Wifi radio with dab

Best internet radios 2023: modern radios with streaming smarts

Whether you want music in the kitchen, bedroom, garden or just about anywhere else around your home, an internet radio is an inspired choice.

Unlike traditional FM models, the best internet radios provide access to thousands of stations across the globe for you to choose from. Want a station dedicated to troubadour jazz? Crunkcore? Psychobilly? Pirate metal? Chances are there’s one out there for you, plus thousands of other weird and wonderful frequencies just waiting to be discovered.

How to choose the best internet radio for you

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi?

Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

While internet stations do vary in quality, the radios we’ve shortlisted here certainly do not. After extensive listening and testing both in our designated testing facilities and quite often our own homes as well, we’ve selected our favourite models from a wide range of brands so that you can pick the perfect unit at a price that suits your budget.

Allow us to furnish you with a couple of top tips. Firstly, look for wi-fi and/or wired ethernet capabilities (for the most stable performance), as well as Bluetooth to expand your range of listening options.

Secondly, while all the models featured below offer Spotify Connect built-in, some internet radios go further and include support for Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, or other streaming services such as Tidal and Deezer – make sure your preferred music service is available when making your choice.

Lastly, you’ll want to think about where you actually plan to use your internet radio. If you fancy taking it with you on your trips to the park, you might want something smaller and more portable with great Bluetooth support, while if you want something for the home, you might want something larger you can hardwire to your home network. The better the connection and the more the features, the higher the prices, though.

Ready to browse the best internet radios? Here’s a look at the best in show.

1. Roberts Stream 94L

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Roberts Stream 94L is the latest iteration of an award-winning radio (the Stream 94i and 93i have also been multiple prize-winners in the past), with this model’s updates including a new logo and a faster processor as well as built-in Amazon Music, Deezer support and Spotify Connect. Better still, its considerable talents as an FM, DAB and internet radio remain the standard to beat, too.

The Stream 94L is an undeniably smart-looking unit, flaunting its excellent build quality throughout that smooth, attractive design. The full-colour display is large and readable at a distance, and it’s easy to use with the radio’s buttons and the designated smartphone app.

Performance, thankfully, matches stylistic panache. The Stream 94L is an immensely enjoyable listen, with voices coming through with crystal clarity, the sense of rhythm conveyed expertly, and delivery coming through as punchy, detailed and dynamically expressive throughout.

The Stream 94L’s smooth, unfussy nature masks just how talented a performer it is, especially in its ability to sound so fluid and capable with anything you play through it. At an unchanged price of £200, this remains arguably the best sound-per-pound internet radio we’ve tested in a long time.

2. Tivoli Model One Digital Generation 2

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022 winner. A top update on a top wi-fi radio, now with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Model One Digital Generation 2 looks for all the world like a «normal» radio, complete with fabric grille, antenna and real-wood finish, but don’t be fooled. At its core, the Tivoli is a wi-fi radio, with DAB+/FM taking the reins and now, Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth connectivity its valuable passengers.

This little gem scored five stars across the board in our testing, not just overall but for build, features and a clean, engaging sound – leaving us with no option but to hand it a What Hi-Fi? Award for the best DAB radio over £200. Its footprint is roughly that of a paperback (rather than a bigger shoe box, say), it is thoroughly likeable and it could have come straight from a cover shoot with Livingetc.

We’re not joking when we use the term «sonic finesse», either. Hard rock through to high-energy rap and bright-eyed pop, the Tivoli seems to relish everything that comes its way, delivering tracks with a crisp, enthusiastic presentation. It’s pricey, but if that doesn’t bother you, the Tivoli Model One Digital Generation 2 is a splendid and fully-featured wi-fi radio.

3. Roberts Revival iStream 3

Specifications

Finishes : 9 (teal blue, midnight blue, berry red, duck egg, pastel cream, charcoal grey, sunburst yellow, black, dusky pink)

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The iStream 3 has been around since 2018, but even so, it remains one of the best internet radios we’ve ever tested. Not short on listening options, you get built-in access to Tidal, Amazon Prime Music and Deezer (providing you have subscriptions to these services, of course), in addition to the features of the Stream 94L listed above. While it might look retro, this is very much a modern-day wireless that ticks all the right boxes.

Sonically, the iStream 3 boasts rich sound with a slight focus on the midrange – essential when listening to the vocal-heavy medium of radio. There’s also great rhythmic agility and a really nice sense of sonic organisation that makes Roberts’ effort stand out from the crowd.

The Stream 94L is arguably better value and sounds a touch fuller, but it’s easy to imagine that many may prefer the smart looks of the Revival iStream 3. Either way, it’s a hugely enjoyable listen at this price.

4. Revo SuperConnect Stereo

The five-star Revo SuperConnect Stereo betters its predecessor with improved sound, more features and supreme build quality.

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

We loved the original Revo SuperConnect internet radio (below), but nearly a decade later, the stereo upgrade has taken things to new heights. The SuperConnect Stereo is a certified five-star performer in pretty much every department, serving up superb sound alongside sleek retro-modern looks and a whole raft of features and connectivity options.

