Freeplay Devo Wind-up Radio Review

We like:

The sturdy wind-up handle; reliable performance; good sound; the Freeplay Foundation

We don't like:

That the DAB play time from manual wind is very short; the lack of manufacturing info available

SmartPlanet judgement:

There may be prettier radios, and there may be better-sounding ones, but the warm feeling you get from winding up the Devo can't be beaten. While the power-guzzling DAB components reduce the practicality of the winding process, for FM listening it's a revelation. Too bad there wasn't more information available about the manufacturing process and Freeplay's green credentials.

Wind-up radios may conjure images of caftan-wrapped figures in the Afghan desert, straining to hear a broadcast against the onslaught of a sand storm, but these radios actually have universal appeal. The wind-up has transcended its humanitarian roots and emerged as a useful energy-saving device, and the Freeplay Devo is no exception. Continue reading...