First radio
JimK
my choices to the Kaito 1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
I would very much appreciate any opinions on which you prefer, and
why.
Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
Thanks.
Mike Mc Manus
I guess the choice of radios is based on what you like to listen to.
The Kaito is good for broadcasting on SW and the Sony is good for
Single sideband. Note that Sony is getting very hard to get parts for
if the radio goes bad. The Sony is more expensive than the Kaito. The
Sony is built sturdier. Get a chance to see and hadle both radios if
you can.
Mike
dave
Perhaps you'd enjoy utility monitoring; for that you'll need a better
radio.
helm...@wowway.com
>JimK wrote:
>> Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowed
>> my choices to the Kaito 1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
>>
>> I would very much appreciate any opinions on which you prefer, and
>> why.
>>
>> Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>You're about 20 years too late. Shortwave broadcasting is dead.
That's bullshit !
Geoffrey S. Mendelson
> You're about 20 years too late. Shortwave broadcasting is dead.
> Perhaps you'd enjoy utility monitoring; for that you'll need a better
> radio.
Maybe because I am on the other side of the world, I would dispute that.
Shortwave broadcasting is alive and well, but it's no longer the prefered
method of reaching distant audiences.
Broadcasters who want to reach a more affluent audience have moved to methods
of transmission which are cheaper to transmit, but more expensive to receive.
For example, Internet "broadcasting", satellite sub carriers, etc. They have
also moved to video broadcasting which can not be done by shortwave.
As Dave said, 20 years ago things were different. A cheap shortwave radio
with a short antenna, such as the built in whip, could receive broadcasts
from around the world, 24/7. Due to propigation, you would have to tune to
various frequencies, even when it was night where you were and daytime at the
source or vice versa.
The "biggies", BBC, VOA, AFRN (US millitary entertainment for distant bases),
Deutcshe Welle (Germany), Radio France International, Radio Moscow,
Radio Habana Cuba, HJCB (The Voice of the Andes) and so on. There was even
at one time a Shortwave broadcaster out of New Orleans, which often just
relayed their FM service.
Now most of them have scaled down, or left shortwave entirely.
For example, the BBC no longer "beams" their signal to North America, but you
can still receive it. Not as easily as before, which means you may need to be
more proactive about choosing when you listen and have a better antenna or
receiver. On the other hand, most of the people reading this will have access
to their streaming audio on the Internet, or via a local cable TV or DBS
service.
Many broadcasters use shortwave radio to reach populations that are too
distant and too poor to have broadband Internet, satellite receivers, etc.
Whether or not you would be able receive them at all, or with a cheap receiver
is questionable.
Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel g...@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM
D. Peter Maus
> JimK wrote:
>> Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowed
>> my choices to the Kaito 1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
>>
>> I would very much appreciate any opinions on which you prefer, and
>> why.
>>
>> Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
>>
>> Thanks.
Welcome to the hobby. SW listening is a shade of its former
self, but there's still plenty to snag. Lots to enjoy.
Radios....about any passable radio you buy will be a decent
start. It will not be the last one you buy. But what it will do is
get you active, so you can refine your interests, and then select a
radio that meets the needs of those interests. You'll also begin
experimenting with methods of improving reception: eliminating noise
sources, possibly experimenting with external antennae.
Any decent radio can get you into the hobby, and help you learn
the craft of radio.
Sony: 7600 is a popular radio. Not without reason. I personally
don't recommend Sony because of their service practices. If
something goes wrong, you can jump through many hoops, waste many
months (in one case I waited two years for a VCR to come back from
the Sony Service Center, with some great stories as to why it was
taking so damned long) waiting for a piece to be repaired, only to
be told after it all, that it was unrepairable, and that they'd be
glad to sell you a new product and give you pro rated credit for
your old one. Great sounding. In practice you end up spending about
150% more for a working radio than you thought you would.
So, I don't recommend any Sony product on that basis.
But if you're determined to go that way, then go with your eyes
open.
Wide/Narrow: This is probably a non-issue. There are a number of
ways that manufacturers execute selectable bandwidth. They can
actually switch in additional or alternate filters, which would be
the better way, or they can simply switch in or out additional
capacitance to roll off the upper end of the response curves. GRE
built radios for 'The Shack' (...what the F*CK are these people
thinking) would simply switch in some extra capacitance to roll off
the audio when you selected 'Narrow.' To switch in additional or
alternate filters costs money. And requires more stable, and a
finer, alignment...adding considerably to the cost of the radio.
