LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio Review: Your Gateway to Global Audio, But With a Critical Flaw?

There’s a certain magic to radio. It’s a constant companion in the kitchen, a source of discovery in the garage, and a familiar voice on a quiet afternoon. But for years, I found myself stuck in a rut. The same ten songs on endless rotation on FM, the frustrating hiss and crackle of a weak DAB signal cutting out just as the news headlines started. I knew there was a world of music, talk, and culture out there—broadcast from stations in Tokyo, New York, or just a niche online channel down the road—but accessing it felt complicated. I wanted the simplicity of a traditional radio but with the limitless choice of the internet. This is the exact problem that devices like the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio promise to solve: a compact, easy-to-use box that unlocks tens of thousands of global broadcasts. The question is, does it deliver on that promise without critical compromises?

What to Consider Before Buying an Internet Radio

An Internet Radio is more than just a gadget; it’s a key solution for breaking free from the geographical and technical limitations of traditional broadcasting. By connecting to your home Wi-Fi, it grants access to a near-infinite library of stations from every corner of the globe. This is a game-changer for expats craving a taste of home, language learners wanting to immerse themselves in native broadcasts, or music aficionados seeking genres that local radio would never dare to play. It also solves the problem of poor DAB or FM reception, as long as you have a stable internet connection, your audio will be crystal clear.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who feels constrained by local radio offerings and loves to explore. It’s for the person working in their home office, workshop, or kitchen who wants a dedicated, always-on device for audio without needing to tether their smartphone. However, it might not be the best fit for someone who only listens to one or two major national stations that have perfect DAB reception, or for a technophobe who is uncomfortable with setting up a Wi-Fi-connected device. For those users, a simpler, cheaper DAB-only radio might suffice.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Portability is a key factor. A compact, lightweight model like the LEMEGA IR1 is designed to be moved from room to room or even taken into the garden. Consider if you need a device that runs on batteries or if it will live permanently on a countertop, plugged into the mains. Larger units may offer better sound but sacrifice this grab-and-go convenience.
• Connectivity & Performance: The core of an internet radio is its Wi-Fi connection. Look for models that support modern Wi-Fi standards for a stable, buffer-free experience. Beyond internet radio, consider other sources you need: DAB/DAB+ for digital broadcasts, FM for analogue, and Bluetooth for streaming from your phone or tablet are all essential features for a truly versatile device.
• Materials & Durability: The build quality dictates the lifespan of the radio. Many portable units use plastic casings to keep weight and cost down, which is perfectly acceptable. However, pay close attention to potential weak points like connection ports and buttons, as these are the parts that experience the most physical stress over time. A flimsy power connector can render an otherwise excellent radio useless.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A good internet radio should be intuitive. A clear, colour display, logical menu navigation, and dedicated preset buttons make finding and saving your favourite stations a breeze. Additionally, consider if it can be controlled via a smartphone app, which can make searching for new stations much easier than using a small dial or buttons on the unit itself.

With these essential factors in mind, it’s time to see how the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio stands up to scrutiny and whether it truly earns a place in your home.

While the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Compact, Colourful, and Promising

Unboxing the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio, the first thing we noticed was its compactness. With dimensions of just 17.5 x 5.4 x 10.6 cm and a weight of 620 grams, it feels solid yet perfectly suited for its portable mission. The grey plastic casing is understated and modern, designed to blend into a kitchen, office, or workshop without drawing too much attention. The front is dominated by the speaker grille and the bright 2.4-inch full-colour TFT display, which immediately promises a more modern user experience than the monochrome text displays of older digital radios. Below the screen sits a clean layout of controls: a central dial for navigation and volume, flanked by buttons for mode, menu, presets, and power.

In hand, it feels well-balanced. The telescopic aerial extends smoothly for DAB and FM reception. Included in the box are the radio itself, a mains power cable (which, as we’ll discuss, is a major point of contention), and a user manual. The initial impression is of a thoughtfully designed, feature-packed device that punches above its weight. The ability to be powered by 4 AA batteries or the mains gives it a versatility that many of its larger, more expensive rivals lack. It feels ready to become that go-anywhere audio companion we were looking for.

