Majority Audio has dropped a brand new internet Radio the Majority Bard which allows you access to over 25,000 Internet radio stations as well as DAB & Spotify Connect.
First Impressions
The Majority Bard continues the trend of offering a stylish design that provides that sleek black colourway and that premium finishes with a matt finish going around the system and a gloss front. When I placed this on my White Autonomous SmartDesk Pro desk the black Majority Bard really did pop.
Size wise it measures 235mm(L) x 129mm(H) x 135mm(D) and weighs 2.1g which is a lot lighter compared to the Majority Quadriga at 5.3 kg we reviewed recently. Cost wise the Majority Bard will set you back £149.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Majority Bard…
Unboxing
Majority Audio provides the Brad Music system in fully recyclable packaging which considering they are the first carbon-neutral company in the UK is hardly surprising.
Once you open the packaging you are provided with the following:
- 1x Majority Brad Music System
- 1x Mains Adapter
- 1x Remote Control
- 1x User guide
- 1x 3.5mm AUX cable
Majority keep things simple and if you need more detailed instructions they are available online.
Design
The front of the Majority Bard has that gloss finish and is where all of the controls are located we start with a 2.4-inch TFT colour display which is where you can see where you are navigating and also what function you are on and last but not least the station you are listening to. Just to the side of that is a small circle this is the remote control sensor.
Just below the display is the volume/navigation dial and when you have navigated to the setting you want if you push the dial in that is your ok button which will allow you to select the setting you require.
Now on either side of the dial is 3 buttons on the left side you have: Tune Up & Tune Down for the DAB radio or the buttons also allow you to adjust the frequency if listening to FM radio. The last button on the left is your favourite button this allows you to store your favourite station regardless of if you are using internet radio or DAB.
Now the right 3 buttons include the power button at the top with an additional power switch at the rear of the display. Then you have the menu/information button you press this when you want to access the menu on the display or you want to view information on the radio station or track you are listening to.
The last button is the alarm this offers two versatile wake-up alarms both with snooze and a sleep function to turn off after a set period of time. No, you can customise the alarm in terms of frequency, the mode when the alarm goes off for example buzzer or internet radio/DAB/FM. You can even set the volume.
The Majority Bard also comes with 3 speakers one on either side and the other on the top of the system offering the user a 2.1 surround sound speaker set-up
Now if we move to the rear of the unit you will see the old-school radio antenna needed to gain DAB or FM reception. There is also that on/off switch I mentioned earlier and you also have the DC In port to run power to the Majority Brad so you need to consider its position as it needs to be near a wall socket.
In terms of ports you also have the USB port, a 3.5mm headphone port and an AUX port for that 3.5mm audio input. You will notice all the ports are labelled and the user benefit is the labels all glow in the dark.
Last but not least you are also provided with a remote control that allows you to do the following:
- Power button
- Open/Close mode selection
- Track control
- Play/Pause
- Select EQ Preset
- FM Frequency
- Sleep setting
- Alarm 1 & 2 setting
- Volume controls & Mute
- Number buttons – There is access to your saved station
Now the controller is handheld and lightweight and is powered by 2x AAA batteries.
First time Set up
When you first set up the Majority Brad it takes a few minutes to get this ready to use. First up you need to set the language and this is done by rotating the dial in the center and pressing it to confirm your selection. Then you need to confirm the privacy policy.
Now you need to follow the instructions on the setup wizard which allows you to customize the device to your liking. You will be requested to set the time either via a 12-hour display with AM/PM also shown or it comes with a 24-hour display format.
Then you need to define if the time will be synchronized from radios you will need to choose “update from the network” to select your time zone. It will also ask if you want summertime.
Then you are asked if you want to keep the network connected. If you want to control the device in all operating modes via the app in all operating modes. All listed WiFi networks are shown on the display. You then select the network and enter the Wifi pin and you are connected.
Functions
The Majority Bard at its heart is an internet radio but it also allows you to access DAB, FM radio Spotify connect and provides you with AUX connectivity and you can also link it up to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
Internet Radio & Podcasts
The Internet radio feature gives you up to 25,000 radio stations offering a massive list of radio stations with a wide range of countries and topics to select from.
