Monitor Audio AirStream
The basics
The Monitor Audio AirStream is an all-format internet radio with on demand and podcast listening plus DAB/FM tuners and UPnP streaming. Stereo speakers (with 7W of amplification), aux input for iPod, stereo and headphone output and clock radio complete the set.
The good
Over in the good ol’ US of A, an Airstream is a shiny metal caravan favoured by A-listers like Johnny Depp and Sean Penn. Back here, where everything is smaller, Monitor Audio’s aluminium and wood veneer AirStream would make a fine home for such Hollywood celebs as Jerry, Mickey and Speedy Gonzales. That’s if they could bear the racket – this musical mouse-trap snatches internet radio (and Listen Again shows) from the web, can raid your wireless RAID drives for music and even tune into old-fashioned DAB and RDS FM broadcasts. Sound is great for the size and its wonky design leaves a perfect gap for storing cheese underneath.
The bad
This AirStream isn’t portable – it runs on mains power alone. Also, it doesn’t work so well when towed behind a hybrid Cadillac Escalade. We tried that so you don’t have to.
The bottom line
A British-designed radio that looks forward rather than back, the AirStream 10 combines a cutting-edge design with good sound and more tuners than a piano shop in an earthquake zone.
User comments (1)
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Anonymous15 April 2010
I just want to say before my review that I have trained in dealing with sound in media production for several years (recording, editing, etc) and have quite a technical background. I felt that people should get my honest and informed view on something audio related before spending a decent amount of money on this radio. I've had the radio since October 2009 and so far apart from a few supperficial complaints it seems really good. Has a nice look as well as feeling solid and good quality throughout. The Z shape looked odd to me on the pictures at first, but once I got hold of it my doubts went as it seemed to sit well in most rooms and I could lay its side in different positions. It has one great speaker and I've managed to pick up hundreds if not thousands of stations all around the world. In the internet mode you could scroll easily through the coutries and genres I wanted to listen to. It has it's own EQ/Tone options (about 6/7) ranging from Vocal to Classical, to my favourite Dynamic. If you you want to have preset stations you can get upto 4, and is limited to that I but easy to program and change them. In the internet mode you can highlight your favourite stations which makes it ok to me. The on the main drawbacks (there's not many), it only has one speaker so you can't get stereo unless you plug in speakers or headphones, but the mono speaker is good and deals with the sound really well. Even on the most compressed internet radio stations. It can play many podcasts including what you can ge on the bbc iplayer, but I can't seem to pause it or if I turn it off or change station mid way through and return to it later it starts from the beginning of the podcast. It can be fustrating but is great to get the chance to listen to the podcasts without going to my Laptop or ipod. In general it sounds great and seem good quality even for my mum who is definately not an authority on subjects to do with Tech and gadgets. Real good buy if you can afford it and if your unlikely to spill a drink all over it, hehe.
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