Best AM Radios for the General Listener

Woeful AM on a radio is depressing and downright unacceptable. If a radio has lousy AM, no other features, no matter how admirable, can redeem it. Fortunately, there are several excellent AM radios out there. I will list the ones that not only pull in AM stations with remarkable power, but lock on the stations without drifting and have a minimum of background noise.

Number One: Kaito 2100. Perhaps the best general purpose radio available because of its unparalleled AM and FM. My only complaint is that you have to toggle through a preset button, only moving up, to go through your presets. A minor peeve: The buttons require firm pressure. But still this is the AM king.

Number Two: Sangean PR-D5. This features a huge 200mm internal AM ferrite antenna, and it shows. Outstanding AM. At around $70, I'd say you can't get a better radio for the money. I'll be curious to see if the new Sangean PR-D7, featuring a monoaural 3-inch speaker, unlike the dual 2.5 speakers on the PR-D5, is implanted with the same AM antenna.

Number Three: The now defunct Boston Acoustics Recepter. BA does an amazing job with their tuners. The sound quality and absence of background noise is amazing.

Number Four: Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo. The AM on this new radio may even be better than its older brother the Recepter. I've had a few minor problems though and readers have been reporting MAJOR BUGS. If you buy one, keep the receipt and make sure yours isn't full of gremlins. I suspect newer models will get better. For a high-fidelity bedside radio, the BAHS, in the absence of bugs, may be the best of its kind.

Number Five: Sangean WR-2. This is the clock radio I use. AM is outstanding. FM is better in my new model than it is in the one I bought back in 2005. Highest recommendation.

Number Six: Eton S350 DL. Outstanding AM and FM and very similar in look to the Kaito 2100. However, the 2100 does a better job of hiding the birdy noise when AM gets weak at night or in hard-to-get stations. Still, a great AM radio.
 

Comments

[Dan]

Thanks to All for your help! I rigged a short wire antenna and I was blown away by the sound even with the round cone in the tweeter punched in and no 301 speaker. I am more motivated than ever to find an original antenna and probably a new tweeter as well.
I am on the search, thanks again, Dan

[jeffrey McMahon]

Dan, I'm glad the blog has been of service. Jeff

[ben]

Greetings Proton aficionados. Recently a friend gave me a set of 300/301's. Before the days of flat panels, I use to be a Proton TV enthusiast, so I was more than delighted to get them. The problem that I'm having, though, is that the 301 seems to pick up a radio signal when in tape mode. I have to claim utter ignorance when it comes to trouble shooting this type of issue, so any suggestions for resolution are greatly appreciated. I'd love to get them in top notch shape for ipod use. Thanks.