There’s something deeply charming about the design of a Roberts radio – my family had one in the kitchen when I was a kid, and I remember it both for its wonderfully retro look (it wasn’t too dissimilar to the very distinctive Roberts R66 from the 1950s, although ours was decades newer) and for its sound quality, which made other radios sound embarrassingly bad. So I’m delighted to see that the latest Roberts radios have incorporated their distinctively modern technology into designs that Harry Roberts himself might have created.
Roberts has introduced three new additions to its Rambler family: the Rambler Uno, the Rambler Midi and the Rambler Max. And while they wouldn't look out of place in my childhood kitchen, they're packed with modern technology.
Roberts Rambler Uno, Rambler Midi and Rambler Max: Key Features and Specifications
The Rambler Uno is the most affordable of the new radio models, and is the successor to the Rambler Mini. It's a DAB, DAB+ and FM radio and clock radio with a full-range speaker and passive bass radiator, a transparent OLED panel and Bluetooth, and it runs on four AA batteries. It's really pretty and quite affordable for a Roberts model, priced at £129.99 (that's about $171 or AU$254, give or take a dollar). You can choose from duck blue, navy blue or pastel cream.
The next model up is the Rambler Midi, which costs £179.99 (about $237 or AU$350). It’s a new, much more compact design, although it shares the same design DNA as the rest of the Rambler range. Once again, it’s a radio and alarm clock with DAB, DAB+ and FM with Bluetooth, and this time the single full-range driver is wired for better bass. There’s a front-facing LCD screen, and once again, it runs on four AA batteries and comes in teal, navy or pastel cream.
The Rambler Max is the smartest of the bunch, complementing its radio features with Spotify, Deezer and SmartRadio integration, a TFT display and an optional lithium battery. As of yet, there is no cream colour option for this model – the choice is between navy and teal. The Roberts Rambler Max has a recommended retail price of £199.99 (about $263 or AU$390).
The Roberts Revival Petite 2 is the company's latest success. Yes, it stands proudly among the best DAB radios we've tested, alongside two older options from Roberts. Will a product from Roberts' new Rambler trio soon join it? We're working on it…
The three new Rambler radios are available now at RobertsRadio.com and select retailers.