Verdict
The Pure Evoke Play is a classic DAB and internet radio , with Bluetooth . While it endure easily in terms of put " tech " front and centre , its too bassy , boomy sound does music few favour .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The double-dyed Evoke Play is a splash and cyberspace tuner that also supportsBluetoothand Spotify Connect . And it ’s first in a steel new series of products since this iconic British company was sold to the Austrian investment company AVenture AT .
Under new direction , it ’s no surprise that the Pure Evoke Play exemplify quite a shift from the classicEvoke DABradio designs of the past .
consummate has n’t countenance standards cut down far on the invention front , however . This is a well - made , smart - look wireless with a sufficient number of features to gratify the kind of purchaser who would still want a consecrate radiocommunication , rather than simply rain cats and dogs internet radio from their telephone to aBluetooth speakerorsmart speaker unit .
But there is an result on the audio front . While the Pure Evoke Play appears to use quality speaker drivers , its bass management is all over the place . Its too bassy at low volume , boomy at high loudness , leave too - narrow a sweet smear in which it go its good . And even then it ’s a bit too bassy for my taste perception . you may alter its signature with EQ , but the default should be better in a £ 249 receiving set .
Design
The Pure Evoke frolic looks quite unlike the classic Pure Evoke radios , which used Grant Wood and wood laminate case to appeal a sort of retro charm . This wireless await more mod , but will continue to come out like an sure-enough - school bit of technical school next to your medium impudent loudspeaker system .
Its case is dismal brown plastic . However , the staring Evoke gambol does n’t seem cheap in person . Its 2.1 kg exercising weight lends it a gumption of solidity , and the roughened texture of the shell ward off the tacky feel of plastic .
The speaker grille is recycled fleece . It looks attractive , mounted on a fictile sub - stratum so kiddie fingers ca n’t damage it – or the drivers below – with a spurring . Its handle is metal , painted in gloss brown to match the case .
Other parts of the Pure Evoke Play design are a little odd . It has a flip - up screen , and its flap hides the main user interface controls and button that let you interchange between source . On twenty-four hour period one this may not make much sense ; you ca n’t lift the handle with the screen up .
However , a few solar day in matters will clear . Pure require you to setup the “ favourites ” you ’ll utilise 24-hour interval - to - day via the four predetermined buttons that model on the top panel ( these are n’t veil by the projection screen ) , only bring up the screen when you want to vary the reservoir . That ’s Bluetooth , DAB , net radio and so on .
The Pure Evoke gaming looks a lot prettier with the screen stowed away ; the pretty naff - looking low-toned - reticuloendothelial system LCD turn almost monochromatic at an extreme angle . And , as many days of Pure radio have teach us , less techy - looking products tend to senesce better . The original Pure Evoke depend better than the Pure Sense in 2022 , for model .
Screen hidden , the Pure Evoke period of play is plain , tasteful and not too techy , with only the light ring around the chunky mass knob to draw attention . And yes , this luminosity can be blind or switched off – useful if the radio will live in a room in which you also watch later - night movies .
Features
The consummate Evoke playing period has a set of features similar to the roll base in older smart Pure radio , and the interface is mostly the same too . Here ’s the full listing , which you ’ll see when you collide with the Source clitoris :
In addition , you may setup two alarm if you dig into the options menu properly . When one terminate off , the mass bit by bit storm up ; but there ’s no snoozing here . The main display also lacks auto brightness , which is extremely suitable in a bedside unit .
There ’s no aux input signal , which might be an proceeds if you were planning to plug a track record instrumentalist with a pre - ampere into the Pure Evoke drama , for representative . It seems less of an upshot in 2022 than it did when I was reviewing gross DAB radios back in 2012 , though .
you could control the receiving set using the Undok app on your phone . It ’s a good way to sieve through Internet radio stations , which can feel a little fiddly through the radio ’s own controls . But surely part of the item of a machine such as the Pure Evoke Play is to get away from controlling and receiving all medicine from your phone .
There ’s no support for direct cyclosis touchstone such asAirPlayor Chromecast , and no smart assistant features either . The first two would be nice , but given how many audio devices are arrive with Siri , Alexa and Google Assistant , it ’s refreshful to see them left out here .
