Sangean PR-D15: Anyone have one?

[Icangelp]

Just received it from Amazon. Priced at $80USD.

Bought it because it can be adjusted to tune in 1 KHZ increments, has a handle, and can recharge the batteries (6 EA "C" cells - NIMH). I figured that in absence of a narrow filter, I can de-tune up or down.

Another thing I like is that you can adjust the treble and base. I like very little base and a lot of treble for DX.

Just as important, we will be taking a couple of NA DX'er dream trips in the near future, and I wanted a good MW receiver that looks like a radio. I do not want to be strip searched because I have an external loopstick antenna attached to an ultralight.

Seems to be a PR-D5 with a few improvements.

Only drawback is that the PR-D15 takes up a lot more of the 50 lb. bag limit, than an ultralight.

Anyone else have one?

 

[Icangelp]

Had a chance to compare the PR-D5 & the PR-D15, and I am very disappointed in the D15.

In every frequency tested, the D5 significantly outperformed the D15 in sensitivity, plus the D15 had considerably more electrical noise.

Example: 1010 WCSI was weak but listenable on the D5, but barely above the threshold on the D15, plus the electrically generated noise was much greater on the D15. A real shame.

Maybe mine is defective. Maybe not.

Either way, it's going back.

 

[benale]

I am pleased with the 15. The AM reception is slightly below the 5, but it still pulls in those distant stations. The FM is much better. The 15 picks up fringe signals next to strong signals,thanks to DSP. The FM on the 5 was average. I like the handle. It feels lighter than the 5. Signal strength, bass and treble controls, fine tuning and the ability to recharge batteries inside the radio make the PR D15 an incredible radio.

I've read mixed reviews on the 15. I'm quite satisfied.

 

[Icangelp]

I am pleased with the 15. The AM reception is slightly below the 5, but it still pulls in those distant stations. The FM is much better. The 15 picks up fringe signals next to strong signals,thanks to DSP. The FM on the 5 was average. I like the handle. It feels lighter than the 5. Signal strength, bass and treble controls, fine tuning and the ability to recharge batteries inside the radio make the PR D15 an incredible radio.

I've read mixed reviews on the 15. I'm quite satisfied.

Thanks.

I'll do an FM test vs. a couple of my ultralights, and then compare the 5 & 15 tonight on MW.

 

[danak6jq]

I have both a PR-D5 and PR-D15 (Amazon.com, $78, free-shipping). First impression of the D15 after a couple of hours of tuning around is that the D15's AM reception is indistinguishable from the D5 - which is to say excellent in both cases (I certainly did not notice reduced sensitivity as others have commented on).

After turning the Loudness boost off, audio from the D15 is relatively crisp, particularly in side-by-side comparison with the D5, and increases intelligibility of AM reception. My subjective comparison with the D5 was initially with Loudness in the default On setting; turning it off gave the D15 a notable advantage over the D5.

Fine tuning is available and works as expected; it gives some idea of the AM bandwidth, which seems pretty tight and sharp at perhaps 6-8KHz total width. No "tweet" (10KHz heterodyne between adjacent carriers) was ever noted, same as the D5.

Eventually I added a bit of treble boost with the tone controls, another welcome addition to the D15. Also, I loaded the D15 with Tenergy 5Ah cells, which had an initial charge before installation, and the radio finished the charge sometime overnight. I do not know how long the radio will take to charge them from nearly exhausted; at a "standard" charging rate, it should be around 7-8h.

Did I mention the wonderfulness of the carrying handle? It's awesome.

 

[pianoplayer88key]

(also posted on Herculodge comment, reposting here in case anyone here knows...)

How would the PR-D15 compare - on speaker sound vs the GE Superradio III, AM selectivity & FM performance vs the Tecsun PL-398BT, AM sensitivity vs the GE or Select-A-Tenna boosted Tecsun, AM audio response vs the GE in wide mode or the Sony SRF-42?

There are stations I'd like to be able to listen to in the daytime that are unreadable on the SR3 and the PL-398BT + SAT. Some are just too weak to hear any audio, and some are also further obliterated by local first-adjacent splatter (even in ±1kHz mode on the Tecsun). I'm hoping the PR-D15 could get splatter-free armchair copy (for example strong enough to stop a scan).

