Roberts Revival iStream review

We love this stylish and sophisticated retro offering from Roberts. Not only does it sound good, it looks the part as well Tested at £200.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Fifties style meets modern functionality: this is a very stylish internet radio portable

Pros

  • +

    Classy looks and controls

  • +

    USB input

  • +

    well-weighted sound

Cons

  • -

    If you like the styling and the price, nothing

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

As the Revival name suggests, this is one of Roberts' retro models. It draws on the styling of the company's 1950s radios, complete with a large grille, soft touch wrap and carrying handle, and chrome detailing extending to the clip holding the full-width back panel.

Open this and you can load the radio with four D-size batteries for portability, supplementing the mains supply provided.

On the top panel you get a decent display, pushbuttons – there's a dedicated one for Last.fm, for which a one month trial subscription voucher is provided – and volume/selection knobs.

Royal seal of approval
Also up there are a couple of Royal Warrants, headphone out and line-in on 3.5mm sockets, and a USB socket for memory-stick media, while on the back is another 3.5mm socket for line output.

The display, while monochrome, is clear and easily read from above.

The Roberts is nicely finished and also sounds excellent, with the single driver having port tuning and endowing music and speech with decent weight, detail and openness.

Yes, there's something slightly plummy and retro about the sound as well as the looks, but it's a long way from the lightweight feel and flimsier audio of the other Roberts radios we've seen recently.

See all our internet radio reviews

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test