Looking for a good Portable AM FM Digital Radios? Do you want the best price? The new DAB + technology allows you to tune radio stations digitally, thus avoiding distortions and improving sound quality, it also offers much more stations than the FM spectrum and you do not have to change the dial every time you travel since the station is selected automatically.
Digital radio is one in which the transmission and reception patterns of sound are processed into numbers. Analog radios process sound with electrical signals. Digital radios are becoming more and more popular with consumers. These devices offer clearer sound and a higher frequency. There is a wide selection of stations with digital radio; in addition, the listener can program it to receive a station with a particular interest. Digital radio provides the convenience of receiving additional stations with no attached charges. There are several different makes and models for digital radios.
We all go to the radio to entertain ourselves, listen to the best music we like the most outdoors and almost anything on their AM / FM bands. The good news is that radio has changed a lot, and now the best portable digital radio includes other great-value features like a clock function, rechargeable batteries, and even an MP3 player so you can use it like a bugle and play your favorite music.
They are also really portable, so much so that some you can carry around in your pocket. Many support a microSD card for you to play your content and can even incorporate other quite new functions such as Bluetooth connectivity and even a voice recorder.
If you want a radio that you can take wherever you want and hear the best signal, take one of these kits, they are really convenient and ideal for camping, fishing, traveling, picnicking, and climbing.
Our Top Pick best portable digital radio
- Retekess V112 – Best for smallest and Rechargeable Battery for Walking Gym
- Sangean PR-D5BK AM/FM Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS
- Avantree SP850 – Best for Bluetooth Speaker
- Sangean PR-D19BK FM Stereo/AM Digital Tuning Portable Radio with Protective Bumper
- Retekess TR103: Best Small Digital Radio for Office & Pocket
- Sangean DT-250 – Best for Europe market
What are the advantages of digital radio?
Modern digital radio allows you to listen to FM and AM stations as if they were a normal analog radio. The only thing is that there may be a small lag between the original signal and what you hear, since it may take a few seconds for the information to be processed and reproduced on your device.
Also, keep in mind that HD radio has a somewhat lower range than analog, so you may have some signal dropouts if you live far from a transmitter.
However, these are several of the benefits:
- The information they show: they have a screen that gives you information about what you listen to, such as the name of the artist, the song, or even the name of the announcer or the guest of a program. Some more advanced models even let you mark songs to get more information through a QR code.
- It’s free: HD radio is totally free, not like satellite or internet radio, so you won’t need a subscription to listen to the radio.
Features of digital radios
Manufacturers of digital radios offer models with quite varied options. For example, most should have a screen so you can see the details of what you are listening to, which adds a significant advantage over analog radio.
They also have auxiliary ports so you can connect headphones and listen more comfortably or to connect other devices and use the radio as a speaker, while they can also have a clock function for you to set alarms and more.
There is home theater equipment that has HD radio receivers and incredible sound quality, as well as portable radios with batteries that you can take anywhere.
Reviews on what is the best portable digital radio?
The following comparison list contains our take on the best models on the market. They all offer great functions and features in their own way, as each has its own differences.
Some of these models have more battery than others, all come with a speaker, and depending on the product they may have compatibility with memory cards so that you can play your own music or even USB connection to connect it with other devices.
Sangean DT-250: Best for the Europe market
It may be the most expensive model on our list, but it comes with a built-in speaker and other good features that make it a great option. This digital radio weighs about 109 grams and has a fairly classic silver design, with a backlit LCD screen to display the information you are interested in about your stations and more.
It features a low battery indicator, auto-scan function, and 19 random presets, as well as a mono/speaker switch and Dynamic Bass Boost (DBB) sound processing for deeper bass and better sound quality.
Apart from that, it includes an automatic shutdown function after 90 minutes of inactivity, a removable clip to be able to anchor the radio on your belt, FM antenna cable to listen with the speaker, without using headphones, which are also included.
Avantree SP850 – Best for Bluetooth Speaker
It is the least expensive model on our comparison list but still has excellent features that make it very versatile and convenient. First, it has a compact, black design, which is refreshing and different from the typical silver finish of regular portable radio models.
