Morphy Richards DAB EPG Radio

Posted by T3 Online on Fri 26 Oct 2007

Can I get a rewind? Yes, if you own this radio.

Like Sky+ for radio, this digital model pauses and rewinds DAB broadcasts and has a built-in electronic programming guide (EPG) so you can pick shows by name and record them.

This new feature really is a fantastic addition. Press the EPG button and you can scroll through a list of upcoming shows on any station over the next seven days. If you want to record a show to the supplied 64MB memory card, just press Select and it'll be added to the list of scheduled recordings. It's that simple.

Unfortunately, the rest of the package isn't up to the same standard. The sonics are merely average, with the sound proving particularly unexciting when listening to fast dance music on 1Xtra. The case is also plasticky and some of the controls are unintuitive - that big dial doesn't set the volume, even though it looks like it should.

EPG functionality is set to become standard on digital radios in the coming months, but we have to tip our hats to Morphy Richards for getting it out so early - even in a model that's far from perfect - and making PURE et al look like they're sleeping on the job.