What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Could do with more outright clarity, but the Sony is an uncomplicatedly chunky listen
Pros
- +
Cheerfully retro looks and a nice finish
- +
sounds hefty and attacking
Cons
- -
Cramped display
- -
jagged top end and so-so frequency range integration
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The push towards a retro-radio aesthetic is helped along by Sony in the shape of the XDR-S16.
Just because the S16 packs DAB and DAB+ reception alongside FM, that doesn’t mean it can’t have the looks or the real-wood feel of a transistor radio from the ’50s.
It includes a headphone socket and, tiny two-line display aside, is simple to use. And, when supplied with a broadcast of acceptable quality (BBC Radio 3, for instance), the Sony serves up a solidly weighty stereo sound.
It’s a driving listen, loaded with momentum, and the more attacking and dynamic the source material the happier the XDR-S16 becomes. It’s punchy at the bottom end and agreeably detailed in the midrange.
Spiky treble frequencies are a trade-off, and the Sony doesn’t quite tie the frequency range together as smoothly as some rivals, but it’s an appealing device nonetheless.
See all our DAB/FM radio reviews