And if the filters are selected correctly, especially on the
portable, narrower bandwidth is usually unnecessary, unless you're
in a crowded band pulling one CW operator out of many.
If the radio you select doesn't have a Wide/Narrow selector, you
probably won't miss it.
Features overall... The Sony has synchronous detection. A nice
feature. Very erratically executed across manufacturers. Sony
usually does it pretty well. Now, there are some radio hobbycraft
practitioners, and reviewers as well, who will tell you NEVER buy a
radio without a sync detector. Ignore them. These people are
dilletantes masquerading as high performance SWL'ers. The truth is
that sync is a nice feature. But not a necessity. And a good
operator with the radio of his choice can pull a decent listen out
of his signal of interest without it. Nice feature. Not a necessity.
And most sync detectors have enough quirks that you can do better
with ECSS than you can with sync. So look for a radio that can
detect single sideband (SSB.)
Tuning resolution should be pretty fine. For program listening,
you can get away with nearly a kilohertz. For ham/utilities, you'll
need something finer. 100Hz is passable, 50Hz is better. 10Hz is
good. But you'll need what's called a 'clarifier.' Many radios have
them. Many don't. A clarifier will enable you to zero in on a signal
in SSB, or ECSS for the best listening. Without it, you may get a
low level beat that can be really irritating.
Build quality should be good. You're going to beat this thing up
if you drag it with you where you go. And you'll want to take it out
of the city or town where you live for the lower noise figures
possible out in the woods. Lower noise means better hearing of low
level signals. Some decent DX is possible in the woods, without any
modifications or additional antenna.
The Sony offers a pretty decent product for the money in these
areas. Audio can be kind of harsh, though. And you will be listening
for long stretches.
The Kaito is a basic radio. Offering few of the advanced features
but it has more pleasant audio, and about the same sensitivity and
build as the Sony.
My personal choice would be the Kaito. Because it's not a Sony.
Your mileage may vary.
Recommendation: Go to a brick and mortar store and try each. Side
by side, if you can. Then find the best price and order your
selection on line.
p
dave
I strongly recommend against getting a mid-priced portable for your
first radio. They have very limited reception capabilities. You want
something with SSB and the ability to use a full antenna. Maybe a nice
used "tabletop" receiver.
Have you read "Passport to World Band Radio"?
Joe
I recommend the Sony ICF-SW7600GR over the Kaito KA1103 for two
reasons:
1) The Sony is by far the more advanced-design radio. Even though its
basic design is now fifteen years old, no other manufacturer has yet
been able to duplicate its features and design in a compact portable
shortwave receiver.
2) While I agree that Sony "service" and "technical support" is
wretched at best, I believe that this "problem" is much exaggerated. I
currently own nine (9) Sony shortwave receivers - two ICF-SW35s, two
ICF-SW7600Gs, and five ICF-SW7600GRs. The only "problem" I have ever
had with any of them is, on one of my 'GRs, the whip antenna support
screw loosened and couldn't be totally tightened. The repair?
PartStore<dot>com sells replacement antennas as well as just about any
part you could possibly need and their prices are as fair as possible
(Sony parts are never cheap). As you can easily obtain a service
manual for the '7600GR online - and for free! - any competent service
company can work on your radio should the occasion arise. (Replacing
the antenna, in my case, took less than one minute and the only tool
necessary was a small Phillips-head screwdriver.)
I do not believe that you could get parts/service any easier, if at
all, with the Kaito radio, as good and as inexpensive as it is. I have
found that, in general, Chinese-made products do not have the same
longevity as do Japanese-made ones (and the Sony ICF-SW7600GR is
indeed still made in Japan).
Some users have reported that the Kaito KA1103 is slightly more
sensitive off its whip than is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. But this is a
moot point as I, and I believe most serious shortwave listeners, will
use an external shortwave antenna except in the most casual of
situations. I myself almost never use the whip, much preferring to use
the Sony AN-LP1 Active Antenna with my radio. After all, if you are
searching the shortwaves, you want the best possible performance from
your receiver and, with an external antenna, the Sony is the equal of
any other compact portable shortwave receiver in sensitivity - and
often their superior due to its exceptional (for a portable) dynamic
range with an external antenna.
And finally, with its advanced circuitry such as its synchronous
detection circuit, the Sony can often "bring in" signals which often
would be unlistenable on other receivers - and this can apply to MW
broadcasts as well (if not transmitting with IBOC). Two bandwidths are
nice (and I do wish the Sony had them) but they pale in removing
interference from one sideband in comparison with a good sync circuit.
