Jay's Radio Reviews, Comparisons & Restorations
The XHDATA D-226 is an interesting new model in the compact category. At first glance it would appear to be similar to the well-known D-220 but there are a few major upgrades. The primary differences are that the new model separates the SW spectrum into 8 bands which makes tuning to a specific frequency range […]
Sangean is known as one of the foremost producers of excellent quality radios, both portables and tabletops. The new WR-60 is their latest stereo tabletop model incorporating and building upon the features of radios such as their RCR-40 and adding CD playback which is becoming increasingly rare these days. Many people still have large CD […]
2 Cool Portables from Radios’ All-Analog Heyday A reader sent me two interesting radios for review. The Sony TFM-6100W, introduced in 1975 and the GE 7-2865A in 1981. The smaller Sony measures approximately 6 x 3.75 x 1.6”, the GE is somewhat larger at 8 x 4.5 x 1.5”. Both cover the standard AM/FM bands. […]
The Magnavox 789 is a model I had never heard of and so far, I have not been able to find any service information for it after days of searching all of the usual sources. The full model number is 90AL789/44 and that appears on a sticker in the battery compartment. I believe the radio […]
The PL-520 is a compact portable multi-band radio and is an apparent upgrade to Tecsun’s popular PL-320 and PL-330. It has a few updates over the ‘330, most notably an added bandwidth of 5 KHz on AM/LW and 6 KHz on SW, an update from a USB Micro to USB C charging port and a […]
(A nice radio with one big surprise)! Sanyo was founded in 1947 and became a large manufacturer of electronic products and component parts. They made many radios not only under the Sanyo name but under many other names as well. It is common to look inside a vintage radio and find the name Sanyo inside, […]
Qodosen DX-286 $65 (Includes Shipping to 48 US States) I have come into possession of a quantity of Qodosen DX-286’s which are customer returns…many appear to have never been used…all look brand new. I have tested each and every one of them to assure that they are operating perfectly and they will arrive in original […]
Without a doubt the MLite-880 is one amazing little device. It is a simplified derivative of the Russian DSP/2/3 receivers and as such it takes a giant leap forward in terms of the ability to resolve and make less-than-perfect signals listenable. In addition to extremely sensitive reception one of the primary reasons for this is […]
The tiny J-328 is not a new model but it has received a few updates since it was first introduced several years ago. It is currently selling on Amazon for $16.99 and is small enough to slip into a shirt pocket, yet it offers FM with Auto Search and Store (70 – 108 MHz), SD/Tiff […]
The Raddy RF206 offers exceptional value for the money with good performance overall. It covers AM from 520 to 1710 KHz with 10K/9K tuning steps, FM from 64 – 108 MHz and SW from 2.3 to 23 MHz. It runs in 4 AA cells or built-in AC power (no external adapter needed), and although my […]
The new Sangean WR-8/WR-9 Compact Radios are interesting and innovative new models which fill a niche few other radios fulfill. For several years I have used a few of their earlier (and still available WR-7 series radios around the house, but these new models represent real upgrades in several ways. Other than styling differences these […]
In the Fall of 2013 I reviewed the original XHDATA D-219 AM/FM/SW radio and noted that it was a solid performer and very competitive at its very low price (currently an unbelievably low $12.76 at Amazon). Now XHDATA has introduced a new version of this which tunes in 1 KHz steps and is available in […]
The new GP-1 follows the tactical concept of many CountyComm products designed to be survival tools. It currently sells for $19.50 and with tax and shipping mine cost a total of $25.96. CountyComm specializes in emergency preparedness gear…see their full line of items here: https://countycomm.com/ The GP-1/WB is described as a purpose-built AM/FM & Weather […]
The 1980’s was a period of rapid development in digital radios. Worldwide, Sony was among the most well-known manufacturers while the Magnavox D 2935 (a rebadged Philips D 2935) was less well-known, at least here in the US.. Available between 1981 to 1989 it was described as a “travel-sized” portable to differentiate it from the […]
I am releasing 20 more DX-286’s for sale…here is my auction link. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326746599574 Jay
Recently a reader sent me 5 radios he no longer uses and when I saw them I thought it would be fun to see how these would compare with modern radios made today. The radios are the Eton E5, Eton E100, Magnavox AW 3625/17, Radio Shack DX-375 and the Tecsun PL-660 which was only recently […]
Raddy offers a wide range of radios including several with frequency coverage well beyond the typical multi-band radio and the new RF757 is a recent addition to the line. In addition to the wide frequency coverage the RF757 also offers TF card Record & Play, a Universal USB C jack which functions for battery charging […]
