What is the difference between DAB and FM radio? And what about internet radio?
DAB picks up the best signal, so you’ll get a more reliable listening experience. And you won’t spend ages twiddling with a dial to find the clearest reception – you only need to click a button or turn a control wheel to skip between stations.
You can listen to a lot more stations, too. Digital radios can potentially pick up 60 or more, while some FM ones can only receive around 15. It’s also worth noting that since 2013, the majority of cars are fitted with DAB radio as standard, with nationwide road coverage too – so if you’ve been noticing a better experience in your car compared to your old radio at home, that might be why!
There’s loads to enjoy when tuning into DAB radio, whether you’re trying to get away from repetitive streaming service algorithms and discover some new music, keep up with the news, or have offline experiences without being attached to your phone.
“Radio boasts outlets from budding stations, radio shows to get lost in, and music ranging from old to emerging and hot off the line,” Owen Watters, CEO of Roberts Radio, told us. “But radio is so much more than just music, it broadens our listening experiences while also keeping us in the know.”
Internet radio allows you to tune in to a vast selection of stations using your internet connection and has increased in popularity through the best smart speakers. This type of radio listening has now overtaken analogue AM/FM radio and accounts for 28% of all live radio hours. “The ability to connect friends and families with one another globally by tuning into stations from abroad, right in your living room, feels like a great step in the radio sphere,” Owen says.
What is DAB+?
This may seem a little complex, but the main thing you need to know is that DAB+ is an improved version of the regular DAB digital radio standard that first arrived in the ‘90s.
DAB+ is more efficient, delivers better sound quality and broadcasts more stations. Not every British station has caught on and made the switch to broadcasting on DAB+ quite yet though.
Our recommendation? Get a radio that does both. Most, but not all, models launched in recent years will receive DAB+ transmissions. To help you find the best DAB radio for your needs, we’ve made sure all the ones in our roundup pick up this upgraded standard.
Do DAB radios need an aerial?
Like with FM, these models use a wire or a telescopic aerial (the typical metal aerial you imagine) to pick up signals. Wires are more discreet but tend to provide weaker transmissions than their telescopic counterparts.
DAB radio specifications to keep in mind
These radios often allow you to listen to both DAB and FM. Some models have builtin wifi to access your favourite internet stations and music from your smartphone and streaming services. Most newer devices will have Bluetooth connectivity as well. Other things to consider include:
Sound quality
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
The higher the wattage, the louder the volume can be without suffering from distortion. Wattage can range from 1W to over 20W. Want your radio to double up as a wireless speaker? Go for a higher wattage.
If you’re not playing at high volume, you can get away with less. Not all brands provide this information because it can easily be confused with sound quality.
Preset stations
You should be able to set a certain number of your favourite radio stations for quick and easy access. Some have dedicated buttons for this.
Alarms
Most radios will have a builtin alarm, either offering a selection of tones or letting you wake up to your favourite station.
Phone charging
Some models have ports so you can connect a cable and charge your smartphone. Some may have a builtin wireless charging pad, too.
Battery power
Most DAB radios are mainspowered and need to stay plugged in, but some can use batteries or have optional battery packs that make them portable.
Internet radio and wifi
Some will connect to your home wifi network and play internet radio stations. Because it’s online, internet radio allows you to listen to thousands of shows from all over the world.
Some internetconnected radios will also support the best music streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Deezer. You can also find Amazon Alexaenabled options.
Dimming displays
You don’t want the clock shining too brightly at bedtime, so look for a radio with a nighttime display. This button will brighten the clock briefly before it fades out. You can usually change the brightness manually, too.
