View Quest Retro digital radio with iPod dock

The View Quest Retro is a digital radio that has a docking station designed to fit Apple iPod and iPhones so that the music stored on them can be played through the radio's speakers.

The docking station is concealed at the front of the device and opens with a simple press. But this was not noted in the instruction manual; a needless omission that means some people may try to lever the docking station out, risking damaging the product.

Setting up the radio to receive digital channels was simple. The View Quest Retro has a button that you can press to scan for stations available in your area, which also updates the date and time. Station availability and sound quality from digital radio will depend on the strength of the DAB signal in your area.

Four modes are available: DAB and FM radio, iPod and Aux In – the last of which enables you to plug in a non-Apple media player via a standard 3.5mm phono lead. We thought it was slightly disappointing that the radio failed to detect when an iPod had been attached – instead, you need to manually switch between modes using a button on the front panel, and there is a delay of up to three seconds when switching between modes.

Once the device is set to iPod mode, the buttons on the front of the View Quest Retro can be used to skip through tracks, but not albums. To do this you have to use the controls on the iPad or iPhone. As the media player sits flush with the front panel, that's no bother.

View Quest says the Retro will accept 'newer' iPhone models but does not clarify what that means. We tested it successfully with the iPhone 3, 3GS and iPhone 4.

Sound quality with iPod plugged in was quite good, with the 10w speakers delivering a level of clarity we would expect from a product at this price, which is to say good enough for use in the kitchen but not to provide the music at a party.

A clock and alarm function is built in although, like many DAB radios, setting an alarm was hardly intuitive and reference to the manual was a necessity. But the manual is reasonably clear and concise.

The View Quest Retro is a decent enough DAB radio and provides a satisfactory adapter for iPhones and iPod for household use. It also charges Apple devices, provided its running from the mains.

But it's not quite as stylish as its manufacturer would have you believe from the fancy packaging it comes in. The bright red leather surround and handle are attractive but the stylish look is diminished by the cheap-looking, battleship-grey speaker grille.