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The Gemini (RD 55) is a classic looking portable radio perfect for anyone who likes to listen to radio but is likely to suffer multiple interruptions, not only does this feature PausePlus so you can pause and rewind live radio, but it also offers an instant record function. Simply press record when you need to and the broadcast will be recorded straight onto an SD card. You can then listen to the programme again at your leisure. The Gemini 55 has stereo loudspeakers so you can listen to and playback your MP3/iPod collection in digital quality sound.
Features
FM/DAB wavebands
Instant record
PausePlus and rewind functions
Stereo playback of MP3/iPod via auxiliary input socket
MP2/MP3 playback via SD card
USB – copy MP3 files from PC to SD card
10 station presets
Easy to read 16 x 2 character LCD display
Amber display backlight
Stereo loudspeakers
FM RDS station name display
Specifications
Headphone socket
Line output socket
DC input socket
AC adaptor included
Uses 6 x LR14 (C size) batteries (Not included)
Size (mm) 270(w) x 130(h) x 70(d)
Weight 0.935kg
Available in black or white
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Technical Details
- Portable Design- PausePlus and Rewind Functions
- MP2/MP3 Playback via SD card
- DAB & FM With 10 Presets
- AC Adaptor Included
See more technical details
By Kwenda
This is a superb piece of kit. It does everything that it says it does and does it well. It is solidly made and brings in the DAB and FM stations perfectly. OK yes, the power adapter is white and the radio is black, but then at least you can see the wire and not trip over it, or get it tanged in something.. I use it as a secoond radio about the house for news, weather and some music. Strongly recommended.Roberts Radio RD-55 FM RDS/DAB Digital Radio Recorder Colour BLACKRoberts Gemini 55-In White
By Ian Elder
What is the point of selling a radio with a USB connection but not including the lead?
The video advert for this product clearly shows the soft plastic cover closing over the SD card slot but this is misleading because in reality it is incapable of doing so and it annoyingly sticks up on the top of the radio.
Poor design, false advertising and expected parts not included. Poor show from Roberts Radio.
By Mr. Laurence Williams (UK)
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*** Note Amazon have this player listed twice, once for each colour ! Search on 'Roberts 55' in the 'Electronics' department to see them all. It's worth checking each listing as prices differ....!
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The Roberts RD-55 has several very useful features; namely the renowned 'PausePlus' capability, a record-to SD card facility, audio file playback from SD card and USB connectivity.
The aerial is 'meaty' and can be extended to some 67cm, making signal reception less 'dodgy' than some other radios.
I find the 'Pause Plus' live pause/rewind of DAB broadcasts very useful. As the unit apparently has firmware based on that also utilised by the CRD-33 and RD-59 it unfortunately only has a maximum 'memory' of some 8mins. However, it does have that firmware 'family' capability which allows you to record something which has already been broadcast if it is able to be 'rewound' to (this is an undocumented feature which I discovered and Roberts were unaware of !); multiple recordings can be saved to memory card.
The SD card storage capability also allows recordings/MP3 files to be played and there are 'Aux In'/'Line Out'/headphone sockets.
The 'Pause Plus'/file playback facility is quite well-specified, allowing not just pause, but also fast-forward and rewind. When playing files, the associated music file information (if available) is displayed on the lower line of the LCD. Having said that, you can only search for particular files by 'scrolling' through all the files stored on the card (which can get quite tiresome...) and they don't seem to be stored in any logical order.
A quick note on SD card usage. Each time the card is re-accessed (by pressing record, selecting it as a source or stopping playback) it re-scans the card. This means that if the card has a lot of music files on it there can be a VERY lengthy delay before record starts or playback can be selected; this can be very irritating so you have been warned !
To correct comments in another review, the rubber flap on the top to cover the USB port and SD card slot DOES close with a card inserted; there is a small lug on the end of the flap which locates into a 'notch' inside the recess on the case to hold it closed....
The 2-line LCD is permanently-backlight when the unit is on (a possible negative if using battery power) and allows for DAB broadcast information to be 'scrolled' below the station information, as well as a range of other (selectable) data to be permanently shown, including the date/time (which is also set automatically).
There are 5 memory presets on each radio band, a scrollable station display/selector facility and the FM radio side has RDS.
Despite there being no separate bass/treble controls for the stereo speakers, I think they output sound very well and have a good bass reproduction; there is a selectable 'Music/Speech' tone control but I have found it best to leave it in the 'Music' position regardless....
So, all-in-all an excellent purchase with few competitors of comparable quality and specification; unlike, for example, the RD-49 and MP-30 it is sufficiently small and light to be truly portable and provide the PausePlus/SD card capability those radios also have.
For complete information, you can download the User Guide from the Roberts website.
By David Smith (Midlands, UK.)
When I opened the package, I immediately received a demonstration of the lack of respect Roberts have for their customers because, although the radio itself is black as ordered, the mains unit is white.
I must agree with what has been said about the quality - or lack of - regarding music through the speakers. The sound is indeed boomy, although I'm not overly concerned because I shall mainly use the radio for speech through the speakers or headphones or listening to music played through headphones which is satisfactory.
On the plus side, I will say that the radio works well and is reasonably easy to use once the controls have been learnt. I like the overall design and the unit is smaller than I'd imagined. In fact, to be fair, leaving the sound quality aside, I don't believe there is another radio available with similar features offering as much value for money.
To sum up, I'll say that while the radio has a certain feel of quality I'm very disillusioned by the brand name Roberts who I'd thought were synonomous with excellence. Don't buy one of these if you want to listen to music through the speakers.
By George M. (Hampshire UK)
This radio has a good DAB reception and good sound quality. I bought 6 4500mAh rechargables for it and they last me about a week of heavy usage (3+ hours a day).
There is a rubber flap on the top to cover the SD slot and USB port. Unfortunately this flat will not close with a card inserted. Sounds like a small point but I find it annoying.
The file name dispay only uses one line and displays the file extention (eg .MP3). This means that nornmal size file names are heavily truncated and difficult the use.
I had to re-format my 2GB SD card on the radio before it would work. Once this was done I could load files on the PC and play them fine on the G55. 2GB is the max supported size but the interface is not good for managing large numbers of files so I think a 1GB card would be optimum.
If you like watching TV sport on SKY and listenting to the BBC commentary this radio is for you as it has a large DAB processing delay which means it synchs up well with the Satellite delay. By comparison my PURE DAB is too fast, giving the commentary before the picture.
Recommended.
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