Roberts Play 10 review
Contributing Editor
Small, portable, and simple.
Those are the three words we’d use to describe the Roberts Play 10 in a nutshell.
Like many items in the Roberts Radio portfolio, this nifty little device is designed to combine exceptional style with excellent performance in a convenient package.
While it might not be the most impressive radio that we’ve seen from Roberts over the last decade or so, the Roberts Play 10 (link to Amazon) is still worth consideration in its own right.
This portable DAB and DAB+ radio is a great introduction to the world of digital listening for people who are new to the DAB FM format.
If you’ve never used a DAB radio before, the traditional tuning knob and chunky control buttons will make finding the content you need as simple as possible. What’s more, the fact that the Roberts Play 10 radio is lightweight and portable means that you can use it wherever you are.
Want to learn more?
Check out our full Roberts Play 10 DAB radio review.
Roberts Play 10 DAB radio review: Design and build
Roberts Radio has a reputation for producing beautiful and eye-catching pieces of technology.
Browse through the Roberts portfolio, and you’ll find everything from carefully polished wood in elegant vintage pieces to brightly-coloured leather on flagship products like the Roberts Revival.
Compared to some of the more iconic products produced and sold by Roberts, the Play 10 is a little simplistic in design.
There’s very little about this item that would make it really stand out from the crowd. Aside from the fact that its blocky demeanour is curved slightly towards the top, it gives the impression that your radio is bowing to you.
The Roberts Play 10 DAB radio is small and lightweight – intended for portability and performance over form.
The little radio only weighs around 350 grams, and it comes with a handy strap so you can carry it with you on the move when you need some extra tunes for your afternoon hike or your summer picnic.
Like many Roberts DAB radios in the Play portfolio, the Play 10 comes with the option to choose between mains or battery power. So. you can keep it plugged in at home or travel with it – it’s totally up to you.
What’s more, the fact that this particular radio comes with a headphone jack means that you’ve got a reliable private listening system whenever you need one.
One thing that we particularly liked about the design of the Play Roberts digital radios is that they come with an old-fashioned tuning dial that you can use to track down the channel you want to listen to.
The extendable antenna for a better range also gives this machine an extra touch of vintage appeal. For instance, It feels like something you might have used to stay connected to the front line during the war.
Roberts Play 10 DAB radio review: Features
Available in black and white, the Play 10 Roberts portable radio is one of the simpler devices on the market from Roberts today.
If you’re simply looking for a DAB radio, then Roberts has a lot of different products to offer, including those that come with Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi streaming.
In context, the Roberts Play 10 is pretty basic, but that’s also part of its charm.
The Roberts Radio Play 10 is simple and intuitive, making it an easy option for anyone who’s not used to technology.
Thanks to the alternative charging options, you can use the radio wherever you are, whether indoors or outdoors.
Additionally, the fact that there are three preset buttons available to help you skip through your preferred channels makes finding the right content easy.
We were particularly fond of the backlit display, making it easy to search through menus and find the right music for your needs. You can also use the display to look through stations you can save to your listening list.
The only downside is that we couldn’t find a way to dim the display, which makes it a bad choice for bedside tables.
With DAB, DAB+ and FM connectivity, you’ll have no problem finding high-quality digital content to listen to wherever you are.
What’s more, the handy headphone socket means that you can listen on your own if you don’t want to disturb the people in your group. In turn, this makes it one of the best options for tuning into talk radio stations.
Features include:
- Headphone jack
- Mains or portable battery power
- FM, DAB, and DAB+ radio connectivity
- Six preset stations available to save
- Backlit display (can’t be dimmed)
- Lightweight design with carry handle
Roberts Play 10 DAB Radio Review: Setting Up and Using the Radio
Roberts is known for making user-friendly radios to match the needs of a diverse customer base, including the non-tech savvies. As a result, this radio has a clear setup and instructions.
It comes with an AC power adapter and an instruction manual. The first thing you want to do is to go through the instruction manual for setting up the radio.
As a quick guide, after unboxing your Roberts Play 10, plug the power adapter in and press the ON/OFF button.
The radio automatically starts scanning for the available DAB radio stations. Our scan was fairly quick—it lasted under 15 seconds.
If you want to tune into an FM station, start by extending the telescopic aerial fully. After that, press and hold the mode button to switch from DAB to FM. Finally, rotate the tuning control knob to find your preferred FM station and press to select.
Although the radio’s DAB reception is excellent, some users reported a few glitches in Jazz FM and Planet Rock stations. If this happens, simply adjust the position, and you’ll be set.
We found the above processes seamless. From our review, we didn’t encounter glitches like poor FM signal reception. Thus, this guarantees that the radio is worth your time and money.
Roberts Play 10 DAB radio review: Performance
Our Roberts Radio Play 10 review wouldn’t be much good if we didn’t give you an insight into the kind of performance you can expect from this device.
As a portable radio, the Roberts Play 10 is a reliable piece of technology.
It holds up well to regular use, and its lightweight design makes it easy to use.
What’s more, the backlit display means you can find your favourite stations easily, even if you’re using the device at night.
The option to choose between mains and battery power makes the Play 10 convenient for people who want a radio set they can take with them anywhere. Besides the mains power supply, you can use AA batteries during your outdoor adventures.
However, we don’t think this device is particularly appealing for those who need a bedside radio because it doesn’t seem possible to dim the display.
In terms of sound quality, the Roberts Play 10 DAB radio offers relatively impressive depth and clarity. However, it’s worth noting that it’s nowhere near as loud as some of the other radios you can purchase from Roberts.
If you’re looking for something that will fill the room with volume, this might not be it. But, as a personal companion, the Roberts Play 10 is more than enough to get the job done.
Roberts Play 10 DAB radio review: Verdict
The Roberts Play 10 works best as a personal listening device designed for use by a single person or a small group in close proximity.
You’ll get the best sound clarity at low volumes and won’t have to worry about contending with a smaller speaker.
The Play 10 also seems to be better suited to portable music than use in and around the house. Though it might be an excellent accessory in your kitchen, we think it would be drowned out in the living room and potentially too bright in the bedroom.
For more DAB radio recommendations, you may check out our lists of the Best Rechargeable DAB Radios and Best Pocket DAB Radios.
Radio Fidelity: For the love of radio
Just so you know… This article contains affiliate links. The commission we earn helps to cover our costs, and comes at no additional cost to you. For more information on our affiliate program, please refer to our disclosure policy.
