Digital Radio Buying Guide

Don't be mystified by jargon or fooled by hype. Our comprehensive Buying Guides help you choose the right products.

What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies:

WHAT ARE MY CHOICES?

There are two common types of digital radio -- pocket and standard -- and several more specialised options. Here's what you'll find in the shops.

Pocket radios | Portable mains/battery radios | Standard mains-only radios | Other digital radios | Finding the right radio

Pocket radios

The Sony XDR-M1 slips into your pocket

If you want digital radio on the move, you'll need a pocket radio. Most are about the size of a pack of cards and run off AA batteries -- either standard alkaline ones or rechargeables. Be aware that processing the digital signal requires more power than playing FM radio, so battery life is typically 5 to 10 hours.

Most pocket radios use the headphone cable as the aerial. The supplied headphones are designed with this in mind, so you may have problems if you switch to an alternative pair. You'll get good reception when you're outdoors, but you may struggle to find a signal when you're in a train (too much metal) or deep within a building.

Portable mains/battery radios

The Roberts Gemini 11 can run off six D-size batteries

We consider a radio 'portable' if it can be unplugged and moved around relatively easy. In general you'll want to keep your portable radio within reach of a power socket. Although the mains/battery models can be run off size C or size D batteries, you'll only want to do this in emergencies. A battery life of 20 hours is exceptional; 5 to 10 hours is more common.

Standard mains-only radios

PURE Digital's
Sonus-1XT has
two alarms

This is the most common type of digital radio. Some models are designed for the living room or kitchen; others are intended for the bedroom.

Living room/kitchen radios come in a range of styles to match your decor, be it traditional or high-tech modern. More expensive models have recording features that enable you to pause and rewind live radio, and sometimes to record entire programmes. If you're in an area with a weak DAB signal, look for a model with a detachable aerial that can be upgraded.

Most digital radios can display the time (it's broadcast in the DAB signal). Bedroom radios also have built-in alarms to wake you up in the morning. The more sophisticated models have more than one alarm, enabling you to have different alarm times for weekdays and weekends, or to set alarms for more than one person. Make sure the alarm has a tone back-up in case your station isn't broadcasting when you're due to wake up.

Other digital radios

There are several other types of digital radios, although you may have to look beyond the High Street to find them.

• Hi-fi systems combine a digital radio with a CD player and possibly a tape deck. They're available as bookshelf systems or boom boxes.
• Hi-fi separates enable you to add a digital radio tuner to your existing hi-fi setup.
• Car radios give you digital radio on the move. Some work with your existing FM aerial; others require an additional aerial.
• There have been a couple of products that connect to your PC's USB port, giving you digital radio via your computer. They're hard to find at the moment, but we may see more such devices in the future.

Finding the right radio

Once you've decided what type of radio you want, you need to zero in on a particular model. That's where our reviews can help. We test digital radios for design, ease of setup, range of features and performance, enabling you to find out whether they meet your needs. Click the links in the box below for more information.