For example, from near 32:45:40N 116:56:50W I'd like to be able to listen to via daytime groundwave:
● 550 KFYI (next to 540 XESURF)
● 680 KNBR (next to 690 XEWW)
● 700 KALL (next to 690 XEWW)
● 720 KDWN
● 750 KOAL (next to 760 KFMB)
● 770 KCBC (next to 760 KFMB's ~48 mV/m)
● 810 KGO (next to 800 XESPN)
● 840 KXNT
● 900 KALI (~4.2 uV/m, next to 910 KECR's ~29 mV/m)
● 1160 XEQIN (next to 1170 KECR; KSL would also be nice)
● speaking of 1170, could the PR-D15 null KCBQ (~N) well enough to get KYET (~NNE)?)
● 1180 KERN (~14 uV/m, next to 1170-KCBQ's ~132 mV/m)

The list only includs a few target stations; there are others I'd also like to be able to listen to via daytime groundwave. Also I don't want reception degraded on, for example, 900 or 1180 when I'm near 11865 Moreno Ave in Lakeside. (On my Tecsuns, pretty much the entire band is wiped out there, with even locals being tough to hear.)
If 900 & 1180's signals are at least as good as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq6KSavcVMI in Lakeside, that'd be awesome. (I suppose I could settle for reception like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMAPKTnJtnA if absolutely necessary, considering low received field from target and proximity to first-adjacent locals.)

 

[danak6jq]

Like I said there, you're welcome to order a PR-D15 from Amazon.com ($80, free shipping) and you can report back. I certainly have no idea how to answer such a detailed question; with your own radio, you can tell us.

 

[drt]

For those who don't deal with Amazon for whatever reason, Radio Shack has both the D5 and D15 on sale (web only) through Wednesday (4 Dec). Would have posted this earlier, but I just found out a few hours ago. 2 day free shipping on the D15, think that also applies to the D5.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=24779656&filterName=Brand&filterValue=Sangean

The D15 is $86.9 and the D5 $68.99 (IIRC) the link above should give the price of both.

drt
st. petersburg,fl

 

[drt]

I have both a PR-D5 and PR-D15 (Amazon.com, $78, free-shipping). First impression of the D15 after a couple of hours of tuning around is that the D15's AM reception is indistinguishable from the D5 - which is to say excellent in both cases (I certainly did not notice reduced sensitivity as others have commented on).

After turning the Loudness boost off, audio from the D15 is relatively crisp, particularly in side-by-side comparison with the D5, and increases intelligibility of AM reception. My subjective comparison with the D5 was initially with Loudness in the default On setting; turning it off gave the D15 a notable advantage over the D5.

Fine tuning is available and works as expected; it gives some idea of the AM bandwidth, which seems pretty tight and sharp at perhaps 6-8KHz total width. No "tweet" (10KHz heterodyne between adjacent carriers) was ever noted, same as the D5.

Eventually I added a bit of treble boost with the tone controls, another welcome addition to the D15. Also, I loaded the D15 with Tenergy 5Ah cells, which had an initial charge before installation, and the radio finished the charge sometime overnight. I do not know how long the radio will take to charge them from nearly exhausted; at a "standard" charging rate, it should be around 7-8h.

Did I mention the wonderfulness of the carrying handle? It's awesome.

---------

Thanks for the outstanding comparison; I also learned (at least according to the web) that the handle does fold down, which means in packing it takes up slightly less space than a non-folding handle.

As far as packing a bag for an airplane flight, you can always do what I did last year (not by design)..... I was so busy rearranging one bag and trying to get the D5 in as well as another radio that I forgot to put the underwear and socks back in and around the radios. Thankfully there was a nearby Target where I bought the things left behind, at least I had the radios!

drt

 

[rfry]

I recently bought a PR-D15 and think it is generally well-designed. The minor annoyances (to me) are that the LCD display is rather dim when it is viewed head on when the backlight is active. The display is fine when viewed from higher angles, and when the backlight switches off. When the backlight switches off it generates a noise spike in the output audio, if listening to a weak AM signal.

