Herculodge

The Eton Sound 100 "Hot Deal" for $49.99

This is completely ridiculous. I thought I had received a good deal for 69.99, but now the retail price $150 Eton Sound 100 is currently selling as a "Hot Deal" on Amazon. How long this sale will last I don't know. All I know this is a lot of radio for $49.99.

The Sad and Curious Decline of Magnus Mills' Novels

If you came here looking for radio reviews, CLICK HERE.

In 1998 I read Magnus Mills' The Restraint of Beasts and was in for a delicious novel, both full of philosophical depth as it presents a fable about capitalism that is unforced and full of the uncanny, both mysterious and familiar. The novel is deceptive, light and funny, but there is a demonic talon lurking beneath. With great anticipation, then, I read his next novel All Quiet on the Orient Express. No sophomore jinx here. The second novel was as satisfying as the first. Both novels feature a lugubrious unnamed narrator, half nincompoop and half Every Man, who languishes under forces he cannot control. Both novels take place in a very tactile, muddy, gritty world. Both novels are short, which I like, no more than 60,000 words. I think both have the qualities of a masterpiece, full of hilarious characters, mysterious, and having the quality of having written themselves. I'd give both novels an "A" grade. Then Mills' third novel Three to See the King, took a metaphysical turn, withdrawing from a real, tactile world and focusing on a fairy-tale like fable. Its satirical treatment of a false Messiah figure was eerie and mysterious, which I like, but its failure to produce a gritty world like its predecessors make me esteem it less. I'd give the novel a "B+/A-". Mills' next novel The Scheme for Full Employment seemed less like a novel and more like a cartoon outline. It was all concept and contained no detailed world. Nabokov said the great novelist creates a world that the reader has never before entered. Mill's fourth novel fails miserably on this count. Then Mills' fifth novel Explorers of the New Century seemed a notch above his fourth. However, it lacked compelling characters like he had created in his first three. Thus far I await Mills' sixth novel but I am skeptical. If Mills has lost his juju, I can forgive him. His first two novels are fun-to-read masterpieces for which I salute him grandly. 

When Is an Analog Radio Preferable to a Digital One?

Sometimes an analog tuning-dial radio is preferable to an analog one. A bedside clock radio isn't one of them. You don't want to be half-asleep tuning for different stations between commercials. For your bedside you need something digital with presets. A good choice is the Sangean WR-2. However, if your work office has a lot of interference as mine does and your sharing the office with others makes things so cramped that you can't have a remote radio safely distanced from the interference-producing computers, you're probably better off with an analog radio. I discovered this today when I tried my Tivoli Model 3 against my Sangean PR-D5. Now at home in the absence of adverse conditions, the Sangean's digital feature shines, getting superb FM reception with its telescopic antenna and superb AM reception with its huge 200mm internal ferrite AM antenna. In fact, at home the PR-D5 beats the Tivoli for reception. However, such is not the case at my work office. The PR-D5 struggled, especially on FM whereas the Tivoli did quite well. And side by side I could really appreciate the heavy upscale feel of the Tivoli against the light plastic of the PR-D5. I wouldn't have bought the Tivoli except it was being sold by an Amazon vendor new in box for $66, an amazing deal. These deals are not evident at the moment. If you want an analog Tivoli for your office, you'd be better off getting the Tivoli Model 1 (same as the Model 3 except without the analog clock).  Recently I saw the $120 Model 1 on sale at Target for $99, not a bad deal.

Is the Eton E5 Worth $60 More Than the Kaito 1103?

Since the Eton E5 is a $150 clone of the $90 Kaito 1103,  many will ask if the Eton is worth the extra money. If money is an issue, then it's hard to justify the E5. However, the lame, annoying ergonomics of the 1103 make a compelling case to get the E5. Let's first look at the 1103 volume controls. No knob. You have to hit "Volume" followed by a volume number. Not just one number since 1-9 are too low for listening. You'll want about 15, which means you'll have to press two numbers. So let's count. That's 3 steps just to change volume control. Highly annoying and completely ridiculous. Now for changing stations. You have to get out of "volume mode" by clicking "Memory" followed by the preset number. The "Memory" and "Volume" buttons are at the radio's top left and the number buttons for volume and presets are at the bottom. Yes, you can get used to this misguided layout, but if you use your radio a lot and don't mind spending the extra money (especially if you can find an E5 for $112 as I often see on Amazon or eBay), get the Eton E5.

