Revo AXiS

We’ll forgive Revo the keyboard torturing name of the AXiS because at first glance the Scottish radio specialists have produced another landmark WiFi Radio device.

With the Revo Blik our workhorse radio here at Wifi Radio Review Towers, we always look forward to the next product release out of Lanarkshire and the AXiS is ticking all the boxes (even if it did just take 3 attempts to get the case of each of those letters correct).

Revo has taken the now ubiquitous featureset demanded of top end WiFi Radios – DAB, DAB+, internet radio, media streaming, iPod dock, LastFM – and added in a 3.5 inch touchscreen, bringing it inline with rivals such as the Pure Sensia (although the Sensia is 5.4″ compared to the AXiS’ 3.5).

Revo insist that AXiS will have superb audio performance. To quote them directly this “is thanks to the inclusion of NXT’s patented ‘Balanced-Radiator’ (BR) loudspeaker technology. BR drive units combine the performance attributes of an NXT flat panel speaker with the pistonic movement of a conventional loudspeaker, resulting in a high performance compact drive unit that can cover a wider range of frequencies.”

The Revo AXiS will start to ship on October 1, 2010. We are looking forward to getting our hands on one.

Read more here on the Revo website.

Oxx Classic 600

OXX has launched the CLassic 600 WiFi radio in the UK.

Retailing at around the £145, the Classic 600 is a solid, if unspectacular, entrant into the market, featuring a fairly standard Reciva featureset.

There is no battery power which is becoming unusual at the ‘portable’ end of the market, but you can expect an FM radio, clock and music streaming from a PC or Mac.

Worth a look, but it is up against strong opposition from other radios with a few extra features such as DAB or rechargeable batteries.

RCA RIR205

In a market dominated by radios where style is often prized over substance it is a surprise to see the latest offering from RCA. With a design that would not have looked out of place in the late 80s (but not in a cool retro way), the RIR205 tabletop internet radio is not going to leap out at you as you browse the shelves of your local electronics store.

This is unfortunate because this ugly duckling has a few USPs that need attention.

As well as the obligatory streaming of 10s of thousands of radio staions you also get an FM/AM radio, Slacker-style song tagging and 512 of internal storage so you can record up to 10 hours of music.

For $149 this is a bargain, but you are unlikely to want to give it pride of place anywhere apart from a dark shelf in the kitchen or hidden on top of the fridge.

Revo Blik Radiostation

When we brought you news of the Revo Blik a couple of weeks ago we were fairly apathetic about its arrival. Yes, it had those now-expected Revo good looks and no doubt great functionality, but all in all it appeared to be a Pico, only larger, less portable and with an alarm clock.

And that is still the case with the Blik WiFi.

But wait, Revo brings us news today of a secret sibling in the Blik family, the RadioStation. This beauty combines a WiFi radio with a DAB radio and this seems to be a world first. Better still, it can receive DAB+ as well and just in case you had no DAB or WiFi reception, an FM radio to boot.

Blik RadioStation is the result of a long and fruitful collaboration between Revo technologies and Frontier Silicon, the industry leader in digital radio technology.  At the heart of Blik RadioStation is Frontier Silicon’s new multi-standard Venice 6 module.

Steve Evans, VP of Sales and Marketing at Frontier Silicon said: “The combination of Wi-Fi radio, DAB, DAB+, FM and network music streaming capability will be a very powerful proposition for end users.   Revo has done a fantastic job in designing and releasing this highly desirable radio so quickly.  We expect BLIK RadioStation to have particular appeal to all countries that are rolling out DAB+ services in the near future.”

So, here at WifiRadioReview.com we have two conflicting feelings about the Blik range. The Blik WiFi is not setting our world alight, but the Blik RadioStation may well do.

Revo, please pack all of this functionality into a Pico as well?

Asustek AIR

Word has reached us of the Asustek Internet Radio (AIR).

This retro-looking device, not dissimilar to the Logik IR100 in appearance, can connect to the network via WiFi or LAN.

According to our sources functionality is then similar to any of the Reciva-based devices on the market, but the GUI pictures that we’ve seen, as well as the reported number of available stations (2000 more than Reciva) suggest that it may be based on a different platform.

No news of pricing or availability as yet.

Tangent Quattro

WiFi Radio Review was pleased to hear today from Danish company Tangent who produce the Quattro internet radio. It seems that we have let this great looking device slip under our radar despite the fact that its been available across Europe for several months.

Available in a range of colours, the slightly retro, slight futuristic (nice combination, sounds like my kitchen!) Quattro does everything you would expect from an internet radio -  thousands of free worldwide stations, 450 ad-free stations for RealMusic subscribers and the ability to stream music from a PC on the same network.

According to Torben Kristensen, Product and Sales Manager of Tangent, reproduction of the digital signals sent through cyberspace takes place with crystal clarity, thanks to the powerful 3” up-ï¬Âring driver unit. The rigid cabinet also prevents resonance, improving performance, he explained.