The Raddy RF750 Plus may be one of the most unusual radios I have seen. It is a marvel of miniaturization…a tiny yet solid device measuring a mere 2 ½ x 2 x 1 3/8 inches…plugging in the AM ferrite rod brings the height to about 3 inches…this thing is small… yet it has amazingly […]
The Deshibo GA800 from GOOZEEZOO is an update to their GA450. Although it is described as being automatically tuned I think it is more accurately described as an untuned loop…either way there is no tuning needed which makes remote placement possible. Frequency coverage is stated as 10 KHz through 159 MHz which means it includes […]
Qodosen DX-286 $55 (Includes Shipping to 48 US States) I have come into possession of more Qodosen DX-286’s which are customer returns…many appear to have never been used…all look brand new. I have tested each and every one of them to assure that they are operating perfectly and they will arrive in original packing with […]
Qodosen DX-286 $55 (Includes Shipping to 48 US States) I have come into possession of more Qodosen DX-286’s which are customer returns…many appear to have never been used…all look brand new. I have tested each and every one of them to assure that they are operating perfectly and they will arrive in original packing with […]
Recently a reader suggested that I check out the Avantree Soundbyte T Streaming Radio because it has one unusual feature…it can not only act as a Bluetooth speaker as many modern radios do but it can also transmit via Bluetooth to a pair of supplied earbuds, and this seemed like an exciting feature to try […]
Dear Subscriber, I just updated the Qodosen reviews to include an exciting new discovery concerning the use of passive loops connected directly. I just wanted to be sure everyone who follows this page sees this information because it really surprised me. Thanks for being subscribers! Jay Allen Because the DX-286 is an Ultralight-sized radio the […]
Several years ago, Sangean sent me their fantastic U4 Rugged Jobsite radio and I was impressed not only by its overall performance but especially by its strong audio. Now they have introduced the upgraded U7HD radio which is in some ways the same and in some ways new and improved. The original U4 will continue […]
AM/FM/NOAA Weather Alert Radio – Updated Feb 2025 The CC Pocket Radio from C.Crane was introduced in 2013 and has recently been updated adding new features and other improvements, including the inclusion of 3 rather than 2 AM bandwidths and is an excellent value at its current Amazon price of $64.99. It’s a Walkman-style radio […]
Qodoesen is now selling an accessories package for their DX-286 and it looks like an incredibly good deal to me. This package includes: Canvas Carry Bag with Velcro closure Telescopic Whip Antenna 2 Rubber feet Battery Cover 2 Flip stands All for $10 (which would be a good price for the whip antenna alone). See […]
The GE P-990A was sold between 1964 and 1967, priced at $125 and is yet another fine example of heavy-duty, old-school design, featuring a massive steel chassis housed in a beautiful two-tone leather covered cabinet. It is simply beautiful to look at with an attractive multi-colored dial scale, another heavy radio from the time when […]
I last reported on Pocket Portables in 2016 and 2022 but things in this arena continue to evolve rapidly and it was time for an update. This time I collected more than 20 pocket-sized radios ranging in price from under $10 (!) to over $60 and found many surprises. In today’s marketplace these radios often […]
I just received the new D-221 which is essentially a D-220 with the addition of the NOAA Weather Band…it is available in Ornge or Green and is currently selingo nAmazon for $18.80. I compared performance of the two radios on AM/FM/SW bands and the two radios were identical in every respect. The Weather band is […]
The National Panasonic R-2500B was sold between 1971 and 1974 and is a great example of old-school portable radio design. By that I mean it is SOLID with a heavy steel chassis and all discreet components. It is big and heavy and has no FM but covers AM from 525 – 1605 KHz and SW […]
Although I provide in-depth reports on portable radios past and present, to help you shop here is a quick way to find that perfect radio for yourself or as a gift. You can always find in-depth information about any of these radios by clicking on the links to their full reports. All prices here were […]
Although I provide in-depth reports on portable radios past and present, to help you shop here is a quick way to find that perfect radio for yourself or as a gift. You can always find in-depth information about any of these radios by clicking on the links to their full reports. All prices here were […]
Released in 1962 or 1963 the General Electric P-840/P-875 are the apparent successors to GE’s ground-breaking, tour de force P-780 series of portable AM radios. Interestingly, although the P-840 and P-875 radios look identical and share virtually identical chassis, the P-840 is an 8-transistor design while the P-875 uses 7 transistors. The P-840 has a […]
Some online sources say the Emerson 31P61 was introduced in 1966 but my SAMS Service Manual is dated 1968 so that may be the better guess. It is an all-analog 9 transistor design powered by 4 C cells and measuring 9” x 5.25” x 2.5”. Although it uses a ceramic vari-cap tuning condenser, has no tuned RF stage on […]