Final Thoughts: Now that the Grundig G4000, my favorite portable shortwave radio, has been discontinued, the Eton E5 is the best portable shortwave radio you can buy. If you still want to find a Grundig G4000, Amazon is still selling $89 Refurbished Models.

Purchase of the M-Audio Studiophile AV40

After researching many computer speakers, including Bose Companion 2 for $99 and the $199 30-watt Audioengine A2, I opted for the $120 20-watt-per speaker M-Audio Studiophile AV40 dual speaker system. For this amount of watts, the $120 with free shipping on Amazon seemed reasonable. I was tired of the compromised mediocre performance on my 9 watt of my $50 Creative Labs I-Trigue 2200 speakers. As soon as I receive the M-Audio speakers in a week or so, I will report my impressions.

Update: I just hooked them up, an easy task, which took ten minutes. The sound is great indeed, but the 20 watts may be too many for my ears as the computer speakers are only a couple feet from my head. I may have to move them into the living room, hook up to TV and iPod. Bottom-line: They're well worth the $120. We're talking a huge, beautiful, highly-detailed sound.

Boston Acoustics Recepter Vs. The Tivoli Songbook

Because of the similar price (both go for about 150 dollars even though the Recepter can be found on sale for a lot less, sometimes around 100 dollars), radio buyers are inclined to compare the Boston Acoustics Recepter  to the Tivoli Songbook. In many ways, these are different radios so that they don't make an apt comparison. The main difference is that the Songbook is marketed and designed flat to fit snug in a suitcase as a travel radio. However, a lot of buyers looking for an upscale radio want a good mini sound system for their bedroom or den or kitchen. Since both of these radios produce better sound and receive better reception than most radios and since both have an upscale feel and appearance, they are often compared. So let's look at how they compare point by point:

One. Stability: The winner is the BAR. Its low stance makes it resist falling over. The Songbook on the other hand is like balancing a plate. One careless toggle and you can make it crash backwards.

Two. Headphone jack: The winner is the Songbook because it has a headphone jack whereas the BAR does not. Now because the Songbook flips over way too easily and because the BAR has no headphone jack, NEITHER RADIO IS ADEQUATE FOR A BEDSIDE CLOCK RADIO. If you sleep alone and don't need to use headphones, then this is a mute point of course. In that case, you'd be happy with the BAR. But if you need a strong bedside clock radio and don't mind confusing alarm controls, your best bet would be a Sangean WR-2. For a more thorough discussion of the WR-2 in which I compare it to two other premium radios, CLICK HERE.

Three. FM Reception: A tie. This is curious because even though the Songbook has a preferred telescopic FM antenna, its FM reception is no better than the BAR, which is equipped with a piggy tail wire antenna in the back. FM on both radios is excellent.

Four. AM Reception: The BAR is the clear winner. Its rich sound makes AM talk radio sound intimate, like the people talking are in the room. It hides unwelcome AM sounds better than the Songbook. I don't think the Songbook is a good choice for heavy AM listeners.

Five. Price: The BAR, which can be found for 100-130 dollars rather easily, is the clear winner over the Songbook, which is never on sale.

Six. Sound: While this is subjective, I prefer the BAR. But both the BAR and the Songbook produce more than adequate sound, especially since they have only a monoaural speaker.

Seven. Style: While the BAR is an attractive radio, it does not look as cool as the Songbook. The black version is stunning and if you're looking for a hip style for your home radio and don't mind spending 150 dollars, you'll probably be very happy with the Songbook, especially if you're not a big AM listener.

Eight: Compatible with your computer office. Both are losers here because neither has a remote control and I guarantee if your radio is not at least four feet away from your computer, you're going to experience ugly sound interference. For your office, you'll want to toggle your presets with an upscale radio that comes with a telescopic FM antenna and a remote control. For that, there's only one radio, the Eton Sound 100.

Conclusion: For home use, I recommend the BAR. For a travel radio, I think the Songbook is too pricey. I'd go for the Sangean PR-D5, which selling for 75-100 dollars depending on the vendor, offers better reception, dual stereo speakers, and a bigger internal AM antenna at a considerably lower price. In fact, the PR-D5 would make an excellent home radio for buyers comparing the Songbook against the BAR. For a more thorough discussion of the PR-D5 in which I compare it to the Recepter, CLICK HERE.

For hipsters who want style and who don't listen to a lot of AM, the Songbook is a great choice. I gave my red Songbook as a present to my friend who only listens to FM and he loves his Songbook. In conclusion, there is no perfect radio for everyone. You have to identify your wants and preferences first, then decide.

