There are dozens of DAB radios on sale, and as with so many things, some are more accessible than others. Our digital radio webpage offers good advice on choosing a radio, and also mentions one set that speaks the names of available DAB stations. Digital radio coverage varies across the country. Please carry out a postcode check to find out which radio stations are available in your area.
You can also get more information from the Ricability consumer guide to digital radios. The Ricability report (also available in print) makes detailed recommendations of accessible radios based on independent, comparative technical and ergonomic testing.
Pure Sonus-1XT
The Pure Sonus-1XT speaks the time, alarm settings, and all aspects of setting up the radio and display information. It has a real human voice and you can switch off the speech that you don't need.
It also features easy to operate alarms, a backlit night time clock display and talking clock. There is a USB connector so you can keep your Sonus-1XT up to date by downloading software upgrades from an internet-connected PC.
The clock also updates automatically, so you do not have to faff about with British Summer Time clock changes.
Annoyingly the Pure Sonus-1XT can be hard to find in one place for any length of time. Using Google Product Search will usually turn one up though.
Brian Payne has written a review of the Pure Sonus-1XT from a blind perspective.
Pure Move
The Pure Move, which picks up both DAB and FM radio, has been favourably reviewed by two blind users, Peter Wilkins and Jackie Cairns. Here are some of their comments about the Move taken from articles in Access IT magazine.
Jackie Cairns says it is "one of the best little devices on the market." She found it small, lightweight and convenient to use.
Peter Wilkins had this to say about it: "The radio performed much better than I expected. It picks up stations on FM that are normally difficult to tune in here at home, being close to other stations. On DAB, it pulled in all the major multiplexes expected, and some others, which most portables find difficult to receive".
"Although the radio does not have talking menus, all the functions which you are likely to need including auto-tuning and complete re-set are easy to achieve as a totally blind person. In short, I am very impressed with every aspect of this radio. Obviously, it cannot produce music well through its small speaker, but very good results are achieved through headphones, which are not supplied."
One note of caution is supplied by an older user, however, who found the radio difficult to operate because the "buttons were inset and too small".
The Pure Move is available online, prices start at £64.99.
Pure Move 2500
The Pure Move 2500 is also a portable DAB radio. You can save up to 20 stations (10 DAB and 10 FM) as presets on this sleek and lightweight radio.
It has a rotary control dial with a centre select button and a hold switch to isolate the controls (including separate bass and treble control).
The Pure Move 2500 has a bright orange backlit screen measuring 4cm x 1.75cm (1.6 inches x 0.75 inches), with black text lettering.
The rechargeable battery provides 14 hours' listening and can be recharged using the supplied mains adapter or from the USB port on a PC or Mac. It is supplied with noise-cancelling earphones.
The Pure Move 2500 is available from RNIB, priced £89.99.
Dualit DAB kitchen radio
Jackie Cairns also reviewed the Dualit DAB kitchen radio in Access IT magazine (June 2008), saying that "rarely has one particular radio consistently impressed me more".
She went on to say, "If you have little or no sight, you really want to be able to use a DAB radio that is uncomplicated, uncluttered and above all, unrivalled for sound. In my personal opinion the Dualit DAB kitchen radio is the best of all those I have tried and tested to date by some considerable distance."
The Dualit DAB kitchen radio was out of stock on the Dualit website at the time of writing, but could be found on eBay.
Pure Evoke-1S
The Pure Evoke-1S digital radio has a clear crystal display that can be read from almost any angle and in direct sunlight. The radio station name and time are displayed in 6mm and 12mm high yellow lettering respectively on a black background. The Pure Evoke-1S is available from John Lewis (price £99.95) in a choice of wood veneer cases: maple or cherry.
Pure Chronos 2
The Pure Chronos 2 is a silver, triangular digital radio with built-in alarm clock. Each of the four alarms can be set for weekdays only, weekends or as a "one off". You can also choose whether to wake to your favourite radio station or to a buzzer sound.
It has a large LCD display which shows the time in 1.6cm (0.5 inches) high lettering when on standby. When listening to the radio, the radio station name is shown in 8mm (0.31 inches) high lettering.
The Chronos 2 also has up to 20 preset radio stations, a light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness to suit the light levels in the room and a sleep timer and snooze button.
Like the Sonus X1T it also updates the time automatically, so you don't have to adjust for daylight saving time.
The Pure Chronos 2 is also becoming hard to find, but you can use Google Product Search to compare deals. Prices started at £70 at the time of writing.
Pure Siesta
The Pure Siesta is a black, triangular shaped digital radio with contrasting, raised silver buttons and built-in alarm clock. It has three alarms similar to the Chronos 2, which can be set for different days, and with either radio or a buzzer.
It has a large LCD display with white text on a blue background. It displays the time in 1.1cm (0.4 inches) high lettering and the date and radio station in 5mm (0.15 inches) high lettering.
Like the Chronos 2, a light sensor automatically adjusts the display brightness to suit the light levels in the room and the radio sets the time automatically (including adjusting for BST).
The Siesta holds up to 16 preset radio stations and has a sleep timer and snooze button.
The Pure Siesta is available from Amazon, price £59.95.
Roberts Duet
The Roberts Duet 2 is sold by the British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) and offers FM stations plus a host of digital stations via DAB.
Menu, station names and information are all displayed on a large amber backlit LCD panel.
It has ten station presets and allows you to search for stations or manually tune the set (tuning, volume and tone controls are all rotary knobs). There is a headphone socket and the Duet can be either mains or battery operated.
It costs £137.22 (plus VAT if applicable) (with free post and packing) from BWBF.
Good Vibrations braille magazine
If you're really interested in hi-fi equipment, you might also be interested in Good Vibrations - a monthly magazine available in braille, electronically or in DAISY audio which features reviews of new equipment, hi-fi technology and news from the world of hi-fi. Cost per issue: 59p. For more information, or to subscribe to this magazine, contact us on 0303 123 9999.