Comparing the Legendary Panasonic RF-2200 with the C.Crane CSW/Kaito 2100

Ed was kind enough to provide the following comparison between his Kaito 2100 (C.Crane CSW) and his recently acquired Panasonic RF-2200:

The 2200's reputation rests on its AM-DX abilities, and it is at least the equal of the Kaito 2100 on AM. It may be better in some respects. The RF2200 seems to have less background noise, a quieter background. though. It really does the job of pulling in AM. I like analog tuning---you can tune off-center to get the sound you like. (every AM station has a sideband on each side of it's main "carrier" frequency, the Upper and Lower side band)  There is an very effective RF Gain control so I can keep stronger stations like KNX from bleeding through.

FM seems almost as good as the Kaito, but it's not in stereo, of course. The antenna pins the meter on all stations of interest, so it's long enough for FM, anyway, maybe not enough for SW.

The speaker is 4" and not as good sounding as the Kaito/CCR on music, but nice on voice.

 

In lieu of the delays in the Grundig S750 production, it's a tossup between this Panasonic or the Grundig S800, if you can find one. You would like the 800, it's a big manly radio!

Comments

[Mike W]

I currently own the three sets.

As a bedside radio, I would suggest the RP-2100 (and its variants) for its manageable size and easy digital tuning at a reasonable price.

For a dedicated SW listener, the (huge) Satellit 800 would be best,
especially with a proper external antenna. In general I would not recommend this set to anyone who does not listen to SW.

As a general coverage portable without an external antenna, I would rate the RF-2200 most highly of the three.

I've had the 2200 a few weeks and it's been growing on me. Give it a little more time, Ed, and see if you don't find the same.

[Ed S.]

OK, I will...but don't you find the 2200's SW to be of fairly limited value, due to the drift and volume fluctuations (no synch detector)? And it seems deaf to high frequencies, ie above 15 MHz.

[Mike W]

Well, my SW requirements are pretty basic at this point so that may be why the RF-2200 has been good enough for me on SW. I mostly stick to the 49m band in the evening, so you may be right about the higher frequencies. I'd test it now but it's 10 pm, I'll check that out in the daytime.

I haven't noticed much drift on my unit but I don't mind the occasional tweak - I know that my 2200 isn't drifty the way that my S350DL was. To some extent it's a tendency of analog tuning in general. I have run mine exclusively on D cells so far, which means it heats up less, and that may mean less drift, but that's just a guess on my part.

As far as selective fading goes, yes, I have noticed it big-time with the 2200, especially on MW (because I spend more time listening to that), and even compared to modern radios like the PR-D5 that do not have sync. What happens is you read great things about a set like the 2200, finally pay up for one, and then are commensurately disappointed by any imperfections it may have.

One virtue of the RF-2200 is you can put it back up on eBay and get most or all of your money back.

[Terry (The Analog Dinosaur)]

I'd like a Satellit 800, but I'm not willing to risk it. That model had notorious QC issues, which unfortunately continued with the E1 (originally to be called the Satellit 900.)

If you insist upon a Grundig/Eton product and want Synchronous Detection, you're only option is the E1.

As an alternative, I remain curious about the Sony ICF-2010 and SW77. But since I never owned either of them, I can't say yay or nay.

[Terry (The Analog Dinosaur)]

Do the 2200 or 350 have SSB?

The side bands seem less affected by Fading Distortion than AM is.
____________________________________

After six weeks, I'm still loving my RX-320D. My E1 had already developed screen problems by the six week mark, so the 320 has pulled ahead in the Terry Rates His Radios Across Multiple Factors poll.

[Ed S.]

I had both the Sony 2010 and SW77. Their performance has been surpassed by more modern radios, but they have their followers.
The RF2200 and 350 (and kaito2100) don't have SSB. The 800 and E1 do.

[Mike W]

Satellit 800 QC issues : Yes. Caveat Emptor, but a real receiver.

Eton E1 QC issues : Yes, but apparently more so. Never tried one.

Sony SW-77 : An odd design that did not interest me, so I never tried one. Not Sony's proudest moment, IMHO.

Sony ICF-2010 : Had one briefly. Quality, quality, quality, but what a tiny speaker. And such a tall slim form factor. I didn't know whether to stand it up or sit it down. You can buy a nice plexiglass stand to resolve that, at least.

RF-2200/S350DL SSB : No and no, but the 2200 has a older related feature, BFO. For me to write much more about it would reveal the degree of my technical ignorance, suffice to say that it can often squeeze an audible voice from an otherwise unreadable signal. My attitude is, when a signal's that weak and dirty, I don't want to hear it anyway, but I'm no DX'er.

RX-320D : A radio hooked up to a computer? Never tried one. Maybe you're not such a dinosaur after all.

[Mike W]

Hmmm, hadn't refreshed my screen for a while, didn't see Ed had answered that one already...

[phillyjoe]

I believe that is at least unjust, wanted to compare a new radio with somewhat old and with thousands of miles up

[jeffrey McMahon]

The comparison has to be made because of lot of vintage radio buyers, newbies like myself, need to know what spending $250 or so on eBay for a vintage Panasonic radio will entail.

The purpose of using a current radio as a benchmark is only to compare reception strength so that newcomers can decide if they want to spend the extra on a vintage radio or not.

[phillyjoe]

Ok, at least I do not buy more radios used in ebay, since the moment that compare that my Sangean 909 new, listen equal or better than my Kenwood R-5000.

[Carrie]

I'd love to listen to a Kenwood R-5000.

[phillyjoe]

Yes, I also love to listen the R-5000, also my NRD-525, but these radio need a big exterior antenna, and I remain surprised, my Degen 1103 new with telescopic antenna almost listen equal that these great old, old receivers, with its components spent and lacking of sensitivity. 73 and nice Sunday

[jeffrey McMahon]

The Degen/Kaito 1103 does have amazing FM, I agree.