September 12, 2018, 9:25 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Starting September 13, Aldi Nord will offer an unusual combination of FM radio and Bluetooth speaker for 26 euros, which can be plugged directly into the socket and even provides light at night. We tested the Medion Life P65702 for you and show whether it delivers on its promises.
For the test, we established four categories: Design, Features, Sound Quality, and Extras. Each test criterion contributes to the overall rating, with the device able to achieve a maximum of one star per category. The exception is sound quality, which can earn up to two stars, as this is the most important aspect of a speaker and radio. A total of five stars can be achieved. You can also find a test video here:
Design
The Medion Life P65702 features a simple and functional design that even earned it the Reddot Design Award 2018. The jury particularly praised the minimalist color scheme and form, noting that the Bluetooth radio fits seamlessly into a room environment when placed in a socket. Ultimately, it’s up to each person to decide if the device visually fits into their kitchen or living room, but Medion has certainly not made any major design missteps.
Photo: Techbook
The speaker also impresses with its craftsmanship: The small inverted color LCD display (white on black) ensures good readability and shows the operating mode, station name, and time. From the slightly rounded edges to the metal grille on the front, everything appears seamless. The cover on the back is secure, and there are no noticeable gaps between the housing parts. The power plug is firmly locked into the recess on the back, preventing the Bluetooth radio from falling.
Overall, Medion has nailed the design. Both visually and in terms of craftsmanship, there are no complaints, earning the first full star from us.
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Features
The Medion Life P65702 has two main functions: the FM radio and the Bluetooth speaker. The FM radio has a memory for 32 stations and an automatic station search. Station names are displayed on the screen. Thanks to a built-in battery, the radio can also be taken on trips. A throw antenna, which can be plugged in instead of the power plug and is included in the packaging, can improve reception when using the battery. Unfortunately, the radio does not support the digital audio transmission standard DAB+. Digital radio cannot be listened to with the device.
Photo: Techbook
In addition to the radio function, Medion has also equipped the device with Bluetooth functionality. It supports the Bluetooth 4.2 standard for a transmission range of up to 10 meters. Smartphones or tablets can be connected to the speaker for music playback or hands-free calling. As a small extra, the speaker even supports the Near-Field Communication (NFC) standard, which simplifies initial setup. Simply hold your NFC-enabled device (almost any current smartphone) to the left side of the speaker and confirm the Bluetooth connection on your phone. Afterward, the smartphone will always automatically find the speaker. With an active Bluetooth connection, the speaker can be used for hands-free calling via buttons on the top of the housing.
Photo: Techbook
While the Bluetooth radio does many things right as an all-rounder, we miss a few important features. Support for DAB+ would have been practical, and an audio input via 3.5mm jack would also fit within the budget, in our opinion. Nevertheless, due to the sheer range of functions, it earns a full star.
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Sound Quality
Inside the small housing is a single speaker with an average power (RMS) of 3 watts and a peak power of 30 watts. At about 80 percent volume, noticeable distortions can be heard; below that, the sound is fairly clear. It’s good that the lowest volume level is really quiet. The speaker’s weaknesses are particularly evident with bass-heavy and instrumental music. The bass is very weak, and the mids are somewhat blurred. As a result, the sound lacks the necessary depth to effectively fill a larger room. It may suffice for the bathroom, a small kitchen, the bedroom, and a small jam session on the go. However, the small 30-watt speaker is underpowered for the living room.
Due to the flat sound and distortions at higher volumes, we can only award one of the two possible stars in this category.
Extras
As if an FM radio and Bluetooth speaker in one device weren’t enough, Medion has even included a nightlight that is activated by the motion sensor on the front. This is practical when the device is plugged into the socket but can be turned off when used on battery power. Speaking of the battery: the 650 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery can also be used as a power bank for mobile devices like smartphones via the built-in USB output on the right side. Also practical is the announcement function, which can loudly read out not only the operating mode and radio stations but also the phone numbers of incoming calls.
The combination of FM radio and Bluetooth speaker from Medion is a good all-rounder for little money. Packed with more or less useful features, the device doesn’t make any major blunders in sound and also impresses with its craftsmanship. However, one shouldn’t expect a sound miracle that can fill a large living room with music. It rather reminds me of the sound of old pocket radios from my childhood.