Need advice about Internet radio

[zombie nights]

I am considering purchasing  a new "internet" radio. Currently I have a Pure Evoke radio which gets me worldwide stations via my wi fi internet connection. However this radio is a bit dated and I am looking to buy a new internet radio here in Thailand (I am in Pattaya).

Can anyone give me a recommendation?

Also: as I am not technically savvy can someone explain to me :

Is there any difference between an internet radio and a radio that has bluetooth?

Many thx in advance.

 

[KittenKong]

Internet radios were popular 5-10 years ago but have now really been superseded by smartphones and Bluetooth speakers, and also other gadgets like the Chromecast audio and stand-alone smart speakers. Internet radios were mostly built to use one of two service providers and when one of them folded it rather put the nail in the coffin. As far as I know there are only one or two decent brands still making them, and I doubt that they will be widely available or cheap here.

 

If you have an Android smartphone or tablet then you could use that. If you dont have one you can buy one for very little: even the most basic model with Bluetooth will do what you need. Couple it to a Bluetooth speaker (Bluetooth is just a wireless way of connecting two devices over short distances, like wifi, and widely used for audio) and away you go. Prices would vary from very cheap to very expensive, but the choice is massive.

 

Depending on what stations you like to listen to, services like Tune-In or BBC iPlayer will be worth looking at on your Android device once you have it.

 

You could also consider a Sonos player of which various sizes are available. You need a smartphone or tablet or PC to control them but they work alone once started. Other brands make similar devices. I have Sonos players myself and I like them very much.

 

For a higher quality system you could look at a modern AV amp and speakers, which could be wired or wireless. These almost all offer internet radio and Bluetooth connectivity these days. In my main room I have a Yamaha amp and some Boston Acoustic speakers which work very nicely and were bought here. All would be cheaper elsewhere, of course.

 

Is portability important? How much do you want to spend? What stations do you tend to listen to? Is BBC radio catch-up important? Be specific about what you want to do and the suggestions will be more to the point.

[DUS]

I have the Evoke Flow and wouldn´t want to trade it in for anything else that´s currently on the market. Why do you want to replace it? Just because it is a few years old or because you are missing features that you´d expect from a new device? 

 

I am just curious since you don´t have to "justify" your desire to replace the Evoke, of course!

[zombie nights]

Very much appreciate the helpful replies from Kittenkong  and DUS.

DUS: I am considering a new one but if there is nothing better on the market I will stay with Evoke Flow.

K-K: Very detailed reply, thank u. I listen to the radio a lot as preferable to other medium as I have eye problems etc.

BBC stations live 5 live and radio 4 and LBC mostly. I am not really into music.

I do have Android phone and tablet but prefer the radio. For me the radio reception is better than on the Android.

No need for portability. Could spend several thousand baht if necessary but after reading what DUS says maybe I will stay with Evoke!

 

 

Edited June 12, 2017 by zombie nights

[DUS]

Made me smile to read that you´re actually a LBC listener, as well. Love that station despite there´s hardly a day when either callers or one of the presenters don´t wind me up...... But it´s been much better since Katie Hopkins had to leave the station. But, ok, this thread isn´t about politcs so I better stop here... ;-)))

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, zombie nights said:

BBC stations live 5 live and radio 4 and LBC mostly. I am not really into music.

I do have Android phone and tablet but prefer the radio. For me the radio reception is better than on the Android.

 

The "reception" is not the problem as the signal in both cases is digital and identical. What you are probably hearing is the difference between a fairly decent speaker on your radio and a fairly crappy phone/tablet speaker.

 

As you own both an Android tablet and an Android phone then all you really need is a decent Bluetooth speaker(s) to pair with them. These are widely available here and I suggest that you go to few shops and listen to some. To find high-end models you may need to go to Bangkok.

Better still, see if you have a friend who owns some as you can pair your phone/tablet to his speakers very easily for prolonged testing.

 

 

[DUS]

Yes, but why paying money for external speakers when the Flow already offers very decent sound? Especially given the usage for "talk radio" only, I´d personally see no advantage at all of "binning" the Flow and to pay for BT speakers instead. But, yes, this is "imho" only.

 

[KittenKong]

6 minutes ago, DUS said:

Yes, but why paying money for external speakers when the Flow already offers very decent sound? Especially given the usage for "talk radio" only, I´d personally see no advantage at all of "binning" the Flow and to pay for BT speakers instead. But, yes, this is "imho" only.

