Roberts Revival iStream 3 review
Contributing Editor
Roberts Radio is one of my favourite brands in the UK today. Not only does the company deliver exceptional sound quality from virtually every device it makes, but Roberts radios are inherently stylish too. Just take a look at the Roberts Revival series, and you’ll see what I mean.
The Revival collection from Roberts Radio has been around for a lot longer than you might expect. More than 60 years ago, founder Harry Roberts looked at his wife’s handbag and took what he saw as an inspiration for the world’s most popular radio.
The Revival has remained one of the most sought-after audio devices ever since – with various new and improved models now available.
The Revival iStream 3 is one of those radio systems that I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on! Particularly now that it’s available in a fresh set of different colours!
Want to find out more?
Read through my full Roberts Revival iStream 3 review.
Roberts Revival iStream 3 review: Design and build
The design of the Revival iStream 3 is what drew me to this device in the first place. If you’re a fan of the traditional Revival, then it should seem pretty familiar, as the core styling has remained largely the same for the last 6+ decades.
Wherever you decide to showcase your Roberts iStream 3, it’s sure to grab the attention of everyone who visits your home. I’ve got mine on my bedside table, but it would work just as well in a retro kitchen or living room too.
The teal blue colour is my favourite, but there are plenty of other options to choose from too, including duck egg blue, pastel cream, midnight blue, berry red, and a soft dusky pink.
The front of the iStream is made up of a traditional metallic grille, while all of the action regarding knobs and buttons happens at the top of the set. Underneath the useful carry handle, you’ll find a full-colour screen that simplifies the set-up process.
There’s also a volume dial which also acts as the on/off switch, an aux line, and a 3.5mm headphone jack too. There are even buttons for playbacks, alarms, presets, and tuning too.
The only major downside I noticed with the Revival iStream 3 design is that there’s no rechargeable battery option. You need to use 6 AA batteries every time you want to take your radio with you on the go, which isn’t exactly cost-effective.
Roberts Revival iStream 3 review: Features
When it comes to features, the Roberts Revival iStream 3 does just about everything you would expect. Though it might look old-fashioned, it’s not lacking in modern functionality.
For instance, the latest version of the arrival allows for easy pairing with Alexa, so you can set high-quality music playing with just your voice.
There’s also built-in connectivity available for Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, and Amazon Prime music, as well as Bluetooth streaming so you can play content straight from your phone or computer. Wi-Fi connectivity even means that you can download and play content from the internet too.
Whatever you’re looking for content-wise, the Roberts iStream 3 has it all.
For more advanced features, like adjusting your bass or treble settings, the Roberts iStream 3 comes with connectivity to the Undok app. The Undok app isn’t quite as sleek and sophisticated as some of the other digital radio apps that I’ve seen before, but it’s not terrible either.
You shouldn’t have too much of a problem using the system, and you can always make basic changes to your audio with the radio’s physical controls too.
Features include:
- USB charge port
- Tidal, Amazon, Spotify and Deezer support
- Aux input option
- Telescopic areal
- 1 woofer and 1 tweeter included
- Undok platform
- FM/DAB radio
- Undok app connectivity
Roberts Revival iStream 3 review: Sound quality
So, we know that the Roberts Revival iStream 3 looks great, and we also know that it’s got plenty of great features – but what can you expect in terms of sound quality?
Well, for only £200, the combination of the Revival iStream 3’s trendy design, exceptional build quality, and connectivity options left me assuming that sound would suffer.
However, the truth is that it’s hard to find any problems with the audio quality at all. Even if you do find the pre-set bass and treble to be a bit too much for you when you take the machine out of the box, you can adjust your listening experience with the Undok app.
The chances are that you probably won’t feel the need to do any tweaking though.
As standard, the Roberts iStream 3 has a full and warm character, with a rich midrange that’s excellent for vocals and podcasts. There’s no excessive bass, which is common with some smaller mid-level radios on the market today.
Additionally, timing and dynamics are excellent with the Revival too.
Even if you decide to crank up the volume to fill the entire room with sound for your next get-together or game night, you’re not going to notice any drop in sound quality. I found this radio to be particularly good in an open-plan kitchen when you want to listen to the radio as you cook.
Roberts Revival iStream 3 review: Verdict
Frankly, I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to get their hands on this incredible piece of audio tech. If you’re looking for an amazing performance and a stunning design at a price that’s not going to break the bank, there’s nothing quite like the Revival iStream 3.
Proof that Robert’s commitment to excellent audio experiences is just getting better, the Revival is brimming with great features and connectivity.
Whether you’re looking for compromise-free sound, or you need a radio that’s going to look great as part of your home décor scheme, the Roberts iStream 3 is truly an exceptional choice.
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