The old-style FM radio is rapidly being replaced by multi-function devices that offer additional features such as digital broadcast reception. The Roberts Sound 40 admittedly forgoes Internet radio and media streaming but does offer an FM radio, DAB support, CD player and the ability to access media stored on SD cards.
At first glance it may not appear to be the most attractive of devices; some might argue that it resembles the appearance of a rather tacky modern kettle. This certainly won't be to everyone's taste but what the Sound 40 (CRD-40) lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in usability and performance.
Setup is straightforward and, provided you have the aerial sufficiently extended when you turn the radio on for the first time, it automatically sets the time and then scans for and stores DAB stations. These can be browsed using what initially appears to be a confusing array of buttons placed haphazardly atop the device. Admittedly these would be rather difficult to find by feel but since most will be only used occasionally to set up and configure the various features it's not too much of a problem.
The main display makes tweaking settings pretty easy and, while it is quite basic, there's enough room here for a decent amount of information. This makes details such as the current station, genre and scrolling text reporting the currently playing song, artist or radio show particularly helpful and we were impressed by how accurate and responsive this was.
In addition to the DAB radio you'll also find an FM radio, though this takes longer to configure since you'll have to search for and store stations individually. Again, there's a nice array of information available provided the station is strong enough to maintain an RDS signal; you'll find the current frequency, station name and genre available at a glance.
The CD player is capable of handling standard audio CDs and discs burnt with collections of MP3 or WMA files. ID3tag information is shown where relevant and you'll find you can bookmark playback to continue where you left off and create playlists of tracks. There's also an SD card reader on the side to attach digital storage containing MP3 or WMA files for playback in a similar fashion.
Finally, the clock and range of configurable alarm functions, which includes a snooze button, let you configure the device as an alarm clock, and a light sensor will automatically adjust the display brightness according to the level of ambient light.
There's an impressive array of features here, then, and all of them are pretty accessible and easy to manage thanks to the large display and range of controls. Two large speakers mounted around the base and sides offer impressive sound which doesn't distort even at high volumes. In most cases the device can find and maintain a clear signal well, but a signal indicator will help you reposition it in a more suitable location if you're having problems.
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