VQ Monty Radio - Is it a wise buy?

Redlander

We need a radio that is portable around the house, hence battery operated. The VQ Monty comes highly recommended, including being a Which? best buy, and seems to fulfil all our needs. However I see that its battery capability comes in the form of a custom battery pack, which is apt to prejudice me against it. I'm concerned that the battery pack might wear out after the model has become obsolete, and so not be replaceable. I'd feel much happier with a radio that accepted standard batteries. Does anyone disagree with this reasoning? Or on the other hand can anyone recommend a DAB radio with comparable specifications that takes standard batteries?

IOWJJBTM2025

I got given a Roberts digital radio years ago. It works off mains or battery. We just have it plugged into the mains and has been playing for years constantly without issue.

WIAWSNB

Redlander said:

We need a radio that is portable around the house, hence battery operated. The VQ Monty comes highly recommended, including being a Which? best buy, and seems to fulfil all our needs. However I see that its battery capability comes in the form of a custom battery pack, which is apt to prejudice me against it. I'm concerned that the battery pack might wear out after the model has become obsolete, and so not be replaceable. I'd feel much happier with a radio that accepted standard batteries. Does anyone disagree with this reasoning? Or on the other hand can anyone recommend a DAB radio with comparable specifications that takes standard batteries?

I don't know that model, but you are right to be concerned.

These custom battery packs tend to be stupidly overpriced, so will cost when it comes to replacement time. However, they should last a few years. 

I suspect the main issue will be that DAB consumes a lot of power, so recharging will be a constant - most likely daily - event - is this a problem? 

What stations do you listen to - is FM an option? 

WIAWSNB

Nice radio!
For a layperson, there won't be an easy way to get away from the £20 for a replacement. But if it lasts a couple of years, then that's not too bad.
I'd personally find it falling, tho', so would likely be able to replace the actual cells inside at a fraction of that cost.
Looks like a charge gives around 24 hours of play, but that review didn't mention what 'band'. As I mentioned, DAB uses significantly more power, so if you can use FM and charge longevity is important, then do so.
Will the battery become obsolete along with that model? I'd like to think not, but ask VQ?
I had a wee Pure portable DAB a while back (not impressed - really poor sound quality) and that had a daft modular battery - a chargepak a1, I recall. Stupid money, but I could see it held a pretty standard cell inside, looked like a 18650 but not sure - so would only have been around a £iver to replace. But sold the darned thing.
I'd ask VQ how long they 'promise' to keep making the batteries, but I'm sure third-party suppliers, or a friendly local repair fellow will step in if needed.

kipsterno1

Another vote for looking at the Roberts range. We have two, one mains and a portable mains/battery, and both are good quality.

John_the_Boy

I have one of these, it is a solid radio and good quality but let down by being fiddley and having a few flaws such as if you disconnect it from the mains it reverts to its really loud default volume setting rather than to what I had set it.