Revo Technologies SuperCD - Deluxe Digital Music System with CD, DAB/DAB+/FM, Walnut/Silver

Product Information

In addition to Internet radio and streaming, the SuperCD also offers DAB and FM wavebands. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) gives access to the widest range of stations in the UK, in crisp and clear digital sound quality. In case your favourite stations aren't available in DAB, then the SuperCD is also equipped with an FM tuner. Boasting RDS for station naming, this is almost as easy to use as DAB and still provides great sound quality. A hand-crafted wooden cabinet has been selected for its superb acoustic properties, no other material provides the deep foundations of great audio performance like wood. BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) speaker drivers utilise flat diaphragm transducer technology and combine the performance attributes of a flat panel speaker with the pistonic movement of a conventional loudspeaker, resulting in a high performance compact drive unit that develops wide dispersion and an expanded sweet spot. We tested the Revo SuperSystem in the May issue of What Hi-Fi? magazine but were later told it was a preproduction unit with a different specification. We have since received the correct unit, and this review has been amended to reflect the new model. The Ruark R7 is the most expensive radio in Ruark’s range and probably the most expensive radio on the market overall.

At the other end of the frequency extreme, the Revo isn't quite so well sorted. There is no shortage of bass from the lower firing driver and the mounting system is sufficiently stout that there is no sense of it sounding flabby or uncontrolled but the integration between it and the BMRs isn't perfect. The changeover isn't perfect between the two and the tonality shifts very slightly as it does so. Unless you happen to be listening to music where something critical is happening at this crossover point, the effect is not too pronounced though and the Revo does a more convincing job than many rivals. You can mount a TV on top of the R7 using Ruark’s Audio Visual Mount, turning your TV into a home cinema system with amazing sound quality. REVO SuperCD is equipped to receive a wide range of radio standards including DAB, DAB+, FM with RDS and wi-fi internet radio – providing access to over 30,000 stations from around the world. It features a Bluetooth receiver, allowing you to play music from your phone or laptop through the R1’s high-quality speaker. The Revo SuperSystem Deluxe digital music system was created to be large and in charge. It’s intended to fill your entire house with music if needs be, with a wide-reaching sound that’s forceful enough to really make an impact.The 2.7 OLED display is also available to give you an insight into whatever is playing, so you can use that to figure out what you want to do next with your system. This radio has a single speaker, so it only offers mono output, but the sound quality is still great. The bass might seem a bit heavy at first, but you can adjust it to your liking with the EQ settings. Der einzigartige Klang des SuperCD resultiert aus dem perfekten Zusammenspiel aller Bauteile in Kombination mit Software. Qualitativ hochwertige Elektronik trifft auf voll-digitale Technologie und state-of-the-art Sound-Ingenieurskunst. Das Resultat ist ein voller, satter und sauberer Sound, der Maßstäbe setzt.

But in fact there are 10 presets for each type of radio; you can access the rest by pressing and holding the ‘preset’ button then pressing the left-right buttons to reach presets 4 to 10. Recall them the same way, without the holding. It’s easy, versatile, and very useful.The Revival iStream 3 is a compact radio (11 x 16 x 25.5 cm) with a beautiful retro design and great sound quality. There’s a gorgeous walnut wood casing, with volume control and CD slot on the top. Discs are loaded in vertically, which adds to the retro-futurist feel. The front panel, meanwhile, really looks the part, with a vintage design to it. In our SuperConnect review, we mentioned that model resembles a vintage hifi. The SuperCD takes that to the next level- with the way that the controls are set out, along with the wider body, it’s almost like a genuine guitar amp from the mid-Seventies. The more we played, the more songs reacted badly to the 3D setting, and we ended up keeping it off, with one notch down also on the treble slider to prevent residual fizziness in the treble. UNDOK centralises control of SuperCD’s various functions including DAB, Internet radio, FM, Spotify Connect and Network Audio. Music played via Bluetooth and AUX-IN modes can also be distributed across a multiroom network using the UNDOK app.

Cutting-edge sound modelling techniques have been used to design SuperCD’s award-winng sound profile. In tandem with our custom hardware design, SuperCD’s proprietary EQ configuration develops a warm open sound with clarity, detail and deep rich bass – free from coloration and distortion and benefiting from an expansive sound field. Once you invest in a radio, you’re likely to own it for several years, so you want to make sure you choose one with excellent sound quality. Then we consider its excellent build quality and huge list of features, which make it a strong contender indeed. If you have the space and are after a one-box system to do it all, this will do nicely.Some consumers believe that the quality of Roberts products has declined in recent years, but the brand still produces several high-end models with excellent sound quality. Revival iStream 3 Sound quality is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a radio. While there are lots of good budget radios on the market, their sound quality can be disappointing. The 40W class D amplifier used and the two 3.5″ BMR speakers (balanced mode radiator) ensure room-filling digital audio rich in bass, clarity and details with an extensive sound field.

Aesthetically, SuperCD is a balanced blend of modernity and mid-century charm – perfectly proportioned, substantial, handsome. Whilst always looking to innovate, we also keep one eye on the past, learning and taking inspiration from the great designers of the 20th century. We believe that form should follow function and that attention to detail matters. Good design and the use of quality materials enrich and elevate the user experience. As well as sounding great, their radios are also incredibly stylish and will enhance the look of any room in the house. The SuperSignal’s compact size would make it a good choice for a kitchen countertop or bedside table. The only real issue with this machine is that it’s probably too big for a smaller room, as it would fill up too much space. The dual-alarm function comes with snooze and sleep functions built-in, and the box comes with multi-country power supply options too – although this machine is probably too big to take with you on the move. Revo SuperSystem radio: Verdict

Colours & Finishes

Look for brands that have a reputation for good sound quality. The best brands for sound quality at the moment are arguably Revo and Ruark, though Pure and Roberts make some great-sounding radios too. What makes this Revo extra special is the built-in CD player. This lets you play all your existing CDs while still having access to the latest streaming functions, plus much more. The CD player is compatible with a wide range of formats, including CDR and CDRW.