
Bush BCR26DABIP DAB+ digital radio
This Bush clock radio incorporates an iPod/iPhone dock
Pros
- Good audio quality, supports all iPods and iPhones
Cons
- Annoying to set up, not particularly user friendly, collects finger prints
Bottom Line
The Bush BCR26DABIP digital radio/iPod dock performs well, though it's slightly pricey for what you get.
-
Price
$ 179.00 (AUD)
The Bush BCR26DABIP is a tabletop DAB+ digital radio that can also receive FM broadcasts and play music from your Apple iPod or Apple iPhone. It has a programmable alarm clock with a variable schedule that allows it to be set for weekdays only — useful for waking up for work.
Bush BCR26DABIP: First impressions
When you unpack the Bush BCR26DABIP, do yourself a favour and read the operating manual — the set-up process is not particularly user friendly. Unlike digital radios such as the Pure EVOKE Mio, the Bush BCR26DABIP doesn’t automatically set the date and time when you switch it on. This is irritating, especially since the radio has to be in its standby mode to make changes — we wouldn't have realised this without the help of the manual.
At first, we couldn't get the Bush BCR26DABIP to pick up a DAB signal; every time we selected a station we received a 'station unavailable' message. After a few minutes of navigating through menu options we found a 'prune' option, which removes stations that are not active or cannot be received. After we pruned the BCR26DABIP's station list we rescanned and found every digital radio station correctly. While this was a relatively painless process, it was more confusing than we were expecting — the manual came in handy again.
Bush BCR26DABIP: Design
The Bush BCR26DABIP digital radio looks like most other bedside table clock radios: it is capsule shaped, with 12 navigational buttons arranged on its top, plus a large snooze button. On the digital radio's left hand side is a dual-line LCD screen that shows signal strength, time and date, and other information.
We were expecting better build quality given the Bush BCR26DABIP's $179 recommended retail price. The glossy black finish is similar to many other Apple iPod or iPhone docks, but the plastic felt cheap and flimsy and we don't think it would survive an accidental fall from a bedside table. We found this to be a bit of a let-down considering the sturdier build quality of other Bush radios like the Bush BR20DAB.
Bush BCR26DABIP: Performance
Disappointments in design and setup aside, the Bush BCR26DABIP clock radio functions well. The small 1W mono speaker handles audio surprisingly well; even at maximum volume distortion is minimal. Bass notes are slightly muffled and unclear, though.
The Bush BCR26DABIP can easily fill a room with clear and audible music, whether it's from your iPod or a digital radio station. We also found the alarm function worked well. The Bush BCR26DABIP comes with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, — this means the Bush BCR26DABIP will survive a blackout with your alarm settings intact, and also means it is possible to take the radio outdoors to listen to music. An auxiliary port in the back of the unit allows for non-Apple MP3 players to be plugged in.
Bush BCR26DABIP: Conclusion
As an iPod dock, digital radio and alarm clock, the Bush BCR26DABIP does its job well. However, we believe the set-up process could have been easier, and we would have liked a better quality plastic body.
Become a fan of GoodGearGuide on Facebook
Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: @GoodGearGuide
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. Sign up to GoodGearGuide’s Gear Daily newsletters
Brand Post

Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dynabook Portégé X30W-J – a very good all-rounder
- 2 Realme 7 Pro review: Further progress
- 3 Oppo Watch review: A masterclass in imitation
- 4 Google Pixel 5 Review: Soft Reboot
- 5 Google Pixel 4a review: The Goldilocks Google phone
Latest News Articles
- JBL PartyBox 310 lets you party in wet and dark places and sing duets
- A radical new Apple TV is in the works with a HomePod speaker and camera
- The Apple TV may get 120Hz support before the iPhone
- Apple TV+: Every upcoming show, series, and movie
- Changes in tvOS 14.5 beta point to no more ‘Siri Remote’
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks

Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers

Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world

Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles

PCW Evaluation Team
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G

Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65

This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76

It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Jack Jeffries
MSI GS75

As the Maserati or BMW of laptops, it would fit perfectly in the hands of a professional needing firepower under the hood, sophistication and class on the surface, and gaming prowess (sports mode if you will) in between.
Taylor Carr
MSI PS63

The MSI PS63 is an amazing laptop and I would definitely consider buying one in the future.
Christopher Low
Brother RJ-4230B

This small mobile printer is exactly what I need for invoicing and other jobs such as sending fellow tradesman details or step-by-step instructions that I can easily print off from my phone or the Web.
Featured Content
- JBL PartyBox 310 lets you party in wet and dark places and sing duets
- Fujifilm announces GFX Suite at Park Hyatt Sydney (102-megapixel camera included)
- Valheim: how to create a dedicated server
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?