Simple internet / wifi radio recommendation?

J_B

flaneurs_lobster said:

J_B said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Roger-D said:

Sonos Roam any use?

https://www.richersounds.com/sonos-roam-sl-black.html

I think this is just a speaker from what I've read? ie does not have radio function built in. Or am I wrong?

It's just a speaker (albeit a good one), there is a "smart" version too for chatting to but no radio functionality.

But, with the Sonos app on any smart phone (we use an old I Phone in aeroplane mode), you can control it to play any internet radio as well as BBC Sounds, Spotify etc

Is that not true of any bluetooth speaker? I use an old rubbish soundbar and an old Moto mobile as a "radio", streaming BBC Sounds mainly.

I'm not sure to be honest but the Sonos doesn't need the phone to actually play the music, just to 'control' it.

e.g. I can tune in to Radio Mongolia from my phone when I get up, but then when I've gone out a.n.other can retune it from their phone (or even the PC if they should wish - although that app is less intuitive)

flaneurs_lobster

J_B said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

J_B said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Roger-D said:

Sonos Roam any use?

https://www.richersounds.com/sonos-roam-sl-black.html

I think this is just a speaker from what I've read? ie does not have radio function built in. Or am I wrong?

It's just a speaker (albeit a good one), there is a "smart" version too for chatting to but no radio functionality.

But, with the Sonos app on any smart phone (we use an old I Phone in aeroplane mode), you can control it to play any internet radio as well as BBC Sounds, Spotify etc

Is that not true of any bluetooth speaker? I use an old rubbish soundbar and an old Moto mobile as a "radio", streaming BBC Sounds mainly.

I'm not sure to be honest but the Sonos doesn't need the phone to actually play the music, just to 'control' it.

e.g. I can tune in to Radio Mongolia from my phone when I get up, but then when I've gone out a.n.other can retune it from their phone (or even the PC if they should wish - although that app is less intuitive)

Ah yes, I see the difference. The app is "casting" to the speaker, once the internet source and speaker are connected the controlling device is no longer required. Different to just streaming to the speaker from the device.

Roger-D

J_B said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Roger-D said:

Sonos Roam any use?

https://www.richersounds.com/sonos-roam-sl-black.html

I think this is just a speaker from what I've read? ie does not have radio function built in. Or am I wrong?

It's just a speaker (albeit a good one), there is a "smart" version too for chatting to but no radio functionality.

But, with the Sonos app on any smart phone (we use an old I Phone in aeroplane mode), you can control it to play any internet radio as well as BBC Sounds, Spotify etc

I appreciate that we could use a smart-phone and a speaker but, it's all too much of a faff tbh. By the time we've connected the blue-tooth, launched the app/s etc we'd kinda give up bothering. We have the same set up in the van, it's fine if we're settling down for an evening but not for 10 mins or so of listening.

Rosa_Damascena

Another vote for Amazon Echo / Dot. Encourage your DW to give it a go.

Alkmund2

I hope this is not too long after the original request to still be useful but this was still on my front page when I logged into the forum, I am a massive fan of internet radio and have used many different devices over the years. I like a device that functions easily like a classic radio with buttons and dials and can be carried around the house and even garden. By far the best I have used, and the one I still use every day, is the Roberts Stream93i which was updated to the Steam 94L. I particularly like that you can have 40 preset stations accessed via a button and dial and with five directly accessed on the front. The radio does need a separate battery pack attaching to the back to make it fully portable which is a little clunky. However the sound is fantastic, it holds the wifi signal well and it has lasted multiple times longer than any other internet radio I have owned.  

J_B

Roger-D said:

I appreciate that we could use a smart-phone and a speaker but, it's all too much of a faff tbh. By the time we've connected the blue-tooth, launched the app/s etc we'd kinda give up bothering. We have the same set up in the van, it's fine if we're settling down for an evening but not for 10 mins or so of listening.

With Sonos, once set up, you just open the app and press 'play' - not much of a faff really

Just looking back at your original post ...

Roger-D said:

Can anyone recommend please, a VERY simple and easy to use internet radio for our use in the kitchen?

Ideally, battery operated / re-chargeable so that it retains it's wifi connection and scanned stations but not plugged into the mains 24/7.

Sounds quality and looks are somewhat secondary desires.
Sonos Roam can do all of those things

I'd rather not use my phone plus speaker as that seems to be rather complicated, particularly with fingers covered in flour etc.

How would you control *any* device with fingers covered in flour?

Maybe Sonos Roam with Alexa? ;)

ladruid

Without knowing your budget its hard to give any concreate recommendations. Would you accept 2nd hand off fleabay?

From what I gather you want:-
Internet radio
Battery operated
No voice activation
Don't care about ascetics
Don't care about sound quality

One that jumps to mind, cheap and cheerful should be ok, the Pure ELAN CONNECT+, £54.95 from Amazon, if you use subscribe and save, could save an extra 5%.

Another slightly better one that jumps to mind might be the Pure Elan IR5 at about £120 from Amazon. Adds a few other features you might find interesting like kitchen timers and alarms. A few other features you might never use like Bluetooth connectivity (use it as a speaker) and Spotify connect.

Used 2nd hand possible options:-
Oakcastle IR100 (not battery) - fleabay - £15 bid or best offer + postage
Roberts Stream 106x - fleabay - £15 bid + postage
Goodmans Heritage P1 - fleabay - £59 buy it now free postage