Best Radios By Category

The Game: Radios will be judged on reception sensitivity, ergonomics, speaker sound, and build quality as we examine the following categories: small portable radio, general house radio, kitchen radio, clock radio, outdoor radio, and computer-room radio.

Number 1. Best Small Portable Radio. The winner is a tie between the $150 Eton E5 and the $99 Grundig G4000. Reception is similar, the Eton is more modern but for the price perhaps I'd give the nod to the G4000. As I write, Amazon has the G4000 on sale for 89.99.
Number 2. General House Radio. The winner is a tie between the $75 Sangean PR-D5 and its slightly more expensive cousin the $89 Sangean Sonido. Reception is comparable, which is to say fantastic, but the 3-inch monoaural speaker of the Sonido is richer than the 2.5-inch dual speakers featured on the PR-D5.
Number 3. Kitchen Radio. The winner for its full, rich speaker, which will fill a kitchen, is the $100-150 Boston Acoustics Recepter. Amazing reception. AM talk radio sounds intimate. No AM background noise. The Recepter's unique technology must be real  and not just company rhetoric.

Number 4. Clock Radio. The winner is the $150 Sangean WR-2. Solid and heavy, the WR-2 feels like high quality and it is. Great AM reception. FM would benefit from a telescopic antenna, but you can connect a dipole FM antenna to the back. Honestly, the FM is excellent and I haven't even rigged an additional FM antenna. My minor complaint is that the alarm functions are NOT intuitive.

Number 5. Outdoor Radio. The winner is the $199 Tivoli PAL. Tivoli radios are very attractive and are big players in the upper end radio market, but the PAL is arguably their most famous and deservedly so. A rubber cube with automatic battery recharger, this analog radio produces big sound and has excellent reception. Several months ago, the PAL was supposed to go extinct, but I'll assume Tivoli wisely addressed customer demand for the beloved PAL. This popular radio cost me $130 when I purchased it in 2004. Its 70-dollar increase is disheartening and I daresay not justified. If you don't need rubber protection for outdoor wear and want a great digital radio with iPod connectivity, you'd be wise to spend $125 LESS on the aforementioned Sangean PR-D5.

Number 6. Computer-Room Radio. Why is this an important category? Because all the radios mentioned here will SUFFER COMPROMISED RECEPTION FROM COMPUTER INTERFERENCE WHEN PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE COMPUTER. Therefore, a computer-room radio should have a remote and be kept a good 5 feet away from the computer. The winner is the $49-150 Eton Sound 100. Featured on Amazon with the biggest variations in price I've ever seen, the Eton Sound 100 offers similar performance as the Sangean WR-2 but has a telescopic antenna for better FM reception. I bought one for myself at the full price, one for my wife for 99 dollars and one as a gift to my father for 69 dollars during an Amazon "hot deal." I was shocked to see it reduced another 20 dollars a week later and was tempted to buy another one but didn't. Some might not like the plastic shell and opt for the Sangean WR-2, which is a good alternative choice.

For all my radio reviews, CLICK HERE.

The Game: Radios will be judged on reception sensitivity, ergonomics, speaker sound, and build quality as we examine the following categories: small portable radio, general house radio, kitchen radio, clock radio, outdoor radio, and computer-room radio.

Number 1. Best Small Portable Radio. The winner is a tie between the $150 Eton E5 and the $99 Grundig G4000. Reception is similar, the Eton is more modern but for the price perhaps I'd give the nod to the G4000. As I write, Amazon has the G4000 on sale for 89.99.
Number 2. General House Radio. The winner is a tie between the $75 Sangean PR-D5 and its slightly more expensive cousin the $89 Sangean Sonido. Reception is comparable, which is to say fantastic, but the 3-inch monoaural speaker of the Sonido is richer than the 2.5-inch dual speakers featured on the PR-D5.
Number 3. Kitchen Radio. The winner for its full, rich speaker, which will fill a kitchen, is the $100-150 Boston Acoustics Recepter. Amazing reception. AM talk radio sounds intimate. No AM background noise. The Recepter's unique technology must be real  and not just company rhetoric.

Number 4. Clock Radio. The winner is the $150 Sangean WR-2. Solid and heavy, the WR-2 feels like high quality and it is. Great AM reception. FM would benefit from a telescopic antenna, but you can connect a dipole FM antenna to the back. Honestly, the FM is excellent and I haven't even rigged an additional FM antenna. My minor complaint is that the alarm functions are NOT intuitive.

