Roberts WM201

The basics

Hi-fi quality internet radio and audio streamer, with two 5W speakers and a basic 3-line display.

The good

You might expect a wireless from crusty old company Roberts to sport a hissy AM crystal that picks up nothing but The Archers and Yesterday in Parliament. In fact, the WM201 is a thoroughly modern internet radio, receiving BBC Listen Again and live broadcasts online, streaming from UPnP computers and generally hanging with the cool kids. Sound quality is impeccable, even with the glitchiest, low bit-rate streams, and the central knob keeps navigation surprisingly simple. There’s a remote control and you can plug in your iPod or output sound to separates.

The bad

Like most internet radios, the WM201 works with only 802.11b and g networks, rather the latest n standard signals. You can plug it direct to the router with an Ethernet cable, though. There’s no buffer for pause or rewind, nor memory card or USB slots.

The bottom line

Apparently her Maj owns a Roberts or two, and nothing gives us greater pleasure than imagining her and Phil crunking to some phat LA beats at two in the afternoon.