I must admit I was both curious and excited when I heard that Tecsun was replacing the discontinued S-2000 with an all-new S-2200X. Originally introduced in 2008 the S-2000 was sold under several names including the Tecsun S-2000, Grundig Satellit 750, Eton Satellit 750 and Eton Elite 750. Of all the Tecsun radios I have […]
When C. Crane introduced the original CC Radio Solar, I was very impressed with it. Now it has been upgraded with the addition of Bluetooth which is perhaps the only feature the original model lacked. In every other way the new radio seems identical to the previous model. It is currently selling for $99.99 which […]
The XHDATA D-220 is a no-frills compact AM/FM/SW portable radio measuring 2.8″L x 1.1″W x 4.9″H. It is available in three colors: Black, Orange and Green and features a slide rule dial, frequency coverage of AM: 520 – 1730 KHz, FM 1: 64 – 108 MHz, FM 2: 87 – 108 MHz and SW: 5.6 […]
A Very Cool Wide Coverage Receiver but with some issues to be ironed out Overview: The Raddy RF919 packs a world of reception into an arrestingly handsome and solid instrument. It not only covers standard FM/MW/LW and SW (including SSB modes) but in addition covers Weather Band, Air Band, a dedicated CB band, VHF from […]
The Motorola X31A/X31N Ranger were introduced in 1961 or 1962, the later X31A-1 (Gray), X31B-1 (Blue), X31E-1 (Black) and X31N-1 (Ginger) arrived in 1962. I have two of the -1 versions which dropped the Ranger name but were upgraded with an external antenna connector. They are 8-transistor designs featuring a tuned RF stage, three gang […]
The GE Superadios are among the best known and best performing AM/FM portable radios ever made anywhere near their price and have achieved cult status among knowledgeable radio hobbyists. The Classic 3 models included the original SR (Model 7-2880), the SR II (Model 7-2885) and the SR III (Model 7-2997). Enter the little-known Digital Superadio (Model […]
When the original Qodosen SR-286 was introduced, it caused quite a sensation in the radio community. Utilizing the TEF-6686 chip, originally designed for automotive use, it offered extremely high/trend setting performance along with an unprecedented amount of user control over many circuit parameters but its distribution was somewhat limited. Now Qodosen enters the world of […]
The original SR-286 was immediately accepted as a breakthrough in small portable radio performance with its TEF-6686 Automotive chip. They have advised me that performance is identical to the existing SR-286 but with simplified operations requiring fewer button presses and some different default settings. I will report my findings as soon as the new units […]
Once again, I have updated the very popular AM and FM Mega Shootout articles. I have added all of the important new radios which have been reviewed during the past year and have made a few minor adjustments up or down for some existing models based on model updates, evolving technology and ongoing testing. As […]
Zenith, like some other manufacturers (such as Sony) often played games with confusing model numbers, using similar model numbers for very different radios and conversely, issuing very different model numbers for some very similar radios. This article will look at several models which share the same chassis and are essentially the same radios inside. Model […]
The Panasonic R-1492 (aka The Elmhurst) is an AM only analog portable radio from 1972. It is a simple 6 transistor design available in Black, Red, Orange and Green. It’s a great looking radio with a dual-faced tuning dial scale which can be viewed either from the front on the top…rather unusual. The few online […]
Readers of the Ultralight Group are aware of Gary DeBock’s pioneering efforts with FSL antennas and loopstick modifications to Ultralight radios and none have garnered more interest than his latest efforts adding a large 7 ½” loopstick to the amazing Qodosen SR-286. In my original review I was amazed by this little radio…Gary’s loopstick mod […]
This is an update to the Radiwow R-108 Review published in 2019. A while back XHDATA had rebadged the Radiwow as the Sihuadon R-108. There have been a few updates along the way and this article will refer to those as well as the latest update available Spring 2024. I ended up with three different […]
Here’s another vintage radio which a reader loaned to me for review. This guy works in Vermont helping people who have trouble receiving their PBS station amidst obstructions caused by hilly terrain. He told me that among the collection of radios on which he relies the Sony ICF-5500W is among the best for FM. He […]
Since I first published a review on the Sears Model 6223 series I have obtained other Silvertone 800/900 models in the 3223 and 4223 series, some of which are called Silvertone 800 or 900 and others which are not. This is an updated article which discusses all of these models. Read the Sears Silvertone 800/900 […]
(And a Look at some other radios which use Whip Antennas for AM Reception) When Sony introduced the ICF-2001 in 1980 it was nothing short of a revolution in portable radios. Not to be confused with the later ICF-2001D (which is a completely different model introduced in 1985 and known here in the US […]