In fact, the SuperConnect could well be your go-to alternative to a traditional multiple-box separates hi-fi system, such is the raft of functions on display and the level of sound produced. The range of physical connections is substantial (RCA analogue output, 3.5mm aux in, a digital optical output and 3.5mm headphone jack), while wireless options are accommodated courtesy of wi-fi and Bluetooth, with Spotify Connect, Deezer and Amazon Music music services supported. As a bonus, you can even stream tunes from connected devices on your home network. There’s also the usual access to FM, DAB/DAB+ and internet radio you’d expect from, well, a radio.

Hi-fi quality sound is the SuperConnect Stereo’s real trump card, though. It now has two 3.5-inch BMR drivers powered by a 30W Class D amplifier. Tracks feel balanced, weighty and properly substantial, with far more depth and subtlety than you’d normally associate with a single radio unit. Whether in our listening rooms or at home in the kitchen, Revo’s latest always felt balanced, in control and immensely enjoyable to listen to.

When we first heard that Revo was planning to charge £489 / $599 / AU$899 for its latest internet radio, it initially felt a tad steep. Having tested and lived with the SuperConnect Stereo for a number of weeks and experienced its class-leading sound and effortless usability, we can cheerfully confirm that it’s worth every penny.

5. Revo SuperConnect

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The new SuperConnect Stereo might have stolen the old dog’s thunder, but rest assured, the 2014 mono model (which won a 2016 What Hi-Fi? Award) still knows plenty of tricks. We considered the original SuperConnect to be one of the finest in its class when we tested it nearly a decade ago, and while newer internet radios have come and gone, Revo’s superb effort is still a bona fide winner. And while the price has crept up in the intervening years, it is considerably cheaper than the newer Stereo model.

The thing is, if you’re going to put the word ‘Super’ in the name, your product had better be something special, and the Revo SuperConnect really is that. Inside is a single 3.5-inch BMR driver powered by a 15W amplifier. You get the full suite of connectivity options that’s similar to its newer, bigger SuperConnect Stereo sibling, including wi-fi streaming, Bluetooth aptX and Spotify Connect, as well as the standard FM/DAB/internet radio. And it’s easy to use thanks to the clear OLED screen and large control dial on the side.

And the sound? Impressively weighty, with serious scale and authority and not a hint of harshness or brightness. At times it can be a little too weighty – that bass could do with being reined in a little — but this remains a great option for anyone on the hunt for the best internet radios.

6. Goodmans Heritage Portable

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

With a handy handle and a diminutive size, this is possibly the most portable of the items on our list. Portable it may be, flimsy it ain’t: you don’t have to worry about the Goodmans Heritage surviving the journey: this is a radio that always feels satisfyingly weighty and solid.

In terms of sound, the presentation is really nice and clear, with good body and texture, even if the treble can sometimes sound a little harsh at the upper edges. There’s also a good sense of rhythm for such a titchy size, whether you’re listening from internet radio or Spotify Connect.

A dedicated wireless speaker will give you a more refined sonic experience, but for a small and relatively inexpensive radio, the Heritage Portable is immensely listenable. There’s a slight hardness to the sound, but that is the only blemish on an otherwise impeccable record, and if you like that particular flavour to your music, you’ll find little else to dislike here.

If you’re suckered in by the gorgeous looks (who wouldn’t be?) and the expansive feature set, you’re unlikely to be disappointed by this retro-styled internet radio – a model that has truly stood the test of time.

How we test internet radios

We independently review hundreds of products each year, always as a team, at our state-of-the-art testing facilities located in London, Reading and Bath. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency and of course, impartiality, while ensuring no opinion goes unheard from our team of audio experts.

All radio products are tested against rivals in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference. We test not only the raw audio quality of internet radio (and FM and DAB) but all its advertised features from Bluetooth connectivity to streaming support to the alarms and presets.

Performance is important but only in the context of a radio’s value. A much more expensive radio might come with lots of bells and whistles, like various streaming service support and lots of connectivity options, but if you’re only ever listening to the same four radio stations, you might be better served by a more focused radio that caters to your needs. Equally, if your internet radio is doing double duty as your main audio system, it needs to be up to the task (and your budget). And if you’re not getting outright audio enjoyment, it’s not exactly great value. A five-star product both performs great and is excellent value.

We choose only the best products from all of our reviews to feature in our Best Buys. There’s no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict. At What Hi-Fi? we are proud to have been delivering honest, unbiased reviews for decades.

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What’s better: internet radio or DAB radio?

Internet radio gives you access to tens of thousands of radio stations from across the world, so you get far more choice than DAB radio. DAB is perfect if you’re happy to listen to local and national stations. Internet radio is your portal to world music but remember, you will need a wi-fi/internet connection. Sound quality? Again, that depends on the radio station and the strength of your connection. It isn’t necessarily true that one always sounds better than the other.

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