On first switch on it goes into a tune mode for DAB stations and it found 67 in my area. It defaults to the first found.

The Roberts Revival Mini has rotary dials for tuning and volume control, which are very easy to use. You can also set and recall preset stations by just pressing a button, which is much easier than with most DAB radios where you would need to press a complicated sequence of buttons. Sound quality There was a slightly more involved discussion between Roberts and another member of the radio forum. He bought one of the combined DAB and internet radios from them. One month after his warranty ran out, the BBC changed the encoding method that they broadcast their streams in, so he could no longer decode them. Roberts said that they couldn't do anything to help him ( see my next paragraph ), but did offer him a discount on a new similar radio. I gather that things became rather heated, which apparently ended discussions between him and Roberts. One feature which few DAB radios have is ‘Prune’ and this allows you to remove stations that are permanently off air or those you know you will not ever want. The Roberts Radio Mini is a super-stylish bit of kit, with a stunning front grille that just screams “Radio history”, and a carry handle so you can take your investment with you wherever you go. The gold plating really makes the accents of this radio stand out too. Hi Nigel ! Just out of interest, is there a brand these days who impress you with after-sales support ? Something that customers would appreciate !Power: Mains operated or portable with 4 LR6/AA batteries (not included) Performance and design Ease of use For anyone looking for a reliable Bluetooth speaker with DAB and FM radio that you can throw into a bag and know that it’ll last throughout the afternoon and long into the evening, this little Roberts should be on your list. Any individual yet to invite the joys of the original wireless into their lives will find this device a compelling gateway product. It’s also a decent Bluetooth speaker, it offers wired listening, and it sounds every bit as good as anyone can ask for the price.

For a truly tiny product, the Revival Petite sounds as big as you could reasonably hope to achieve; a credit to Roberts’ know-how when it comes to gleaning the best possible sound from a portable design. We listen to it outdoors hooked up to our old iPod. We listen to Capital FM radio in the kitchen, then talkSPORT DAB at our desk. We send a playlist to it via Bluetooth from our phone. Every source the Roberts relays is delivered with agility, textured vocals, pleasing depth and clarity. In Macy Gray’s I Try, Gray’s vocal is central, crisp and emotive alongside a regimented bassline in a cohesive, surprisingly detailed and musical mix. Listen to Debussy’s Clair de Lune and the keys feel three dimensional, with a generous sense of rise and fall through the dynamics.The first button switches between DAB and FM. The second button is auto tune where a single press will move to the next station found starting at the lower end of the FM spectrum. You can manually tune in .5 increments using the right button. The third button is Favourite and this allows one DAB and one FM station to be tuned immediately on switch on. The forth is Info which has up to seven options for the second line of the display. The last button is Presets which are set by a press of the Preset button for a few seconds. Once in Favourite mode the second button just circles through favourites rather than them being assigned to a number or combination of button presses. The white goods suppliers seem to be a bit more hands on than the brown goods suppliers and a number still run their own network of service agents e.g. Electrolux's ServiceForce who may use independent repairers but are there to provide national support for their products.

Prior to Roberts taking over spares and service it was done by R&M Technical Services, who were pretty good, and very helpful. At the park (where listening to its radio will save on data eaten by pinging DAB stations from your phone to your Bluetooth speaker), in the kitchen, by your bed or beside your desk, the Revival Petite is a joy to use and sounds very good indeed. VerdictIf you’ve always wanted to explore the benefits of Roberts sound quality for yourself, or you just love that Retro look, then the Mini is a fantastic entry point into the brand. Additionally, while it doesn’t come with certain features, like an alarm, it does feature everything you need for a good radio experience – which is what counts. Roberts Radios are just cheap made in China radios, and seem to have very little spares support now. It’s also worth noting that music streamed via Bluetooth doesn’t sound quite as good as the DAB output. It’s only a little thinner, but there’s a slight reduction in the wow factor, especially if you’re used to larger Bluetooth speakers at the same kind of price point. Roberts Revival Petite review: What could be improved? Well, at a glance, it’s exactly what you would expect – a smaller, more compact version of the Revival. There’s that fantastic retro vibe that made us fall in love with Roberts Radio in the first place.

One reason I kept the radio was because there was an easy (but not perfect) workaround. The BBC still retained old fashioned (and a bit lower quality) mp3 streams for all the stations and these were not affected by the change. The FS portal lets you add/save favourites and I added the BBC mp3 streams for my required stations. I could then use them as normal on the radio until Roberts fixed it. Now, the Roberts Revival Mini looks great, it sounds amazing, and it even feels good to carry around with you. However, Roberts is offering their smaller radio at a discount price, which also means that you have to compromise a bit on features. Sony are still one of the best for after sales support, but like everyone else it's not what it was - the money isn't there to offer decent support any more. Everyone wants cheaper and cheaper prices, and cutting service support is one way of doing that. Aside from the aforementioned distortion at high volumes and minor dip in sound quality while streaming over Bluetooth, there’s very little to dislike about the Revival Petite.

Kitchen Radios

I suppose the thing with digital radios sold commercially is to "be happy with things that work moderately well"... The display could be better, as it’s very small, with text to match, which can make reading menus or finding out what’s playing a bit of a challenge. It’s also very bright, and while you can reduce the brightness level, you won’t get it down to levels you won’t notice in a darkened room. With the Roberts Revival Mini you’re mainly paying for the stylish retro design and the prestigious Roberts name, though it does have decent sound quality and the built-in battery charger is a great feature. Well, that depends. The Mini isn’t as compelling as the original Revival, but we can definitely see it has appeal. The Mini provides a portable and cost-effective option for people who want to become a part of the Roberts community.