Number 5. Outdoor Radio. The winner is the $199 Tivoli PAL. Tivoli radios are very attractive and are big players in the upper end radio market, but the PAL is arguably their most famous and deservedly so. A rubber cube with automatic battery recharger, this analog radio produces big sound and has excellent reception. Several months ago, the PAL was supposed to go extinct, but I'll assume Tivoli wisely addressed customer demand for the beloved PAL. This popular radio cost me $130 when I purchased it in 2004. Its 70-dollar increase is disheartening and I daresay not justified. If you don't need rubber protection for outdoor wear and want a great digital radio with iPod connectivity, you'd be wise to spend $125 LESS on the aforementioned Sangean PR-D5.

Number 6. Computer-Room Radio. Why is this an important category? Because all the radios mentioned here will SUFFER COMPROMISED RECEPTION FROM COMPUTER INTERFERENCE WHEN PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE COMPUTER. Therefore, a computer-room radio should have a remote and be kept a good 5 feet away from the computer. The winner is the $49-150 Eton Sound 100. Featured on Amazon with the biggest variations in price I've ever seen, the Eton Sound 100 offers similar performance as the Sangean WR-2 but has a telescopic antenna for better FM reception. I bought one for myself at the full price, one for my wife for 99 dollars and one as a gift to my father for 69 dollars during an Amazon "hot deal." I was shocked to see it reduced another 20 dollars a week later and was tempted to buy another one but didn't. Some might not like the plastic shell and opt for the Sangean WR-2, which is a good alternative choice.

For all my radio reviews, CLICK HERE.

New Upscale Radio--Tangent Uno

Just when I thought I didn't want anymore radios, I saw the Tangent Uno AM/FM Radio on C.Crane Company Website. Competing with the Tivoli Model 1 and other upscale radios, the Uno has the advantage of a telescopic antenna. I haven't tried one but would love to "find room" for it in my radio-cluttered home. If anyone has listened to the Uno, please tell me your impressions.

For all my radio reviews and news, CLICK HERE.

The Curious Case of the Tivoli Model Three

About three months ago I was at Target looking at radios (God knows I don't need another one) when I was shocked to see that the Tivoli Model Three was on sale for $50. This had to be a mistake since the radio retails for $200. I wanted to buy the last one Target had but it was the display model and the manager would not sell it. I gave him my name and called every day for their next shipment but it never came. During this time I saw the Tivoli Model Three selling for about $75 on Amazon from secondary vendors as "new in box." My guess is that people were buying them at all the Targets and then selling them on Amazon. I found one for $66. I already own a Tivoli Songbook (digital with presets) and a Tivoli PAL (analog like the Model Three) so I was curious about the Model Three's performance. First, the good news. The speaker is fantastic, even better than my beloved Boston Acoustics Recepter. The problem was that the Model Three wasn't locking in on stations, both AM and FM, very well. When the amber tuning light glowed at its brightest, the sound was good, but if I moved away from the radio for a while and returned to it, the amber light would often fade and the signal would have faded with it. I tried to remedy the problem by taking off the stock wire antenna and replacing it with a $15 Terk FM antenna. Initially I thought that the Terk had cured the radio of signal fade, but about a week or two later my esteem for the Terk lowered as I noticed fading again. A reader of my blog suggested a $29 C.Crane Reflect FM Antenna,  but customer reviews were mixed and I didn't want this unsightly wire to deal with. Isn't a good radio in part about aesthetics?

For the next month I rarely played the Model Three because of signal fade. Then I decided to replace my Grundig S350 in my college office because its long antenna was intrusive, poking out the eyes of my officemates and students. Curiously, in my office the Model Three works better without the Terk as it seems to like the stock wire antenna draped over my tower fan. I still get some signal fade but this is expected in my high-interference office with all its computers and with the thick concrete walls.

Back to the Model Three's pricing: I think for $200 it should be digital with presets. Also, the vendors on Amazon are selling it for about $150, which tells me the Target bargains are long gone.

(To easily access all my radio reviews, CLICK HERE. )

Goodbye to the Great Grundig G4000

I'm sad to report that rumors about the demise of the Grundig G4000 are most likely true. It is no longer featured on the Eton Corporation Website. I had a bad feeling when I saw that Amazon is only selling refurbished G4000s for $89.99. I love the interface and strong AM/FM, which is only rivaled by its more expensive competition, the $150 Eton E5.