Two Radios Every Home Should Have

The best small radio for the money (about $90) is the Kaito 1103   or its original Chinese clone the Degen 1103 (cheaper but doesn't have USA adapter), which will give you the best FM reception ever. But an upgraded version has been sold to Eton and it goes under the name the Eton E5. It has an improved interface and an easy volume control dial unlike the infamous toggle on the 1103 models. However, the E5 costs about 150 dollars. Jay Allen has written a thorough, helpful review of the E5 for RadioIntel .

For a big sturdy radio that fills a room and has an easy-to-use analog dial and digital station read-out, nothing is as good, for FM and AM, as the upgraded Eton S350 DL (formerly the Grundig S350). Formerly 150 dollars, it's now going for $100.

There are sexier, more modern looking radios out there, for example, the Tivoli Songbook, which I reviewed for RadioIntel, but the 1103 or its upgraded more expensive brother the E5 and the Eton S350 DL will give you topnotch sterling reception, better than any radios available.

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