Monitor Audio develops high-tech internet/DAB/wi-fi radio

Monitor Audio AirStream 10

But Monitor Audio reckons it has all the bases covered with its unusual-looking AirStream 10. It's an internet radio with built-in FM and DAB tuners, so whatever happens you'll be able to carry on listening to your favourite radio stations well into the future.

Designed in Britain, the AirStream 10 has curvy aluminium casework with a real-wood veneer finish on one end, a central controller for browsing the menus and six-line LCD display.

That distinctive design serves a specific purpose – the radio can be positioned vertically where space is tight, or alternatively placed horizontally on, say a bedside table.

Built-in wi-fi enables the user to connect to a wireless home network and pick up 15,000+ internet radio stations, as well as stream digital music files from a PC or Network Attached Storage (NAS) device. It supports playback of MP3, WMA and AAC files.

There's an Ethernet connection too if you prefer a wired connection to the web. An Ethernet cable is supplied as standard.

You also get a 3.5mm aux input for connecting MP3 players, 3.5mm line output for hooking up to a hi-fi system, an alarm clock with snooze function, four presets and a headphone socket.

Available in the UK this month, the AirStream 10 costs £225.