The 5 Best Under Cabinet Radios
Updated by · How we research
None of the current under-cabinet radios we found tune AM. Of five kitchen models compared on CD, USB, Bluetooth, light and depth, the iLive IKB318S leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Measure before you buy: a deep under-cabinet radio can run into a tiled backsplash or a cabinet's front lip. These radios screw to the underside of a wall cabinet, so cooks and anyone else who works at a counter can get music and news without giving up any counter space, and some light the work surface too.
From the manual
- Two AAA batteries, not included, keep the clock through short outages only; the radio won't play on them. p. 1
- A short press of Light/Dimmer switches the counter light; press and hold it to dim the display. p. 1
- If the clock stops advancing, iLive's fix is a power drain: unplug it, remove the batteries, hold Power 30 seconds, then reset. iLive support page
Why the iLive IKB318S is our top pick
The IKB318S wins on fit and on light for the counter. It reaches about 8.3 inches back from the wall, where our runner-up, the iLive IKBC384S, needs about 11.5,1,2 so it clears more tiled backsplashes and cabinet lips. It also carries an LED light for the work surface, which the CD model's feature list doesn't include.1,2
Its Bluetooth is rated for 60 feet, against 33 feet for the runner-up's version 2.0 link, and it adds a clock alarm that the runner-up's list leaves out.1,2 Both store 20 FM presets, take two AAA batteries as backup for a short outage, and tune FM only.1,2
The runner-up is the better buy only if you still play CDs. It adds a disc drawer, an aux input and a remote.2 It is also a bit thinner, about 2.9 inches tall against 3.1.1,2 For a kitchen that streams from a phone or listens to FM, our pick is the easier fit.
| iLive IKB318S | iLive IKBC384S | |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | 8.31 in | 11.54 in |
| Counter light | LED | None listed |
| Bluetooth range | 60 ft | 33 ft (version 2.0) |
| Plays | FM, Bluetooth | CD, FM, Bluetooth, aux |
| Remote | None listed | Included |
Sources
- iLive IKB318S 1Product page and specifications
- iLive IKBC384S 2Product page and specifications
From the manual
- It can't play MP3 CDs, so burn discs as regular audio CDs. Pair a phone from within 3 feet of the unit. p. 2
- The template marks four quarter-inch holes; the screws go in from inside the cabinet and are tightened by hand, never with a power tool. mounting template
- The warranty runs 90 days. Call iLive, not the store, and expect to pay shipping and handling for a repair. warranty sheet
From the manual
- Hold both volume buttons at once to turn the spoken voice prompts on or off. p. 1
- The Source button cycles through Bluetooth, radio, USB and aux. Two AAA batteries, not included, only back up settings in short outages. p. 1
From the manual
- It hangs from three holes drilled with the supplied template, and its height adjusts when a cabinet door overhangs the shelf. p. E-3
- Backup batteries keep the time and presets in an outage, but the display stays blank until power returns. p. E-5
- The 90-day warranty covers U.S. residential use only, and you pay the shipping to Spectra. p. E-13
Editor's Notes
November 4, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read the IKBC384S user's guide, mounting template and warranty sheet that iLive posts, Spectra's manual for the Jensen SMPS-628 and copies of the IKB318S and IKB323SMP3U guides, then added notes under four picks and a closer look at why the IKB318S leads. We corrected the size ranges, which left out the shallower Jensen, and the mounting advice, which now follows iLive's template. An unsourced warning about copied CDs gave way to iLive's own note that the IKBC384S can't play MP3 discs.
October 16, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
Good news first: iLive still makes the models earlier editors liked, and the iLive IKB318S rises to the top for its slim body, counter light and long Bluetooth range. Much of the 2020 list had gone stale. We couldn't find the iLive Platinum, RCA SPS or Tyler TKS-1 for sale new anymore, so they're gone. The Sylvania SKCR now sells under the Proscan name, and its owner feedback is more mixed than we'd like for a CD player, so it's out too.
