Digital radios

How they work

Digital radios or DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radios work by converting traditional analogue signals into a digital format prior to transmission.

DAB radio was first broadcast by the BBC in 1995 and digital radios have been one of the biggest-selling consumer electronic products over the last 5 years, driven by superior sound quality, a wide range of extra channels and rapidly falling prices.

Standby consumption

Digital radios generally consume more power than their analogue equivalents. One thing to be aware of is that many digital radios simply switch into standby mode when turned "off" and are therefore continually consuming energy unless they are switched off at the socket.

Intertek testing for Which? 2006 showed an average digital radio to have a standby consumption of around 5 watts, which is around five times higher than analogue models - but of course you should always unplug them rather than leaving them on standby. The technology is rapidly improving however, and digital radios carrying the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo are guaranteed to use less energy than any other digital radio.

Energy Saving Trust Recommended - How the savings can add up

There are currently an estimated 6.8 million DAB radios in use in the UK. Energy Saving Trust Recommended DAB radios use around 75% less electricity annually than a standard radio. If the next 6.8 million DAB radios bought in the UK were all Energy Saving Trust Recommended we would save enough electricity to run the street lighting of the entire UK for a month. And if their users all turned their radios off at the socket rather than leave them on standby they'd save enough CO ₂ to fill the RMS Titanic 90 times.

Look for the logo

Always look for the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo before you purchase a DAB radio. It's your guarantee that these products are the most energy efficient in their category will cost less to run and help fight climate change.

Find Energy Saving Trust Recommended DAB radios