RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

Radios - August/September 2004

Ease of use is very important with products like radios. Here we give you the comments of both our user panel and experts.

  • Panasonic RF3700

    A small, portable radio with a comfortable handle. The digital display screen is clear and a good size, but isn’t visible from above. Tuning is easy, thanks to a good sized control. The tone and volume controls are on the side, can be tricky to find and could be larger. Batteries are quite easy to change.

  • Panasonic RXD29

    A large and heavy product, but it has a big and comfortable carrying handle. The digital display is clearly lit and well positioned. Easy to tune and adjust the volume, using either the buttons or the remote control unit. All controls are well placed on top of the product and the remote control is compact yet easy to operate. Many functions rely on the remote so don’t lose it! Batteries are awkward to change.

  • Pure Evoke-1

    A compact radio, but not very portable. It’s not battery powered and has a tiny carrying handle. The digital display is small and can only be read if you are directly in front of it. To read it from above, you have to tilt the radio! But the display is clear and the tuning straightforward. Controls are a bit small but the labelling is clear.

  • Pure Evoke-2

    A large and heavy radio with a small and uncomfortable carrying handle – limiting its portability. The display and controls are very similar to the Evoke-1, but it also has an easy-to-use variable tone control. Easy to tune, but difficult to read the display. Batteries are awkward to change. The only radio on test to have both stereo and digital optical output connections.

  • Roberts R9943

    A small, upright and portable radio with a chunky, comfortable handle. The digital display is very large, well lit and very clear. It is angled upwards towards you, making it very easy to see. Tuning was fairly simple, using either the buttons or large rotary dial. Volume and tone controls are on the side, but are a good size and quite easy to use. Labelling is a bit small. Batteries are easy to change.

  • Roberts Gemini

    Very similar to the R9943. Wording on the digital display is very large, very clear and very easy to read. The tuning control is smaller than on the R9943 and it could be awkward to push it to select a DAB channel. Once you find the DAB channel you want, you only have two seconds to select it by pushing the control – often this isn’t enough time and can be frustrating.