Herculodge

State of the Radio Collection, March 2025

If you don’t know me, I’m the guy who loves radios too much—an absurd, undying devotion that borders on the ecclesiastical. Whenever I spot a radio in one of my rooms, I freeze, eyes locked in reverence, momentarily transported back to being an eight-year-old astronaut, marveling at the dials and switches of my imaginary rocketship. Some men rotate their tires; I rotate my radios. At any given week, the landscape of my home shifts—a new lineup of signal-catching sentinels, each assigned its specific mission.

This week, the kitchen command center is anchored by the Tecsun PL-880, reigning above the sink, battling the unholy cacophony of the ice machine, air fryer, and garbage disposal. It pumps out enough sound to keep me from feeling like I’m living inside a steel foundry. The kitchen’s understudy? The Qodosen DX-286—a competent performer, though its design makes me wince. I’d rather be gazing at the Tecsun PL-330, but reports claim the Qodosen has superior FM, AM, and speaker quality, so for now, it begrudgingly holds its position.

Over in the office, where classical and jazz hold court, the Tecsun PL-990 is the maestro. Nearby, its understudy, the venerable Tecsun PL-680, perches atop the Yamaha piano like an old professor, dignified and always ready to lecture.

The guest bathroom is graced by the C. Crane Solar, a pocket-sized powerhouse that delivers a surprisingly rich sound, ensuring visitors don’t suffer in monastic silence.

In my bedroom, the silver Tecsun PL-660 holds fort, tuned for maximum bass, cutting the edge off any shrillness in music or talk. Like its cousin, the 680, it proves that while fidelity is king, warmth is what makes a radio worth keeping.

While the PL-880 and PL-990 offer the best sound in my collection, my heart belongs to the PL-660 and PL-680. Their only flaw? A lack of robust AM reception and speakers with a mere one measly watt when they deserve at least three. Yet, despite their imperfections, they remain the radios that stop me in my tracks, locking me in that childhood trance—the same one that once had me spending hours in rapt fascination with my G.I. Joes. Some things never change.

My 2 Favorite Radios: The Tecsun PL-680 and PL-660

Something was messing with my usual crisp reception of 88.1 FM KJAZZ, and for a brief, panicked moment, I suspected rogue RFI had infiltrated my house. My trusty Tecsun PL-880, usually a fortress against interference, was coughing up static like an asthmatic saxophonist. I switched to my Tecsun PL-680—same sputtering disaster. After a round of troubleshooting that felt like an exorcism, I moved both radios away from the wall and onto a small table. Just like that, KJAZZ returned in all its smooth, undistorted glory. Lesson learned: walls are the enemy.

This minor fiasco led me to re-evaluate the much-hyped DSP-enhanced reception. I hate to say it, but my so-called cutting-edge DSP radios—Qodosen DX-286, Tecsun PL-880, and Tecsun PL-990—aren’t doing anything special on FM. My old-school PLL receivers, the Tecsun PL-680 and PL-660, hold their own just fine. The fancy digital signal processing? Overrated.

Speaking of things that need fixing, the shrill, ear-piercing speaker sound on the 660 and 680 had been plaguing me for too long—until I discovered that a simple flick of the Treble to Bass setting transformed their audio from "tin can torture" to something much warmer, even pleasant. A revelation, really.

Still, there’s something I can’t quite explain: despite their objectively better speaker quality, the 880 and 990 don’t captivate me the way the 660 and 680 do. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe it’s a longing for a simpler, pre-DSP era—when radios didn’t try so hard to be smart, and all you needed was a decent tuner, a good antenna, and a quiet room.

Enjoying the Tecsun PL-680 and PL-660 a Lot More on the Bass Setting

I've discovered that my almost-identical Tecsun PL-680 and PL-660 sound more pleasing to the ears when I set the tone to Bass instead of Treble. With Treble, the audio can be shrill; with Bass, it’s smoother, richer, and far less likely to make my ears bleed—especially for talk radio. Music? Either setting works.

Now, I also own the much pricier Tecsun PL-880 and PL-990, both of which offer far superior speaker sound. And yet, bizarrely, I still prefer my 680 and 660—and I haven’t entirely figured out why.

