Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/11/06/review_radio_dab_fm_roberts_ecologic_1/
Roberts Ecologic 1 portable DAB radio
A darn good little tuner
6th November 2008 09:02 GMT
Review The downfall of portable DAB radios have always been their lack of battery life. Few models have really been able to sustain themselves long enough to deliver a truly out-and-about experience.
Enter the Ecologic 1, part of a six-strong line-up each of which offers extended battery life and, in the case of the Ecologic 1 and its brother the Ecologic 2, a built-in battery charger.
Roberts' Ecologic 1: comes with a built-in battery charger
Battery waste is still a big problem in the UK, with only a very small percentage of non-rechargeable batteries being recycled. In fact, EU legislation now requires the UK to recycle 25 per cent of all its disposable batteries, a target which looks unlikely to be met.
Roberts is doing its bit by supporting a free take-back scheme which operates through independent retailers in 21 UK towns and cities where the public can dispose of dead batteries.
But it really hopes consumers will adopt rechargeables, and the Ecologic's on-board charger is one way it'll use to encourage them to do so.
Not that the Ecologic 1 is perfect. Charging the four NiMH rechargeable batteries the radio is designed to be powered by takes seven hours, which seems rather long, especially when standalone chargers can do it much more quickly. The batteries don't charge while the radio is being used.
However, in the radio’s favour is a small lock on the side of the unit that makes sure that the radio can't be accidentally turned on while being transported, cutting down on wasted power consumption. It also comes with an energy efficient mains adaptor and a switch that cuts off the charger if you are using disposable batteries.
A green light indicator flashes while the batteries are being charged and then shows a steady light when the process is completed. The same light also turns red as the batteries near the need for a recharge. Roberts reckons the radio will run for 25 hours when used with disposable batteries for four hours a day. We found this was in the right ballpark, and although there's no quoted figure for the rechargeable option, we found it to be only a little bit less than alkaline batteries managed.
If we wanted to be really critical, we could say that a compact portable radio whose power output is quoted at 0.5W is hardly going to make a vast difference to your carbon footprint. If you want to make a real difference in that area, buy a bicycle or insulate your loft.
The control array is well laid out, accessible and clearly labelled
Still, we can hardly blame the radio for that. What the company has done is make some effort to make its products more efficient and as batteries are a problem in this area, it has to be applauded for that. However, the crucial point about the Ecologic 1 is that regardless of all the green issues it's actually a bloody good little portable radio.
The radio is functional in appearance with a nod to the portable radios that could be spotted in many a school playground in the 1970s. It's also very well put together, a really tough little radio built to stand the knocks and drops that a portable radio is bound to experience. Its black or white gloss finish adds to an overall pleasing appearance, and the controls are well laid out and labelled.
Even before you turn the radio on, you know what all the controls are and what they do.
The aerial is a very good size for a radio this compact - it's 160 x 105 x 35mm and weighs 365g. One criticism is that the recessed area where the antenna lives when stowed means that the aerial can really only rotate 180° rather than a more useful 360°. Still, the radio doesn't struggle to find stations.
One quick auto search and we had 28 DAB stations registered, the same as some more expensive models were picking up. A useful feature in FM mode that can help to widen the station search is a scan sensitivity setting, allowing the user to choose between local or distant scanning.
There are ten station pre-sets - five DAB and five FM - a fair number for a radio at this price point, and they are easily stored using buttons on the front of the unit. In fact, all the functions are accessed very easily, with the buttons all mounted on the radio’s face so the unit can actually be used resting in the palm of one hand.
Also available in white
With only a 75mm driver to work with, the unit might be forgiven for being a little on the thin side when it comes to sound quality and power. But for its size, the Ecologic performs well, going surprisingly loud for its size, with very little sound distortion or rattle coming from the casing. The radio is most at home with talk radio, but had enough clarity and depth to cope with heavy opera from Radio 3 and light, ambient sounds from DAB station Chill equally well.
There was also enough brightness about the sound to cope with some more complicated jazz. In DAB mode, there is a Dynamic Range Control option which allows quieter sounds to be heard more clearly, particularly in more noisy environments.
The display isn't huge, but the orange 16 x 2-character LCD scrolls fast enough to keep up so the information is clear. A input port for an MP3 player would have been welcome, but there is a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Verdict
This sort of uncomplicated approach is perhaps where Roberts performs best. This radio is more power-efficient than some of its competitors, so if that's your bag, then you might favour this radio for that reason alone. If not, then how about the notion that, for £50, you get a very usable compact portable radio with good sound and decent battery life? That's enough for us.
Roberts Ecologic 1
Regardless of whether products like these make a significant impact on the environment, this is a bloody good little portable DAB/FM radio.
- Suggested Price:
- £50
- More info:
- The Ecologic 1 DAB radio on Roberts' website (http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/Products/DAB_radios/Ecologic_1/index.htm)
Rating
