Tecsun 606, 390. or whatever

[cyberdad]

I'm looking for an "ultralight" DSP mini portable as an eventual replacement for my Sony SRF-37 Walkman. The little Walkman has been a champion for me and snagged a number of impresswive catches. Still going strong. But it's more than ten years old and not going to last forever. Unfortantely, the SRF-37 has been long discontinued. I used to make it a point to have two of them, but I think the window has closed on that

I've got a line on a good price ($38) on a Tecsun 606. And a slightly higher price ($49) on a Tecson 380 (390 in the header is a typo that I can't edit). I've had good luck with Sangean, and Grundig/Eaton, but have never owned a Tecsun. My main consideration is AM sensitivity and selectivity. Sensitivity and selectivity is a plus, but sercondary. Digital tuning and "easy to travel with" are also musts. I don't care about number of presets. how the speaker sounds, shortwave, or BFO. I've got other radios for those. Price is not an object. The $38 price point is nice, but I'm much more interested in performance in a small package.

Thoughts? Other suggestions? Thanks in advance, guys!

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

The AM BC Sensitivity is disappointing at threshold sensitivity range on the Tecsuns I have used. The GE SuperRadio II and Panasonic RF-2200 are much better. However, in the absence of IBOC sidebands, the Selectivity on AM and FM is hard to beat. And once it locks in on a sufficiently strong AM BC signal, it has the feel of tuning an old FM AFC radio, or like the Sony SRF A100, etc. for AM Stereo.

 

[jim-satx]

Cyberdad, since price is not an object for you and AM sensitivity/selectivity are your main criteria, I would go with a CC Skywave over a Tecsun PL-606 or PL-380.

I used a 380 as my road warrior ultralight for a couple of years, and it served me well. It's got good sensitivity for an ultralight, selectivity choices down to 1kHz, and a minimum of soft mute. However, when I got the Skywave, I stopped using the 380 for AM. The Skywave is slightly more sensitive and has noticeably less muffled audio at the 1 kHz selectivity setting. Also, unlike the 380 it doesn't soft-mute and has no heterodyne noises that obscure the audio.

The digital tuning is easier on the Skywave as well. Unlike the 380, you can specify slow or fast tuning with the dial, and there are separate up/down buttons with 10 kHz steps. The only advantage the 380 has here is that you don't have to push a FREQ button to direct-enter a frequency.

The Skywave also has great WX band reception - as good or better than any of my other portables with that band. The one advantage the 380 has over the Skywave (which doesn't appear to be important for you) is that it is much more sensitive on FM.

 

[cyberdad]

Cyberdad, since price is not an object for you and AM sensitivity/selectivity are your main criteria, I would go with a CC Skywave over a Tecsun PL-606 or PL-380.

Thanks, Jim.

Definitely on my radar screen, and the price point doesn't bother me. I read a few reviews on Amazine that rated it higher than the Tecsun radios for the features I want. But then I went to a couple of sites with more knowledgeable (as opposed to casual) reviewers, and the skywave seems to get the nod by a significant margin. I'll research it a little further and probably pull the trigger this weekend or early next week.

And thanks, also SC. You mentioned the GE Supe-II, and I already have one of those. That's my go-to for "heavy duty" DX applications. And I'm very happy it. 37 years old and still the best radio in the house. Not to mention that it does a great job as the speaker for streaming music all over the house/yard via my FM modulator. No home should be without one. At least no DXer's home. But what I'm looking for right now is a small-sized good performer that's good for travel or to have at my desk or bedside.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

The SuperRadio II can be reasonably stored (I always put it in the styrofoam and box) for months or years, and when you turn it on, the controls act like new. On the other hand, the RF-2200 needs work after extended storage on the air dielectric capacitor, the band switch (I've gotten several radios working just by rocking the band switch knob to clear some of the oxides off the contacts), and the variable resistor contacts.

 

[davideduardo]

Cyberdad, since price is not an object for you and AM sensitivity/selectivity are your main criteria, I would go with a CC Skywave over a Tecsun PL-606 or PL-380.

There are two Skywave radios, one much more costly with SSB. What is the one that I should get?

 

[cyberdad]

There are two Skywave radios, one much more costly with SSB. What is the one that I should get?

Thanks, David. I'm not looking for SSB. My Sangean ATS-505 portable has that. If this was ten years ago, SW would have been a major consideration for me. But given the state of the SW bands, (which you're as familiar with as anyone), I seldom tune in any more. And when it comes to using the SSB function, I pretty much only use it to evesdrop on the ham bands. Inccluding if I want to check up on my wife's brother....WB9FBO!

 

[cyberdad]

The SuperRadio II can be reasonably stored (I always put it in the styrofoam and box) for months or years, and when you turn it on, the controls act like new. .

I use the Supe-II quite a bit, and I do take it with on long trips. Such as visiting friends and family up and down the west coast or all over Florida. Speaking of which, we've already got our usual beach spot near Pensacola reserved for the month of February. I'll bring three radios....the Supe, the ATS-505, and whatever the new ultra light is. I figure, if I have to stay in one place, I can do that at the beach as well as at home or anywhere else...LOL!