Roberts Reva

Powerful sound and a classy design

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The Reva fills an attractive niche in the radio market. Below it is the tiny Roberts Revival Petite 2 (£100 or so), while more premium specimens, such as the superb Ruark Audio RIS, are available if you're willing to spend around £300.

At £199, this Roberts DAB radio sits nicely between the two, making it a tempting proposition if you seek considerable radio pedigree at an affordable price. One of the major selling points of almost any Roberts digital radio is its design, and the Reva is no different in this regard. Its substantial trapezoidal form won't necessarily appeal to those who can't resist the cutesy charms of the small, adorable Revival Petite 2, but there's no denying just what an attractive and well-realised product it is when placed on a kitchen counter or bedside table.

The radio comes in a choice of three finishes - Cherry, Pastel Cream or Black. Style, happily, is married seamlessly with ergonomics, making the Reva a pleasure to use. The rectangular digital display is bold and easy to read from afar, displaying the time and date if left in standby mode and then switching to key track or station specifics as required.

Flanking that display are two metal-fronted dials, for volume and selecting inputs/adjusting tuning. Various mode buttons are below that, as well as a power switch adorned with a slender LED.