Expression Roberts

It is refreshing to come across a digital radio which focuses on the essentials: loud, beauty and strong tuner. With the Expression of Roberts, there is no media streaming, dock iPod or tuner Internet offers, just a pared down radio that looks as good as it sounds. Less than £ 100, it's not really an impulse purchase, but this is a statement of style within the reach of most of the buyers.

He could have been sketched for the generation of art deco Roberts early - 1930s - or it may have arisen in a few days ago in Ikea. The case is curved ash; It front and rear are drilled metal grids. The buttons of tuning and volume, alongside the six mounted buttons on the top of the page, are rubberized. The only thing he lets down is the grey plastic handle which feels also good walks as it seems. It rotates 180 degrees to the front at the bottom of the case, where it is not based on a lead to which protrudes from the rear as a tail.

The Expression Roberts is a beautiful radio

You would be forgiven for thinking that we were so focused on his appearance because he had nothing else to offer, but it is far from true. It is light on resources, by running for 100 hours on a set of four D-cell alkaline batteries. If you use more rechargeable, simply flip the selector of NiMH and fit them. The built-in loader will be their top when it is plugged in way lines should always ready for action should you want to move to another room.

The sound quality is excellent. Classical music is clear and balanced, with an excellent definition across the spectrum. Pop and rock sound full and rounded, while the spoken content is warm, personal and very human. It is thanks in part to the fact that the grille cache two speakers and radio itself has a dynamic range control framework, which uses the additional information sent by the broadcaster to improve small quieter sounds.

DAB tuner is very sensitive, and even with completely retracted antenna he collected all the stations available in our region and well beyond. On the one hand, it is a good thing - by keeping the nested aerial means he never injured - but we are disappointed that Roberts did not implement an option "Plum" like on the radios of Vita Audio filter stations which have a number of particularly high signal, even with the antenna extended.

The FM tuner performance has been less impressive. In a room with a couple of computers and a wireless router, the functionality of autotune - scans the dial and stops whenever it encounters a station - suspended each a few tenths of a point of frequency, even if only there was no station in our test area. Adjust its sensitivity is not help but moving radio to another part of the House has done, suggesting that it was our tech facility which has been the cause of the problem. Keep in mind if you plan to use the term in Office.

Fortunately you should only need to analyze each band once, after which you will set that you want to as presets - effectively solve the problem above. You can save an unlimited number of presets for DAB and FM, with two separate lists to avoid switching back and forth between the two bands. There are not numbered predefined buttons, then scroll either band, once they are set up to show just the presets, jump each station or empty frequency between.

In common with other Roberts radio, including the always popular Roberts Revival row, presets are complemented by a favorite button, which stores your most used station. It is for you that you choose, and you can choose to DAB or FM but not both.

Our problem with the tuner FM Super-sensibles side, we were very impressed by the Expression of Roberts. First he bowls you with its good looks, and then turn you on and this is what a good choice to make. With a great set of speakers behind the metal grid smart is good enough to compete with a mid range hi-fi, filling easily room with round, warm and well-balanced sound that shows which station you choose the best.