Lenco sent me a portable radio for a review a few days ago. For me it was an interesting opportunity to get my hands on a DAB+ radio, because up to now I have only used music streaming services for my music needs.
The radio we are talking about here is the Lenco PDR-046 GY, which not only supports DAB+ but also FM and Bluetooth. However, the FM area fell by the wayside because I simply couldn't find any stations.
Chapter in this post:
Lenco PDR 045 or 046 - what's the difference?
If I'm right, the two models are identical and differ only in color. The PDR 046 is the light gray model that was sent to me and shown in the photos here, while the PDR 045 is the black variant.
Basically, the operation and the range of functions is the same.
- Portable rechargeable DAB+ radio with USB and Bluetooth
- DAB+ for crystal clear digital radio reception
- Stream music from your smartphone or tablet
- Portable rechargeable DAB+ radio with PLL FM radio and Bluetooth
- Top sound thanks to 2 x 3 watts (RMS), integrated subwoofer and equalizer function
- Stream music from your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth
Technical data
- DAB+ / FM radio
- 2.0 stereo
- 30 preset stations
- Bluetooth version 5.0
- Range up to 10 meters
- 2 x 2,5 watt speakers with passive cooler
- AUX input 3,5mm
- Integrated rechargeable lithium battery 2000mAh
- Dimensions (H x W x D) 6,8 x 18 x 5,50 cm
- available in the colors white and black
- Price: approx. 85 euros (at Amazon)
What's in the box
- DAB+ radio PDR-046GY
- USB-C cable
Design and workmanship
The Lenco PDR 046 is made of high-quality plastic (ABS with wheat fibers) and natural bamboo and, in my opinion, is quite nicely designed. I have the white or light gray version, which I personally liked better than the dark version.
In particular, the bamboo element with the light gray buttons on the top somehow goes better with the light variant.
Operation is entirely via the buttons on the top, while the display is via the 2,4-inch color display on the front.
I find the processing of the radio successful. I couldn't find any corners that would have indicated any cheap production. When you pick up the Lenco PDR 046, it feels finished.
It's barely longer than my iPhone 14 Pro Max, but that makes it a really handy radio that's also quick to pack in your backpack.
Sustainability in many points
In the product description you can read that sustainability was an important aspect in the development of the product:
Sustainable eco-radio - great importance was attached to sustainability during development:
– Product made of high quality ABS with wheat fiber and natural bamboo
– Packaging made from recycled FSC cardboard, no plastic was used for the packaging
Basically a good idea that doesn't come at the expense of quality or appearance. However, there are criticisms that the ecological approach has not been taken to the end, as the battery is not easily accessible and cannot be replaced by ordinary users. This means that the device is electronic waste as soon as the built-in battery has reached the end of its life.
In fact, there are no visible screws on the device that would allow the case to be opened.
Surprisingly good sound
But let's come to the sound, which is also very important for a radio. The Lenco PDR 046 is roughly the size of three iPhone 13 (or 14) Pro Max placed on top of each other and then placed upright.
Considering this size, the sound of the radio is quite good and even offers a "stereo experience", which of course is somewhat spoiled by the small distance between the two speakers.
For comparison: I still have a Bose Soundlink Mini, which is about the same size as the Lenco radio. However, the Bose is a pure Bluetooth speaker and it offers - in my opinion - an even better sound, which sounds like pressing the "loudness switch" on the Lenco (which doesn't exist).
I assume the better sound is due to Bose doing some internal electronic sound enhancement. The drivers should also be larger, which will certainly have an effect on the sound.
However, the Lenco PDR 046 is well suited as a radio for on the go, for listening to music at a picnic or while gardening.
Various modes to choose from
The Lenco radio is much more than a radio. You can use the "Mode" button to switch between DAB+, FM, Bluetooth and AUX, turning the radio into a small speaker that can be controlled via an Aux cable or Bluetooth.
I connected it to my iPhone via Bluetooth, which worked quite well. You only have to remember to turn up the volume on the iPhone, because the volume of the iPhone and the Lenco are not linked.
In my case the music was very quiet even though I turned it up on the speaker. The reason for this was that the volume on the iPhone wasn't turned up yet.
Operating the PDR 046
The Lenco PDR 046's menu system isn't quite as self-explanatory as I had hoped. After some trial and error, I eventually had to consult the instructions to figure out how to activate the sleep timer function or switch between different modes.
When it comes to operation, it is positive that the important volume buttons are on the right side of the control panel, away from the other buttons, so you can find them “blindly”.
All the other buttons on the left side, which you need for example to change the channel or change settings in the menu, are a bit confusing for me. The lettering is small and, especially in the evenings when the light is bad, it's more of a guessing game for me as to where to press.
Sure, at some point you realize that the fifth and sixth buttons on the bottom bar are up and down for stations, but it's confusing, especially at first.
But I can also understand that many of the same buttons were preferred here for design reasons. However, I'm more of a friend of "form follows function".
Advantages and disadvantages in brief
Since the article would be a bit long if I exaggeratedly explain all the praise and criticism, I would like to briefly summarize in semicolons what I noticed about positive and negative things.
Benefits
- beautiful design
- processed cleanly
- good DAB+ reception
- good sound
- many languages selectable in the menu
- Charging via USB-C
- Packaging completely plastic-free
- Can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker
- 2,4 inch color display easy to read
- automatic station search
- The date and time are set automatically
Disadvantages
- Control panel is not intuitive
- Labeling of the keys not easy to read
- Battery not easy to change
- Volume gradations could be finer
- Alarm function only works when a power source is connected via USB-C (according to one user)
- although a 3,5mm headphone output is advertised, it doesn't exist (the AUX input doesn't send any audio to my test headphones)
- iPhone volume out of sync with speaker volume
- the way via the menu to the snooze function is too cumbersome for everyday use
- Firmware update apparently only possible with a PC (Windows).
Summary of my test
Overall, the Lenco PDR 045 is a really nice radio that, despite a few minor operational flaws, scores with its high processing quality and impressive sound.
There's certainly room for improvement, but if you don't need the alarm and snooze function often and are looking for a more portable DAB+ radio, then this is it Lenco PDR 046 or 045 is a good choice.
- Portable rechargeable DAB+ radio with USB and Bluetooth
- DAB+ for crystal clear digital radio reception
- Stream music from your smartphone or tablet
Contest!
If you want to win my test device, you can subscribe to the newsletter. I will raffle it off in one of the next issues with a small prize question. I'll remove the reference here as soon as the competition is over.
User manual for the Lenco PDR 046 and 045
Since people keep asking about the operating instructions for my test products, I have them for you here the operating instructions as PDF linked. You can find them in many different languages, such as German, English, Dutch, Spanish, French and Italian.
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Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.
The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de
