What DX Radio is best that is currently manufactured for AM, FM?

[KE4KLS_Radio]

Being a radio junkie I have a few radios, some old, and others more recent.

I recently purchased a CCRadio2 and have been pleased with the overall AM sensitivity. Selectivity on AM seems to be better than my older original CC Radio, which died a slow death...While the FM side of this receiver is good, it probably is no better than some other radios I currently own.

It seems that most radios today are "disposable" and not the build quality of even a few years ago... I try to find the "holy grail" of radios, seems like the only one like it is the old Panasonic RF-2200 (particularly for AM).

With that said... What is the best DX receiver that can be purchased off the shelve today, for AM or for FM?

 

[Icangelp]

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but at what price point?

The best is the professional receiver class & will cost you $15,000.

Then there are the software defined radios (SDR), which are black boxes that use your computer as the "receiver", and which graphically show the audio spectrum on your computer screen. You could pay over a grand for one of those.

If you are looking for a tabletop receiver, then you might look on Ebay or another bid sight for the Eton E1. No longer made, but recently discontinued. It is a great general grade receiver.

You want a low priced receiver you can hold in your hand with both AM & FM? Try the Tecsun PL310, PL360 or the (Grundig G8) PL300WT. They all do great jobs with AM & FM, and are reasonable in price.

I've found that once you take away all the technical comparisons and "shootouts", receiver abilities can be a matter of personal perception. I've got several farvoite receivers that were not rated highly by the experts.

 

[ddsparxx]

The Grundig G8/Tecsun PL300WT has the best FM selectivity I've ever seen and you should be able to get it at Radio Shack.

For portables about the size of the CCRadio2, the CCRadioSW/Redsun RP2100 do great, has great AM, FM though FM selectivity is not outstanding. The Sangean PR-D5 is known for great AM and good FM (I don't have this radio or the CCradio2).

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Sony XDR-F1HD, the BEST FM tuner out there

http://www.google.com/products/cata...ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

http://www.ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

 

[ddsparxx]

I agree, it's the best tuner out there, wish Best Buy would sell it. Can also be a hot AM DX tuner as well when selectivity and 10 kHZ tuning isn't a problem.

 

[gar hi]

The Sangean PR-D5 is known for great AM and good FM

I can sure vouch for that.

It picks up AM signals that can't be heard at all on some other radios. It's even picked up weak signals I couldn't even get on the car radio.

I can't say how it compares to the other portables mentioned, though.

 

[BRNout]

The Grundig G8/Tecsun PL300WT has the best FM selectivity I've ever seen and you should be able to get it at Radio Shack.

For portables about the size of the CCRadio2, the CCRadioSW/Redsun RP2100 do great, has great AM, FM though FM selectivity is not outstanding. The Sangean PR-D5 is known for great AM and good FM (I don't have this radio or the CCradio2).

Agreed wholeheartedly on all points. The G8 is the best overall AM/FM radio that you can readily buy for a (very) reasonable price of about $50. It's second-generation Chinese cousin, the Tecsun PL-310 is actually even MORE sensitive without sacrificing any of the G8's selectivity. And, it has direct entry tuning as well. I bought it on ebay from a dealer in Hong Kong and love it. Cost around $60 with shipping. Haven't had my hands on a PL-380 (the subsequent model to the PL-310) though I have heard good things about it. It's roughly $65 with shipping. All are very portable and are fantastic to walk around or travel with.

The RP2100 is very sensitive and selective as well and is a bit bigger. The FM selectivity is not as good as the aforementioned Tecsun models because it lacks the DSP chip. However, it makes up for that in sensitivity and I haven't had any overload issues with it. Another good pick, though more pricey at $140 or so.

The Eton E5/Grundig G5 model has always been a favorite of mine because it offers great AM and FM reception as well as nice SW capabilities with SSB. Not quite as selective as the Tecsuns, but very sensitive and a pleasure to use. The Degen DE1103/Kaito KA1103 has roughly the same performance as the E5/G5 at a cheaper price and is also fine - if you can get used to the funky controls (I have). Again, you won't go wrong with any of the above.