So if there was a favourite station you found on holiday the chances are the Majority Bard will find that station so you can go wild to that holiday tune.
There is also an option to save the stations as favourites if you wish. Majority also gives you the option of using discovery mode which selects a new station based on your likes that you have not experienced before. I can promise you will like to selection but it’s quite the adventure.
In addition to Internet radio, you have access to podcasts and just like Internet radio, you have a wide range available based on location, region, popularity & genre. You are also given the discover mode if you want to experience something different.
Spotify Connect
If you are like me and already know what you like and have your own playlists you can connect to Spotify. Now how to set up Spotify is very easy to play Spotify as you would normally then at the bottom of the phone is the device icon press that and it will show a list of devices available on the network select the Majority Bard and Bingo. You can then use the controls on the Majority Bard to skip or play the previous track and play or pause.
USB Music Player
When this menu is selected, menus are generated from the folders on the USB device. Browse the folders with the navigation knob and BACK button, or direction keys on the remote control. The display shows folders and file names (not necessarily track names). Once you have found a track you want to play, press OK. A short press plays the track immediately.
DAB Radio
The Majority Bard also has a DAB/DAB+ digital radio and via the colour display it will show information about the station, stream and track playing.
When you use this for the first time you need to scan for stations and the radio automatically performs a full scan to see what stations are available. You will then gain 40 presets that are easy to access.
If you are listening to the radio in a noisy environment you can use dynamic range compression. What this does is it makes quiet sounds louder and loud sounds quieter.
Now once the stations have been tuned in you can choose to list them as alphanumeric, ensemble or valid. What we mean by an ensemble this lists groups of stations via the same broadcaster so all the BBC radio stations will be together. Valid lists all the valid stations first then the off-air stations.
FM Radio mode
FM mode uses a traditional analogue radio from the FM band and also uses a radio data system (RDS). Now there are two ways to navigate and find a station.
- Scroll to find the FM radio icon then press ok and the display will show you as it scans the FM band.
- You can manually tune it by turning the navigation/volume dial.
Once you find the station information such as the frequency. Now if RDS is available you will also see information such as the station name, programme name, artist and track title. Now you will notice if the Majority Bard is tuned in you will have 40 presets available.
The last two functions to discuss are the built-in Bluetooth and AUX ports:
Bluetooth mode will start pairing automatically and you will just pair to your phone or tablet like normal. You will have to select the Bluetooth icon on the display and when pairing the display will flash a blinking Bluetooth icon at the button of the screen. It’s nice to have but with the inclusion of Internet radio, Spotify and DAB & FM radio it’s a little pointless in my opinion.
The Aux mode allows you to play audio from an external source such as an MP3 player. Setting up the Aux mode is fairly simple it’s advised to turn down the volume and then connect the provided 3.5mm cable to the Aux port.
Audio Quality/Performance
When it comes to the audio quality I have always been impressed with the soundstage that Majority offer. The subwoofer provides a smooth but strong bass. This is paired with well-balanced highs and treble but it’s the mids that really shine. When listening to something like “Alice Merton- No Roots” the instrumental at the start is very noticeable and clear with just enough bass mixed in.
Now if you wanted to adjust the EQ you can with the option of custom bass and treble settings. In addition to this, you can also adjust the EQ to what you are listening to with a number of presets that include:
- Normal
- Flat
- Jazz
- Rock
- Movie
- Classic
- Pop
- News
You will for sure get the right level of EQ with them options and if you still want something different the option to be able to customize the EQ is very welcomed.
Verdict
The Majority Bard is a fantastic Internet radio with access to over 25,000 stations as well as the option to listen to Spotify Connect, DAB and even FM radio. The audio quality is of a very high standard that even comes with an EQ to get the very best audio quality to suit your personal taste.
Overall I was impressed with the build and stylish finish. I was pleased to see that Majority are keeping the navigation of this music player simple to use for any age range. At £149 it’s a very budget-friendly future-proof audio device and the inclusion of a 3-year warranty really adds a level of peace of mind.
Product Rating
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Setup: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 – 5.0 stars
You can also purchase directly from the Majority Store by clicking on the banner below:
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Does this radio receive the BBC now they have stopped using Shout, I have a Sangean radio which no longer receives BBC
Yes it does receive BBC