Revo iBlik RadioStation digital radio
This versatile and modern digital radio is hampered by its mono speaker
The Revo iBlik RadioStation is a desktop digital radio with an iPod dock and Wi-Fi networking. It's stylish and modern, but the troublesome controls and an imperfect mono speaker mean it isn't a great choice.
Pros
- Good looks and tabletop size, Wi-Fi and iPod dock
Cons
- Muffled mono speaker, no official iPhone support
Bottom Line
The Revo iBlik RadioStation is a digital radio that rivals the Kogan Digital Radio and the OXX Classic DAB+ when it comes to versatility. It's a stylish unit as well, but there are a few issues that stop us from recommending it wholeheartedly.
-
Price
$ 449.00 (AUD)
We like the look of the Revo iBlik RadioStation: the vaguely trapezoidal shape and black finish reminds us of a certain lovable robot. A gloss accent on the front on either side of the blue two-line LCD adds a touch of class. Unfortunately we found the buttons difficult to navigate and having the screen on the front (away from the buttons) doesn't help. We get the feeling the iBlik RadioStation is destined for many bedside tables — an iPod dock and buttons that are easy to use when you're standing by your bed, and a crisp screen that's easy to see while you're lying down.
Like the Kogan digital radio and the OXX Classic DAB+ digital radio, the Revo iBlik RadioStation has an internal Wi-Fi chip and aerial allowing it to connect to your home network. Be thankful you only have to connect it once for it to remember your password — the push-button interface of the iBlik RadioStation means that every character is tortuous to enter.
Once the initial setup is out of the way, the experience takes a massive change for the better with a huge range of Internet radio stations available, in addition to whatever media you have stored on the PCs on your Wi-Fi network. Navigating through media and Internet radio stations is quick and trouble-free. The iPod dock is an added bonus and although our iPhone 3GS wasn't officially supported, music played back with no difficulties (though only supported devices can be operated via the remote control).
Sound quality is our main sticking point with the Revo iBlik RadioStation. It has a single monaural speaker like the majority of other digital radios on the market, but it's a smaller speaker than many others. Its upwards orientation means the digital radio has a room-filling sound when the volume is turned up, which is a pleasant alternative to the more focused sound of the Pure ONE Classic. The speaker has reasonable mid-range response but there was a distinct lack of treble clarity, often leaving music sounding more muffled and closed-in than other players. There's also no scope for adjusting treble or bass weighting through an equaliser, so you can't tailor the sound to suit your tastes.
We think the Revo iBlik RadioStation looks great and is a good table-top alternative to the taller, more imposing units from Kogan and OXX. Unfortunately, the lack of official iPhone support is puzzling, the controls may take some getting used to and the sound quality isn't brilliant. If you're intending to use it as a fire-and-forget system for the living room or bedroom, the Revo iBlik RadioStation should serve its purpose well.
Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: @GoodGearGuide
Most Popular
Best Deals on PCWorld
- Home EntertainmentView all »
-
-
Yamaha RX-A820BL A/V Receiver ...
$819.92 -
Cambridge Audio 651A Stereo Am...
$795.00 -
Onkyo TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Net...
$549.00 -
Pioneer VSX-1021 7.1-Channel A...
$789.00 -
Lifestyle BOSE LIFESTYLE 135 H...
$3299.00 -
Denon DRA700AE Receiver
$729.00 -
Rotel RB-1582 Power Amplifier
$1699.00 -
Yamaha RX-A2020BL A/V Receiver...
$1641.85 -
Pioneer VSX-1021 7.1 Channel A...
$792.99 -
Primare I22 Integrated Amplifi...
$1899.00 -
Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1 Channel Net...
$545.99 -
Marantz PM-11S2 Integrated Amp...
$3559.00 -
JVC SONY NEX CAMERA WITH TWIN ...
$798.00 -
Yamaha YHT-498AU 5.1 Channel H...
$899.00 -
Sonos CONNECT Wireless Streami...
$549.00 -
Luxman L-507u Integrated Ampli...
$5170.00
-
- TVsView all »
-
-
TCL 48 Full High Definition Ul...
$595.00 -
Sharp 40 3D Quattron LED LCD T...
$999.00 -
LG 42LS5700 42 107CM FULL HD S...
$819.00 -
Voxson 32inch HD LED TV VLED32
$349.00 -
Panasonic TH-P60ST60A Smart VI...
$2099.00 -
Changhong E19M750DV 18.5 inch ...
$219.00 -
Sharp LC46LE835X 46 inch 117cm...
$1398.00 -
LG 42LS5700 42in TV
$759.05 -
Hisense 65 FULL HD LED LCD TV ...
$2444.95 -
LG 55LM9600 55 139CM FULL HD C...
$2841.00 -
Sharp LC60LE630X 60 inch 152.4...
$1496.00 -
Panasonic TH-50PF30W 50 Inch 1...
$1976.18 -
Panasonic TH-L50EM6A 50" ...
$1148.00 -
Sony FWD42B2 42 LED Commercial...
$1707.20 -
Sony KDL46HX750 46 inch HX750 ...
$889.00 -
TEAC 40 FHD LED/LCD Blu-ray TV...
$725.00
-
- ProjectorsView all »
- MonitorsView all »
- Digital VideoView all »



Be the first to comment.