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It is 32x21x10cm, the middle figure the depth is taken at the point where the mains lead enters as this is the deepest point.

You can control it either from the buttons on top of the unit or from the provided landscape shaped remote control.

There are four lines of three well marked buttons on the top centre of the unit, the ‘i’ dock is behind this. The central area of the face has the 6.8x2.5cm white on blue display, either side of this are the stereo speakers of the unit.

The display is really four lines with the top two normally showing a digital clock plus a range of small icons dependant on the mode and alarms, the lower two other information dependant on which feature you are currently using.

See also: iPod docking stations

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The remote 12x4x1cm and is powered by a supplied clock type battery, it consists of nine buttons in a single line with just one above and below the fifth (middle) button, this has one great immediate advantage that you point it the correct way.

Those who got their maths degree will note twelve buttons on the top of the unit and only eleven on the remote, the one button only on the unit is the CD eject button where you need to be at the unit to change the CD.

The mode button is sequential, being DAB, FM, CD, iPod/iPhone and Aux, each is a single push so easy enough to toggle.

I spent quite a bit of time using the CD simply to test the quality of the stereo which for a small unit is rather good. With only 17cm between the speakers this is very acceptable. The base level is also excellent helped by the wooden case; there are also separate bass and treble settings. The speakers themselves are 7watt offerings which again for a single unit is at the higher end.

The rear has mains input, USB socket (for upgrades only), headphone/earbud jack, auxiliary input and the seven piece 65cm long rod aerial.

When using DAB the default is stereo (providing the station signal is strong enough) there is also DRC to help with quiet passages. There are twenty presets available with ten for DAB and ten for FM. My tune found nearly fifty DAB stations but the normal up/down can quickly find the one you want. With FM you need to remember the frequency for first tune and here presets are very useful tuning is however semi automatic with far less static during the tune and almost a perfect jump between stations available with a decent signal.

In CD mode you have most features available with a standalone audio unit plus this has the ability to play CD’s of MP3 and WMA tracks and should you wish these can be on CD-RW as well as CD-R discs up to 511 tracks.

You have two alarms available and you can choose which other feature DAB/FM-CD-iPod-Buzzer to wake up to. Sleep functions are also available between 15 and 120 minutes. Should you have a power cut the time is reset automatically when power is restored and alarms and presets are not destroyed by the power outage. 

This is a high quality unit but then the price reflects that, for those with limited space it is certainly a catch all option. Doing my searches found the Roberts Sound 100 at £223.69 with free delivery.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00842FEHU?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/Products/DAB_radios/SOUND100/index.htm