Roberts Stream 219 white

Roberts Stream 219: connected portable stereo radio

Listen to a DAB+ station when you wake up, a Japanese Internet radio station in the afternoon, then your Spotify playlist in the evening, without changing devices: that is what this portable radio from British manufacturer Roberts offers. Two speakers deliver stereo sound, two rotary controls let you adjust bass and treble by hand, and an aluminium handle takes it from the kitchen to the garden, running on mains power or batteries.

Three radios in one

The Stream 219 receives FM, DAB+ digital terrestrial radio and Internet radio. DAB+ transmits stations digitally over the air, like FM, but without hiss or crackle as long as reception is good, with the added benefit of station and programme names displayed on screen. Internet radio uses your home Wi-Fi network and provides access to thousands of stations from around the world, along with a podcast portal for listening to programmes on demand.

Each reception mode stores twenty stations, making sixty in total, and five buttons on the top recall favourites directly without going through menus. On first use, an automatic scan lists the available stations. DAB+ and FM reception use the telescopic aerial, while Internet radio depends on Wi-Fi coverage: a detail that matters as soon as the radio moves away from the router.

Spotify, Bluetooth and USB drives for music

With Spotify Connect, the Spotify app on your phone becomes a remote control: the radio itself retrieves music directly from the Internet, leaving your phone free for a call or another app without interrupting playback. Bluetooth takes over for all other services and apps, from streaming platforms to videos and podcasts saved on your phone.

The USB port plays MP3 files copied onto a USB drive, which is enough for a compressed music library but excludes lossless formats such as FLAC. An auxiliary input also accepts a wired source, such as an older portable music player or a portable CD player.

Two full-range speakers in stereo

Sound reproduction relies on two speakers measuring 7.6 cm in diameter, one per channel. These are full-range drivers: each reproduces the entire spectrum on its own, without a dedicated tweeter for high frequencies or a crossover to divide the frequencies. This simple approach delivers a consistent voice, without transitions between multiple speakers, making it well suited to speech on radio programmes as well as music played at household listening levels. The two speakers sit in a cabinet less than 30 cm wide, and the stereo effect is most noticeable up close, on a desk or worktop; from a few metres away, the sound becomes closer to that of a single source.

Two physical rotary controls adjust bass and treble, with no menus to navigate. Turn down the bass for clearer speech programmes, turn it up for music, or soften the treble for late-night listening at low volume: adjustments take just a few seconds, by touch.

Colour screen and control from your phone

The 6.1 cm colour LCD screen displays the station name, information about the current track and album artwork when the source provides it. Its brightness is adjustable so it will not disturb you in a dark bedroom.

The free Oktiv app, available on iOS and Android, puts the radio’s controls on your phone: browse stations, change sources and control playback from the sofa or another room. It remains optional, as all functions are accessible using the buttons on the device.

A fully featured clock radio for the bedside table

The Stream 219 has two separately adjustable alarms, useful when two people get up at different times, with a snooze function for a few extra minutes of sleep. The sleep timer turns off the sound after your chosen period, letting you fall asleep to a programme without leaving the radio on all night. A USB port charges the phone beside it, and the headphone output allows private listening without waking anyone.

Mains or battery power, from room to room

Measuring 29.5 cm wide, 20.9 cm high and 10.1 cm deep and weighing 1.58 kg, the Stream 219 can be carried in one hand by its aluminium handle. It runs on mains power at home and on six AA batteries, not supplied, for the terrace, garden or workshop; it has no built-in rechargeable battery. Two finishes are available, black or white.

Technical specifications

Audio and sound performance

• Audio configuration: stereo
• Speakers: 2 full-range 7.62 cm speakers
• Sound adjustments: physical bass and treble controls
• Sound reproduction: immersive stereo sound suited to music, podcasts and radio programmes

Radio and presets

• Radio reception: Internet radio, DAB and DAB+ digital radio, FM radio
• Radio presets: 60 in total
  • Internet radio: 20 presets
  • DAB / DAB+: 20 presets
  • FM: 20 presets
• Quick access: 5 physical preset buttons on top of the unit
• Automatic station search: yes

Connectivity and music playback

• Wireless connections: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Music streaming: Spotify Connect
• USB playback: MP3 files
• Auxiliary input: yes
• Headphone output: yes
• Mobile app: Oktiv, compatible with iOS and Android

Screen and display

• Screen type: colour LCD
• Screen diagonal: approximately 6.1 cm
• Displayed information: station name, track information, album artwork
• Brightness dimmer: yes

Alarms and practical features

• Alarms: dual alarm
• Snooze: yes
• Sleep timer: yes
• USB device charging: yes

Design and colours

• Form factor: portable radio
• Carrying handle: aluminium
• Available colours: black or white

Power supply

• Mains power: yes
• Battery power: 6 AA batteries
  • Batteries included: no

Dimensions and weight

• Width: 29.5 cm
• Height: 20.9 cm
• Depth: 10.1 cm
• Weight: 1.58 kg