The Vita Audio R4 is quite the broad performer – digital radio, iPod dock, CD player and FM radio. It also plays music from USB drives, and portable music players other than iPod via the headphone jack on the front.
Up on top of the R4 is what Vita Audio call a ‘custom Rotodial interface’. With this you control the functions of the R4 and the iPod or iPhone. It’s a nice enough looking control mechanism, but it does a little more than you might expect. The entire switch lifts out, turning into a remote control for the device.
Currently there’s no Australian distributor listed on the Vita Audio website, so there’s no price and release date information at the moment. In the UK the Via Audio R4 sells for £549.
That makes the Vita Audio a pretty pricey unit, but it packs some quality hardware and sound processing tech, and overseas reviews rate the device well.
Vita Audio R4 specifications
- 80 watts nominal power output
- Integrated active subwoofer
- Slot loading CD player plays CD-Audio, MP3 and WMA music disks
- USB port for playback of MP3 and WMA music files
- DAB, DAB+ and FM Tuner with RDS
- Integrated iPod Dock supports and charges all iPod models produced from January 2004. iPod Shuffle and earlier models are supported by front and rear auxiliary inputs. R4 also works with all iPhone models, but where a 3G signal is not available ‘flight mode’ may need to be selected to stop mobile phone interference.
- Intuitive docking Vita Audio ‘RotoDial’ provides remote control of R4 and iPod functions
- Two auxiliary inputs for MP3 and other audio devices
- 3D enhanced stereo sound
- Information support for MP3 files on CD and USB
- Selectable tone settings
- Stereo headphone output
- Easy to use clock and alarm functions
- Colours: Rich Walnut veneer or Dream White high gloss lacquer
- Dimensions: 145 x 450 x 255 mm (H x W x D)
- Weight: 8 kg