I've found the Sony SW7600GR to be an immense disappointment on FM, it isn't as sensitive as you'd expect and has issues with overload and selectivity. It's AM side is every bit as good as the others, though not better. For FM, I'd forget that one. It seems to only excel with AM/LW/SW when combined with an external antenna setup. Overrated, if you ask me. The Grundig G3 was also disappointing; it's very selective, but lacks sensitivity. Though it was supposed to be an improvement on the G5, it's not.

Can't comment on the HD tuners because I don't have them. I'd imagine that your antenna setup would drastically impact your results with those.

 

[gar hi]

When it comes to AM reception, isn't the size of the built in ferrite antenna what matters?

The Sangean PR-D5 has a 200 mm (7.8 inch) ferrite antenna which is even bigger than the entire length of some of the above mentioned portables.

 

[KE4KLS_Radio]

I have seen the software-defined radios (black box) that interfaces with a PC and antenna, and that looks like that would be my next step up... Also like to DX AM in the cooler months, then FM in the summer. Looks like for FM the Sony HD FM XDR-F1HD would also fit the bill, too.

Yes, this stuff can get expensive, but was looking for the best "consumer-grade" out there, particularly in a portable...

 

[ddsparxx]

I've found the Sony SW7600GR to be an immense disappointment on FM, it isn't as sensitive as you'd expect and has issues with overload and selectivity. It's AM side is every bit as good as the others, though not better. For FM, I'd forget that one. It seems to only excel with AM/LW/SW when combined with an external antenna setup. Overrated, if you ask me. The Grundig G3 was also disappointing; it's very selective, but lacks sensitivity. Though it was supposed to be an improvement on the G5, it's not.

Can't comment on the HD tuners because I don't have them. I'd imagine that your antenna setup would drastically impact your results with those.

The SW7600GR has lousy selectivity on FM and I heard about the Grundig G3 which is the reason I didn't buy it. What was Eton thinking? Maybe it didn't test its radio, or they cut corners.

The AM antenna setup on the Sony tuner is like this:


A loop 2 1/2 feet accross, 3 turns of wire, no variable capacitor. I used the PVC pipe (making 4 pieces and 5th for a stand) from Lowe's as a frame, 3 T-shaped connecting ends and one plus-shaped end for threading the #22 wire through them, a plus-shaped connector for the center of the frame, the other plus for connecting the frame to a stand.
The remainder of the wiring is the feedline twisted together and connected to the tuner's AM terminals. I picked up this idea from http://members.cox.net/rwagoner/columns/am_antenna.html about a year ago. It seems to work well with the Sangean HDT-1 as well, but I like the quality of sound from the Sony's AM section better on weak signals. This homemade antenna really picks up distant AM stations well with the Sony and it seems to work across the entire AM band.

 

[LibertyNT]

I personally love my Grundig G6. It is the most selective radio on the FM band I have ever used.
AM is alright Air band is deaf.

My Favorite radio is the Eton S350DL. Great sensitivity ,
but not as selective on the FM band as the
G6, but still pretty selective particularly when all the signals are weak.
Excellent Am reception (but not when your near a powerful AM station, as i have found out)

Its a good Radio Overall. Easily picks up my Part 15 FM a few blocks away.

 

[BRNout]

I personally love my Grundig G6. It is the most selective radio on the FM band I have ever used.
AM is alright Air band is deaf.

My Favorite radio is the Eton S350DL. Great sensitivity ,
but not as selective on the FM band as the
G6, but still pretty selective particularly when all the signals are weak.
Excellent Am reception (but not when your near a powerful AM station, as i have found out)

Its a good Radio Overall. Easily picks up my Part 15 FM a few blocks away.

Honestly, LibertyNT, I have an S350DL and it's in the lower echelon when it comes to sensitivity; all of the above are better performers.

 

[ddsparxx]

I have the S350DL also, I agree that has great sensitivity on AM but the signal is best centered at 3 kHz above the station's frequency on the LCD display and the tuning knob feels a little flimsy. Worse, I can't use this radio near a very strong AM signal.

