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Vita Audio R4 Review

Author	Edward Chester
Published	6th Sep 2008
Manufacturer	Vita Audio
Supplier	Peter Tyson
Price	£478.25 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£549.99 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price	Click here

Design & Features
Sound Quality
Value
Overall

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Another complaint I have is Vita's use of a standard iPod dock. Now, I've talked at length before about the use of Apple's plastic iPod dock inserts on high-end audio gear - the horrible little plastic inserts just ruin the aesthetic - so I won't dwell on the subject here but I'll just point out that it's disappointing to see it being employed by the R4. I would've liked to see a more elegant and sophisticated designed being conjured up. On the positive side, the dock does at least charge the iPhone 3G properly and it positions the iPod in such a way that it's easy to see and control when docked - a basic feature that not all similar devices can claim.

The radio can store 10 presets each for DAB and FM and it supports the usual RDS text for FM and programme information that you get from DAB. However there's still no support for more sophisticated DAB functions like Electronic Programme Guides and programme recording. Reception was as good as we normally expect from our office, with a trip up to the top (third) floor required to pick up a truly steady signal on all stations. Aside from this the R4's main functions all work pretty much as you'd expect and perform as well as any others we've encountered - the radio tunes, CDs play, you get the drift.

However, the only way to control all this lot is with the intriguing remote and although we love the design we're not so sure about the functionality. Where the RotoDial system worked well for the more simplistic R1 and R2, it begins to struggle with the more complicated R4. Simple operations like setting an alarm or changing EQ settings are cumbersome and while the large dial in the middle looks like it might mimic an iPod's scroll wheel functionality; all it actually does is control volume. Also, why the infra red LED couldn't be hidden behind a window as seen on pretty much every other remote, we're entirely clueless.

Ultimately, though, few of these complaints would put us off if the R4's audio were up to scratch but here Vita Audio again seems to have fallen short. While volume and overall clarity are superb, especially considering the R4's £500 asking price, bass lacks punchiness and the overall sound doesn't feel optimised.

Specifically, while there is a '3D' setting, which does the usual stereo enhancing trickery, turning it on seems to create an exaggerated effect that doesn't feel altogether natural. Conversely, turning it off betrays the R4's limited size, making the sound a bit flat. Don't get us wrong, neither sounds bad us such, but considering the giant leap in terms of size over the R2 we really would've expected the R4's sound to have more presence.

I suppose what it boils down to is we would have liked to see Vita Audio get rid of these extreme on/off options, along with the sub level dial on the back, and simply optimise the sound to best suit the size of the device. Either that or provide more sophisticated fine tuning options in the menu so the sound can be truly tailored to your listening environment.

Verdict

The Vita Audio R4 aims to be a Hif-Fi replacement but we feel it has fallen just a few centimetres short of the mark. It's good but not as good as it could've been.

Latest 4 of 9 Comments

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Agman said on 17th January 2009

Update to above :- Very simple solution to disc not coming out. The front cover of the Vita is only kept in place by magnets. It appears that if during transit the cover has slippe... more

Lester Fish said on 1st March 2009

We're now have to take back our second R4. First one wouldn't read CD's the replacement wouldn't eject CD's - Vita Audio you have a serious problem with th... more

Alan O'Rourke said on 28th May 2009

Further to my original posting on the 12th September and in response to comments above we’re pleased to inform that reported problems with R4 CD have now been resolved. The main pr... more

SimonBrighton said on 23rd June 2009

Further to the last posting, I should point out that I bought an R4 at Christmas which had the loading problems referred to by Alan O'Rourke. When I contacted Vita Audio/Ruar... more

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