Maybe it’s their pre-DSP magic, less prone to the infuriating interference that plagues modern radios. Or maybe it’s pure sentimentality. Whatever the case, these two remain my favorites, and when I finally crack the code on why, I’ll report back. 

The Love of Radios and the Power of Gezelligheid

The Love of Radios and the Power of Gezelligheid

I’m fully aware that my love for radios borders on the irrational. When I see a certain type—say, the Tecsun PL-680 or PL-660—something in my brain short-circuits. I’m instantly enchanted, as if I’ve just glimpsed an old friend across a crowded room, and at the same time, I’m comforted, as if that friend just handed me a warm cup of coffee and told me everything was going to be alright.

A radio isn’t just a device; it’s a symbol, though I haven’t quite worked out of what exactly. Maybe it represents the art of slowing down—of sitting in a quiet room, wrapped in a cocoon of music or in the company of voices so familiar they feel like beloved houseguests. Or maybe it’s something more primal, a sanctuary against the chaos of the world, a frequency through which I can tune out the profane and tune into something sacred.

The word that comes to mind when I hold a radio is cozy—but not in the kitschy, scented-candle, novelty-mug kind of way. This is deeper than that, more akin to the Dutch word gezelligheid—a term that encompasses coziness, warmth, companionship, and the ineffable comfort of simply being. Radios don’t just play sound; they create atmosphere. They transport me back to Hollywood, Florida, sitting on the porch with my grandfather, the air thick with the scent of an impending tropical storm, the crackle of a ball game playing in the background like a heartbeat of another era.

Many have abandoned radio for the cold efficiency of streaming devices and smartphones. I tried to do the same for over a decade. I failed. Because gezelligheid—that feeling of simple, enduring pleasure—isn’t something you can replace with an algorithm. Some things, no matter how old-fashioned, still hum with life.

Comparing the Tecsun PL-660 and the PL-680

 

I picked up an open-box Tecsun PL-680 for a huge discount, a deal too good to resist. Did I need it? Absolutely not. I already own the Tecsun PL-660, its near-identical twin. But this wasn’t a rational purchase—this was a radio-fueled nostalgia binge, a return to my obsession from 15 years ago. I love these radios. I love their design, their buttons, their retro Cold War aesthetic. And let’s be honest—I just wanted to compare them.

First Impressions:

I expected to prefer the PL-660’s design, but the PL-680 surprised me. It has a slightly different look, and now that I have both, I can’t pick a favorite. They’re like fraternal twins with great reception and a questionable resale value.

Performance Check:

• AM/FM Reception? Identical—stellar sensitivity, fantastic clarity, and minimal RFI (unlike my finicky DSP radios).
• Speaker Sound? Nearly indistinguishable, though the PL-680 might have a hair more output—but if you blindfolded me, I doubt I could tell the difference.
• Compared to My Tecsun PL-880 & PL-990? Not even close—those two have the richer, fuller audio these models lack.

The Unexpected Revelation:

Now here’s where things get weird—the Qodosen DX-286, a smaller, less expensive radio, outshines them in speaker quality. It sounds richer, deeper, fuller, like it’s punching out a solid 3 watts of audio muscle compared to the 1-watt Tecsuns. Suddenly, I found myself fantasizing about a “Super Qodosen”—a 10-watt speaker beast, with a sturdy kickstand and a 7.5-inch chassis, like the Tecsun 660 and 680. If someone built that, I’d throw money at it immediately.

Do I Prefer the Qodosen Overall?

The short answer is no. Its short telescopic antenna can limit FM in some areas of the house and other owners tell me it really shines with an elongated FM antenna, which fits in the 3.5mm jack. This is inconvenient for some.

Also, I've learned that I can enjoy the speaker sound on both the 660 and 680 by turning the Treble/Bass switch to Bass, a personal preference. 

Buyer’s Remorse?

Not a chance. These are legendary performers, and more importantly, they’re relics of my Radio Obsession 1.0 days. Nostalgia, curiosity, and a good deal—that’s all the justification I need.

Why You Prefer Your Radio to a Streaming Device

If you’re like me, listening to classical music on your Tecsun PL-990 or PL-880 while reading a book is a real pleasure. You could listen to the same radio station on a computer or streaming device and it wouldn’t feel the same. 

