Re: Good AM/FM Radios?
clams casino
>I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
>defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
>or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
>Chinese radios have quality problems.
>
>Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
>that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
>simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
>Thanks.
>
>
I can't suggest a good brand of radios, but NEVER EVER buy anything made
by Emerson (or Haier for that matter) no matter what the price is. If
handed to you for free, dump it.
WaterBoy
i recommend a Digital tuner vs "dial" tuning;
you stay on the frequency all the time
you might start your search at Amazon.com
i find the the user ratings a good starting guide for brands, etc
waterboy
George
> I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
> or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> Chinese radios have quality problems.
Emerson is just a junk line made to sell in big box stores. I doubt they
have made anything of reasonable quality in decades.
sno
jacaranda wrote:
>
> I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
> or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> Chinese radios have quality problems.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
> Thanks.
HAM's seem to like the GE Super radio....
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze20h45/radio/superadio/gesr_faq.html
I have one and have been happy with it....
hope helps...have fun.....sno
--
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Is it any more dangerous then what we are doing
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Tockk
"jacaranda" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:Xns99D790E0987AChj...@204.153.245.131...
>I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most
> $100-
> or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> Chinese radios have quality problems.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan
> or
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
> Thanks.
I've had good luck with my Sony radios. One's a little pocket thing that
you gotta put an earphone in, and the other is a smallish boombox thing with
a cd player.
George Grapman
Might not be the cheapest but C. Crane has great quality and support.
About 8 years ago I got an AM-Fm-SW radio mainly for travel but is has
become my primary radio at home. One time i has a question and the
person answering the phone owned the model and had an answer.
Also, check out the "orphans" link. Returned products, full warranty.
lower price.
Ron Peterson
> Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
You might want to consider an HD radio which gives enhanced AM and FM
reception. See http://www.radiosophy.com/products/hd100.html.
--
Ron
Don K
news:Xns99D790E0987AChj...@204.153.245.131...
>I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
> or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> Chinese radios have quality problems.
>
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
Don K
news:gaCdnc99X7wVk7va...@comcast.com...
Ooops!
> "jacaranda" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns99D790E0987AChj...@204.153.245.131...
>> Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
>> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
>> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
It depends how you define the above terms and what other unspecified
criteria you might have.
For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box), be powered either from AC
(without a wall-wart) and with at least AA battery power, and have no other
features or doo-dads, such as CD players, timers, etc. which would only
serve to decrease reliability.
Keep in mind most failures occur early-on, so check out all functions
before you leave the store, or if that's not possible, as soon as you
get it home.
Other than that, I'd start out with looking what's available from names
like Sony, Panasonic, Grundig, and comparing things relative to them.
Don
Bill Rider
> For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
> speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box),
Are all boom-boxes ridiculous?
> be powered either from AC
> (without a wall-wart) and with at least AA battery power,
Twenty years ago I paid $300 for a Sony shortwave. It has battery power
for portability and power failures and AC for thrift. Once it suffered
lightning damage because it was hooked to an external antenna when a
thunderstorm came through. Troubleshooting and ordering all those parts
was quite a headache. A few years later the power supply failed. That
was easy to replace because Sony had been thoughtful enough to use a
wall-wart.
> and have no other
> features or doo-dads, such as CD players, timers, etc. which would only
> serve to decrease reliability.
>
If you want to play CDs, a CD player is just the thing. An alternative
to a CD-playing radio is a radio with audio-input jacks. Then you can
use a pocket-style CD player. There's less to go wrong because there
are fewer moving parts, and it can be replaced cheaply.
I always use the timer on my radio because I'd forget to turn it off.
I'd hate to come home and find that kidnappers had broken in because
they'd listened at the window, heard the radio, and thought it was my
voice. :)
Don K
news:ScpVi.11679$ho4...@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
> Don K wrote:
>
>> For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
>> speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box),
>
> Are all boom-boxes ridiculous?
Pretty-much by definition.
>
>> be powered either from AC
>> (without a wall-wart) and with at least AA battery power,
>
> Twenty years ago I paid $300 for a Sony shortwave. It has battery power for portability
> and power failures and AC for thrift. Once it suffered lightning damage because it was
> hooked to an external antenna when a thunderstorm came through. Troubleshooting and
> ordering all those parts was quite a headache. A few years later the power supply
> failed. That was easy to replace because Sony had been thoughtful enough to use a
> wall-wart.
Whenever anything I own gets struck by lightning, I take that as a sign
that the gods are displeased with that item, and I quickly get rid of it,
lest I get smited too for affronting them with an abomination.
>
>> and have no other
>> features or doo-dads, such as CD players, timers, etc. which would only
>> serve to decrease reliability.
>>
> If you want to play CDs, a CD player is just the thing. An alternative to a CD-playing
> radio is a radio with audio-input jacks. Then you can use a pocket-style CD player.
> There's less to go wrong because there are fewer moving parts, and it can be replaced
> cheaply.
CD's are probably on the way out anyway, and it won't be long before
people will be keeping their CD radio on the shelf next to their 8-track radio.
>
> I always use the timer on my radio because I'd forget to turn it off. I'd hate to come
> home and find that kidnappers had broken in because they'd listened at the window, heard
> the radio, and thought it was my voice. :)
That's what I mean. For me, it's redundant because I keep my cellphone
on anyway to alert kidnappers of my whereabouts.
Don
ra...@vt.edu
> Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
Do a web search for a Henry Kloss Model 1 radio. It is a basic AM/FM
radio designed by Henry Kloss. Sells for about $120. It gets very
good reviews for sound quality and good basic design. No CD, though.
