Listening to Gold – what are my options?

Other ways to get Gold

STOP PRESS (14th Sept 2015): Read about how you can hear Gold radio now in many parts of Scotland and England – it’s back!

If you’ve been tuning around while the ads are on Gold radio, there’s a good chance you won’t have heard the announcements that in all areas apart from London, Manchester and the East Midlands, Smooth Radio is taking over Gold’s frequencies on DAB and AM. There’s more information in our article here about the changes, which will happen on Monday 24th March. Yorkshire, too, has had a reprieve, as it appears Gold will continue to be broadcast on the region’s DAB digital multiplex until its closure in 2015.

So, if you find that the only way to tune in to Gold in your area of the country is via your tv box (Sky Channel 0121, Virgin Media Channel 959 and FreeSat Channel 722) but are looking for another way to carry on listening to the revised, jukebox-style Gold, you could think about getting an internet radio, if you don’t fancy tying up your PC or tablet on Gold’s app. You can then add Gold to your favourite list of stations on your internet receiver and listen to its output over the internet.

What’s the cheapest option?

Currently, a Q2 tip ‘n’ tilt internet radio is available for £35 delivered, in a white finish. There’s also a black version  for £35 delivered (just look under the list of retailers to find it at this lower price) and a green one for £38. The idea with the Q2 tip ‘n’ tilt is that you firstly connect it to your PC to store a handful of favourite stations on the radio, then unplug from your PC and you’re up and running, having entered your network’s key and password (usually found written on the underside of your router). The advantage of the Q2 is that is has its own built-in rechargeable battery and unlike may radios that require a separate rechargeable battery pack, you can move the Q2 around the house, as long as it’s in range of your wi-fi broadband connection.

If you don’t mind spending a bit more and want a really reliable internet receiver, the Roberts Stream 83i offers an easy way to start listening to radio stations over the internet. You’ll have access to thousands of internet stations from around the world and literally hundreds playing sixties music, like Absolute Radio 60s, Radio 10 Gold 60s and 70s, British Sixties Radio, Sky.fm’s 60s rock and Radio Sixties 78 from across the water in France, to name a few.

The author of this blog has a Pure One Flow and, with the latest software running on the radio, it’s a top-notch way to listen to podcasts, streaming radio and catch-up services. The wireless range of the radio is about ten metres with a couple of plasterboard walls in between, but you could buy a wireless range extender to boost your wi-fi signal around the house.

If you want a little more research, check out our top 3 internet radios feature.

And don’t forget, you can also listen to the radio via your PC or tablet, UK RadioPlayer app on iOS, Android or WindowsPhone smartphone.

 

Did you find this information useful?

You can buy me a coffee (or half a cup) with the link below – thanks!

Roberts Blutune – playing a different tune with audio streaming

DAB’s all well and good, but it’s useful to have a way of listening to the radio streamed via your smartphone (or tablet) on a traditional receiver. Roberts has included Bluetooth streaming in its latest range of DAB-enabled radios, which let you wirelessly connect your smartphone’s audio, allowing you to direct sound through the radio’s speakers. In this way, you can connect to loads of stations via TuneIn or UK RadioPlayer, without worrying whether they are on broadcasting on DAB.

The range covers all bases, with the simple, retro look of the Revival Blutune through to the alarm-enabled Blutune 50. All feature DAB and DAB+ (the latter tech is useful if you’re planning on taking your radio abroad, or are concerned that your radio should completely future-proofed). All those with an alarm clock feature a rising volume and dimming display.

Roberts’ pricing is pretty competitive and you get a lot of bang for your buck, with decent sound quality and features.

Roberts Blutune 40 – typically £80

Roberts Blutune 40 – a dinky DAB radio with alarm clock features

The Blutune 40 includes two separate alarms, with a rising volume level and display dimmer. If you don’t want to use Bluetooth streaming, there’s a 3.5mm input socket for any brand of mp3 player. Compact at 180mm x 105mm x 138mm, the Roberts Blutune 40 also has FM, DAB and DAB+, to access stations such as Radio 4, 6 Music and Classic FM easily. There’s a stereo headphone socket, too. A single full-range speaker (5 Watts) is protected by a metal grille.

Roberts Blutune 50 – typically £100

Radio streaming via your smartphone with the Blutune 50

The Blutune 50 has two mid-range speakers for stereo sound (10 Watts in all), plus a larger bass driver for a bit more low-down emphasis. Like the ’40, two separate alarms are on-hand, which can be programmed to any combination of weekday, weekend or daily settings. A display dimmer stops the radio lighting your room at night and a headphone socket is included for quiet listening times. DAB, DAB+ and FM wavebands complete the picture.

Roberts Blutune 60 – price £TBA

Using CDs? Here’s the Roberts Blutune 60

Just in case you’re listening on CD (and why wouldn’t you be, with Amazon’s AutoRip giving you an mp3 digital copy alongside your physical CD backup?), the Blutune 60 is for you, with CD player and the same “humane” wake-up call, thanks to dual alarms. The display dimmer, headphone socket and 3.5mm input for a generic mp3 player or other audio device match those across the range.

Roberts Revival Blutune – typically £200

Reviving radio, with Bluetooth connectivity – the Blutune Revival

Fancy a bit of a fashion flashback? The Revival Blutune looks understated, but shares the same Bluetooth capability and is the only one in the group that is truly portable, with up to 120 hours’ battery life from 4 standard D-size cells. Chrome-plated fittings and fifties’ styling camouflage other up-to-date features such as 3.5mm audio input and audio output sockets (the latter helps you connect the unit to a hi-fi system for a bigger sound), a 3.5mm headphone socket and RDS station naming on FM. DAB and DAB+ broadcasts can all be picked up on the Revival, too. It’s a sturdy 1.6kg, but the Revival is reassuring with its carry handle and metal grille.

Roberts Blutune – typically £200

Roberts Blutune tabletop receiver with aptX codec

Finally, the high-specification original Blutune ups the game with a modern, aptX Bluetooth profile, enabling top-of-the-range smartphones to stream audio to the Blutune in the highest quality.

A single alarm, 2.1 speaker system and FM, DAB and DAB+ wavebands are packed into the receiver, measuring 340mm x 155mm x 173mm. It puts out 2 x 9 Watts RMS audio power.