Performance In-Depth: A Tale of Two Halves

A radio can have all the features in the world, but it’s the day-to-day performance that truly matters. We put the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio through its paces for several weeks, using it as our primary audio source in the kitchen, the office, and the garage. Our experience was a journey of immense satisfaction marred by one significant, recurring concern that casts a shadow over the entire product.

A Universe of Audio at Your Fingertips

The standout feature of this device is, without a doubt, its Internet Radio functionality. Setting it up was refreshingly simple. After powering it on, we navigated to the network settings and connected to our home Wi-Fi using the WPS button on our router, a process that took less than a minute. Once online, a new world opened up. The menu allows you to browse stations by location, genre, or popularity, or to search for specific names. Within moments, we were listening to a classical station from Vienna, a news broadcast from Sydney, and a niche indie rock channel from California. As one user aptly put it, “pretty much everything you search for comes up and it’s brilliant!”

We found ourselves exploring genres we’d never find on local airwaves and rediscovering the joy of curated radio. The ability to save up to 60 presets is generous and essential for quickly accessing favourites across different modes (Internet, DAB, FM). The DAB+ and FM tuners also performed admirably. In an area with historically patchy DAB signal, the LEMEGA IR1 locked onto stations quickly and held the signal with minimal dropouts. The full-colour screen adds real value here, displaying station logos, song titles, and even artist artwork, making the listening experience more engaging. The ability to access this much content makes the LEMEGA IR1 a powerful tool for audio discovery.

Sound Quality and True Portability

Let’s be clear: the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio is a compact, mono-speaker device, and its audio profile reflects that. The sound is clean, clear, and perfectly suited for voice-based content like podcasts, news, and talk radio. For casual music listening while cooking or working, it’s more than adequate. However, it lacks the depth and bass response you’d get from a larger stereo system. As one user noted, there are “no bass or treble controls or presets,” so what you hear is what you get. The sound is functional and pleasant, not audiophile-grade, which is an acceptable trade-off for its size and price.

Where it truly shines is its portability. We loaded it with four AA batteries and were impressed to find it delivered close to the advertised 12 hours of playtime at a moderate volume. This transformed it from a simple bedside radio into a versatile companion. We took it into the garden while weeding, used it in the garage during a DIY project, and moved it effortlessly around the house. This grab-and-go freedom is something many larger, more powerful internet radios simply cannot offer. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is also a welcome feature for private listening in a shared space.

The Achilles’ Heel: A Fragile Power Connection

For all its brilliance in connectivity and portability, the LEMEGA IR1 is critically let down by one component: its Micro USB power port. During our testing, we were extremely careful when plugging and unplugging the cable, having been warned by numerous user reports. And those reports are deeply concerning. We found a consistent pattern of feedback from users who treated the device with care, only for the power port to fail. One user stated their radio “stopped working one day” after sitting stationary on a bedside table, only to discover the internal USB connection had broken and was “rattling” inside. Others reported the port coming loose “after only a couple of times disconnecting” or breaking off entirely.

This is not a minor inconvenience; it is a fundamental design flaw that can render the device completely inoperable on mains power. The port feels shallow, and the connection doesn’t inspire confidence. We also confirmed the observation from another user that the power button itself is not very sensitive and “needs to press hard and hold.” While the radio functions perfectly on batteries, the fragility of its primary power connection is a major gamble. This is a significant concern that prospective buyers should be aware of when they check the latest user feedback and price. It’s a shame that such a capable radio is undermined by such a small but crucial component.

Interface, App Control, and Daily Usability

Beyond the major issues, the day-to-day usability of the LEMEGA IR1 is quite good. The menu system, controlled by the front dial, is logical and easy to navigate. Functions like setting the dual alarms or browsing for podcasts are straightforward. The dedicated Podcast Player is a great feature, allowing you to search a vast directory and bookmark your favourite shows so you never miss an episode. However, we did encounter some of the software quirks mentioned by users. We confirmed that the sleep timer can be unreliable, sometimes switching the unit off prematurely. We also noted that the clock did not automatically adjust for daylight saving time, requiring a manual update, which feels like an oversight for a network-connected device.