(If you don't like sync on a particular station, you can always turn
it off.) The Sony's ECSS performance (using SSB to listen to a
station) and, of course, its SSB performance is second-to-none in its
class.
The above arguments represent my opinion only; I know that others may
disagree. But I have owned my Sony's for many years now and I use all
of them heavily. (My oldest 'G is from 1998 and my oldest 'GR is from
2001; my newest 'GRs are from 2005.) I must state that I have never
owned a Kaito KA1103 but, in trying out the Grundig G5 for about 20
minutes a couple of years ago at a local Radio Shack, a radio based on
the Kaito's circuitry, I was unimpressed both with the Grundig's build
quality and its performance (its sound quality was much better than
the Sony's, of course, but that is easily corrected, should one so
desire, by using external amplified [computer] speakers).
I hope the above gives you some food for thought.
Best,
Joe
On Sep 21, 3:38 am, JimK <jkk...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowedmy choices to the Kaito1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
Bushcraftgregg
Hi "Jim." It is astounding to me that many people
that post in here according to the archives, have
simply ( again, according to the archives) never
posted anything in their "history" of posting
on usenet.
Kind of strange in my opinion. Just saying. ;-)
HD Radio Farce
I would try the analog-tuned Kaito WRX911 - great little radio for
around $25.
Bushcraftgregg
Antti "Andy" Ylikoski
The best portatop that I have come across is the Eton Corp. �ton e1
world radio. It every now and then even equals my Drake R8E. Very good
value for the money.
regards, Antti J. Ylikoski
Helsinki, Finland, the EU
PH5E
Check out my site, might help you find what you're looking for. Link below.
--
RigReference.com - Reference guide for ham radio equipment
http://rigreference.com/
cuh...@webtv.net
A lot of old and newish radio stuff there.Pick a year and a month and
look for them.Check em all out.
cuhulin
cuh...@webtv.net
cuhulin
∅baMa∅ Tse Dung
Buy the Sony! It is superior in every way. It has the famous Sony
Sync Detector.
If you find shortwave boring and a waste of time at least you will be
able to resell the Sony.
The Kaito has Zero, as in 0baMa0- "0" resale value.
dave
Universal has one for $300.
cuh...@webtv.net
cuhulin
Geary Morton
Antti "Andy" Ylikoski
> How are things in Helsifors?
> cuhulin
>
The weather is cool, I would say 18 degrees centigrade, cloudy.
My doctoral dissertation is approaching completion -- ie, the defence of
the thesis. See http://www.hut.fi/~ajy/diss-1.pdf .
Rastafarian guerrillas running amok on Helsinki streets and gardens
:-)))))) See Bob Marley and the Wailers.....
Helsinki is a very green city, a Central Park runs thru the suburbs and
the northern part of the centre of the town. Here where I live it is
like living in a summer residence the year round..... And there are
several parks right in the middle of the town.
Took my Drake R8E from the package where it was lying on the floor,
threw a 10-meter long L antenna onto the jasmines in our garden, and
started to listen. I also often listen to the �ton e1 on the lawn of
our garden....
kind regards, Antti Ylikoski
Helsinki, Finland, the EU
~ RHF
- Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowed
- my choices to the Kaito 1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
Pick the Sony ICF-SW7600GR Radio
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0360.html
- I would very much appreciate any opinions
- on which you prefer, and why.
The Sony is still the better Radio from both
a Build Quality and Technical Aspects
- Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
The Sony has an "AM Mode" Switch with
Normal [Wide] & SSB [Narrow]
plus LSB & USB Switch
plus SSB Fine Tuning
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0360sv.jpg
>
> Thanks.
Sony 7600GR Antenna Question ?
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/29c232b1c5d205ea
Antenna Recommendations for Sony ICF-SW7600GR
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/24c4c12c1284c635
Setting-Up the Sony ICF-SW7600GR with the Select-A-Tenna
on a Lazy Susan for AM/MW DXing
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/e4d078c37631cae7
Combining the Sony ICF-SW7600GR and Sony AN-LP1
Active Shortwave Antenna = Two-are-Better-than-One !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/fb71f5107eef0b02
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/8cabcc874e755ea2
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/3de6204ae5d69cca
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/345c971239f71d3e
.
iane ~ RHF
.
CountFloyd
> On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:36:54 +0300, Antti \"Andy\" Ylikoski wrote:
>
>
>> The best portatop that I have come across is the Eton Corp. éton e1
>> world radio. It every now and then even equals my Drake R8E. Very good
>> value for the money.
