Vtech WiFi Internet Radio
Listening to the radio just got more… well, more
Tags: Hardware and Peripherals Categories: Reviews, Tech Reviews
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Jan 12th, 2010
I spent some time with the Vtech Wi-Fi Internet Radio (model IS9181) and have to give it a recommendation. While not as hearty an approval as I had hoped to give it, the device has become an indispensable piece of audio equipment in the home.
To provide some background, I don’t listen to the radio much anymore. Not only are there far too many commercials, but I’m sic of hearing the same 12 songs over and over. The only non-commercial music station here is good, but far too often they play one song an hour that I really like. I have become a bit of a “stick in the mud” when it comes to music, so having this device was great.
The setup took a while, because my wireless network at home isn’t necessarily the most difficult to access, but does have a few specific hoops to jump through. Entering the WEP key became rather laborious as I had to scroll through the virtual keyboard that is displayed on the screen, but access by the wheel at the top of the radio.
Granted, I protest too much, but I’m not the most technically savvy person. Still, I was able to set the radio up and was listening to music in less than 15 minutes without looking at the reference manual. There’s a weather widget based on your zip code, which I gave a cursory look, but didn’t test out extensively. There are too many of them on virtually every internet capable device for this to be much of a real feature. I also didn’t test out the alarm clock feature, because I didn’t need it, and the device was in my living room, not my bedroom.
An auxiliary input allows the radio to be plugged into a receiver or have an MP3 player hooked up. Better still is a set of stereo RCA jacks for an audio output and connecting it into an existing home system.
Through a menu system there are genres of internet radio stations sorted by origin. If you want, it is possible to find Argentine news streaming or pop music from Africa or a talk radio station from the other side of the country. One can spend days wandering around the virtual fields of internet streams to find a few stations to enjoy. There is something out there for everybody, whether it be something being streamed from somebody’s basement to the favorite radio station either locally or from your hometown.
While easy to navigate, it can be a bit laborious scrolling through list after list after list to finally sample a station. Fortunately, when you do find a station you like, it can be tagged and saved. Up to 100 stations can be designated as a “favorite” for future listening. Also, by going onto Vtech’s website, it is possible to have an easier go searching through the listed internet radio stations rather than scrolling through the small screen on the device itself.
So what’s the downside to this internet radio? There is no way to adjust the audio settings via any sort of equalizer. Some stations are too bass heavy, and while the subwoofer is good, too much can certainly be a bad thing, especially considering the surface the radio is place upon. Also, I can’t get Pandora to work on this thing, which is how I’ve discovered several new bands.
Really, it comes down to how much money do you want to spend to listen to the radio. If you find yourself wishing you could get more out of your radio, then the Vtech Wi-Fi Internet Radio may be for you. I found much more news and music than I otherwise would have. While there are some drawbacks, they aren’t enough to prevent you from enjoying and getting some solid use out of it. Perhaps the biggest hurdle is the price. The Vtech IS9181 can be found from $150 to $200. Shop around and you’ll find yourself with a good addition to your home audio playback options.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Battery compartment makes this portable (somewhat) + RCA jacks put the device in with your home stereo system + Access to thousands of streaming internet radio stations + Easy enough to use for the less than tech-savvy + FM radio & weather widgets + Remote included + Plenty of “favorites” to be stored (which helps when going online to find radio stations through Vtech’s website) |
8.9 |
| What Doesn't | |
|
- Scrolling takes forever - No Pandora - Can’t adjust the bass or treble - A bit pricey if full price is paid |
|
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| A bit pricey for most people, but well worth the investment if you're looking to expand your audio options. | |
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Tags: Hardware and Peripherals
Posted by Daniel "monk" Pelfrey on Jan 12th, 2010 and is filed under Reviews, Tech Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
