More than just background music: Internet radios put to the test

For a long time, VHF stations were the radio standard, but the radio was also digitized and so we have been enjoying the digital transmission and sound quality for several years.

But since there are clear differences here too, the test portal AllesBeste tested 55 Internet radios.

The internet-enabled devices are real jack-of-all-trades, they can not only receive every digital radio station in the world, but are also able to play music from other sources.

For example, you can connect a USB stick to many devices or connect to the smartphone playlist via Bluetooth.

There are also internet radios in a wide variety of sizes and price ranges.

In order not to compare apples with pears, AllesBeste compared three different price and equipment classes when testing the best internet radios: internet radios for around 100 euros and those for around 200 euros.

A third category is made up of models that are also equipped with a CD drive.

Not only the sound of the radios was rated, but also how easy they are to operate, how well equipped they are and how well they can be integrated into the home network.

Internet radios in the test

The test winner in the cheapest device class was the Imperial Dabman i205.

It has a well thought-out and clearly structured menu which, together with the color display, makes integration into the WLAN network and further commissioning very easy.

The sound is completely sufficient for smaller rooms, the built-in loudspeakers only reach their limits when the volume level is increased significantly.

The HAMA DIR3115MS was able to pick up a recommendation in the 200 euro class.

The retro-designed internet radio is particularly easy to connect and can even be integrated into a multiroom system using an app.

Apart from these “soft skills”, the HAMA can also convince with the core competencies of an Internet radio, because the sound of the DIR3115MS is consistently high and hardly tends to roar even at higher volumes.

If a CD drive should be on board, then the TechniSat digital radio 600 is the right choice.

With a weight of a full five kilograms, the TechniSat bolide not only looks good, it can also convince in terms of sound across the board.

Powerful basses are just as much a part of the sound as a decent stereo image.

More information and other recommended alternatives in each category can be found in the detailed review of AllesBeste.