Roberts radios

Bogof_Babe

I've been lead to believe that Roberts are the aspirational standard for radios. However I've only bought two and they have both been faulty.

The first one had a problem with the FM waveband, in that it couldn't be turned off except at the wall socket. Unfortunately I had it for a while before starting to use it, by which time the manufacturer's 1-year guarantee had expired. We returned it to the shop, who confirmed it was faulty, but they could do nothing for us. £50 down the drain.

The second (smaller) radio is okay except for the alarm clock and time setting - neither can be set either correctly (time) or to not go off (alarm). I've had to resort to taking the batteries out and disconnecting from the electricity supply, to prevent being woken at 6.00 a.m. The instructions are rubbish - i.e. "if you don't want the alarm to sound, turn it off" without any description of how to do so. The only button is "mode" and that either engages or disengages displaying the actual time, which cannot be altered even if incorrect.

I am just posting this to ask whether anyone else has encountered similar problems with Roberts radios. I'm not losing sleep over it, but will never buy one again.

stripeyfox

I have a Roberts radio (listening to Five Live on it now) at work and a DAB one at home. Had the one at work for years and years, never a problem with it. Could have been unlucky I suppose. Have you written to them? They supply radios to the Queen (wonder what she listens to) so suppose they most be ok?

trisontana

I have had a Roberts clock radio for three years now and it's had no problems at all. The clock is one of those over-the-air radio-controlled types and so it always keeps very accurate time automatically changes the BST/GMT and has very good sound quality. I think you must just be unlucky with the two radios that you have bought.

There is a very good magazine called "The Radio Listener's Guide" which carries out independent tests on various models. Roberts always seems to get very good ratings from these tests.

Bogof_Babe

Thank you both for the replies - I've ticked Trisontana's box because of the magazine recommendation, which I've never heard of but will look out for now.

Yep I guess I was just unlucky - shame, as it's put me off them. Still I have had some excellent finds with other (cheapo) makes in Currys and even Sainsburys, and probably saved myself a few quid in the process!

You can't win 'em all lol.

trisontana

You cannot buy the above magazine in the shops. It is only published once a year and it is sent through the post. The cost is £5.45 but if you subscribe for two years you get the third year for free.As well as reviewing radio sets it lists all transmitter sites , details of broadcasting companies and has features on analogue and digital broadcasting. In all there are about 150 pages.They also do a similar one for TV but I don't think that is so good.

Details here :- https://www.radiolistenersguide.co.uk