Also the Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio is a similar offering with
a digital tuner, also available in an HD radio version. It's about
$150 for the regular and $255 for the HD.
I hope this helps.
Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.
Bill Rider
> "Bill Rider" <ple...@nospa.mnet> wrote in message
> news:ScpVi.11679$ho4...@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
>> Don K wrote:
>>
>>> For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
>>> speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box),
>> Are all boom-boxes ridiculous?
>
> Pretty-much by definition.
The audio/speaker of my $300 radio isn't very good. A $50 boom box can
be clearer and easier to listen to.
>
> CD's are probably on the way out anyway, and it won't be long before
> people will be keeping their CD radio on the shelf next to their 8-track radio.
I bought an MP3 player for $15. To my surprise, the sound is clearer
than any CD player I've heard. I guess it has a better audio IC. It's
more compact and convenient than a CD player, and there's no
deterioration to a CD or mechanical parts.
Jeff
> Whenever anything I own gets struck by lightning, I take that as a sign
> that the gods are displeased with that item, and I quickly get rid of it,
> lest I get smited too for affronting them with an abomination.
Hmmm. Modems must fall into that affront to the Gods category...
>
Jeff
<snip>
** Frank **
<ra...@vt.edu> wrote in message news:fg5aj4$mhn$1...@solaris.cc.vt.edu...
This is the Henry Kloss with CD and Target had it at 75% off. The Kloss
radios were excellent in its days but had not kept up with the times.
Don K
> Don K wrote:
>> "Bill Rider" <ple...@nospa.mnet> wrote in message
>> news:ScpVi.11679$ho4...@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
>>> Don K wrote:
>>>
>>>> For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
>>>> speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box),
>>> Are all boom-boxes ridiculous?
>>
>> Pretty-much by definition.
>
> The audio/speaker of my $300 radio isn't very good. A $50 boom box can be clearer and
> easier to listen to.
The boombox design concept is ridiculous, IMO.
A boombox can be clearer than a radio with a tiny speaker, but it's usually
in a ridiculously oversized box. And yet the stereo speakers are either too close
together to provide much benefit, or too cumbersome for portable operation
if they're moveable. Better to just have a decent mono speaker, IMO.
Don
Seerialmom
> I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
> or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> Chinese radios have quality problems.
>
> that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
I'm liking my Sony MP3 player w/FM tuner (no AM...sorry). If you want
Japanese then buy Japanese brands like Sony or Panasonic?
Bill Rider
> "Bill Rider" <ple...@nospa.mnet> wrote in message
> news:6ZrVi.41086$b9....@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
>> Don K wrote:
>>> "Bill Rider" <ple...@nospa.mnet> wrote in message
>>> news:ScpVi.11679$ho4...@bignews9.bellsouth.net...
>>>> Don K wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> For me, a good radio would have to have digital tuning, a half-way decent
>>>>> speaker (but not be a ridiculous boom-box),
>>>> Are all boom-boxes ridiculous?
>>> Pretty-much by definition.
>> The audio/speaker of my $300 radio isn't very good. A $50 boom box can be clearer and
>> easier to listen to.
>
> The boombox design concept is ridiculous, IMO.
>
> A boombox can be clearer than a radio with a tiny speaker, but it's usually
> in a ridiculously oversized box. And yet the stereo speakers are either too close
> together to provide much benefit, or too cumbersome for portable operation
> if they're moveable. Better to just have a decent mono speaker, IMO.
>
> Don
>
>
For many years about 1970 I had two AC/DC tabletop radios. One was a
very good name-brand model that was very heavy and took up about 60
cubic inches. The other was a no-name brand that took up about 250
cubic inches and was almost as light as styrofoam. It sounded better
because the box was big enough to get a good speaker response. The only
advantage to the expensive one was that it would fit in a jacket pocket.
My shortwave radio is like that expensive pocket radio: nearly 4 pounds
and 125 cubic inches. There's not enough air in that box for a good
response from the 3" speaker.
I got an improvement when I built an external speaker. I bought a
midrange and a 4" woofer. After finding the woofer's free-air
resonance, I calculated that I would need a box of 800 cubic inches.
For twenty years I've had a plastic boombox that now I use on my desk to
play music from my computer. I have the speakers nearly four feet
apart. The cones are 3" and the boxes 180 cubic inches. The response
is smooth with a gradual roll-off about 100 Hz.
I used to have two good boomboxes. I gave one to a teenaged niece
because the boombox she got for Christmas had a horrible resonance. Not
all boomboxes sound good. One problem with hers was that the speaker
boxes weren't big enough.
Relatives are very proud of their $1000 stereo with two tiny satellite
speakers and one woofer. To me, it doesn't sound as good as a $100
conventional system. I think it's because the satellite speakers are
too small to handle the required frequencies well.
bear...@cruller.invalid
> jacaranda wrote:
> >
> > I just bought an AM/FM radio (w/ CD player) from Emerson and it was
> > defective right out of the box...No sound. I've since read that most $100-
> > or-less radios these days are made in China (as was the Emerson), and that
> > Chinese radios have quality problems.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive radio/radio brand made in Japan or
> > that is of reliable quality regardless of origin? I just want something
> > simple. OK if CD player is included, but the main thing is to have AM/FM.
> > Thanks.
>
> HAM's seem to like the GE Super radio....
>
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze20h45/radio/superadio/gesr_faq.html
>
> I have one and have been happy with it....
>
> hope helps...have fun.....sno
I second this. The GE Super Radio was one of the most reliable, best
sounding, best receiving, best tuning radios I have ever owned.