Pros & Cons
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- Simple access to NPR, Pandora, and more.
- Excellent build quality.
- No subscription fees.
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- Finicky wireless connectivity.
- Antiquated menu system.
- Pricey for a dedicated Internet radio.
If radio is dead, no one told National Public Radio. Over the past decade, the broadcasting service has expanded its programming portfolio and extended access to both national and regional content through podcasts and Web streaming. But for traditional listeners, the keyboard is no substitute for the radio dial. Enter The NPR Radio by Livio Radio ($149.99 direct). With access to more than 800 NPR stations, 20,000 Internet radio stations, and Pandora, Livio's Radio isn't your dad's table-top radio—it's the logical upgrade.
At $150, The NPR Radio is significantly more expensive than a traditional AM/FM radio. Even the official Pandora-paired Livio costs just $120, despite near-identical hardware. That said, the NPR Radio will do everything that the base unit does—including, with a bit of coaxing, Pandora—with added NPR access. With a portion of that premium flowing directly to National Public Radio, longtime listeners can justify the purchase as part of their charitable contribution to the nonprofit organization.
The NPR Radio isn't perfect. It's a bit buggy. Its fickle wireless connectivity would deny it a segment on Science Friday. And Click and Clack would term the menu system a jalopy. However, what Livio's device does is put the "radio" back in National Public Radio. The NPR Radio enables listeners to disconnect from their desktop without disconnecting from the music, news, and commentary they demand.
From the Top
Livio produced a product that feels both solid and substantial and, at four pounds and 9.25 by 5.8 by 5.4 inches, understated. The device's traditional yet modern esthetic is amenable to any décor: A sleek black casing silhouettes a vintage metallic front panel, while a blue-backlit LCD, six buttons, and a pronounced radio dial adorn the face. Inside the box, you'll find an RCA adapter to pipe the device into a home stereo, a remote control, and an Ethernet cable in case your home or office isn't equipped with Wi-Fi.
Entering a Wi-Fi network key via the radio dial feels a lot like using a combination lock, and is comparably frustrating. I could never get the radio to connect to the PCMag Lab network; however, when I tested it on my home network, the unit connected, but it struggled to retain the connection after I rebooted the radio. If you have the option, I recommend using the Ethernet port. It simplifies setup and obviates any buffering issues.
Once it's plugged into a network, the device automatically checks for firmware updates (several since introduction). It also pulls down the time from the network, which allows you to use the radio as an alarm clock. Every time you turn the radio on, stations automatically update–there are more than 20,000 according to the user documentation, and that number continues to grow.
Radiolab
First and foremost, The NPR Radio is—as its name suggests—an NPR device. Through the NPR Stations button, you can browse the 800+ available stations by location, genre, or content. From this menu, it's also easy to listen to podcasts.
For regular radio listeners, the search function, which enables you to target particular stations, shows, or episodes, will prove essential. I located my local (93.9FM) station, available in MP3 and AAC+ streams, as well as two other stations of interest (88.1FM and 90.7FM) available as MP3s. You can bookmark your favorite stations by holding the Favorite button or add a remote preset by holding one of the five digits.
The built-in mono speaker is plenty capable, but be advised that sound quality varies from station to station. Some stations stream in WMA, AAC+ or Real format, though most arrive in MP3. Often, you'll have a choice–both of file type and bitrate–which I found to be more relevant to sound quality.
World Café
Despite the NPR moniker, Livio delivers a full throttled Internet radio. While you can search for a particular keyword or browse by genre, my favorite way to find content was through the Location World menu. From there, you can identify a continent and country, and then view all stations broadcasting from that country or browse by genre. I had no trouble locating BBC World Service, which was available live, on-demand, and as a podcast. Bookmarks and presets work as they would with NPR stations.
Another feature, which was less straightforward to use, is the ability to stream music from Pandora, the Internet music service that suggests songs and artists a listener might enjoy. The service is free, but you'll need to register your NPR Radio, create an account, and link that account to a new or existing Pandora account. Accessing Pandora is comparably abstruse. You'll need to back up to the top level of the menu system and open "My Pandora" in "My Stuff." Once inside, the only way to skip a track is to manually back out and reopen the stream. When I tried to search for new Pandora stations, I received an error message until I rebooted the radio. Users seeking an Internet radio with full-throated Pandora capability should look to the
Tell Me More
While I forgive the incomplete implementation of Pandora, the radio's interface can be a wet blanket. I don't expect iPad sensibility: a device that seeks to liberate listeners from computers needn't recreate the experience. My problem is that it goes too far in the opposite direction. Navigating Livio's tree-hierarchy menus feels a lot like scrolling through an old MP3 player. If you move too far down a branch—like browsing by country—you can't always jump to a new branch—like starting a fresh search. I was forced to rely heavily on the Back button, because it enabled me to climb back up the hierarchy.
Physical buttons need to count. Besides Power and Back buttons, there are only four on the unit: Search, NPR, My NPR, and Favorites. While it makes sense to have buttons for searching and browsing NPR stations, some are missing—like a Pause button for podcasts, or an Enter button for entering text.
The remote, which lets you set five presets, treads in the right direction. At less than a third-inch thin, it feels great in the palm of your hand. I was able to adjust volume, open a search, and power down the radio from across the room (about fifteen feet away). My only concern is that if you were to lose the remote, you'd also lose your one-touch presets.
All Things Considered
NPR listeners can already subscribe to podcasts and enjoy streaming content online for free. For those who want to decouple from mouse and keyboard, The NPR Radio by Livio Radio cuts the cables, while still offering access to more than 800 NPR stations. Despite some interface complexities, loyal NPR listeners will appreciate this well-made, completely packaged device. However, for those seeking a more general Internet radio experience, with access to more music services in a table-top device, the aforementioned Logitech Squeezebox Radio may be a better choice.
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Final Thoughts
The NPR Radio by Livio
The NPR Radio gives listeners an old-time radio experience without sacrificing new-age luxuries like access to more than 800 stations and thousands of Internet radio broadcasts.