Vita Audio R1 DAB/FM Radio Review
A review of the Vita Audio R1 Digital DAB/FM Radio by Colin MacKenzie.
The The Vita Audio R1 one radio looks as if it is loosely based on a famous American brand, but this radio has a hi-fi pedigree as long as your arm.
From the famous specialist hi-fi manufacturers who make Ruark speakers this radio is quite superb.
It is a mono radio with the benefits of having DAB and FM. Those who complain about DAB can now just listen to the FM section. It comes in a beautiful choice of finishes.
It has a sleep facility and alarm so can be used as a bedside clock radio as well.
The Vita R1 also has an stereo line out stereo phono sockets which double as line in Aux (auxiliary or spare) socket. Presumably for those with a personal stereo or ipod connection. There is a speaker socket if you want to turn the radio into stereo.
How did the Vita R1 perform?
In terms of use the radio has slightly different logic from the most common DAB radios. At the centre of the control panel is a volume knob which doubles as an on/off switch when pushed. It s solid and well built. To change station there is upwards button and down button. On FM there is silent sequential tuning (i.e. no nasty hiss between stations). To store a station you simply tune it and hold the pre-set you want for a few seconds. Simplicity itself. There are five pre-set stations; whether these are enough depends on how much of a station choice you really feel you need to have with a single button. It does mean the control panel is simplistic, clean and uncluttered. Sensitivity seems very satisfactory in both FM and DAB with a good number of clear signals being received by me.
In terms of sound this is a superb wee radio. I've been listening to it on my office desk for some time (the red version which looks absolutely gorgeous). The speaker gives and extended range and sounds deep and natural. It is not, absolutely not a bright tinny sound. This is a real radio, easy to use, graphics are easy to read and can be warmly recommended. This will inevitably be compared agaist the Tivoli, it is every bit as good, if not better.
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