 

I'm working on the principle that the OP wants to change. If he doesnt want to change then that's fine and we can all move on. I cant decide that for him though.

[partington]

7 minutes ago, DUS said:

Yes, but why paying money for external speakers when the Flow already offers very decent sound? Especially given the usage for "talk radio" only, I´d personally see no advantage at all of "binning" the Flow and to pay for BT speakers instead. But, yes, this is "imho" only.

 

I'm not sure what "internet radios" do, as like almost everyone else nowadays, I use a smartphone with the  TuneIn and BBC iplayer apps.

 

But these give almost literally access to every station you could ever want to listen to, world-wide. If internet radios limit you to certain stations, that in itself is a reason to abandon them.

 

And for non-music talk radio, a very moderate bluetooth speaker is more than adequate to substitute for the crappy phone speaker with acceptable quality.

[KittenKong]

52 minutes ago, partington said:

I'm not sure what "internet radios" do, as like almost everyone else nowadays, I use a smartphone with the  TuneIn and BBC iplayer apps.

 

An internet radio is more or less identical to a smartphone/tablet + TuneIn + Bluetooth speakers, except that an internet radio only does internet radio and not all the other things that a tablet or smartphone does as well. Also an internet radio would normally have a much less user-friendly interface and a much smaller screen. But it might have a "retro" radio exterior which of course some people would appreciate.

 

I used to have an internet radio many years ago but now I prefer the combination of phone/tablet/PC with some good speakers, but I do listen to a lot of music radio as well as talk radio. The BBC catch-up function is a particularly big advantage of using a modern device as few internet radios (if any) offer this. They are usually limited to BBC podcasts for catch-up functionality.

[Here It Is]

I'm a big fan of TuneIn Radio Pro and purchased it years ago when it was just 69p.  It's now £9.99 but still a very good investment.  The Pro version is ad-free and you can also record your favourite shows.

 

The premium subscription version probably wouldn't suit the OP, but I could be wrong, though he would need to do his own research.  There is also a free version but it's full of ads and doesn't have the record function.

 

I also have quite an expensive Bowers & Wilkins wireless speaker back in the UK and it rocks but there are cheaper alternatives if one so wishes.  Notwithstanding, I can leave the house and listen to TuneIn Radio live (100k+ stations) or listen to my recordings on my smartphone and when at home I can turn on the wireless function and listen through my speaker.  

 

I'm sure you'll agree that your internet radio is not quite as portable.

[oldcarguy]

is there an older PORTABLE Internet radio that I could look on Ebay to buy ?

 

hopefully something that has a rechargable battery.....

 

yes I have too many smartphones I could use , but they are not loud enough when out in the yard , and a used one might be cheap on ebay....

 

thanks for your ideas

[whatawonderfulday]

just download "Tune in " radio app on your phone. Listen to any station in the world almost.

[KittenKong]

6 hours ago, oldcarguy said:

is there an older PORTABLE Internet radio that I could look on Ebay to buy ?

hopefully something that has a rechargable battery.....

yes I have too many smartphones I could use , but they are not loud enough when out in the yard ,

 

You will find it much easier to look for a portable Bluetooth speaker with battery. There are many companies manufacturing these, including all the top names. Just pair it with one of your smartphones.

[AnthonyRich]

Just adding up to previous 2 comments: use  Tunein on the smartphone + Bluetooth speaker. I use JBL they've got high-quality sound and very small)

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've done a version of this in my living room at home, with a regular Android tablet on a stand connected to a portable home stereo system via a standard 3.5mm audio stereo cable. Just tap the tablet screen for a selected app, and the music or other content (news, talk, podcasts, etc) streams/plays through my stereo.

 

There's lots more than just TuneIn for Internet radio, though TuneIn in indeed great. There's also a Shoutcast2 app available within Kodi that works really well. There's an IHeart Radio app for many U.S. stations. And several other very good Android apps that focus on world radio content. Not to mention a lot of podcast (spoken word content) available via YouTube and elsewhere. Your tablet or smartphone can play it as video, but that doesn't stop anyone from listening to the feed just through an audio stereo.

 

 

[zombie nights]

Thanks again all the helpful replies.