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GE Superadio II vs GE Superadio III -- basic questions

S

Steve_Green

While at a local electronics store on an unrelated errand before, I spotted a GE SR III on a dusty shelf. Original box, original styrofoam, original Saran Wrap -- the whole 27 feet. The store wanted $52.99 (99.99.99.99.98) for it. I somehow doubt that was the original price, but......

I already have a GE SR TWO, with a fooey on-off button that needs a folded matchbook stuck in it to work. Otherwise it's an excellent radio and a more-than-sufficient DX backup both for AM and FM.

I hear that the III didn't match it somehow. If that's true, why? What would've been the layman's (and otherwise casual listener's) deferral? And what was the main audiophile gripe?

I can afford to spill 52.99, so that's not the problem. But IS there indeed a glaring DX gap between the III and the II? Or a notable sonic disparity?

Am not much of an electrician here, so things like dB and ceramic resonators and digital impedences mean little. Basically, does the III essentially stand up to the II as a DXing and casual music listening backup?
 
> While at a local electronics store on an unrelated errand
> before, I spotted a GE SR III on a dusty shelf. Original
> box, original styrofoam, original Saran Wrap -- the whole
> 27 feet. The store wanted $52.99 (99.99.99.99.98) for it.
> I somehow doubt that was the original price, but......
>
> I already have a GE SR TWO, with a fooey on-off button that
> needs a folded matchbook stuck in it to work. Otherwise
> it's an excellent radio and a more-than-sufficient DX backup
> both for AM and FM.
>
> I hear that the III didn't match it somehow. If that's
> true, why? What would've been the layman's (and otherwise
> casual listener's) deferral? And what was the main
> audiophile gripe?
>
> I can afford to spill 52.99, so that's not the problem.
> But IS there indeed a glaring DX gap between the III and the
> II? Or a notable sonic disparity?
>
> Am not much of an electrician here, so things like dB and
> ceramic resonators and digital impedences mean little.
> Basically, does the III essentially stand up to the II as a
> DXing and casual music listening backup?
>
I've had both. Here's a site which should answer most of your questions.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze20h45/radio/superadio/gesr_faq.html
 
Re: GE Superadio vs. Tecsun BCL2000 (Grundig S350) and C.C. Radio - Link compares...

This review claims the following...this sounds impressive, is the Tecsun BCL2000 (Grundig S350) REALLY a combo of the C.C.Radio and GE Superradio???

"Having both the GE Superadio III (Analog Varactor Tuning) and the CC*Radio+Plus (Digital PLL Tuning). The Tecsun (Super Radio) BCL-2000 has Digital LCD Display and True Analog Variable Capacitor Tuning." (...) "The Tecsun BCL-2000 may be what everyone was 'hoping' a GE-Superadio-IV was going to be..."


Source:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/review/33332



> > While at a local electronics store on an unrelated errand
> > before, I spotted a GE SR III on a dusty shelf.
> Original
> > box, original styrofoam, original Saran Wrap -- the
> whole
> > 27 feet. The store wanted $52.99 (99.99.99.99.98) for
> it.
> > I somehow doubt that was the original price, but......
> >
> > I already have a GE SR TWO, with a fooey on-off button
> that
> > needs a folded matchbook stuck in it to work. Otherwise
> > it's an excellent radio and a more-than-sufficient DX
> backup
> > both for AM and FM.
> >
> > I hear that the III didn't match it somehow. If that's
> > true, why? What would've been the layman's (and
> otherwise
> > casual listener's) deferral? And what was the main
> > audiophile gripe?
> >
> > I can afford to spill 52.99, so that's not the problem.
> > But IS there indeed a glaring DX gap between the III and
> the
> > II? Or a notable sonic disparity?
> >
> > Am not much of an electrician here, so things like dB and
>
> > ceramic resonators and digital impedences mean little.
> > Basically, does the III essentially stand up to the II as
> a
> > DXing and casual music listening backup?
> >
> I've had both. Here's a site which should answer most of
> your questions.
>
http> ://mysite.verizon.net/vze20h45/radio/superadio/gesr_faq.html
>
 
> While at a local electronics store on an unrelated errand
> before, I spotted a GE SR III on a dusty shelf. Original
> box, original styrofoam, original Saran Wrap -- the whole
> 27 feet. The store wanted $52.99 (99.99.99.99.98) for it.
> I somehow doubt that was the original price, but......

The Superadio III is an excellent radio, but that is a bit overpriced. I got mine at Sears for $49.99.

