DAB+ Radio in Switzerland: What to Check Before You Buy One and Where to Read Tests

Buying a DAB+ radio looks easy until you stand in front of the shelf. Dozens of models look alike, the box often says only “digital radio”, and the spec sheets rarely tell you how the thing sounds. What follows is a list of what is worth checking, plus pointers to the independent tests.

The label comes first

The device must say DAB+. SRF points out that the words digital radio alone are not sufficient. On the display, Swiss stations appear with a plus sign after the name. That is the check to repeat in the shop if you can power the radio on, or at home within the return period.

Every DAB+ radio also has an FM tuner, according to dabplus.ch. That part is a bonus, not the reason to buy.

Sound is the weak spot

The independent tests agree on one point. Kassensturz tested eight portable battery DAB+ radios in April 2018, and many sounded poor. In September 2025 the programme tested ten kitchen radios priced between CHF 80 and 130, and only one received an overall rating of good. A small speaker in a plastic case has physical limits, whatever the spec sheet says.

If sound matters, listen before you buy, or plan on a different kind of set, such as a stereo with a DAB+ adapter. That route has a catch, covered below.

The antenna decides more than people expect

A DAB+ radio is only as good as the signal it gets. Many models carry a telescopic antenna. Pull it out fully and hold it upright, as dabplus.ch recommends. A socket for an external antenna is a plus if you live in a concrete building or a low-energy house, since dabplus.ch notes that such buildings dampen the signal.

In the Kassensturz test of twelve adapters in December 2024, antenna placement was decisive. An external antenna worked best, and a spot on a windowsill was good. Adapters for stereo systems failed with the antennas supplied in the box. Adapters for cars did well. For a hi-fi system that means budgeting for a decent antenna, or moving the adapter next to a window.

Rooms and uses

A kitchen or bedroom radio only needs a few stations and a clear display. A living room usually means a stereo, and an adapter often makes more sense than a new set. For the car, a separate page covers DAB+ in the car. Konsumentenschutz also mentions models that combine DAB+ with internet radio. They are worth a look if you want foreign stations from home as well, though the internet part needs Wi-Fi.

In the shop

If the shop allows a test, run a station scan on the spot and look at the display. A radio that lists stations with a plus after each name is doing DAB+. Check whether the antenna is a telescopic rod or a fixed wire, whether an external antenna socket exists, and whether the manual explains the factory reset. Models that also play internet radio need Wi-Fi for that part, and the DAB+ side works without it. Konsumentenschutz notes that such dual models exist, which suits households that want stations from abroad as well as Swiss ones.

What to do if it does not work

A new radio that finds nothing is more often a reception problem than a faulty radio. The checklist for a radio that finds no stations covers antenna, scan and interference. The coverage page shows how to check what is broadcast where you live.

Reading the tests

The test pages are in German; a browser translation handles the text, and the ratings are easy to follow. Check the date on each. The 2018 portable-radio test covers models that have probably left the shelves, while the 2025 kitchen radio and 2024 adapter tests are recent. Konsumentenschutz keeps a general guide that covers radios, adapters and the FM question in one place, updated on 14 September 2026.

Anyone new to the standard can start with what DAB+ is.