 

[BRNout]

I have the S350DL also, I agree that has great sensitivity on AM but the signal is best centered at 3 kHz above the station's frequency on the LCD display and the tuning knob feels a little flimsy. Worse, I can't use this radio near a very strong AM signal.

It's a fun radio to play with, but the AM section is just okay and is prone to overload and images due to its single conversion design. The FM gets local signals fine and sounds nice, but is utterly incapable of capturing the distant and first-adjacent signals that dxers are looking for.

The G8 is head and shoulders above the S350DL, except for the sound coming from the speaker.

 

[LibertyNT]

I have the S350DL also, I agree that has great sensitivity on AM but the signal is best centered at 3 kHz above the station's frequency on the LCD display and the tuning knob feels a little flimsy. Worse, I can't use this radio near a very strong AM signal.

It's a fun radio to play with, but the AM section is just okay and is prone to overload and images due to its single conversion design. The FM gets local signals fine and sounds nice, but is utterly incapable of capturing the distant and first-adjacent signals that dxers are looking for.

The G8 is head and shoulders above the S350DL, except for the sound coming from the speaker.

I have to Disagree with the FM portion. I have been able to easily pull in Oklahoma City and Houston Area Stations on the FM band. But you are right about 2nd adjacent. Those are rather hard to pull out with this radio.

 

[gar hi]

I've heard the GE Super Radio is supposed to be great for AM reception and some claim it's the best. Someone here actually mentioned various great catches using that radio.

I looked up it's antenna size and it's the same as my Sangean PR-D5, 200 mm.

The GE Super Radio III is something I've considered getting but if the antenna is the same size as the radio I already have, I wonder what the difference would really be, if any.

 

[ddsparxx]

I've heard the GE Super Radio is supposed to be great for AM reception and some claim it's the best. Someone here actually mentioned various great catches using that radio.

I looked up it's antenna size and it's the same as my Sangean PR-D5, 200 mm.

The GE Super Radio III is something I've considered getting but if the antenna is the same size as the radio I already have, I wonder what the difference would really be, if any.

The GE SRIII's ferrite bar is also 200 mm. I have read complaints about the quality control of the SRIII's but I'm not having any problems with my SRIII except the strange noise around 910 kHz caused by its circuitry; the noise is high-pitched whooshing sound. When I turn the tuning knob up and down just a little bit, the noise is a bit similar to the wobbling sound from the Cuban 730.


Otherwise, my GE Superadio III is a tiny bit less sensitive on AM than my GE Superadio II. I never bothered using these radios for FM; I just use them only for AM.

 

[ddsparxx]

It's a fun radio to play with, but the AM section is just okay and is prone to overload and images due to its single conversion design. The FM gets local signals fine and sounds nice, but is utterly incapable of capturing the distant and first-adjacent signals that dxers are looking for.

The G8 is head and shoulders above the S350DL, except for the sound coming from the speaker.

If it were to have double conversion on AM, better quality tuning, and better selectivity on FM, then that would be my top radio.

 

[BRNout]

I have to Disagree with the FM portion. I have been able to easily pull in Oklahoma City and Houston Area Stations on the FM band. But you are right about 2nd adjacent. Those are rather hard to pull out with this radio.

Based on my experience from the NW suburbs of Chicago, my other "dxing" FM portables can pull in weak signals from Milwaukee as well as the local Chicago area ones. With one exception (WKKV), the S350DL couldn't get any of the MKE area signals - neither the 1st adjacents (always covered by overload from locals) nor the one or two that are second-adjacents. Perhaps it does better in areas with more open channels. However, that being the case, I still think you'll find more FM stations available to you on a G8 than an S350DL.

If it were to have double conversion on AM, better quality tuning, and better selectivity on FM, then that would be my top radio.

It certainly is fun to use and has a nice "old school" feel to it. If it had those enhancements and, perhaps, direct entry tuning for those times when you desire a quick frequency switch, yes it would definitely be one of my faves too. That radio still sounds good and, when I want to set up a radio that has a good sound to it for work around the house or something, it's what I pick.