Roberts Play 10 review
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 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 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, giving 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 ways 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 the fact that they come with an old-fashioned tuning dial that you can use to track down the channel that you want to listen to.
The extendable antenna for a better range also gives this machine an extra touch of vintage appeal. It feels like something that you might have used to stay connected to the front line during the war, for instance.
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 to anyone who’s not used to technology. You can use the radio wherever you are, whether you’re indoors or outside, thanks to the alternative charging options.
Additionally, the fact that there are 3 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 which makes it easy to search through menus and find the right music for your needs. You can also use the display to look through stations that you can save to your personal 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. Features include:
- Headphone jack
- Mains or battery power
- FM, DAB, and DAB+ radio connectivity
- 6 preset stations available to save
- Backlit display (can’t be dimmed)
- Lightweight design with carry handle
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 easily find the stations you’re looking for, even if you’re using the device at night.
The option to choose between mains and battery power makes the Play 10 particularly convenient for people who want a radio set that they can take with them anywhere.
However, we don’t think that 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’s going to fill the room with volume, this might not be it. However, 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 you 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 to have in your kitchen, we think that it would be drowned out in the living room, and potentially too bright in the bedroom.
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