Test and comparison of 4 WiFi radio receivers

All four of the products that we tested have pleased us satisfactorily. All have a point in common and that is that the WiFi radio works well! What distinguish them from each other are the additional functions and their ease of use (navigation menu, settings, remote). If we had to choose the best product then it would be that which takes the best from each of these!

The Orange LiveRadio has its only default in its lack of audio power. But, it has to be said that their internet stereo speakers suffer greatly even in a small room (kitchen, bedroom). And it’s not even possible to connect it to your HIFI correctly as there is no RGB port support. We did appreciate the USB connectivity though so that you could connect your MP3 player with audio books.

The Freecom MusicPal has the best web administration interface going. Its connection options are also very complete with real RCA audio outputs and an Ethernet port so that it can be connected to your wired network. Those used to using routers will appreciate the interface menu with its ease of use. Our only disappointment was the size of the device. We thought this would help the bass, but even this was disappointing.

The “big cube” or Terratec Noxon iRadio has the best onboard sound out of all these devices! Also adding or looking for radio stations with the help of the remote control was quicker here then with any of the others tested. Like with the Freecom, the connectivity options are good with an Ethernet port and external WiFi antenna which greatly improves the reception. The automatic standby function (15 min, 30 min) is an advantage as well as the clock display, unfortunately though it isn’t possible to program an alarm clock like with a standard radio.

It’s true that the Pinnacle SoundBridge HomeMusic doesn’t have an internal speaker, but when looking at its other qualities, this detail is quickly forgotten. In reality, its racy aspect fits it nicely with your lounge room HIFI system… Its price of 100€ is also a strong symbol with its very adapted functions. It is the only model to have an SD/MMC card reader so that you can play MP3 files directly on the device. It does have two defaults though: a 2 line LCD screen that is too small and poor navigation through the remote, especially when looking for a specific radio station or MP3.

Characteristics