Pure Evoke Flow.

Pure Evoke Flow

Digital and internet radio in one box

Pure's digital radios have long been among the best around, but the Evoke Flow is the company's first foray into internet radio.

Unlike broadcast radio, the internet version is distributed online and usually listened to on a computer, or on a dedicated device such as the Flow.

Unlike other internet radios we've seen, the Flow is attached to Pure's free-to-use Lounge website. On the site you can listen to stations and set favourites, then once the radio is linked to your website account your favourite stations are automatically transferred to the radio.

Setup was easy: it connects to a wireless network (there's no wired connection, which annoyed us a little) and you have to enter you network password using the

dial on the front. The radio is well designed, with touch-sensitive controls on the front panel and only two dials, for volume and tuning. The screen on the front is good and bright, and dims at night when not in use.

The Flow can also access normal digital radio (DAB) stations, as well as streaming music from a computer or network hard disk.

Tuning was fiddly, especially for Dab, and although the dial works well, scrolling through long lists of songs or stations can become a drag.

If you use it in conjunction with the online Lounge, though, it works much better and access to favourite stations is straightforward.

Quality was good for internet stations and Dab, although we found the quality on streamed music to be a little lower than from comparably priced dedicated media streamers.

The Pure Evoke Flow is easy to use and simple to set up, well built, and offers great access to lots of stations from around the world, as well as UK digital radio.

It's also good value, being only a little pricier than a dedicated Dab or internet radio. Pure's aim with the Evoke Flow was to make an internet radio for the masses, and on this evidence it has succeeded.

Anthony Dhanendran

DETAILS

Contact: Pure Digital 01923 277 488

Info: www.pure.com

Retail Price: [pounds sterling]150

Buy: www.computeractive.co.uk/bestprices

Also consider...

Tangent Quattro: [pounds sterling]180

This wood-effect internet radio doesn't offer Dab stations, but it is easy to use and gives good quality sound. HHHHH

www.computeractive.co.uk/2221048

The simplest internet radio we've seen, and a good digital radio to boot

Good points: Great way to listen to digital or internet stations; easy to use

bad points: Streaming quality isn't great; can be fiddly to navigate long lists of stations or tracks

overall: HHHHH