Vita Audio R4

I was looking for a quality unit with DAB, FM, CD and iPhone dock which doesn't compromise on sound quality. This appliance is just that. It doesn't have WiFi but it does work with the iPhone so tuned in to Internet radio using your favorite app will solve the issue (iPhone is not "officially" supported, but it works just right. If on 3G you may get the odd DDZ DDZ DDZ through the speakers, but at home I'm on WiFi anyway so it never happens)

Good:

- supreme sound quality for my ears, and noticeable to others too.

- simple design (in a good way)

- good all-rounder for any sized room

Could be better:

- would be nice to have bluetooth connectivity and WiFi

- the minimum volume level is still a bit loud sometime for bedtime listening

I had been looking for a high-end DAB Radio / CD Player / iPod player for a while, and it proved to be surprisingly difficult. Neither Denon, B&W, nor Bose had a product in their range that included all three functions.

Eventually I settled on the Vita Audio R4i in Limited Edition Graphite. I have now had the product a week, and I am blown away by it. This is definitely a product that someone has taken great pride in designing.

The sound is awesome - rich, earthy bass with crystal clear treble, and you can really crank the volume up without any distortion. The build quality is rock solid and the overall appearance is super-stylish. I have read other reviews about there being a problem with the CD loader, but this is something that has obviously been fixed because again, the mechanism seemed rock solid.

There are a couple of little things that could be improved: The (round) remote control doesn't charge when placed back on the unit, the iPod dock cover is a little cheap, and because the remote control is round you have to orientate it whenever you pick it up, and it is easy to block the beam. I also found the range of the remote control wasn't too hot unless you were in front of the unit. Also, you have to have your iPod in 'Airplane Mode' during use to prevent interference which seems a bit like a schoolboy error.

However, don't let the downsides put you off - this really is a superior, high-end product, and well worth the price tag.

The Vita Audio R4 has absolutely stunnining sound re-production! Great looks! Real eye-catcher, cannot fail to get praise and attention from all! No bad points, minor point is that the initial volume on switch-on is far too high. GO OUT AND BUY ONE-YOU WILL LOVE IT! The best around at an absolutely give-away price!