>
> Wonder what the next 'must have' unit will feature?
> ...and at what price
For that answer, I think that John Plimmer would be the one to consult.
John seems to have the latest and greatest stuff.
His AMBCB DX is amazing!
CountFloyd
can tell you that South Florida is a green sweatbox almost all year
long. Can't wait for us to get out of here.
SC Dxing
both radios would make a good choice for shortwave listening. Like
others have said, the Sony 7600 is better on sideband and it's synch
detector for weaker signals.
However, what makes me personally like the 1103 and it's cousin the
Grundig G5 is the tuning knob. I like being able to spin the wheel to
tune stations, not press up/down keys. The 7600 has no tuning knob.
The 7600 will resale better. The thing is about the 7600, you are
probably buying a radio that was made years ago and been sitting on
the shelf.
The very best thing would be to physically look at both radios, but in
this day and age of few places outside The Shack selling SW radios,
that probably isn't possible.
The Eton E1 has all sorts of quality issues, is no longer in
production, and over $400 new. But as with the 7600, if you decide to
resell it, you will be able to get some of your money back.
Antti "Andy" Ylikoski
Helsinki has a maritime climate, she is on the northern shore of the
Gulf of Finland -- which is a part of the Baltic Sea.
The winters are zero degrees centigrade, this summer was at its highest
some 28 degrees centigrade.
The weather is often somewhat humid because of the sea which lies very
close by. You can start a sailing trip from Helsinki to anywhere in the
world.... some affluent individuals like to sail from Helsinki to the
Mediterranean Sea, along the Atlantic Ocean. That is indeed fun!!
CountFloyd
> is only a couple zip codes away, WSB 750
>
You mean that John doesn't have that easy pick? I, on the other hand,
can't hear WSB Atlanta because a local ESPN clone is on 760 and only 10
miles away. The closest I came was using my HQ-145XC with all the
crystal filters humming! WSB came in OK for awhile. South Florida is a
wasteland for hearing good DX, having locals running around the clock,
or Cubans, on every major frequency. I love WCBS 880, and can pick it
up for a little bit, until the Cuban on 880 swamps it, had to take up
listening to it on the net. Same with WABC, 770, WHO, 840(our local
WFTL 850 keeps it from coming in). I have better luck trying to pick up
European stations.
cuh...@webtv.net
sail a Boat to anywhere in the World.Five miles East of doggy's couch is
the Pearl River.I am not sure about saling a boat on that River to
anywhere in the World.Perhaps a little Boat would do alright.
cuhulin
Antti "Andy" Ylikoski
Well -- one cannot sail from Helsinki to the Gobi Desert or the Rocky
Mountains.... I said "to anywhere in the world" and forgot the attribute
"to places on the seashore, or river shores, or such.... Reachable by boat."
regards, Antti "Andy" Ylikoski
PS. I said there are rastafarian guerillas running amok here.... Now
who will arrest them? That dilemma is called the "Devil's Alternative".
Idem
Bushcraftgregg
wrote:
> dave wrote:
> > You're about 20 years too late. Shortwave broadcasting is dead.
> > Perhaps you'd enjoy utility monitoring; for that you'll need a better
> > radio.
>
> Maybe because I am on the other side of the world, I would dispute that.
> Shortwave broadcasting is alive and well, but it's no longer the prefered
> method of reaching distant audiences.
>
> Broadcasters who want to reach a more affluent audience have moved to methods
> of transmission which are cheaper to transmit, but more expensive to receive.
> For example, Internet "broadcasting", satellite sub carriers, etc. They have
> also moved to video broadcasting which can not be done by shortwave.
>
> As Dave said, 20 years ago things were different. A cheap shortwave radio
> with a short antenna, such as the built in whip, could receive broadcasts
> from around the world, 24/7. Due to propigation, you would have to tune to
> various frequencies, even when it was night where you were and daytime at the
> source or vice versa.
>
> The "biggies", BBC, VOA, AFRN (US millitary entertainment for distant bases),
> Deutcshe Welle (Germany), Radio France International, Radio Moscow,
> Radio Habana Cuba, HJCB (The Voice of the Andes) and so on. There was even
> at one time a Shortwave broadcaster out of New Orleans, which often just
> relayed their FM service.
>
> Now most of them have scaled down, or left shortwave entirely.
