Roberts Revival review

You may or may not like the retro styling of this Roberts, but it sounds superb Tested at £200

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Retro, beautiful and a great performer to boot

Pros

  • +

    Amazing styling, coherent and clear sound, solid in build and performance

Cons

  • -

    Some may not like the style

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.

Style, like beauty, is very much in the eye of the beholder, so when a product comes out of the box screaming ‘retro!' as much as this one, we have to expect that while some will love it, others will not.

Roberts calls it ‘fifties styling' but the Revival also features DAB/FM tuners, a good (though top-facing) display and a dedicated iPod/MP3 player socket.

But whether or not you like its gold-plated trimmings, the one undeniable fact about this sturdy Roberts is that it sounds fantastic.

Less bombastic than the Pure Evoke-2S, it concentrates on delivering a solid, clear and detailed midrange – and succeeds admirably.

Voices are vivid and real, while musical instruments are unpicked and presented with excellent coherence. Brilliant stuff

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.

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