I am searching for an ‘all in one’ DAB/DAB+/FM/AM portable radio with Bluetooth and Aux In. The radio will be used for camping and day trips so should fit in a back pack. It must have decent sound and the option to power from the mains or batteries.
— David
In recent years several models have launched with DAB/DAB+ and Bluetooth or Aux In. These extra inputs make the radio more versatile when you want to listen to something that isn’t on digital radio – such as your own music or favourite podcast.
The closest match we could find for your requirements is the Roberts ECO4 BT.
This radio can tune into DAB/DAB+/FM stations and connect to other devices with Bluetooth and the Aux In socket. The radio can be powered by batteries (size D) and mains power, although the batteries won’t be rechargeable.
With sound an important consideration the radio features stereo 2.5W speakers. Separate bass and treble controls can be found on the top panel to fine tune the sound from the radio.
Although there are dozens of portable digital radios on the market, many might not be suited for true portable listening with their wood veneer or real leather finishes. The ECO4 BT has a metal and plastic construction with a carry handle, all weighing in at 1.9 kilograms.
If there is a downside it’s the lack of AM or medium wave. We couldn’t find any portable digital radios which support DAB alongside medium wave. The most recent example was a Morphy Richards model which was discontinued a few years ago.
This could be because many of the radio stations on medium wave are available on digital radio, such as talkSPORT, BBC 5 live, Absolute Radio and regional stations like TFM 2 and Metro 2 Radio. In the cases where some stations are only available on medium wave they can often be streamed online and played through the radio using Bluetooth or the Aux In socket. This is less convenient but compared to the number of stations on digital radio and FM should be a rarity.
You mentioned Sony and Panasonic as popular digital radio brands, but Roberts have been making radios since the 1930s and DAB models since 1999. If there’s any problems after the warranty expires the company sell spare parts online and can provide a quote for repairs.