Morphy Richards Ordio

Unlike digital television, which is finally making an impact on the public after several failed starts, digital radio is still to generate the same effect, even though the technology is excellent.

There are a number of advantages to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). First, like digital TV, there are more stations because the signal can be compressed to fit several digital stations in the space it takes to transmit a single analogue one.

Second, the broadcasts are of a far higher quality than FM - there is no AM in the digital world - so everything is clear (in principle). You also get scrolling text informing you about the channel, the programme or even what song is currently playing.

The Ordio offers all these features and it's certainly easy to set up: it automatically tunes itself, and has simple channel up/down buttons. The display is clear and well designed, as is the rest of the unit. It also plays analogue FM broadcasts.

The only thing that lets it down is the sound, as it squanders the quality of the signals by outputting them through a pair of tinny speakers. If you plug in an external set using the socket on the side, things improve, but it's a bit of a silly thing to have to do. There are better value DAB radios out there.

Contact:
Morphy Richards 01709 582402
www.morphyrichards.co.uk