Your preference for listening to content on a high-performance radio rather than an Amazon streaming device likely stems from a combination of tactility, ritual, and authenticity.

1. Tactility and Presence – Your radios are physical instruments with dials, knobs, and antennas, requiring interaction to fine-tune the signal. This act of engagement makes the listening experience feel more intentional, compared to simply clicking on a streaming app.
   
   
2. Ritual and Skill – Tuning into a hard-to-get FM station on a high-performance radio, especially under varying atmospheric conditions, feels like an acquired skill. When reception is challenging, getting a clean signal feels like a small victory—something a streaming device doesn’t provide because it simply works or doesn’t.
   
   
3. Authenticity and Directness – With FM radio, you're receiving a direct broadcast, a real-time transmission from a tower to your receiver, unmediated by algorithms, compression, or internet connectivity. It feels like you're catching a live signal out of the air, whereas streaming feels filtered through corporate infrastructure.
   
   
4. Immediacy and Atmosphere – FM radio has static, subtle signal fluctuations, and environmental influence—all of which make the sound feel more alive compared to a clinically perfect digital stream. There's a romance in the imperfection, much like the sweep of a mechanical watch’s second hand versus the precise ticking of a quartz.
   
   

Connection to Your Watch Preferences:

If you’re a radio person, you may also be a watch enthusiast, in which case  there’s a strong parallel between your love for high-performance radios and mechanical watches:

• Mechanical watches and FM radios require physical mechanisms to operate—whether it’s gears and springs or ferrite antennas and signal processing. Quartz watches and streaming services, on the other hand, rely on microchips, batteries, and external data to function.
  
  
• Both require skill and engagement—adjusting a radio for the best reception is akin to winding a watch, adjusting its timing, or understanding its movement. There’s an art to it.
  
  
• Both provide a sense of tradition and independence—A mechanical watch keeps ticking without batteries, just as an FM radio pulls a signal out of the air without needing an internet connection. Both feel like they give you a direct, unfiltered experience rather than a pre-packaged digital one.
  
  

Your attachment to radio over streaming—and mechanical over quartz—likely comes from a deeper appreciation for analogue, self-sufficient technology that requires a human touch. It’s about the process as much as the result.

Lack of Shielding in the Qodosen DX-286?

This morning, I conducted an FM reception showdown between my Tecsun PL-880 and Qodosen DX-286, both positioned a safe four feet away from my computer to minimize the ever-present menace of RFI. While the Qodosen typically flexes its muscles as the stronger FM performer, today it embarrassed itself. My 880 locked onto 91.5 KUSC with pristine clarity, while the Qodosen sputtered and choked on static like a malfunctioning dial-up modem. This leaves me wondering—does the 880 have superior internal shielding, or is the Qodosen just allergic to civilized indoor listening? If anyone has insights into the shielding (or glaring lack thereof) in the Qodosen, I’d love to hear them. Because right now, my office radio setup feels like a very lopsided duel, and the Qodosen is losing badly.

How RFI Affects My Radio Hobby

Yesterday, I attempted to enjoy my Tecsun PL-990 in my office, but no matter where I placed it—on the desk, the bookshelf, precariously balanced atop a stack of unread books—I was bombarded with radio frequency interference (RFI) on KUSC 91.5. Surrendering to the inevitable, I returned the 990 to its rightful home: my bedroom, where it sits on the bed like a king on its throne, pulling in every FM station with regal clarity. Strangely, my PL-880, in the same office, doesn’t suffer from this RFI affliction. Some radios have all the luck.

This whole interference fiasco led me to an unsettling realization: despite my radio collection skewing heavily toward shortwave, I spend the majority of my time listening to FM. By the numbers, I currently own six radios—a perfectly reasonable number, if you ask me. Four of them are SW portables, not because I’m an obsessive survivalist prepping for the collapse of civilization (though that’s a convenient excuse), but because I love their ergonomic design, FM sensitivity, and rechargeable battery function. That last feature is crucial since 95% of the time, RFI forces me to run my radios on battery power. It’s a ridiculous dance—buying radios, then avoiding wall plugs like they’re cursed talismans.

