Herculodge

AM Reception King--the Boston Acoustics Recepter

In terms of AM reception strength combined with elimination of background noise, the undisputed AM King is the Boston Acoustics Recepter.

During AM reception tests during foul weather and evening, when AM reception gets compromised and subject to annoying background hiss, the BAR proved the best in eliminating noise. Simply turn or angle the radio to maximize reception with its internal ferrite AM antenna and there is little or no background noise. Runner-up for AM is the Sangean PR-D5, which features the biggest internal AM ferrite antenna available. Last evening in cold weather, AM was unusually bad and the PR-D5 did a good job, when angled correctly, to get rid of the noise. It's perhaps tied with the BAR, but the speaker difference between the two gives the BAR and advantage.

A big disappointment in this AM test, especially considering the high expectations with its big internal AM antenna, is the Eton/Grundig S350. During the day and good weather, the AM is very strong. However, during evening and rain, no amount of angling could eliminate background birdy and hiss noise.

For the best AM reception, stick with the Boston Acoustics Recepter.

My Most Disappointing Radio Ever--the Sangean ATS-505

No doubt, my Sangean ATS-505 is the most disappointing radio I ever owned. I bought one for $105 in 2004 and could never warm up to it. The FM reception was okay, the AM was terrible, the radio felt light, cheap, and plasticy. Its ergonomics were not intuitive. I ended up selling it for $50, which is about all it's worth. For a compact shortwave radio, you'd be better served to get the $89 (sold refurbished on Amazon; used to be sold new for $99) Grundig G4000 or the $150 Eton E5.

Having made this damning pronouncement against the 505 doesn't make me a Sangean hater. To the contrary, Sangean is making some of the best radios on the market. For example, their $150  Sangean WR-2  is in my opinion the best clock radio on the market with excellent AM reception and very good FM reception. Its only flaw is hard-to-use alarm controls. For another example, they are making the best general-use table top radio in terms of AM/FM radio reception with their $75 Sangean PR-D5, which has the biggest internal AM ferrite antenna available.  For a more detailed review of the WR-2 CLICK HERE. For a more detailed PR-D5 review, CLICK HERE.

Sony ICF-M1000 Price Drops Below $45

The Sony ICF-M1000 Table Top Radio, which is currently selling for under $45, was originally between $100-130, suggesting it didn't make headway against its competition, the $119 Tivoli Model One and the $135 (depending on sales could be as low as $100) Boston Acoustics Recepter. Reviewers say that "bass response" is not as good as the more expensive competition. I myself haven't heard the Sony as I have too many radios in my house to justify buying it. But a good case can be made that at the $45 price point the Sony is an excellent alternative to its higher priced competitors. I have both the Tivoli Three and the Boston Acoustics Recepter and they are great radios but may be too pricey for some. The disparity of quality between them and the Sony is probably not that big. If you're on a budget, I'd say the Sony is a safe bet. Its reception will be comparable and its speaker will be sufficient provided you don't need to blast your music. For mellow music listening and talk radio, I feel confident that the Sony is a good choice. If anyone has one, please give me your impressions.

Why I'll Delay Getting a WiFi Internet Radio

There are some very attractive WiFi Internet radios on the market right now. Two that I find very appealing are the $299 Roku Soundbridge R1000 and the $249 Sangean WFR-20 WiFi.

The WiFi radio is a good choice for people who live in rural or remote areas that have an absence of good terrestrial radio stations. WiFi is also great for people who travel and want their favorite local stations. However, for me, as someone who lives in Los Angeles, I have compelling reasons to hold off on getting an Internet radio.

1. The radios aren't exactly user friendly. I suppose if they tuned Internet stations as easy as conventional radios they'd be more appealing. For now, you have to download your favorite stations and then access them on the WiFi. Not too complicated but I'm in no rush to go through this.
2. The radios, close to $300, aren't exactly cheap.
3. I can listen to Internet radio at my computer.
4. These radios might be "buggy" and require more technical support than a conventional radio. I don't need another tech headache.
5. I live in Los Angeles, which has an abundance of strong local radio stations. I don't feel I need even more choices to make my life more complicated than it really is.
6. The magic of radio is creating a sense of intimacy and community through local stations. Listening to Internet radio strikes me as impersonal, liked piped-in Muzak.
7. I can already access Internet radio podcasts and listen to them on my iPod.

Final Thoughts: Ultimately, the choices of great radio stations around the world combined with portability will reel me in to the WiFi world. But I'll wait for the technology to improve and for the prices to move downward. I'm in no rush.

Why the Sangean PR-D5 Is an Attractive Subsitute for the More Expensive Tivoli Songbook

About  $75, the Sangean PR-D5  is a smart alternative to the $159 Tivoli Songbook. The rubber coating on the Songbook gives it a better look in my opinion and its monoaural speaker is richer than the PR-D5's dual stereo speakers, but that doesn't justify the Songbook's hefty price, especially when considering that AM/FM reception on the PR-D5 has proven superior on all my reception tests. For a bedside radio, the PR-D5 is also less prone to tipping over. If money is no object and you want the superior speaker of the Songbook and don't mind compromising a little on reception, get the Songbook. But if you're looking for value and superior reception, the PR-D5 is for you.

Killer Robert Hawkins Gives Us Definition of Evil

His infamous suicide note reads "Now I'll be famous" and these words give us a crystal clear definition of evil: Someone who must feed his ego by hurting and killing others. For the narcissist, there is no distinction between good or evil in the quest to obtain attention and "fame." Likewise, John Douglas, who wrote Inside the Mind of BTK: The True Story of the Thirty-Year Hunt fo the Notorious Wichita Serial Killer, said that the BTK killer got caught because his ego compelled him to feed clues to the cops so that he could get the glory for his crimes. Consumed by their egos, these narcissistic killers make us question the notion of "mental illness" in the face of evil.