It has memory for up to 10 FM stations and 10 more FM stations, for a total of 10 presets. It also has an automatic or manual station scan function and a radio alarm clock function. Besides all, it is surprising that despite its low price it has a backlit LCD screen, built-in speaker, and headphone jack, which are included.
Retekess TR103: Best Small Digital Radio for Office & Pocket
If you are looking for a more modern and contemporary design than typical portable digital radios in a silver finish, this inexpensive model is perfect for you. However, the features and benefits of this portable digital radio do not stop there, but go further and make it ideal for camping, fishing, traveling, picnicking, and climbing.
With this model, you have not only an AM / FM radio, but you also get an MP3 player thanks to its built-in speaker and the microSD card reader that allows you to play whatever audio you want. Apart from that, it also includes USB connectivity, a carrying strap, a telescopic antenna, and a rechargeable battery. It also has an LCD screen with a remaining power indicator.
What are the different types of AM / FM radio?
Every home should have an AM / FM radio, even if it’s just for emergency use. The good news is that there are several types of radio so you can choose the one that best suits you, although laptops are emerging as the most convenient and practical in almost any situation.
- Weather Emergency Radios – These work with AM and FM bands and allow you to listen to music, radio shows, and more. But they are also ideal for harsh climates and emergency situations where there is no power, as they have emergency lights, spare batteries, backlit displays, and more.
- Portable: they are the best for mere entertainment since you can take them to the beach, camping, on outdoor excursions, or even in the pool with your family or friends.
- Personal: they are so compact that you can carry them in your pocket, so they are ideal for jogging, running, or adventuring. While many modern smartphones and iPods have built-in radios, digital pocket radios are a great alternative if you don’t use those technologies.
- Clock: these models with clock function let you know the time while listening to your music and you can even set the alarm to wake you up at an hour with your favorite songs or the radio. Some models have a port for your smartphone, so you can charge it and play your music.
Related: Best Outdoor Portable Radio with Waterproof
Differences between analog and digital radio
Radio stations transmit signals through their transmitter towers, which send information waves in amplitude modulated (AM) or in frequency modulated (FM), which are basically two types of different wave frequencies.
In general, the AM frequency works in low and medium frequencies between 153 kHz and 26.1 MHz, and common FM radio stations usually transmit between 87.5 and 108 MHz. However, we are all familiar with the loss of signal on rainy days or in remote areas, as both frequencies are susceptible to interference.
That is what we know as analog AM / FM radio that has been heard since the days of our grandparents.
In the case of digital radio, stations transmit bits of data, which are sent in stronger signals, with less interference. For its part, digital radio is something new to which some radio stations have been changing, although the move towards this new technology has not been as fast as that experienced by television years ago.
In fact, many of the stations that have switched to HD radio have not completely dropped their analog signals. The good thing about digital is that you have more options, you can listen to many more stations with better sound quality and you can even listen to analog radios.
What you have to consider before buying a portable digital radio
Before going out to buy one of these compact, convenient and practical devices, we recommend that you consider the following aspects and that you look for a model that includes at least a couple of them:
- Features: Look for a model with a display and digital tuner, as well as a digital clock, backlight, and even an auto-off function. Other than that, HD radios let you preset both AM and FM bands, from 10 to 25.
- Size: think about whether you want to place it on a table, carry it on the bus, or on your arm while you exercise or jog. This will have an influence on the size you need and what features it will have.
- Style: There are many styles, from the most elegant and refined, to the largest and even not so attractive. Remember that style does not guarantee the quality or good functions, but it is important for you to like the product.
- Sound: if you want good audio quality, remember that you need a good quality product but if you are going to listen from a basement, remember that you probably won’t get a very good signal. Also, remember that the sound quality of many portable radios depends on the headphones you use, so look for good ones instead.
- Power Source: Many models are powered by alkaline batteries, the size and number of which depend on the type of radio. However, other models include long-lasting rechargeable batteries and chargers.
- Convergence: Every day more AM / FM radio receivers are seen in smartphones and other devices such as MP3 players. If you like that convergence of technology, look for a versatile model that includes several of these functions.