Internet Radios

Internet radio - thousands of radio stations worldwide

Here on the site, you will find the complete selection of internet radios, which allow you to listen to thousands of radio stations from around the world via WiFi.

There are up to 25,000 radio channels worldwide that broadcast over the internet and it is precisely these radio stations that you can listen to with an internet radio.

Internet radio is also often referred to as a web radio or WiFi radio, and with this you can catch stations that broadcast via streaming, instead of the more traditional FM frequencies or DAB+ signals.

If you're unsure whether to choose an Internet radio or a DAB radio, then read below where we will attempt to give you a bit more knowledge about internet radio.

7 things you need to know when looking for internet radio

When you need to go out and find a new radio, there are basically 3 types of radios on the market, namely FM radio, DAB+ radio, and Internet radio.

While you may already know FM and DAB+, internet radio is for many an unknown territory, and we will try to change that below; therefore, you can find 7 things you need to know when looking for an internet radio.

#1 - A world of music with internet radio

Internet radio, WiFi radio, or web radio, beloved child has many names, offers the possibility to listen to radio channels from, for example:

• China
• Brazil
• Australia
• USA
• England
• and many other places

Internet radio works somewhat like when you use your browser on your computer to visit a website; here you can also visit websites from all over the world.

In the same way, with an internet radio, you can stream radio channels from the other side of the world or from your local station.

All that it requires is that you have your internet radio, a functioning WiFi connection, and that the radio channel you wish to listen to is streaming their channel. 

The selection of online radio channels has practically exploded, and the selection has never been greater, and it grows day by day.

You often find radio channels that only broadcast online, and it is possible to find thousands of channels that, for example, are not interrupted by commercials, are dedicated to a very specific music genre, or are pure debate channels.

In other words, there are countless opportunities to find a radio station that streams exactly the content you want to listen to, in the language you prefer.

#2 - DAB+ vs Internet radio

You may be tempted to think that a DAB+ radio is the same as an internet radio, but it is not, because while an Internet radio works by streaming the radio station, DAB+ radio works by picking up digital signals via an antenna.

DAB+ radio is therefore more similar to the classic FM radio in terms of how it operates; it often has an antenna and where FM radio picks up frequencies, DAB+ radio simply catches digital antenna signals.

The internet radio does not have an antenna but instead requires a functioning WiFi connection, so it can stream the signals from the internet.

Another significant difference between DAB+ and internet radio is that a DAB+ radio can only pick up signals from Denmark and Danish DAB stations, meaning that the DAB+ signal is geographically limited and at the same time the signal cannot go both ways.

The internet radio is not geographically limited and here the signal can go both ways.

DAB+ radios are, however, more forgiving in terms of placement, in the sense that you can take your DAB+ radio to the beach, where it will still be able to receive a signal, whereas an internet radio needs a WiFi connection to be able to stream radio.

The WiFi challenge can often be solved by sharing your smartphone's internet with the internet radio.

#3 - UPnP or DLNA technology in internet radio

When you are looking for an internet radio, you will often encounter the terms UPnP and DLNA, but if you are not very knowledgeable about radios, you may not know what this means, so here you get a brief explanation.

UPnP

UPnP stands for Universal Plug and Play, and it is a technology that means that devices on the same local network can find each other and connect via standardized internet protocols. 

Devices that can connect can for example be speakers, printers, and computers.

UPnP makes it very easy to connect new devices via WiFi.

DLNA

DLNA is basically a technology that enables audio streaming between devices, and it is a relatively new technology that allows you to send content to another device on the same local network, but without the content being stored on the devices.

DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance and is increasingly supported on most newer devices.

You may already know the technology under other names, such as:

• AllShare from Samsung
• SmartShare from LG
• SimpleShare from Philips
• Airplay from Apple

The technology is the same regardless of the name, and one of the above cannot be more or less than the other. 

#4 - Audio formats for internet radio

Internet radios often support a variety of audio formats, and to help you better navigate these, here is a brief description of the formats.

• MP3 - Audio format with special compression of the file, which preserves the original sound quality, but is an irreversible compression of the audio file.
• WMA - stands for Windows Media Audio and is the standard for Windows Media Player software.
• AAC - stands for Advanced Audio Coding and is the successor to MP3, providing better sound but at the same bitrate. 
• AAC+ - a more advanced version of AAC
• FLAC - stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec and is a compression format where you do not lose information, as with MP3.

#5 - Design and shape of internet radio

Internet radios are not yet as widespread as, for example, DAB+ and FM radios, which means that there are fewer models on the market, but new ones are gradually being introduced.

DAB+ radios come in countless designs and materials, but internet radios are not yet manufactured in retro designs, and the selection of materials is somewhat limited.

However, the internet radio is more than just design, and many of the models have very good reviews, at the same time internet radios often do not take up much space.

The selection, in terms of design, is still somewhat limited when we look at internet radios, but as this type of radio becomes more and more popular, the selection will continue to expand.

#6 - DAB+ in an internet radio?

Internet radios often also have DAB+ functionality, so you do not necessarily have to choose between one or the other, but the reverse scenario is rarely applicable. 

It is very rare for a DAB+ radio to have built-in internet radio, but it does happen, just as it is also possible to find a good internet radio in combination with FM radio, and with many of the features you know, such as Clock radio, Bluetooth, etc.

This means that with an internet radio, you can get the best of several worlds in more than one sense, music and podcasts from around the world, while the best DAB+ channels are combined with the many possibilities of the internet radio.

#7 - Price and quality

Price and quality are also related when it comes to internet radio, although most internet radios are of really good quality, quality often reflects in the sound from the radio.

The sound quality is often less spacious and broad in a cheaper radio because the materials do not allow the same resonance.

However, a cheaper radio can still serve its purpose and deliver good sound, for the workshop, kitchen, or in the garden.

Generally speaking, an internet radio is a bit more expensive than a DAB+ radio, but since you can often find combinations of the two functions, there are indeed many more options regarding the selection of radio stations in an internet radio.