To supplement the on-device controls, LEMEGA offers the OKTIV App for smartphones. Connecting the app to the radio (both must be on the same Wi-Fi network) was simple and provides a much more user-friendly way to search for internet stations and manage presets. Typing a station name on a phone keyboard is infinitely easier than scrolling through letters with a dial. This app adds a layer of modern convenience that significantly enhances the user experience, which you can explore further in the product specifications.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings are strongly echoed across a wide range of user experiences. The praise is almost universal for the core function: its access to a world of audio. Users describe it as a “fantastic little radio” and are delighted by the ability to “find all manner of stations on the internet.” The ease of setup is another common highlight, with many, like us, finding the process to be simple and quick. The sound quality is generally accepted as “decent portable sound” for its size, meeting the expectations for a compact device.

However, the positive sentiment is frequently and sharply contrasted by reports of catastrophic failure related to the power port. The consistency of these complaints is alarming. Phrases like “Broken inside of 6 weeks,” “DC adaptor port broke off immediately,” and “the USB connection port got ‘broken'” paint a clear picture of a critical weakness. This isn’t an isolated issue but a recurring theme that suggests a significant flaw in either design or manufacturing. It’s this feedback that transforms the radio from an easy recommendation into a qualified one.

How Does the LEMEGA IR1 Compare to the Alternatives?

The LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio carves out a niche with its focus on portability. However, if portability isn’t your top priority, or if you’re seeking higher fidelity sound or additional features like a CD player, there are several compelling alternatives to consider.

1. MAJORITY Quadriga DAB+ CD Player Internet Radio

The MAJORITY Quadriga is in a completely different league in terms of power and sound. This is a full-fledged 2.1 stereo system boasting a hefty 120W output and an inbuilt subwoofer. It’s designed to be the centerpiece of a room’s audio, not a portable companion. While it shares internet radio, DAB+, and Bluetooth connectivity with the LEMEGA, it adds a CD player and Spotify Connect to the mix. For anyone prioritizing room-filling, high-quality sound for their living room or office and who wants to play their CD collection, the Quadriga is a far superior choice. It sacrifices portability entirely for audio performance.

2. Hama 00054891 WiFi Internet Radio DAB+ CD Bluetooth

The Hama internet radio offers a middle ground between the portable LEMEGA and the powerful MAJORITY. It’s a more traditional, mains-powered tabletop stereo unit that delivers a richer sound than the LEMEGA’s single speaker. Like the Quadriga, it includes a CD player and Spotify Connect, making it a comprehensive home audio hub. It features extensive connectivity options, including USB and AUX inputs. This model is ideal for someone who wants the vast listening choices of an internet radio combined with CD playback in a neat, static package for a bedroom or kitchen, but doesn’t require the immense power of the Quadriga.

3. Imperial Dabman i200 Internet DAB+ Radio CD Player

The Imperial Dabman i200 is another strong contender in the tabletop category, appealing to those who appreciate a classic, wood-finish hi-fi aesthetic. It delivers stereo sound and a feature set that closely mirrors the Hama, including Internet/DAB+/FM radio, a CD player, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It offers a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for a home setting. The choice between the Dabman and the Hama would likely come down to aesthetics, brand preference, and minor feature differences. It’s a great alternative for users who want a traditional-looking system packed with modern streaming and broadcasting technology.

The Final Verdict: A Brilliant Radio with a Potentially Fatal Flaw

The LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio is a device we desperately want to love without reservation. In concept and in its core function, it is brilliant. It successfully crams a universe of audio content—from global internet stations to DAB+ and Bluetooth streams—into a compact, truly portable package. The colour screen is excellent, the interface is mostly intuitive, and the battery life makes it a wonderfully versatile companion for anywhere in and around the home. For pure audio discovery, it’s a fantastic little machine.

However, we cannot ignore the flashing red warning light of its build quality, specifically the fragile Micro USB power port. The sheer number of users reporting catastrophic failure at this single point prevents us from giving it an unqualified recommendation. If you plan to use it primarily on batteries or can commit to leaving it plugged in permanently in one location with extreme care, then the LEMEGA IR1 offers incredible value. But for anyone who will be regularly plugging and unplugging it, the risk is significant. It’s a fantastic radio for the careful user, but a gamble for everyone else. If its feature set matches your needs and you’re willing to be mindful of its weakness, you can find the LEMEGA IR1 DAB+ Portable Internet Radio here.