Can Anyone Dispel Rumors About the RCA Super Port Radio?

Regarding the recent $21 sale on the RCA Super Port Radio (now back to $42), Blake writes:

Some of the latest Amazon reviews say that this radio has been cheapened up recently and is not the same radio it was when many of the reviews were written for this RCA version. One review says the speaker sounds tinny. Can anyone confirm this? If that is the case it may not be worth the 21 bucks.

Comments

[Chris]

I'm pleased with mine. A little drifty, but sounds good. Some hiss on AM at night, but I'm not surprised at that.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

I've heard the Super Port and the GESRIII are the same radio.

[Doug Rennie]

I have an RCA branded SRIII I bought last spring through Amazon and the sound is fine: rich and full, room-filling. The calibration is anther story, probably a full hanf-inch off and there is some drifting on weak FM stations.

[jeffrey McMahon]

thanks, Doug. Sounds like the GESRIII. Horrible calibration but other than that, a fine radio with a big 200 mm ferrite antenna.

[Angelo]

Wow, I was asleep on that one. I would have bought one for $21.00.
Speaking of "old classics" I received a Radio Shack mini catalog in the mail recently. I checked it out cover to cover and low and behold, no radios were offered. How the mighty have fallen.

[Doug Rennie]

Also, the sensitivity/selectivity on my SRIII isn't the best; our local classical FM station, 89.9, is probably moderate strength but it is wedged in between to powerful religious stations and the tuning "range" for 89.9 is about the with of a human hair. It takes constant touching, as opposed to actually turning, the tuning dial to locate it and even at its best, there is some static. Just breathe too close and you're into Christian radioland. BTW, Jeff, based largely on your review of the Panasonic RF-2600 (vis a viz the RF-2200), I bought one on eBay last Saturday for $99 BIN with free USPS shipping, apparently about 2 minutes after it was listed. A most handsome, muscular unit, and this one APPEARS to be in better-than-average shape. I like the idea of both its overall size and the size of its speaker. I'm hoping its selectivity can home in on 89.9 and bring it in clearly. My KA-2100 does; not a hint of static or background noise. But, as you often say, there is something enticing about vintage equipment, hence the 2600 purchase.

[Doug Rennie]

Also, the selectivity on my SRIII isn't all that great. Our local classical FM station, 89.9, is shoehorned in between 2 hugely powerful religious stations and the tuning "range" for 89.9 is almost literally the width of a human hair. Just touch the dial, no need to actually turn it, and your into Christian Radioland. Even when tuned, there is moderate static and background noise. BTW, Jeff, based largely on your rave reviews of the Panasonic RF-2600, I bought one on eBay Saturday for $99 BIN w/free USPS shipping. I much like the muscular military look of this unit along with its speaker size. I'm hoping that this baby will cleanly pull in 89.9, which I know is possible as my KA-2100 does it. Strong and bright and clear. But, as you often (and rightly) say, there is something qualitatively different about listening on and operating a vintage unit.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Doug, that 2600 sounds great. I hope it performs up to par on FM with the 2100. I suspect its AM will be better than the 2100.