The iLive IKBC384S is the one to get if you still play CDs. The iLive IKB323SMP3U is new here, with a USB port and far newer Bluetooth. The Jensen SMPS-628 stays as the low-cost option, and the iLive IKBC384SMP3U stays for anyone who wants CDs and music files in one box.
One thing surprised us: none of the current under-cabinet radios we found tune AM. If AM matters to you, a countertop radio is the better buy. The list stops at five because that's how many good, current models we could confirm.
Earlier notes
December 4, 2020, by Tina Morna Freitas:
The iLive brand continues to be the premium brand for under cabinet radios without charging a premium price. This holds especially true for the iLive IKBC, the brand's recently upgraded model that includes a CD player. It's priced right on par with competitors.
Our newest addition, the iLive Platinum does have a higher price tag, but it's also the only under cabinet radio that can pair with Bluetooth devices and hook up to your home Wi-Fi, bringing even more music possibilities into the kitchen. It also works as an Alexa and can carry out voice commands, making this the best choice for users looking for all the latest technology.
We still include some simpler, but reliable choices for anyone who wants to listen to music while cooking but doesn't want to fuss with extra functions they won't use. All of our choices offer Bluetooth and radio, and some of them, like the Tyler TKS-1, offer handy features like LED lighting on the bottom.
May 10, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
Unfortunately, when it comes to under cabinet radios, it is slim pickings in the market. For whatever reason, most major audio equipment manufacturers just don't offer one. Despite that, we have done a good job of identifying the best of the admittedly small bunch. If you want the utmost versatility, your best bet is the iLive iKBC384SMP3U, which offers more connection options that any other model we could find. If you don't need a CD player, AUX jack, or USB port, then you can save a little money and go with the iLive IKB318S, which is essentially the same item, just with less connectivity options. The Venturer KLV3915 is the ideal choice for anyone who wants to be able to watch TV while cooking, in addition to listening to music of course. It does come with a hefty price tag, however. The Jensen SMPS-628 and Sony ICFCDK50 probably have the best sound quality of the bunch, but the technology on the Sony ICFCDK50 is outdated. It doesn't offer Bleutooth, though it does have an auxiliary jack for connecting a smartphone or MP3 player. Those who don't want their under cabinet radio to stick out too much may want to opt for the thin RCA SPS3688B.
Measure The Space Under Your Cabinet
iLive also suggests plugging the radio in and checking the FM reception before you drill, because the signal can change from one end of a kitchen to the other.
Fit is the first thing to check. The maker documents we could find put these radios at about 2.6 to 3.1 inches tall and 6.7 to 11.5 inches deep, before the mounting spacers add any height. Spectra's manual lists the Jensen SMPS-628 at about 6.7 inches deep, the shallowest of the picks with published sizes; iLive lists the IKB318S at 8.31 inches, while its IKBC384S CD model is 11.54 inches deep. A tiled backsplash, a cabinet's front lip or under-cabinet lighting can all get in the way of a deep unit, so measure the flat area under the cabinet before you buy.
These radios bolt through the cabinet floor. iLive's mounting template for the IKBC384S marks four quarter-inch holes, the screws go in from inside the cabinet, and iLive says to tighten them by hand rather than with a power tool. Turning the spacers sets the height so the radio clears the cabinet's front lip. Pick a spot near an outlet so the power cord doesn't dangle across the counter, and keep the radio away from the stove, kettle steam and the sink, since these units aren't water resistant. iLive and Spectra both warn against putting a heating or cooking appliance underneath. iLive also suggests plugging the radio in and checking the FM reception before you drill, because the signal can change from one end of a kitchen to the other.
FM, CD, USB Or Bluetooth
Start with what you want to hear. Every current model we found tunes FM and streams from a phone over Bluetooth, but none of them tune AM: iLive's spec lists and Spectra's manual give FM as the only band. If you listen to AM news or sports, a countertop radio is the better fit; Wirecutter's tabletop radio guide covers that category.