Tangent was established in 1996 by a group of dedicated hi-fi enthusiasts. Within two years, innovative designs established the company as a major specialist loudspeaker manufacturer. Consistently, its products were highly recommended by respected hi-fi reviewers both from the United Kingdom and beyond. Tangent has shown that fundamentally correct design can produce a product capable of achieving excellent performance at an affordable price.

The Tangent Quattro is available now from a range of retailers – £179.95 for walnut, black or white finishes and £199.95 for the high gloss red finish.

The NetWorksGo and NetWorks Table Radio (can you guess which is the one that you could pick up and carry around if you really wanted to?) retain Tivoli’s trademark retro styling with one looking a little like a 1980′s oscilloscope and the other a fairly standard DAB radio.

Both can stream WMA, MP3, and Real Audio via a built-in Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection. But that’s not all. Files can be accessed on networked PCs and other devices attached via USB or line in sockets.

The products were announced at a New York press conference yesterday in which Tivoli President Tom DeVesto demonstrated radio feeds from opposite sides of the world.

Firmware upgrades are available at the touch of a button. The list of available stations is a supplied by Tivoli, but they claim that it can be added to on request by customers.

There is no news on pricing as yet, but a release is expected later in 2007.

Revo Pico WiFi

Revo Technologies, the Scottish digital radio designer, has announced a new addition to its popular Pico portable radio family. Pico Wi-Fi is the world’s first self-powered internet radio, capable of receiving over 5,500 radio stations from around the world.

Thanks to its splashproof design and integral rechargeable battery, Pico Wi-Fi can be used indoors or outdoors – as happy in a bathroom or garden as it is in a kitchen or bedroom. Pico Wi-Fi also doubles as a high-quality portable loudspeaker system for your iPod (or other MP3 device). Simply plug your iPod® into Pico’s M-Port using the connection cable supplied, for instant cordless music on the move.

Pico Wi-Fi is capable of accessing over 5,500 internet radio stations from all over the world. Listen to Samba from Brazil’s Radio Caraibas, New Orleans Jazz from WWOZ or even live baseball from New York on WFAN 660. All that’s required is a Wi-Fi internet connection, and a world of radio choice is yours. Pico Wi-Fi also allows the user to access ‘Listen Again’ services such as those operated by the BBC, and even wirelessly stream MP3 music from a
PC or Apple Mac.

Pico Wi-Fi links to any broadband Wi-Fi connection to stream both live and “Listen Again” internet radio broadcasts. Stations are listed alphabetically by country or music type, making selection simple – and Pico’s portable design means that it can be used wherever you have a Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, Pico allows you to play music files stored on any Wi-Fi enabled PC or Apple Mac in your home.

Pico Wi-Fi Key Internet Radio Features

• Easy access to over 5,500 internet radio stations from around the globe
• Search by genre or country
• Access “Listen Again” services such as those operated by the BBC
• Real Media, MP3 and WMA compatible

Pico Wi-Fi Key Hardware Features

• Internal rechargeable battery for complete wireless freedom
• Go-anywhere splashproof design
• Plug an iPod® into Pico’s M-Port^TM and you have a cordless speaker system
• FM radio reception
• Includes infra-red remote control with presets

Pico Wi-Fi also offers full media player functionality, enabling the user to listen to audio tracks stored on PCs or Apple Macs connected to the same local Wi-Fi network.

There are currently more than 5,500 stations listen on the Reciva Gateway, with more added every day. Reciva monitor and review the station list on a daily basis meaning that Pico Wi-Fi will always have the latest stations. Every time Pico Wi-Fi is switched off and back on again, it will automatically download the latest station list.

M-Port – iPod  and MP3 Sound Support

Revo’s M-Port technology allows for quick and easy connection of an iPod (or other MP3 devices or sound sources) to Pico Wi-Fi™. Using the connection lead supplied, simply plug an iPod (or other such device) into Pico’s M-Port™ and you have a cordless sound system, providing high quality, expansive digital audio in a flash.

Pico Wi-Fi costs £149.95 and goes on sale in the UK & internationally on the 16/7/07
Pico Wi-Fi can be pre-ordered by visiting the official Revo website – www.revo.co.uk.

Terratec’s Noxon 2 music streamer does just that, combining a quality internet radio with a top-mounted dock for the iPod.

Like its little brother the Noxon iRadio you get 10,000 internet radio stations, pre-organised by genre and location as well as a pod cast directory.

There are stereo speakers and a 3-inch 10W subwoofer, but if you want to you can connect to an external amplifier via lineout or headphone jacks.

The Noxon 2 also has a USB port so you can connect a USB-enabled hard drive and stream music off that.

Terratec have priced it at €349 (around £200).

It has the obligatory WiFi connection, but also an ethernet connection if your house is so equipped. There’s also a USB port so you can connect to your PC and access your mp3 collection.

Sagem have also bundled an FM radio just in case you wander out of range of your WiFi connection.

There are, apparently, two speakers (if you can spot them then you are better than us).

According to French CNET, we can expect to see the Sagem My Dual Radio 700 in April for around Euro 150.