> I hear that the III didn't match it somehow. If that's
> true, why? What would've been the layman's (and otherwise
> casual listener's) deferral? And what was the main
> audiophile gripe?

The bottom line is, the Superadio II is better for DXing, while the Superadio III has better audio quality (with wide-bandwidth AMAX-certified AM audio and a larger, more powerful two-way speaker system). So if you just want the best possible DXing, stick with your SR II. But if you have a favorite AM music station that has a fairly decent signal and you want to hear it with crisp, hi-fi "FM-like" audio (assuming it isn't a Clear Channel-owned station which has cut its audio bandwidth down to 5 or 6 kHz), then get a SR III and crank it up!

Not that the SR III is bad at DXing, that is. It will still blow just about any other "consumer-model" radio out of the weeds with its AM reception, all the way up into the Expanded Band (where the sensitivity of many AM radios drops off sharply). But, it's not quite the "DX warrior" that the SR II is.
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> a favorite AM music station that has a fairly decent signal
> and you want to hear it with crisp, hi-fi "FM-like" audio
> (assuming it isn't a Clear Channel-owned station which has
> cut its audio bandwidth down to 5 or 6 kHz), then get a SR
> III and crank it up!

I have had the SR III for over 10 years and I love it. You're right it does have the capacity for great AM audio, but only if the station's processing is any good. For example here in Nashville, we have classic soul on 1470 (WVOL) but it sounds horrible on the SR (it sounds better on a little transistor radio)... but on the other hand, you have a station with great processing, like Nashville's 650 WSM and it sounds almost as clear as FM on the SR III. So it depends on the station.
 
Re: GE Superadio vs. Tecsun BCL2000 (Grundig S350) and C.C. Radio - Link compares...

Thanks, folks.

Shucks. For $52.99.99.99 9/10 I'll spring. There must be that much in change waiting to be rolled in the car seat cushions.

If the unit doesn't have that Original Sin 4-digit suffix mentioned in a web site, I'm all for it and will buy it tomorrow. Have been looking for a decent kitchen-counter/music radio for regional AM fare since the original Radio Shack TRF thirty years ago. It does kinda get tough having to explain to guests the presence of an Atwater-Kent next to the fridge in the kitchen so's visitors can enjoy WFBS Berwick PA and WHYL Carlisle (and the Oldies under THEM from Mount Pocono!).

And if the unit indeed has that bragged-about sonic capacity, Wheeee!

Much appeciated, DX Board gang!
 
Re: still not sure...if Grundig S350=BCL2000

...I'm still not sure if the BCL2000 that is on e-bay is the same as the Grundig S350. Are they made in the same factory? Does the BCL2000 cut off at 1600kHz like one web site said? Is it really a combo of the features of the CC Radio and the GE Superradio (previous link)? Do the vendors of the Grundig S350 have higher technical standards for their products compared to buying the BCL2000 on the net (retailers = Good Guys, Circuit City, Radio Shack, etc.)? Anyway...If I buy it for $44 plus $20 shipping I guess I'll report back...But I'm not buying something w/o the X band (1600+).

you wrote:


> Thanks, folks.
>
> Shucks. For $52.99.99.99 9/10 I'll spring. There must be
> that much in change waiting to be rolled in the car seat
> cushions.
>
> If the unit doesn't have that Original Sin 4-digit suffix
> mentioned in a web site, I'm all for it and will buy it
> tomorrow. Have been looking for a decent
> kitchen-counter/music radio for regional AM fare since the
> original Radio Shack TRF thirty years ago. It does kinda
> get tough having to explain to guests the presence of an
> Atwater-Kent next to the fridge in the kitchen so's visitors
> can enjoy WFBS Berwick PA and WHYL Carlisle (and the Oldies
> under THEM from Mount Pocono!).
>
> And if the unit indeed has that bragged-about sonic
> capacity, Wheeee!
>
> Much appeciated, DX Board gang!
>
 
Re: still not sure...if Grundig S350=BCL2000

I own both the Grundig S350 and GE Superadio III and here's my two cents, the Grundig performs close to the GE on AM, clearly has a much more sensitive and selective FM section (with stereo output available), is much better looking, is much easier and more fun to use, has several handy convenience features, better build quality, and shortwave. Downside, twice the cost, and doesn't sound quite as good. Still like my Sony SRF-A100 best, not a DX machine, but overall a cool radio.

Problem is that radio really sucks, so I never use any of them.
 
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