For one operational data point -- it provides a noisy, but listenable signal from a 530 kHz TIS station about 35 miles from my location. If that TIS station exactly meets its FCC requirement for a groundwave field intensity of 2 mV/m at a distance of 1.5 km, then for the earth conductivity along the path to me it would produce a field of about 36 µV/m at my location. That performance is quite good for a radio receiver using only an on-board loopstick antenna.

I have three other portable AM receivers: a Sony ICF-2001, a Sony ICF-SW7600GR, and a Tecsun PL-310. None of those produces a listenable signal from that TIS station. This comparison was made from the same location, and within a time interval of less than 5 minutes. Never bought the PR-D5 so I can't compare those two.

 

[drt]

I recently bought a PR-D15 and think it is generally well-designed. The minor annoyances (to me) are that the LCD display is rather dim when it is viewed head on when the backlight is active. The display is fine when viewed from higher angles, and when the backlight switches off. When the backlight switches off it generates a noise spike in the output audio, if listening to a weak AM signal.

For one operational data point -- it provides a noisy, but listenable signal from a 530 kHz TIS station about 35 miles from my location. If that TIS station exactly meets its FCC requirement for a groundwave field intensity of 2 mV/m at a distance of 1.5 km, then for the earth conductivity along the path to me it would produce a field of about 36 µV/m at my location. That performance is quite good for a radio receiver using only an on-board loopstick antenna.

I have three other portable AM receivers: a Sony ICF-2001, a Sony ICF-SW7600GR, and a Tecsun PL-310. None of those produces a listenable signal from that TIS station. This comparison was made from the same location, and within a time interval of less than 5 minutes.

Thanks for your comparison of the TIS station at 530 khz, especially making sure to make the comparisons, the same time of day and location. I'm glad to hear that as I did purchase the PR D15 online from Radio Shack. The display on the D5 can be hard to read as well, if the lighting and angle isn't just right; but still that's a minor annoyance considering the overall performance of the D5. I have never used the D5 using electricity; it seems as though there is enough interference indoors w/o introducing a new source of interference, but since the D15 has a battery recharging feature, I may use the adaptor to recharge nicad batteries if nothing else.

Do you know if the D15 has the CT Time button, which can set the time automatically?

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

 

[rfry]

Do you know if the D15 has the CT Time button, which can set the time automatically?

Yes, it does.

I may use the adaptor to recharge nicad batteries if nothing else.

The instruction book for the PR-D15 says it is designed for use with NiMH batteries, or alkalines. A switch in the battery compartment selects for alkalines or NiMH. The radio can charge 6 x 3500 mAh NiMH batteries in about 8 hours. It charges only when the radio is off. An LED on the front panel flashes red during charging, and steady red when charging is complete.

The book says when used 4 hours a day, a fresh set of six "C" size alkalines will power the radio for about 70 hours total.

I started mine out with 6 cheap carbon batteries, probably have had the radio on for a total of 15 hours with no one session longer than about an hour, and am still using those batteries. The battery indicator is now on the bottom segment of a 3-segment bar on the LCD display. For my purposes I probably won't bother with NiMH batteries for it.

The book translation is not perfect. On two different pages it says the radio needs four "AA" size batteries, but the Spec page at the end says 6 x C batteries. The Spec page is correct.

BTW, the speakers sound good -- considering their size. Definitely some low frequency response there.

 

[rfry]

Here's another report of how my PR-15D does with very weak AM signals. At 11 AM CST today, I was receiving WTMJ, 620 kHz, licensed to Milwaukee, WI.

WTMJ is highly directional, using a 50 kW transmitter. Their radiation toward me is about 4.7 kW. I am on their 222[SUP]o[/SUP] bearing with a path length of 260 miles.

According to the FCC groundwave charts, they would have a field of about 30 µV/m at my location.

Nobody would want to listen to that signal here for very long, due to the poor S/N ratio. But it is possible to understand their audio.

 

[drt]

Here's another report of how my PR-15D does with very weak AM signals. At 11 AM CST today, I was receiving WTMJ, 620 kHz, licensed to Milwaukee, WI.

WTMJ is highly directional, using a 50 kW transmitter. Their radiation toward me is about 4.7 kW. I am on their 222[SUP]o[/SUP] bearing with a path length of 260 miles.

