and quickly accessed. ![]() For a start, it’s very easy to use, with a colour screen and a rotary dial you can press to click to navigate the menus. It might be a compact radio in a cost-conscious plastic body, but the Elan Connect+ still shares many of the strengths of Pure’s more expensive radios. Price when reviewed: £53 | Check price at Amazon Pure Elan Connect+: The best entry-level internet radio READ NEXT: The best speaker to buy The best internet radios you can buy in 2023 1. If possible, we make direct A-B comparisons with other radios in the same class. We listen to rock, pop, jazz, classical, news, drama and podcasts, and we also use the app and/or Bluetooth connectivity to stream from music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Spotify, and Deezer. With the radio configured, we spend around a week listening to a range of stations and material, making the most of the search and discovery features on the radio, or in the app, to find familiar stations and to look for new ones. When we test Internet radios, we set them up from scratch, connecting to a Wi-Fi network and scanning for DAB+ channels, while also installing any companion smartphone apps. Phono or jack outputs let you hook up to an external amplifier for extra volume or quality – and a headphone output can be handy for late-night listening. A USB port or SD card slot gives you the option of streaming tracks from your own media collection. Some even stream tracks from an iTunes or DLNA-compliant NAS or media server in the home.įinally, remember to check the physical connections. A growing number now support other streaming services as well, either through Spotify Connect or a direct connection to Spotify, Deezer, Tidal and others. Many internet radios can double up as a standard Bluetooth speaker, which is useful if you don’t already own one. Does it use buttons, a dial or a touchscreen to switch stations or adjust the volume? How easy is it to browse through the available streams and find new music? How many preset favourites can you store, and how are they accessed? What other features should I look out for? The other key question is how you control the device. Whether you want something you can carry around the house or a static unit to slot into an existing hi-fi system, there’s an internet radio to suit. ![]() Portable models also tend to be more compact and able to run off batteries, while larger units have the potential for a bigger, warmer sound. The smaller units tend to be mono rather than stereo, although sound quality can still be very good – let’s face it, we frequently listen to music through mono Bluetooth speakers these days. Naturally, different designs have different strengths. There are smaller units with built-in clocks for the bedroom, as well as portable and tabletop designs, and larger stereo systems. The units themselves come in a range of different form factors. However, a dedicated internet radio is more intuitive and convenient to use, and may well have better sound quality.īest Bluetooth speaker 2023: Portable, waterproof and rugged options for every occasion There are plenty of apps and websites that let you listen on your smartphone, tablet or computer. You don’t actually need a dedicated internet radio receiver to tune into your favourite stations over the internet. How to choose the best internet radio for you What types of internet radio are there? Best high-end internet radio: Ruark R2 MK4 | £479.Best portable internet radio: Roberts Revival iStream 3 | £199.Best entry-level internet radio: Pure Elan Connect+ | £53.READ NEXT: The best bookshelf speakers to buy Below, you'll find a buying guide explaining the various types of internet radio, followed by our pick of the best you can buy. With a wealth of choices out there, it can be tricky picking the right internet radio for you, but that's where we come in. What’s more, they can stream stations from all around the world – so you can still listen to BBC Radio, Kiss, Classic FM and the rest, or try out world music from Brazil and Mali, classical broadcasts from Berlin and Vienna, talk radio from New York and country music straight from Nashville. Almost nine in ten people in the UK listen to radio at least once a week and, despite the rise of podcasts and streaming, we still average nearly 21 hours of listening a week.īut what if you can’t get a good reception, or can’t find a station that suits you? The best internet radios stream radio over Wi-Fi rather than relying on an old-fashioned aerial, so they’ll work anywhere where you have a decent wireless signal. In the UK, radio is thriving and the best internet radios can help you take full advantage of this boom. ![]()
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