The vestal Evoke Play support electric battery power , and Pure sent me a wireless with one of these battery already relate . However , it is n’t let in as standard ; it be a substantial £ 59 on its own , which takes the cost of the wireless up to £ 308 . However , the costs here are very similar to those of one of the Ruark R1 MK4 .
Sound Quality
The Pure Evoke turn has a very satisfying number one wood array for a DAB radio of a fairly stock size . There ’s a 3 - inch mid / bass driver and two 0.8 - inch tweeters . It ’s quite the upgrade over classic Evoke designs such as the Pure Evoke H4 , most of which used a single 3 - in driver .
Those tweeter lead to smashing treble clarity than you ’d typically get word from a radio with a undivided driver , and since they ’re put to each side of the 3 - inch campaign , they ’re used as a stereo pair . Not that you ’ll get much of a stereo effect from a box this small . eminent clearness also imply the Pure Evoke sport is far less forgiving of the often dreadful second - rates used in DAB stations . I ’d urge switching to the Internet radiocommunication manner wherever possible here .
remark that the Pure Evoke shimmer is much more of a company speaker than most classical DAB radios . Bass depth is deep , and the maximal bulk is less materialistic than the smaller consummate Evoke radios of old . It ’s able-bodied to satisfy orotund spaces than those elderly sets , and has a more dynamic phone .
It represents something virtuous has experimented with a wad over the year , a merging of the roles of a DAB radio and a wireless speaker , which typically tender much more alert and loud audio for your hard cash .
Bass is the with child problem here ; it ’s hugely over - emphasised . At low volumes it can sound as though the low frequencies are all you ’ll really get , and at mellow volumes bass boominess lead over the sound frequently . A bottom - load bass voice embrasure probably does n’t serve .
Thankfully , the volume sweet spot is around the volume you ’d use for sidereal day - to - day listening . At 10 - 12 out of 30 on the ordered series , the Evoke fun delivers the good tonal balance ; but it still is n’t great . give up barrel and bass guitar lines trudge over everything else . Song dynasty you jazz just wo n’t sound as they should , as if the manufacturer pushed up the faders on sure instrument , and the vocal get miss .
Spoken word stations are affected , too , in part as a result of the basso - heavy “ radio timbre ” typically used in such production .
While I like parts of the Pure Evoke Play quite a bit , peculiarly among DAB radio receiver , it often sounds distractinglyoff . But I do consider you could fix it .
The Pure Evoke Play offers pretty short EQ customisation : you get basic sea bass and treble sliders , just like previous Pure Evoke model . However , ready the sea bass to its minimum scene of “ -7 ” and the treble to “ -3 ” , to invalidate a too - promising tone , and everything come out to sound a lot more even and balanced . The tools work , basic as they are .
This mise en scene also reduces some of the bombastic power that Pure appears to require to sire here – but I think it was an over - reach in the first place . cave in the Pure Evoke Play ’s small cabinet size , it in all probability would have needed a passive radiator to achieve a great cryptical - bass part sound – or a high-pitched - excursion woofer of the character that have in theSonos Play:1 .
Still , if the Pure Evoke shimmer had strait close to what I ’ve teased out of it with the tweak , I ’d have been happy to give it another star and a general pollex - up .
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Should you buy it?
The double-dyed Evoke gambling is a comparatively simple and – with the presentation stow – fashionable radio receiver with a multi - speaker array inside that sound clearer and more dynamic than older splatter sets .
Bass is ill managed here ; it sounds overinflated at all book , and becomes boomy when you lift the volume higher . you may improve it with tweaks , but you should n’t have to .
Final Thoughts
The gross Evoke Play is a reworking of one of the greatest ever reach of DAB radios . We get a young look , intimate characteristic and more loudspeaker drivers than previous stark radios of this panache – but it costs more than those favorable oldies , too .
It ’s clean loud and powerful , with a more dynamical and larger - scale sound than a received single - driver DAB radio . However , the basso is distractingly domineering and becomes very boomy at higher volumes . The Pure Evoke Play ’s very basic EQ controls do let you tame the sound if you ’re willing to put in the work , but you should n’t have to do this in what is a fairly pricey wireless .
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FAQs
The virgin Evoke Play assault and battery pack is an tot - on accessory that cost £ 59 .
There are 40 predetermined slots in Internet radio , 10 each for DAB and FM . However , there are only four predetermined buttons on the wireless itself .
There are two programmable alarms , but no cat sleep mode .
Full Specs
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