So we are happy it'll look good in your kitchen but will it work as well? Set-up is simple enough with a quick auto tune and also with a rather fine radio EPG which gives details of the current on air programme and also allows the recording features of the 27018 by letting the user see future programmes. This forward EPG is a unique feature which will become standard across many DAB units in the next few months but for now Morphy Richards have stolen the march on the others.

There are 14 presets to store your favourite stations 7 DAB and 7 FM, the FM tuner means that the 27018 will still be useful even if you happen to be in one of the UK's DAB black spots. the units sports a 132 x 64 pixel display which is backlit in a cool blue which makes reading the menus and EPG easier. The Ordio EPG comes as standard with a 10 minute record capability which can be set using a variety to timer options coupled with the EPG function, 10 minutes sounds a bit tight but this is really for the rewind live radio feature rather than making whole programme recordings. Luckily MR have blessed the Ordio EPG radio with a SD/MMC card slot meaning your can expand your storage capability just by buying a card.

A few extra touches make the Ordio a more rounded product and perhaps a tad more worthy of its high price tag, the optical SPDIF output allows it to be hooked to more external equipment providing a clean signal to higher end amplifiers.

Of course the big question of audio quality is the make or break of any DAB system, we expect no hiss and great sound but the last Morphy Richards system we tried was like listening to DAB on the wrong side of a frying pan and produced a decidedly tinny sound. We're pleased to say that this Ordio is better the sound is halfway reasonable and there is even a smidgen of bass, but for £169 you'd be right in expecting more.

Sadly it seems that while Morphy Richards have added to the Ordio's features with a proper rewind button (which works well) and an external SD slot and even a funky EPG system (which many will now rush to copy) they have once again missed the fact that a DAB radio has to offer sound better than one can get from a quality FM unit.

A nice try and much improved our previous Morphy Richards DAB experience but sadly not good enough that the whizzy features can make up for a basically weak sound.

Published - 27/09/2005

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