VQ Blighty portable digital radio review: Music on the move
Contributing Editor
Retro radio products like the Roberts Revival are an excellent way to pay homage to the classic days of radio broadcasting.
With products like these, you can benefit from an excellent combination of both superior sound and stunning aesthetic appearance.
Showing off your personality with an electronic device has never been easier.
The only problem? Not everyone can afford the high-level products available from retro masterminds like Roberts, and Pure.
Even if you can afford to fork out the cash, you’re probably not going to want to carry something as expensive and cumbersome as even the Revival Mini with you on your next day out.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative.
The VQ Blighty portable digital radio is an attractive budget-friendly pocket radio that you can buy for less than £50.
Delivered by VQ — a company committed to offering sensational radio-style at an affordable price, the Blighty could change everything you thought you knew about portable radios.
VQ Blighty portable digital radio review: Design and build
As usual, we’ll start our review of this VQ portable DAB radio by looking at the design.
The VQ Blighty is an attractive little device, with a compact and lightweight build.
According to the designers at VQ, the product aims to deliver exceptional sound and aesthetics, even though it will spend most of its time sitting in your pocket.
As portable radios go, the VQ Blighty has a lot to offer.
The curved edges of the device fit comfortably in your hand when you’re scrolling.
What’s more, the 1.6-inch LCD screen packs in all the information you need to know about your device, from battery status, to station name, and even the time.
There’s micro USB port included for charging, a 2.5mm headphone jack socket, and an 800mAh battery that should give you around 10 hours of life on a good day.
Even better? The Blighty portable radios come in a selection of appealing colours, such as blue and cream and red and white.
Where many portable radios overlook style, assuming you won’t be worried about looks when investing in a product that sits in your jeans’ pocket, the Blighty offers something entirely different.
What’s more, you don’t have to compromise on listening options, because there’s access to DAB, FM, and DAB+ radio built-in.
VQ Blighty portable digital radio review: Features
At this point, you’re probably wondering: what’s the catch?
If a portable radio looks good, that usually means that it’s missing something in terms of features.
However, that might not be the case with the VQ Blighty. In fact, the value for money is shockingly good. You get a portable radio complete with digital tuning, and a high-level lithium ion battery.
There are 20 presets included, so you can find the channels that you love as quickly as possible, and the easy-to-use controls make scrolling a breeze.
We were particularly impressed by the fact that this low-cost portable DAB radio comes with premium British engineering and design.
For less than £40, you can expect features like:
- DAB, DAB+ and FM radio
- Up to 20 presets
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- 10 hour battery life
- Dynamic range control
- In-ear headphone socket and headphones included
- Soft-touch responsive buttons
- 1.6-inch LCD screen
- Premium aluminium casing
- Micro USB charging cable
- Digital tick approval
Basically, you get everything you need to start listening to your favourite radio stations with ease.
Notably, there’s no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity included with this portable radio.
However, you don’t necessarily need those features — particularly since you can stream music from the internet on your phone these days.
The VQ Blighty portable digital radio even comes with a set of headphones. You can continue to use your own headphones if you prefer.
However, VQ recommends staying away from headphones with an included microphone, as this can harm the reception.
VQ Blighty portable digital radio review: Performance
A portable radio that looks good is a great investment. Aesthetically, the VQ Blighty is certainly a cut above some of the other pocket radios that we’ve seen.
However, there’s a lot more to a great radio system than how it looks.
The Blighty promises high-quality British engineering and design, which means that you can rest assured that you’re going to get relatively good signal quality and sound performance.
The audio is solid and detailed, even at high volumes. Although there’s a bit of a top-heavy issue with the bass, you’re unlikely to be upset by this unless you’re a true audiophile.
In our opinion, this portable radio will be better with a set of really good headphones. The headset bundled in with the radio is fine – but these headphones aren’t going to show you what the Blighty can do.
From an ease-of-use perspective, there’s nothing to grumble about with the Blighty. These portable radios feel intuitive and easy to use from the moment that you turn them on.
The volume and mode buttons react quickly, and the battery lasts for up to 10 hours, giving you plenty of time.
The only downside is that finding a signal can be a little tricky.
On the plus side, if you do have any problems, you can always turn to the VQ team for help. The supper team is excellent, and they even package the Blighty portable radio with a 3-year warranty – just in case.
However, it is one of the best value for money options. If you’re looking for a radio that fits seamlessly into your pocket and looks great too – then you can’t go wrong with this device.
It’s easy to use, intuitive, and packed with functionality that’s surprisingly good when you consider the price tag.
What’s more, the VQ Blighty has a sense of style that often goes unconsidered with most pocket-sized radios.
Just remember to use your own headphones if you want to really see what this machine can do.
