Roberts Radio Stream 94i

Previous experiences with Internet connected devices I've used have been disappointing, to say the least so I was apprehensive when it came to purchasing this Roberts Radio. Could it be as good as reviews suggested? Or did the glowing reviews come from geeky types familiar with Internet connected streaming gear?

Well, it turns out the Stream 94i is a revelation. The instruction booklet may run to 70 pages (all in English language, well-written too), but I've hardly had to dip into it because the operating interface is just so logical and therefore highly intuitive. Why can't all Internet streaming products work like this? If you haven't used any streaming devices before, it may be that you don't find this radio quite as simple to set up and use as I do but, from my experience, streaming doesn't get any easier than this.

With so many available features, you might expect this radio is going to be tricky to use but it simply isn't. First, configure the radio to your requirements - such as language, clock, alarms, etc) and set up the WiFi connection (surprisingly easy and it worked first time). Then, select one of the seven functions (FM, DAB, Internet radio, Bluetooth, Spotify, Music player or Auxiliary connection) and you're good to go. All features seem to work perfectly - another rarity

The only slight fly in the ointment is that, very occasionally, an Internet radio station changes it's broadcast slot (Internet address? Frequency?)so you need to re-tune the radio. This is no fault of the radio. It's happened to me a couple of times in about six months - depends on the Internet stations you listen to - and re-tuning isn't too onerous anyway. The only feature I haven't used is Bluetooth.

Sound quality is good+ rather than great and the radio looks smart too. The colour screen looks clear and the feel of controls are good enough considering the price and extensive feature set. An impressive product that might initially seem pricey for radio until you consider its superb functionality.