>
> For example, the BBC no longer "beams" their signal to North America, but you
> can still receive it. Not as easily as before, which means you may need to be
> more proactive about choosing when you listen and have a better antenna or
> receiver. On the other hand, most of the people reading this will have access
> to their streaming audio on the Internet, or via a local cable TV or DBS
> service.
>
> Many broadcasters use shortwave radio to reach populations that are too
> distant and too poor to have broadband Internet, satellite receivers, etc.
> Whether or not you would be able receive them at all, or with a cheap receiver
> is questionable.
>
> Geoff.
>
How is it over there in Israel Geoff? I've been saving at least
twenty dollars (more often than not thirty five) a week for the
last three years and four months in the hope to visit your
country, I can't wait.
I can just imagine the DX over there. :-) I kind of have the feeling
though that my time will be taken care of, maybe
listen some at night.
VR2HF K7DAN
> Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowed
>
> why.
>
> Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
>
Jim...you got a lot of long-winded answers. Here is the short one:
Get the Kaito 1103. It is superior to the Sony in many ways and at a
much better price. The SSB is totally acceptable and the audio is far
superior to the Sony, especially on good quality earphones.
Dan...
Hong Kong
cuh...@webtv.net
cuhulin
Bushcraftgregg
Are you by chance using a loop? IMO, you should
be able to break those signals up and decipher
amongst the two....maybe three.
The HQ145XC is an extremely nice piece and coupled with a nice
loop....is almost tailor made for that scenario.
CountFloyd
>
> Are you by chance using a loop? IMO, you should
> be able to break those signals up and decipher
> amongst the two....maybe three.
>
> The HQ145XC is an extremely nice piece and coupled with a nice
> loop....is almost tailor made for that scenario.
I have the Terk/Radio Shack passive loop for use on my portables. How
could I use that with the HQ?
I believe that South Florida gets "targeted" by the Cuban AM'ers.
Doesn't the Cuban 880 have something like 100,000kW's?
Hopefully, when "winter" comes to Florida I can try for the East Coast
AM stations. I was listening to WPHT, 1210, and then it got swamped by
a Cuban station! Can't win here!
Drifter
CF, if you have the RS loop with the knob on one end, there is a
mini plug on the other end. but, i'm not sure which loop you have.
Drifter...
CountFloyd
> CF, if you have the RS loop with the knob on one end, there is a
> mini plug on the other end. but, i'm not sure which loop you have.
>
> Drifter...
Yes, it has the mini-plug and the tuning knob. I tried that, taking the
wire and connecting it to the antenna screw on the HQ, but it wouldn't
bring in any signals at all, not even locals.
~ RHF
Better you should use a home made
One Metre Hula Hoop Loop Antenna
Use a Back-of-the-Door as a "Super Loop" Antenna
for AM/MW Radio DXing
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/469d3265f4a7a021
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/975c232139717f8c
The Australian One Metre (1m) Loop Antenna
-by- Werner Funkenhauser
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/8516c7d398afdd3f
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/80dfaec741994999
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/8e363c0ac86fac66
Consider these AM/MW Antenna choices for
better AM Medium Wave Radio Reception
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/cd30fc6a512330be
One Yard or One Metre Diameter Hula-Hoop
Single Turn (1T) Coax Cable {Shielded} Loop
Antenna for Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL)
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/b22753cba485235d
Sizing : The Loop Antenna -versus- the Long-Wire
Antenna for Shortwave Radio Listeners (SWLs)
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/c67a3da1550f3005
Converting the an small short Active Whip Antenna
into a small Terminated Loop Active Antenna
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/27c8ecc709a15985
iane ~ RHF
.
VR2HF K7DAN
The Sony SW7600 has TERRIBLE AUDIO! Why anyone would recommend this
radio for anything other that SSB is beyond me.
JimK
> On Sep 21, 3:38 am, JimK <jkk...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello, I'm interested in trying shortwave listening. I have narrowed
> > my choices to the Kaito 1103, and Sony SW7600GR.
>
> > I would very much appreciate any opinions on which you prefer, and
> > why.
>
> > Also, is lack of wide/narrow switch on the Sony a problem?
>
> > Thanks.
>
> that post in here according to the archives, have
> simply ( again, according to the archives) never
> posted anything in their "history" of posting
> on usenet.
>
> Kind of strange in my opinion. Just saying. ;-)
Kind of strange that people actually get gratification of caring about
it. Just saying.
JimK
all these responses. I had heard shortwave is not what is used to be
but the size of the response here is testament that shortwave is still
very alive indeed, and based on that, I will continue checking this
new hobby out.
