A day after receiving the Panasonic RF-888 I did an outside reception test. My first impressions were positive inside my office, so I wasn't surprised to find that AM and FM was superb, as superior as my testing of the Sony 5900 and the Panasonic RF-2200.
On FM, weak stations such as 89.3, and especially 88.9, came in crystal clear with no background noise.
On AM, the weakest station, 710, came in with no birdy noise.
The speaker is huge and will blast your ears so from close range I had to barely turn up the volume. My RF-888 will easily fill the living room, and it will probably grace the side coffee table for some time.
As a living room radio, the 888 will need an adapter and a regular reader Paul, who also sent me the owner's manual on PDF, was kind enough to recommend the Regulated and Filtered 6VDC 300mA Adapter from Radio Shack.
Lately, the big, room-filling sound of an older radio has piqued my interest. I have enough SW radios, so I mainly want an AM/FM radio. What I can't decide upon is whether I want to buy one of those table radios from the '70s-'80s or something like your 888.
I also can't decide how to gather enough cash so my wife won't be upset about such a purchase!
Posted by: Scooby214 | August 29, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Look into the KLH table radios...I think the KLH-7?
Posted by: Ed S. | August 29, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Scooby, make that the famous KLH Model 21: http://cgi.ebay.com/Immaculate-KLH-Model-Twenty-One-FM-Table-Radio_W0QQitemZ190248026676QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190248026676&_trkparms=72%3A134%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
If it looks like a Tivoli, it should...both were developed by Henry Kloss, the "K" in KLH.
Posted by: Ed S. | August 29, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Or wait for the release of the Tecsun BCL-4000.
Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, and Sony have boom boxes on eBay.
Also check out the Sony Orbiter from the 1960s I believe.
That 888 is rare and may command 200 dollars or more.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 29, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Or you can order all the vintage radios you want, direct from Japan:
http://www.designunderground.net/NewFiles/SW.html
Main site:
http://www.designunderground.net
Site appears to be down right now - check back later.
Posted by: Paul | August 29, 2008 at 11:09 PM
I've heard of the KLH Model 21, but I've never seen one in such condition. I'll have to keep an eye on that one. I've never seen a Model 21 in person.
Posted by: Scooby214 | August 30, 2008 at 05:18 AM
The main downside I can see to the KLH model 21 is that it has no AM band. The listing states that it has an external FM antenna connection, so I could use it with my yagi and have a great little FM radio.
Posted by: Scooby214 | August 30, 2008 at 05:20 AM
Scooby,
You can have one of my big table top radios, a Sony ICF-9650. I don't use it. It has good reception and external antenna hook ups:
http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2008/07/first-look-at-a-circa-1970s-sony-icf-9650-table-radio.html
It would probably cost me 20 dollars to ship it to you so that's all I would ask.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 30, 2008 at 07:58 AM
I would be happy to pay you for your Sony. I'll send you an email.
My email will come from mr.decker.
Brian
Posted by: Scooby214 | August 30, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Oh my God! I may need 3 months of treatment @ the Betty Ford Clinic, so many wonderful radios so little space and budget.
BTW, the Sangean PR-D7 is getting excellent reviews on Amazon. I can't wait to get my hands on a WR 11 analog radio.
Posted by: Tom Welch | August 30, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Back in the late 1960s, I owned a pair of KLH speakers I bought at Pacific Stereo in Torrance.
Posted by: Tom Welch | August 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Tom, as I'm using the 5900 or 888 in living room, I doubt I can stick a WR-11. You might have to review it for me if you don't mind.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 30, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I recently bought an RF 888 on eBay for $97 plus $18 shipping. I bought one of these great radios new back around 1978 and lost it in a break up. I have been searching for five years for the right one. I really lucked out to pick up my new one. It is mint with the strap (shiny and new) with all functions perfect with no crackly controls and full speaker clarity. the case is as new, I just can't believe how lucky I was to land this great piece. It is especially great since I just got a Sirius Stiletto 2 and a brand new Whole House FM Transmitter. It is an amazing combination for satellite listening. If you ever see a nice RF 888 grab it. You can do no better for a vintage radio that has it all.
Posted by: Deryl Johnson | June 14, 2011 at 08:22 AM