What portable radio is the most sensitive and selective

[Dxer1105]

what i am looking for:

coverage: LW, MW, SW, FM, AIR ( Don't have to have it )

Size: Grundig S350 or smaller

Price: $200.00 or less

Features: Required: SSB, digital tuning, tuning 1khz on LW SW and MW,
Wants: RDS, external antenna inputs, long battery life.

Purpose: to dx anywhere

 

[stormy01]

I have read good things about the Sangean ATS-909 A little more than $200.00 (currently $218 @ Amazon - shop around, you may get a better price - don't forget Amazon has free shipping and no sales tax)

http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-ATS-909-Digital-Shortwave-Receiver/dp/B0000228GG

I have the Sony ICF-SW7600GR* ($137) No RDS, SW needs to use the (supplied) reel antenna to "hear" weaker signals. FM should have better sensitivity. The Sony "eats" batteries. Maybe the Sangean isn't so hard on batteries. Personally, I'm mainly interested in AM/MW DX, so the Sony does a good job of nulling out interfering stations. I would say go with the Sangean, since you really would like to have RDS on FM.

*http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-Shortwave-Receiver-Reception/dp/B00006IS4X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1288918021&sr=1-1

The Grundig** is a good price ($100), but I am not aware of how well or not it performs... Unless that's a typo, the S350 is 5.8 pounds, the Sony is 1.4 lbs., and the Sangean is 1.1 lbs. Don't think it has RDS. Have no idea why the Grundig is so much heavier compared to the Sony and Sangean.

**http://www.amazon.com/Grundig-S350-Deluxe-Shortwave-Radio/dp/B000Q5APCC

 

[gar hi]

My brother recently got the Grundig G3 and really likes it.

I didn't want to spend that much so I went with the G8 but I really like it.

The G8 doesn't have SSB or a place for an external antenna.

 

[ddsparxx]

Probably the closest are the DSP radios from Tecsun (PL-310, PL-380, G8) even though they don't have RDS, external antenna inputs, and SSB.

 

[rtc]

National Geographic still has the Grundig G-8,new,here:

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/gear-&-gadgets/radios/traveler-shortwave-radio

SW performance is average (good) but the price is right along with the
other coverage and features.You can't do better for 25 bucks.

Keep in mind that the more sensitive a set is the less selective
it might be due to front end overload.

The 909 (at least the old model) has a rep for eating batteries.

Don't know about the new model:

http://universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/2909.html

BTW,what with hit and miss QC these days it's a good idea to use a
firm like Universal as they have a good exchange/refund policy and,
unlike others,just do radio.

(If you are having reception problems today,there has been a "storm"
and we are just coming out of it)

Hope this helps... .

 

[Dxer1105]

I did some research and i like the G3, G6, DE or KA 1103, CC Radio SW,

other radio's that caught my attention: G8, Sangean PR-D5, CC Radio ( AM/FM ), ATS 909

It would be awesome if i could try each radio out before i buy it.

 

[BRNout]

I did some research and i like the G3, G6, DE or KA 1103, CC Radio SW,

other radio's that caught my attention: G8, Sangean PR-D5, CC Radio ( AM/FM ), ATS 909

It would be awesome if i could try each radio out before i buy it.

Best FM sensitivity and selectivity (which is VERY important for good reception): Tecsun PL310, Grundig G8, Tecsun PL380; honorable mention goes to the CC Radio SW, KA1103 and G5 (very sensitive, not as selective). On FM, I've found that the Sony ICF-SW7600 is, frankly, awful. One of my worst FM radios, in fact. Not very sensitive and with poor selectivity. So, if you have a weak signal near a stronger one - the Sony will be the last to detect it. Walkman-style radios do better. Another that's not so good is the Grundig S350. This radio looks cool and sounds good, but will only pull in moderate to strong signals from your area. It's a lousy dxer. Don't know about the PR-D5 or the ATS 909, although most of the reviews I've read on the PR-D5 indicate that it's very good while those on the ATS 909 say not to bother wasting the money. My G3 is so-so on FM; the small C Crane SWP is not worth bothering with (on any band).

