Best Internet Radios in the UK

Radios aren't typically known for being devices that can play music from various sources. A radio usually tunes into an FM station, with some perhaps having support for other media if the player has that capability. In general, though, they often aren't very flexible devices, being extremely limited with what sources they can use. However, nowadays with Internet radio devices so prevalent, the number of sources has increased dramatically, with the thousands of different online radio stations along with the ability to use other music or audio sources.

The Roberts Stream94i DAB+/DAB/FM Internet Radio is a great example of just what these modern devices can actually do, and how far advanced they are in comparison to the simple radios of the past. This device, in particular, supports streaming from multiple sources. Thanks to the built-in DLNA support, you can create a wireless local area network and stream songs stored on your laptop’s hard drive or in the cloud, letting you turn your own music library into your own personal radio station. This device also includes 120 radio presets that let you save your favourite Internet radio stations, so you don't have to hunt around to find the ones you want to listen to.

Although Internet radios are relatively new devices, there are already a few complaints that have cropped up about many of the models available. Chief among these complaints would be about the wireless reception capabilities. It seems that many manufacturers try to make cheap radios, and hence, tend to use cheap parts in their construction. Or, they perhaps did a less than stellar job engineering their devices and saw the wireless connectivity issues as something for the user to deal with. Whatever the excuse is, wireless reception on many of these devices seems to be poor.

Thankfully, this is not so with the Hama IR110 Internet Radio. This device is built with high-quality parts, and is well engineered to ensure smooth and stable operation, no matter what features you are using. As an example, the integrated WLAN antenna provides a stable connection, even if the router is located quite far from the location of the receiver, which helps ensure you should get a fully stable connection wherever you are. The included RJ-45 connector will be useful in case you plan to use a wired Internet connection, such as at times where there may be a lot of wireless interference. No matter which connection you use, the streaming performance of this Internet radio should be exceptional.

One of the biggest advantages that Internet radios tend to have over older radios is that they often include features that were simply not possible on the older models. With the reliance on digital technology, these radios can pack in a ton of features that give you a great degree of flexibility along with ease of use. Of course, not everyone is mindful of the ease of using these devices, as many of them tend to become more complex to handle with the extra features they have. It seems that making them more complex makes them harder to use at times.

The Pure Elan IR5 Portable Internet Radio is one device that gets both aspects right. This Internet radio is packed with features, as well as small details that help make this a premium quality model. The non-skid feet on the bottom of the unit provide excellent stability on any surface, giving you plenty of options of where to place it. The built-in 3.5-mm headphone out port will be useful in case you want to listen to music without disturbing other family members, something that tends to get overlooked with some other models. By the way, this connector can be used to connect active speakers as well, in case you want more powerful speakers than the built-in ones.

Many of the Internet radios that are available tend to be smaller devices that have a small footprint, with some made with portability in mind. Such devices can be great for many uses, but they also tend to make some trade-offs to achieve this, namely with sound quality, and sometimes even build quality. Some others may have a less than intuitive interface that makes them very difficult to setup and operate, or small buttons that aren't clearly labeled or are hard to press. Basically, you're never quite sure what trade-offs you'll be getting with a smaller portable device.

The MAJORITY PEG-NET-BLK Internet Radio was not made with portability in mind. In fact, the design of this radio is much closer to that of larger high-quality units from years past, giving you a boxy look that means business instead of trying to look cute. Due to this, no trade-offs were necessary with this device. An intuitive menu in combination with a mechanical dial and a colour TFT screen will make initial setup of this radio very quick and easy. You can also navigate through the stations using the remote control and a smartphone with the AirMusic Control app installed, so you will be well covered in how to control the device.

Most Internet radios available tend to have quite a few features packed into them. However, if there is one thing that is often missing from them, it would be a way to adjust the sound to your liking. Having some kind of sound equalizer or another way to help adjust the tone of the sound to match the music being played is often missing from these devices, which seems to be a perplexing thing to leave out. While many of the devices do boast good sound quality, those who are picky about such things know that a good equalizer can really bring out the best from any kind of music playback device.

The Ocean Digital WR-330 Internet Radio with FM Receiver is at its core, a no-nonsense Internet radio. While this device isn't packed with some of the features of other models, it does have something that many others are missing. The 8 preloaded equalizer settings will be useful when listening to various music genres, so your favourite jazz or rock music will sound at its best. The included alarm clock and sleep timer functions will come in handy when placing the radio receiver in the bedroom, and the weather forecast with online updates will always allow you to dress according to the weather. The footprint of the device is also quite small, making it easy to place in your bathroom or kitchen. For those who value these particular features, these along will place this model well ahead of many others.