I need a radio

February 24, 2009 12:17 PM

Can you help me find a really nice all-around radio? Something with AM/FM/Shortwave and an Aux input would be great

So my old Sony stereo died and I'm in search of a radio replacement which I can also hook my ipod up to.

Features that I need:

Great AM/FM reception
Sounds decent
Aux in
semi-portable

other features which would be nice:
rechargeable batteries or good battery life
cool design
weather-resistant
weather band


Also, I was thinking a shortwave radio might be fun to mess around with, but I know absolutely nothing about them. What sort of stations can you usually pick up? Could I listen to things like CBC and BBC radio on it?

Some radios I looked at already -

Grundig S350 (no aux in?)
Tivoli Pal and Songbook (a bit pricy, even on ebay. also no shortwave)

So does a radio w/ all these features even exist? Or is there a good compromise out there? I'd also be interested in older models I might be able to pick up on ebay for cheap.

Thanks!

posted by pilibeen to technology (8 comments total)

Sangean makes some nice budget SW radios, but the aux in requirement might be a problem, from what I recall. SW reception might vary greatly according to where you live (high rise buildings and electric power lines make it impossible for me to get anything but the strongest transmitters on SW, for instance). If you're really serious about SW listening you should consider getting an external antenna installed in a yard or balcony, it can make a big difference even for a budget radio.
posted by Iosephus at 12:25 PM on February 24

I have a Sangean radio that sounds great. Check out their lineup.
posted by TDIpod at 12:26 PM on February 24

The Teac R-2. Is cheap,( I've bought tem for $30.00) has AM/FM/ Alarm/ AUX and built in rechargeable battery. Not bad for a kitchen or bedroom.
posted by Gungho at 12:40 PM on February 24

Nth Sangean. I own an ATS-505 for shortwave reception and was so happy with it that when my cheap clock radio died I splurged on an RCR-22 to replace it. They are both solid, great sounding radios.

As for shortwave, I get BBC, VOA, Voice of Russia, hams, and some more exotic stuff when the ionosphere allows. Right now we're in a solar minimum so you won't get as much. Local noise also makes a big difference for SW reception. It's a world unto itself-- you might start with http://shortwavemusic.blogspot.com for some idea of what you can hear on a good night. Hfradio.org is another good site for information about shortwave.
posted by leapfrog at 1:03 PM on February 24

Check in with C. Crane - they seem to have a partnership with Sangean for radio design, and this particular model comes close to what you're looking for, but alas no aux input.
posted by DandyRandy at 1:16 PM on February 24

My experience with Sony's sound systems hasn't been good- tuners don't tune well and it sounds weirdly equalized. I prefer Panasonic, but their website doesn't have anything like what you're looking for.

For this kind of thing, seriously try Radio Shack.
posted by gjc at 4:15 PM on February 24

The radio you're looking for exists, but they're pricey for the most part.

This beast from Grundig will cost $300, while this Eton/Grundig model will set you back closer to $400. Coming in at $135, this Kaito has line in.

You will most likely be able to pull in BBC and CBC programming any practically any shortwave radio. An alternative is to listen to these and other stations over the internet. You can do that via your PC, but the real slick setup is an internet radio. If you have a broadband internet connection and wifi, these things are like magic. Once you have your favorites set, you can "tune them in" with great ease. There are cheaper models, but mine is the Sangean WFR-1, which has internet radio, and AM/FM receiver, clock radio, and line in. I've owned it for about four months now, and am very happy with it.
posted by SteveInMaine at 9:46 AM on February 25

Thanks for the help...I decided to just get a nice AM/FM/SW radio w/ a line out. The Kaito KA1103 seemed pretty decent for this - around 80$ new.

Now I'll just get some cheapish ~25$ PC speakers, so I can hook my radio or an ipod up as needed.
posted by pilibeen at 5:46 PM on February 28