Over the past few years DAB digital radios have slowly replaced older FM and AM sets in many households, providing far clearer, hiss-free sound quality.

The Tangent Quattro is a digital radio with a difference, though: rather than tuning in to DAB signals it connects to stations via a broadband internet connection.

Connecting via the internet gives the Quattro one key advantage over DAB, FM or AM radios: it can receive stations not just from the UK, but from just about anywhere in the world. And, as an added bonus, it'll even play back some podcasts with no computer or MP3 player required.

Setting up the radio is pleasantly simple. The latest version can connect to both wired and wireless networks, and connecting to wireless is easy. The Quattro scanned for wireless networks and, after we selected one using the dial, prompted for a security password. With this entered the radio connected in a few seconds.

Once connected, stations can be chosen using the right-hand dial, with the left controlling the volume. The stations can be picked by genre or, more usefully, location. We quickly managed to tune in to religious talk radio from Kentucky, USA, news broadcasts from Paris and abrasive drum and bass from Japan, so there really is something to suit just about all tastes.

Podcasts can be accessed from the menus in a similar manner. Only a few networks are supported but, ideally for UK listeners, many BBC radio shows are listed by station. Sound quality depends on the source, with some stations broadcasting in dismal quality and others sparkling, but the better ones sound good through the Quattro's single, top-mounted speaker.

Our only real complaint was the limited number of preset buttons – we ran out of these long before we finished surfing around for interesting stations. For those who want only UK stations a DAB receiver would be a far cheaper option, but if your musical interests stretch abroad the Quattro is a brilliant way to listen.

Vista compatible: N/A