And a side note, I'd about given up on usenet/group/whatever. But this
response has also renewed my faith in usenet, or whatever we are now.
BTW, rec.music.theory is my offspring, long ago. Glad to see there is
still good stuff on the groups.
I haven't had a chance to read the thread but look forward to doing so
later this evening.
Jim
JimK
thanks for all the great links, a gold mine.
Many warm thanks.
Jim
Drifter
Welcome to the hobby. no, shortwave is not dead. don't
waste your time with the neo-trolls. you might want to
check out the groups on yahoo. 100's of radio/ receiver/
and short wave groups there. no spam, no trolls and no phony
crap. just be careful, short wave can become an obsession.
Drifter...
dave
I cannot over-emphasize the importance of having a superior receiver in
these times. While there are still a few powerhouse HFBC stations,
receiving them is no great achievement. Utility monitoring is where you
really get into the hardware and the technology. Planes, Hams,
Military, Beacons, etc. are quite challenging. Risk = Reward.
A portable along the lines of an ICF-2010, a Satellit-800, an E1, etc.,
are the bare minimum for such serious listening. Any true
"communications receiver" style desktop, fro the Post War era forward,
will provide endless fascination, IMHO.
Joe
I respectfully disagree with you. In my opinion the audio quality of
the Sony ICF-SW7600GR is not what I would characterize as terrible.
Mediocre for music on FM? Yes. But for the human voice, that to which
most shortwave listeners tune, the audio response is quite good -
crisp, clear, and full. This makes station identification quite easy
and better than on some other receivers. And music via the shortwaves
is not bad either.
I agree with you that I have heard shortwave receivers with better
sound quality and I also agree that this is one of the Sony's weakest
attributes. Yet it is easily corrected in one of two ways, both
relatively inexpensive. Merely purchase a stereo 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio
extension cable and attach the radio to your stereo system through its
line output. Then you'll have sound quality limited only by your
system (and with stereo on FM IF you remember to plug in a headphone
into the headphone jack when using the line output - see page 33 of
the owner's manual). Or you could purchase a pair of amplified
computer speakers (some of which are very small and quite suitable for
travel) and attach them to the line output. (I have done both and both
greatly improve the music sound quality of this radio though they
really don't do much to improve human voice intelligibility on
shortwave; it is already fine through the internal speaker.)
I must mention also that the greatest sound quality in the world is of
no use if you can't bring in the [MW or SW] station clearly. With the
Sony's synchronous detection circuit in your armamentarium, you have
another tool which can often make the difference between hearing a
station or not hearing a station clearly. No other currently available
compact portable shortwave receiver anywhere near this price has this
feature operating properly as does the Sony.
The Kaito KA-1103 is a very good buy at $89.95 (Grove's current
price). But, IN MY OPINION, the Sony is by far the better overall
receiver.
Your choice ...
Best,
Joe
On Sep 26, 7:00 pm, VR2HF K7DAN <van...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The Sony SW7600has TERRIBLE AUDIO! Why anyone would recommend this
JimK
Dave, there may come a time when I do get interested in beacons,
military, planes, etc.
My initial interest is in picking up broadcast shows though. The idea
of talking back and forth with people around the world sounds great,
but for now I'm just looking to listen. I don't much care for 90% of
AM radio, and FM radio is just music. When I'm camping, or when at
home, it would be great to listen to other broadcasts. If from other
countries even better, but as long as it's interesting that's fine,
maybe some news, maybe some music, I really don't know what I'll
find.
I don't want to spend a lot of money until I get a better idea of
whether there is indeed "stuff" to pick up that I like. But a more
expensive setup could be in my future.
Thanks much,
Jim
dave
>
> Dave, there may come a time when I do get interested in beacons,
> military, planes, etc.
> My initial interest is in picking up broadcast shows though. The idea
> of talking back and forth with people around the world sounds great,
> but for now I'm just looking to listen. I don't much care for 90% of
> AM radio, and FM radio is just music. When I'm camping, or when at
> home, it would be great to listen to other broadcasts. If from other
> countries even better, but as long as it's interesting that's fine,
> maybe some news, maybe some music, I really don't know what I'll
> find.
>
> I don't want to spend a lot of money until I get a better idea of
> whether there is indeed "stuff" to pick up that I like. But a more
> expensive setup could be in my future.
>
> Thanks much,
> Jim
I'm a hardware freak who goes for weak signals. I use the web for
program listening.