This brings me to a conundrum: I’m deeply tempted by the Sangean HDR-18 and HDR-19, two tabletop radios packing 25 watts of speaker power and stellar FM reception. By all accounts, they should be a dream purchase. But the specter of RFI ruin looms large. What if I drop over $200 on a premium tabletop radio, only to find that it sputters, hisses, and buzzes like an angry wasp nest the moment I plug it in? What if I’m reduced to using the HDR-19 exclusively as a Bluetooth speaker because the radio function is rendered useless? The horror.

So for now, I resist. The RFI gremlins buzzing through my home have effectively kept my radio collection in check—no tabletop indulgences for me. Fortunately, my PL-990 and PL-880 deliver rich, satisfying sound, so I’ll embrace the old adage: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Because sometimes, buying another radio isn’t a solution. It’s just a fresh new problem in a shiny new box.

The More I Use the Qodosen DX-286, the More It Impresses Me

The More I Use the Qodosen DX-286, the More It Impresses Me

One thing I can say about radio enthusiasts: we’re obsessed with clarity—not just in signal reception, but in the endless quest to rank, sort, and categorize our radios like neurotic archivists. There’s always the “perfect” radio for a given scenario... until there isn’t.

Take yesterday, for example. My kitchen radio, the Tecsun PL-660, suddenly started irritating me with its muffled, tinny, tired speaker sound. I’d had enough. Out it went, replaced by the C.Crane Solar Radio with its 3-watt speaker that fills the kitchen with warm, full-bodied sound. Finally, I could fry eggs without the music sounding like it was being piped through a tin can.

Fast forward to this morning. In my office, my beloved Tecsun PL-880—normally my pride and joy—was getting static on Classical KUSC 91.5 FM, despite tinkering with the telescopic antenna. I was not amused. Enter the Qodosen DX-286. Not only did it snatch that signal with zero interference, but it also surprised me with rich, warm audio and impressive separation. The sound doesn’t quite rival the luxurious PL-880, but it absolutely trounces the 660’s challenged fidelity.

Now I’m wondering: did they sneak a 3-watt speaker into this little beast? Even if it’s just 1 watt, it’s finely tuned to deliver sound that punches above its weight class.

The more I use the Qodosen, the more I appreciate it. I might even say I’m smitten. Honestly, I’m ready for them to release a larger model so I can justify adding yet another radio to my already overstuffed collection. We all need hobbies, right?

I Finally Find Peace with My Tecsun PL-990x Purchase

During my initial testing of my second Tecsun PL-990x, I found myself trapped in a Radio Interference Frequency (RFI) torture chamber. My bedroom at 2 p.m. was an RFI hornet's nest—static swarmed every station like it was plotting a coup. Sulking like a dejected audiophile, I fired off a scathing post dubbing the radio "Mr. Fussy Pants." Defeated, I tossed it into the corner of my office, resigned to letting it live out its days as a glorified KJAZZ jukebox.

But bedtime softened my cynicism. Needing an hour of reading and classical tunes, I decided to give Mr. Fussy another shot. Placing it back in my RFI hellscape of a bedroom, I discovered something surprising: it didn’t perform any worse than my other DSP radios. Away from the wall and power supply, my favorite stations came through clean. Even 89.3 FM, notorious for playing hide-and-seek, surrendered with a simple move to the middle of my bed. The problem wasn’t the PL-990x—it was DSP radios in general. My non-DSP Tecsun PL-660, on the other hand, has the immunity of a stoic war veteran when it comes to RFI hiss fits.

With renewed confidence, I tuned in for some bedtime classical and KUSC was playing Mendelssohn—The Italian Symphony No. 4—and the 990’s speaker transformed the room. It was a revelation. Whether it's better or worse than the PL-880’s speaker is debatable. They’re as different as apples and oranges, and I’ll happily savor both.

Takeaway one: My buyer’s remorse is gone. The PL-990x has earned its place, confidently serving my music and news needs.

Takeaway two: I might want to hunt down a Tecsun PL-680 to back up my trusty RFI-taming Tecsun PL-660. After all, a well-prepared radio enthusiast knows that static never sleeps.