AM sensitivity and selectivity are a different story. The Sony is excellent in this regard, as are the CC Radio SW and the PL310 (with its selectable bandwidth). The KA 1103, KA 1102 and G5 are also very good at dxing AM. Not so hot: the G350. The G8 is fair as is the G3.

For SW and LW, the Sony is the best followed by the KA 1102, KA 1103 and G5. The PL310 is okay on SW and LW - much better at this than the G8 is. Another good one for all around dxing (AM, FM, SW, etc.) that is not mentioned is the Tecsun PL-600.

As far as air band goes, neither the G3 nor the G6 are as good as they appear to be. Frankly, you're better off saving the money and buying a scanner.

Just my 0.02 as someone who owns most of the above models.

 

[ddsparxx]

I may want to add that the Sangean PR-DR5 s excellent on sensitivity on AM with the great big ferrite loopstick, and good on selectivity as well, but tunes in 10 kHz steps or it can be switched to 9 kHz. On FM, sensitivity is good, receives RDS, selectivity is decent but not great, and tunes in .1 MHZ. oh, BTW, I think there is a third Tecsun DSP radio called PL-606; it's the lastest model that should performs the same as the PL-310/380. I forgot to add earlier that the Tecsuns are available only on Ebay. Univeral Radio says it will introduce the Grundig S450DLX possibly as a new replacement of the S350DL, but now it said the radio won't be available until 1/31/11. I have no idea how it performs.

 

[crainbebo]

Grundig G8 is great for FM. G5 too. The S350 is HORRIBLE!! AM has bleed, FM has bleed, SW has bleed.

For AM, the G5 is good for AM. I have logged over 370 stations with that thing.

-crainbebo

 

[Dxer1105]

hmm... I see a lot of good words about the G3, G5, G8, PR-D5, KA/DE 1103, Tecsun Pl 310/380, ATS-909

Thanks for your opinions. keep them coming. i will do further research. i like the good performance and cheap price of G8

 

[nd2023]

The Insignia HD radio has as good sensitivity and selectivity as my car radio for analog, and even decodes HD.

 

[BRNout]

The Insignia HD radio has as good sensitivity and selectivity as my car radio for analog, and even decodes HD.

I have the Insignia HD radio and it's fine for certain things. Namely, it is VERY selective. However, I must disagree on the sensitivity aspect. It's fairly sensitive, but not nearly as much so as the likes of a G8 or PL-310. If you live in an environment with a very congested band, it may seem awesome as it offers up a weak signal on 95.7 right adjacent to, say, a strong and local station on 95.5. But compare it with one of the new DSP radios and it quickly pales. I know because I've done the comparisons and am on my second Insignia HD radio.

Great for its tiny size though - if all you are interested in is FM. Certainly better than any of the Walkman-style radios out there.

 

[ddsparxx]

The first Insignia "walkman" overloads on very strong signals, otherwise, it's an OK radio. If there's a second Insignia radio that replaces it, I don't know how it performs.

 

[MarioMania]

Does Walkman's like my Sony WM-FX281 have good AM to DX??

I'm need to get battries for my DX-380

 

[pianoplayer88key]

At 6:47am PDT Oct 20, I heard 774-JOUB Akita Japan on a Panasonic RQ-SW20 (aided by a Select-A-Tenna which helped cut down the QRM from local 760-KFMB), which would probably be a similar size to the WM-FX281.

 

[Dxer1105]

tfcwings: that is a hell of a catch. were u right on the beach? how many miles is that from your location?

for me to get transatlantic reception i would have to go to the jersey shore and would try for europe. for some reason i want to try to dx a bbc station

 

[ddsparxx]

tfcwings, that was a heck of a good catch...I listened to the first audio clip, the signal sounded listenable, it also sounded like there was a thunderstorm near your location at that time.

MarioMania, all I could say is try listening to the Sony walkman and compare it with the DX-380 on AM.