According to the FCC groundwave charts, they would have a field of about 30 µV/m at my location.

Nobody would want to listen to that signal here for very long, due to the poor S/N ratio. But it is possible to understand their audio.

------------------------------------

The more you and Icangelp post, the more anxious I am to get the radio and try it out. Unfortunately I will be out of town on the delivery date, which is why I'm having it shipped to a RS store, just hope I'm back in town before they close the day after the delivery is due.

I gather the selectivity on the D15 is decent? On the PD5, the FM selectivity is one of the few things that are disappointing to me, it's nearly impossible to get an adjacent channel on a local station; the AM selectivity is great though.

I also love being able to adjust the base and treble; something that is not available on the D5.

drt,
st. petersburg,fl

 

[rfry]

On the PD5, the FM selectivity is one of the few things that are disappointing to me, it's nearly impossible to get an adjacent channel on a local station; the AM selectivity is great though.

My part of the country doesn't have FM stations close in frequency and distance to my locals, so I can't really comment too well on that. But when I tune 200 kHz up or down from my locals those channels just sound ~like white noise, so I'd guess that FM selectivity is quite good.

I wish the PR-D15 for N. American markets tuned in 200 kHz steps on FM, though, instead of 100 kHz steps.

 

[benale]

I've had my PRD15 for a few months and I am very satisfied. The FM selectivity is exceptional, far better than the PRD5. You can easily pick up a fringe signal next to a strong signal,unlike the 5. AM seems about equal on the 5 and the 15.

I've posted before about the PRD15. It is an exceptional radio. I would imagine the CCrane radio that goes for about $150 is better,but at a price of $78 on Amazon, this radio is quite a bargain.Stereo speakers, fine tuning, bass and treble controls,a signal strength meter,RBS data and outstanding reception make the PRD15 an exceptional value.

 

[cyberdad]

I've had my PRD15 for a few months and I am very satisfied. The FM selectivity is exceptional, far better than the PRD5. You can easily pick up a fringe signal next to a strong signal,unlike the 5. AM seems about equal on the 5 and the 15.

I've posted before about the PRD15. It is an exceptional radio. I would imagine the CCrane radio that goes for about $150 is better,but at a price of $78 on Amazon, this radio is quite a bargain.Stereo speakers, fine tuning, bass and treble controls,a signal strength meter,RBS data and outstanding reception make the PRD15 an exceptional value.

I'm in the market for a new radio to replace my DX-375 (also made by Sangean), which finally died earlier this year. The price and the performance of the PRD 15 seem to be about what I'm looking for. I'm seriously considering it. But given that I'm a frequent traveler, I'd like to find something that's a little smaller to pack in a suitcase or briefcase.

So what do you guys think about the PRD 7 AND 9 as alternatives? I'm not all that interested in FM (for DX) and I do most of my listening with stereo headphones.

 

[benale]

Both the PRD7 and 9 are excellent radios. I would go with the 9..it is smaller than the 7 and has stereo through the headphones. The 7 does not. While the performance is not as good as the 5 and 15, these smaller radios are great for travel.

 

[cyberdad]

Both the PRD7 and 9 are excellent radios. I would go with the 9..it is smaller than the 7 and has stereo through the headphones. The 7 does not. While the performance is not as good as the 5 and 15, these smaller radios are great for travel.

Thanks!

I'm sort of leaning toward the 9, but really haven't made up my mind yet. I'd also welcome other suggestions. Mostly I'm looking for AM performance in a small package. Price is a consideration....but very secondary.

And BTW, for FM, the stereo is important. I don't do a lot of FM DXing, but I regularly stream web, computer, and iPhone audio via Whole House FM transmitter.

 

[Icangelp]

I decided to keep my D15 after noticing the D5 can be turned up louder than the D15. I think that difference led me to believe that the D15 is less sensitive, that and the fact that the D5 bass/treble is as far as I know, permanently set. I was used to the D5 setting.

The only real complaint I have about the D5 is its less than outstanding selectivity, and the ability to fine tune the D15 in 1kHZ steps helps overcome the issue.

By the way, both receivers weigh a ton when loaded with batteries, not ideal when traveling by air.