CD players make a unit deeper: the IKBC384S reaches more than three inches farther back than the slim IKB318S. iLive lists CD-R and CD-RW support, but the IKBC384S user's guide says it can't play MP3 CDs, so a stack of burned MP3 discs calls for the IKBC384SMP3U instead.
Bluetooth versions vary widely. iLive rates the IKBC384S's Bluetooth 2.0 for 33 feet, Spectra's manual gives the Jensen version 2.1, and the IKB323SMP3U's seller lists version 5.3. Older Bluetooth still works for music and podcasts. A USB port is worth having if your music lives in MP3 files.
Reception, Power And Safety
These radios pick up FM through a wire antenna rather than a telescoping rod. That's tidy, but reception depends on where you mount the unit. iLive's IKB318S support page names interference from nearby electronics, especially fluorescent lights, as a cause of trouble, and Spectra's manual says to keep the Jensen away from refrigerators, microwaves and fluorescent lamps.
All of them run on wall power. The AA or AAA batteries some models take only keep the clock and presets during a power outage; they won't play music. iLive's FAQ adds that a CD model left switched off for a week or more may need to be unplugged and plugged back in, which can erase the saved stations. The remotes that come with the CD models run on a CR2025 coin cell, which can cause serious internal burns if a child swallows one, so keep spares locked away and see the National Capital Poison Center's battery guidance. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's database lists no recalls for any iLive or Jensen radio; the only iLive recall we found there covered hoverboards in 2017. iLive and Spectra both give a 90-day warranty, which is short, so test every source as soon as the unit arrives.
How we researched this
We started from about 20 kitchen radios and CD players, screened nine under-cabinet models and kept five. We read iLive's product and support pages, the IKBC384S user's guides (versions 976 and 1582), mounting template and 90-day warranty sheet that iLive posts, online copies of the IKB318S and IKB323SMP3U user's guides, and Spectra's user manual for the Jensen SMPS-628; the IKBC384SMP3U has no maker page, so its details come from seller listings. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's database shows no recalls for any iLive or Jensen radio, only a 2017 recall of iLive hoverboards.
Sources (12)
- iLive: IKB318S wireless under-cabinet music system
- iLive: IKBC384S Bluetooth under-cabinet music system
- Wirecutter: best tabletop radio
- National Capital Poison Center: button batteries
- CPSC recalls
- iLive: IKBC384S user's guide v1582 (PDF)
- iLive: IKBC384S mounting template (PDF)
- iLive: standard 90-day warranty (PDF)
- iLive IKB318S user's guide v2016-01 (online copy)
- iLive IKB323SMP3U user's guide v3073-01 (online copy)
- Spectra: Jensen SMPS-628 user manual (PDF)
- CPSC: iLive hoverboard recall (2017)
Frequently asked questions
Is there an under-cabinet radio with AM and FM?
Not among the models sold new today. Every current under-cabinet radio we found tunes FM only. The Sony ICF-CDK50 had AM, but it's discontinued and sells only at resale prices. For AM, get a countertop radio.
Which under-cabinet radio has a CD player?
The iLive IKBC384S plays CDs and adds FM, Bluetooth, an aux input and a remote. The iLive IKBC384SMP3U also reads MP3 discs and has a USB port.
How much space do I need under the cabinet?
About 2.6 to 3.1 inches of height and 6.7 to 11.5 inches of flat depth for the models whose makers publish sizes, plus whatever the mounting spacers add. CD models need the most depth, and a front lip or tiled backsplash can block them.
Can an under-cabinet radio run on batteries?
No. They run on wall power. Any batteries they take only keep the clock and presets during a power outage.
Do under-cabinet CD players play burned CDs?
Burned audio CDs, usually: iLive lists CD-R and CD-RW support for the IKBC384S. Its user's guide says it can't play MP3 CDs, though, so discs of MP3 files need the IKBC384SMP3U.
Which under-cabinet radio has a light?
The iLive IKB318S, iLive IKB323SMP3U and Jensen SMPS-628 all have LED lights underneath. Some owners find the Jensen's light too dim for food prep.