Quote of the Week: Previous Malibu "Styled on an Etch-a-Sketch by blindfolded barbers."

Dan Neil wins quote of the week for his line about the improvement of the 2008 Chevy Malibu in his Los Angeles Times Highway Column  in which he says that the Malibu, competing with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, achieves a grade of "average," which is precisely its goal. He makes the great point that the car's C-pillar gives it an Audi look (I'd say the A6). And now for the quote of the week, Neil goes on to say that the Malibu "is a major improvement over the previous-generation Malibu, which looked like it was styled on an Etch-a-Sketch by blindfolded barbers."

Vegetarian Dishes for Lazy Man

1. Spinach Quesadillas: Fill with 12 ounces of spinach, pinto beans, peppers, mushrooms, chili flakes, Gouda or muenster or cheddar or jack cheese. You can also substitute tortillas with flat bread. Also for a change, sautee pine nuts and currants before cooking the spinach.
2. Half a bagel with a poached egg and side of vegetable and glass of nonfat milk.
3. Half a bagel with ricotta and honey and a side of vegetables.
4. Chick peas, chard, tomato sauce, and olives covered with Parmesan or feta.
5. Grilled cheese panini with sliced tomatoes, tapanade or bruschetta.
6. Puttenesca with spinach and glass of nonfat milk.
7. Pasta shells, chick peas, spinach, and pesto. You could replace the fattening pesto with masala or some other Indian sauce.
8. Bean and Cheese Burrito: black or pinto beans, rice, cheddar, raw diced onions, tomatillo, pica del gallo in a tortilla. Have with nonfat milk.
9. Lentils, chickpeas, spinach and pasta or tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese.
10. Basmati rice, chard, Kalamata olives, cannellini or navy beans and tomato sauce or pasta sauce.
11. Spinach, chick peas or beans with bruschetta and goat cheese.
12. Humus and cheese sandwich with tapanade or bruschetta.
13. Half a peanut butter and honey sandwich (as a cheap substitute for a protein bar)
14. Nonfat plain yogurt with Medjool dates (snack)
15. Steel-cut Oatmeal with pomegranate syrup, honey, cinnamon, berries, and nonfat milk.
16. Oatmeal banana pancakes or French toast with berries and soy sausage patties (limit soy because it can introduce too much estrogen into a man's system). I don't mind having this meal for breakfast or dinner.
17. Cold cereal with whey protein powder or a glass of nonfat milk with strawberry whey protein powder.
18. Homemade Salsa Grande over Toasted Peasant Bread. Onions, garlic, cherry tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, olives, lime or lemon, chili peppers of varying heat or mildness mixed in a casserole dish heated at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until the ingredients caramelize. Pour over toasted peasant bread and mozzarella.

Eton Sound 100 Review

When I saw the retro-modern prototype for the Eton Sound 100 over two years ago, I knew I had to buy one. A clock radio with remote control and available in a wide array of colors, the Eton Sound 100 was a good fit for my computer office. Experience has taught me that  you need to keep your radio a good 5 feet away from your computer to avoid reception interference, so if you wish to toggle your stations, get yourself a radio with remote control. I already enjoy my more solidly built Sangean WR-2 in my bedroom (for a comparison between the WR-2 and the Eton Sound 100, CLICK HERE), but I wanted a radio with a telescopic antenna. The Eton Sound 100 fit the bill quite nicely. However, it may not be a good fit for all buyers. Number one, if you're using the Eton Sound 100 as a bedside clock radio and you're manually toggling the stations with your hand, you have to go up the preset cycle. You can't move down. This is annoying because you have to go through all the stations. Of course, you can select the precise preset with your remote. But honestly, are you going to squint at your credit-card sized remote in your bed with the lights off or dimmed? I don't think so. Besides, the Eton Sound 100 is too light due to its plastic materials for a bedside radio. One inadvertent swipe of your arm, and your radio flies off the bedside table. On the other hand, the wimpy piggy tail FM antenna on the WR-2 can be problematic. For me, 89.3 KPCC can give the WR-2 problems while the Eton Sound 100 gets that station clearly. Overall, the FM on the Eton Sound 100 is well above average and quite excellent. AM is also above average. However, 710 ESPN radio has a little birdy hiss while my Tivoli PAL (retailed for $130 when I bought it in 2004; now it goes for a big tag of $199) gets 710 with less background noise. My best AM sound comes from my Boston Acoustics Recepter. As far as the speaker goes, it does not possess the Wow Factor like my BAR, but nor is the Eton Sound 100 weak or tinny by any means. It's full and rich enough but not as good as my Tivoli Model 3 or Boston Acoustics Recepter. I'd even say the WR-2 has a slightly richer speaker. But overall, I'm happy with the Eton Sound 100. My only complaint is its price tag of 150 dollars. No way. Considering the cheap plastic materials and the average speaker, this radio should retail for no more than 100 dollars. If you don't need a remote control and want even slightly better reception, check out the Sangean PR-D5 for about 75 dollars. A full review of the PR-D5 can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Update: Buying my first black Eton Sound 100 for $150, I have since bought my wife a burgundy red one for $99 and my father a silver one for $79. Then during a "hot sale" on Amazon, I couldn't resist getting one for $69. I got it in silver. The photos don't really let you know how the colors look in person. Having seen the Sound 100 in black, burgundy, and silver, I will say that the silver looks by far the best.