Roberts Gemini 55 review

Not a bad effort from Roberts, but the same money can buy you better sound Tested at £100.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Not a bad effort from Roberts, but the same money can buy you better sound

Pros

  • +

    Solidly made, logical menus, pause/rewind functions

Cons

  • -

    Poor sound, whichever tone setting you choose, oddball looks

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Despite its slightly oddball styling – it's another one of those Roberts Radios that looks a bit too much like a prop from UFO or Space: 1999 - the Gemini 55 gets most things right.

It works off batteries or the mains, and offers plenty of flexibility: USB input, SD card reader, and mini-jack in and out. It's well made and has big, logical menus, along with pause/rewind functions to let you listen back to something you half-heard.

But its sound lets it down. It has two ‘tone' settings: ‘news' (pretty much just midrange) and ‘music' (everything bar midrange). We prefer the ‘news' setting for all types of listening, but your money can buy better fidelity than this.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

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