You’re not going to get a performance comparable with a dedicated wireless speaker like the Award-winning Audio Pro Addon C3– don’t underestimate how much of the cost is going on the Revival iStream 3’s built-in services and connectivity – but you’d be hard-pushed to find a more enjoyable listen from a radio at this price. Frequency coverage FM 87.5 - 108MHz, DAB 174.928 - 239.200MHz Bluetooth 4.1 frequencies 2.402 - 2.480GHz Product markings But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Revival iStream 3 also includes built-in WiFi connectivity, which opens up a literal world of possibilities. With access to internet radio, you can tune in to any of the tens of thousands of stations broadcasting across the globe. Whatever you’re into, you can be sure that there’s an online station out there somewhere that caters perfectly to your tastes.

If you want to play DJ yourself, the Revival iStream 3 also includes Spotify Connect. When in this mode, you can cast from another device on the same network, and the iStream 3 will then play the music from Spotify directly. That frees up your device, so if you get a phone call or a video on Facebook starts to autoplay, your tunes won't be interrupted. For non-Spotify users, or if you want to listen to local files, then the iStream 3 also includes Bluetooth connectivity to pair up your smartphone or tablet. Replace batteries only with the same or equivalent type. Danger of explosion if the batteries are incorrectly replaced. The design of the Revival iStream 3 is what drew me to this device in the first place. If you’re a fan of the traditional Revival, then it should seem pretty familiar, as the core styling has remained largely the same for the last 6+ decades. The Roberts Revival RD70 RD70 has a tone that suits its design almost perfectly. It’s slightly dark sounding, not remotely harsh and doesn’t try to hit you over the head with big bass. You might call it “woody”. The Pure Evoke D4 is a lot bassier, and not in a manner that improves the tone. 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.

Features

The front of the iStream is made up of a traditional metallic grille, while all of the action regarding knobs and buttons happens at the top of the set. Underneath the useful carry handle, you’ll find a full-colour screen that simplifies the set-up process. For that reason, we’d be more than happy taking one home. Six decades on, Roberts’s Revival radio line is still going strong. The Roberts RD70 does not have these, but Bluetooth often seems simpler. It relays all audio from your phone. You don’t have to rely on an app supporting the radio. Choose one of the WPS menu options as required for your router (WPS may be via push button, or using an identification number): All look great, there’s not a badly chosen shade among them. This is probably the closest a DAB radio gets to being living room furniture, aside from perhaps the Ruark R1 Mk3.

However, it looks great and still sounds better than most other radios in its class. While the world may be excited about AI in our homes, there’s still a lot to be said for a radio you can just turn off and on with the press of a button.The display on the radio will show a start up screen for a few seconds. If this is th first time that you use your radio (or after a Factory Reset) the display will show the language menu. When using rechargeable batteries the battery switch must be placed in the NiMH position. Batteries will only be charged when the radio is switched off and connected to the AC adaptor. For more advanced features, like adjusting your bass or treble settings, the Roberts iStream 3 comes with connectivity to the Undok app. The Undok app isn’t quite as sleek and sophisticated as some of the other digital radio apps that I’ve seen before, but it’s not terrible either. Note: You should never attempt to recharge alkaline batteries in the radio. Attempted recharging of alkaline batteries can be dangerous. To recall a preset station, choose internet, DAB or FM mode. Give a short press on the Preset button 'Recall from Preset' will be displayed. Use the Tuning control to select the desired preset station.

It’s also one of the best-sounding DAB radios you can buy. This is miles away from the “small radio” sound that’s tinny, better suited to BBC Radio 4 than a music station. Your radio has 10 memory presets for internet radio, 10 DAB and 10 for FM which can easily be set to store a radio station or (for internet radio a podcast).** The Bluetooth indicator will flash blue and your radio will show that it is 'discoverable'. On your smart device select 'iStream 3'. Once the connection is established the indicator will remain steady. You may now play your music. It’s quite simple, really. The Roberts Revival RD70 has a faux leather outer with a gold coloured grille on the front. There’s no touchscreen, just buttons and knobs, giving it a cosy familiarity miles removed from the voice assistant speakers we often review today.The Roberts iStream 3 uses Undok for its more advanced features. This is a multiroom streaming platform favoured by companies without the will, or budget, to make their very own bespoke software to rival Sonos. I’ve had a chance to directly compare the Roberts Revival RD70 with some of its key rivals, the Pure Evoke D4 and the Goodmans Heritage Portable. In its role as the sort of radio you might put in a bedroom or kitchen, the Roberts is the best of the three. But 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.

With a pure techie hat on, the Roberts Revival RD70 isn’t the kind of product that immediately springs to mind for a recommendation. It’s expensive, the tech is dated and you can get better sound quality elsewhere for the price. The Roberts iStream 3 has a very conventional speaker array. It uses a woofer and a tweeter, and no passive radiators. A router (or wireless access point) providing a WiFi signal, connected to your broadband internet service provider. If your Network Name (sometimes called SSID) is displayed with "[WPS]" (WiFi Protected Setup), then press the Tuning control and a WPS menu will be displayed, otherwise press the Tuning control and proceed to step 6.

Design & build

However, the truth is that it’s hard to find any problems with the audio quality at all. Even if you do find the pre-set bass and treble to be a bit too much for you when you take the machine out of the box, you can adjust your listening experience with the Undok app. It takes its inspiration from radios of the 50s. But the look has managed to seem “current” over the past decade despite the massive changes in tech and culture.