Most importantly, when deciding what digital radio is right for you, you need to figure out whether you want something small and portable or larger and mains-powered, or if maybe you want a radio you can install in your car. Then, you'll have to decide if you just want to listen to the radio or if you're interested in wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, DAB+ and streaming support, or even CD player functionality. It's important for us to compare the performance of each product against the specs claimed by its manufacturers, which is why we take the time to ensure the battery life (in portable models), connectivity, feature set and sound quality is as good as the brands say it is. It's also, as you'll have guessed, a wonderfully made unit in its own right, sporting that stunning wooden slatted front, a clear, crisp display and a high-quality cabinet build that screams of a product made with care and precision.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. DAB+ (sometimes called DAB plus) is a newer version of DAB and has been used in some European countries for some time. DAB+ is more efficient than DAB, allowing more stations to be broadcast and in higher quality if desired by the broadcaster. When you first use Bluetooth on your radio, you have to ‘pair’ the radio with the device you’re streaming audio from (your phone or laptop etc.) For example, you will turn on Bluetooth on your phone and it will search for Bluetooth devices.With a Bluetooth DAB radio, you can stream music from YouTube, Spotify and other sources via your phone or tablet. This means the radio doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. We like the retro-modern design. It's easy to use and the audio quality is impressive, too, with a weighty, grippy sound. You have to pay more for those extra features (and the room-filling sound) but if you want a premium radio with a whole lot more on offer than just DAB radio – and even act as your main sound system – this could well be the one for you.

Seven of the ten trial areas have radio stations using DAB+ instead of DAB. In areas like Portsmouth and Manchester more radio stations are able to broadcast than would be the case with only DAB. Majority – Majority are a Cambridgeshire-based digital radio brand who produce a large range of highly affordable radios. Their products usually offer very good value for money. As we’ve said, DAB audio quality can far exceed that of FM. Sometimes radios also offer ways to control the music through dials or an equaliser menu (so you can tweak the bass and treble). Wattage

Bluetooth Radio FAQs

Oh, what a lovely thing the Ruark Audio R2 Mk4 is. It's rare that we find audio products that achieve the Holy Trinity of sounding fantastic, looking sublime and being so easy to use that a newborn baby could probably find its way around the navigational menu, but the Ruark R2 (now in its fourth generation) has managed it, and in some style.

If you’re in range it will find your radio, which you can connect it to. Once this is done, selecting the Bluetooth mode on your radio should allow you to stream music wirelessly from your phone.AZATOM – AZATOM are a British audio technology brand owned by 4Cool Technology Ltd. They make a range of products including headphones, radios and speakers. AZATOM products tend to offer good value for money and have modern-looking designs. We make sure to test each model in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you can be sure that the product will work just as well in your home, in whichever spot you've chosen to put it. We live with these radios in our homes to make sure that the performances are consistent, and we don't finalize our testing until we are certain of the sound quality. The R1 is the best-sounding one-box DAB radio around. It’s a mono speaker, so you can forget stereo sound unless you plug-in some headphones, but it’s perfectly suited to kitchens, lounges, home offices and bedrooms. It doesn’t just treat voice radio well, it gives the presenters a quality of tone that almost lends them gravitas. Warm, deep and well rounded, with crisp treble highs, you can stand anywhere in a room and hear the same reassuring sound from the R1.