Best AM Radios for the General Listener Revised

Five months ago, I posted Best AM Radios for the General Listener, which needs to be revised as the Kaito 2100 is now the C.Crane CSW and my findings on the CSW have changed. So let's try this "Best AM" post all over again:

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. Sangean PR-D5. This features a huge 200mm internal AM ferrite antenna, and it shows. Outstanding AM. At around $80, I'd say you can't get a better radio for the money. My PR-D5 has no background noise for weak night AM stations such as 830 and 710. This is a great AM radio with one flaw: mediocre sounding speakers. One possible problem for a tiny few is that the PR-D5 has no RF grain control filter so if you live close to an AM transmitter, you may get AM overload. I have no such problem with my PR-D5. 

Number Two. I'm going to make this a tie between 3 vintage radios, two of which I own and one of which I tested. The Panasonic RF-2200, the Sony ICF-5900W, and the Panasonic RF-888. The best vintage radios tend to sound better on AM than today's radios. What makes these radios so powerful is that there is no background noise. The problem is that they're old radios and they can cost over $200 on eBay. 

Number Three. A 3-way tie. First let me mention the $99 Eton S350 DL. Outstanding AM and and no more drift like the older model.  The now defunct Boston Acoustics Recepter. BA does an amazing job with their tuners. The sound quality and absence of background noise is amazing. And another newer BA product:  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 Four (being downgraded after extensive testing): The C.Crane CSW. I get horrible birdy on 710 AM and 830 isn't much better. But I keep it. Here's why: It has 6 D rechargeables and has great portability. And more importantly, when I play it outside the AM improves and sounds stunning. No birdy on 710 AM. I use my C.Crane when I wash my car or do other outdoor chores. Also the FM is outstanding. 

Number Five (being downgraded after owning two of these):  Sangean WR-2. This is the clock radio I use in my computer room because I use the remote control and keep the radio away from the interference of the computer. High quality build.  FM is better in my new model than it is in the one I bought back in 2005. But at night 830 AM Angels baseball is so muddled as to be worthless. Sometimes in the morning 570 AM has ugly background noise. I have my trusty Panasonic RF-888 right next to it when the WR-2 is giving me shoddy AM sound. 

Some others to consider: I've never tested the GE Super Radio II, a vintage that goes for about $200 on eBay, but I hear it's one of the best. I've had the current model, the III, but gave it away. I found a discernible hiss on AM and a general cheap quality. Nevertheless, many swear by it and continue to enjoy its bargain price. Now it's called the RCA Super Port and goes for about $50-$68 on Amazon. 

  

Five months ago, I posted Best AM Radios for the General Listener, which needs to be revised as the Kaito 2100 is now the C.Crane CSW and my findings on the CSW have changed. So let's try this "Best AM" post all over again:

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. Sangean PR-D5. This features a huge 200mm internal AM ferrite antenna, and it shows. Outstanding AM. At around $80, I'd say you can't get a better radio for the money. My PR-D5 has no background noise for weak night AM stations such as 830 and 710. This is a great AM radio with one flaw: mediocre sounding speakers. One possible problem for a tiny few is that the PR-D5 has no RF grain control filter so if you live close to an AM transmitter, you may get AM overload. I have no such problem with my PR-D5. 

Number Two. I'm going to make this a tie between 3 vintage radios, two of which I own and one of which I tested. The Panasonic RF-2200, the Sony ICF-5900W, and the Panasonic RF-888. The best vintage radios tend to sound better on AM than today's radios. What makes these radios so powerful is that there is no background noise. The problem is that they're old radios and they can cost over $200 on eBay. 

Number Three. A 3-way tie. First let me mention the $99 Eton S350 DL. Outstanding AM and and no more drift like the older model.  The now defunct Boston Acoustics Recepter. BA does an amazing job with their tuners. The sound quality and absence of background noise is amazing. And another newer BA product:  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 Four (being downgraded after extensive testing): The C.Crane CSW. I get horrible birdy on 710 AM and 830 isn't much better. But I keep it. Here's why: It has 6 D rechargeables and has great portability. And more importantly, when I play it outside the AM improves and sounds stunning. No birdy on 710 AM. I use my C.Crane when I wash my car or do other outdoor chores. Also the FM is outstanding. 

Number Five (being downgraded after owning two of these):  Sangean WR-2. This is the clock radio I use in my computer room because I use the remote control and keep the radio away from the interference of the computer. High quality build.  FM is better in my new model than it is in the one I bought back in 2005. But at night 830 AM Angels baseball is so muddled as to be worthless. Sometimes in the morning 570 AM has ugly background noise. I have my trusty Panasonic RF-888 right next to it when the WR-2 is giving me shoddy AM sound. 

Some others to consider: I've never tested the GE Super Radio II, a vintage that goes for about $200 on eBay, but I hear it's one of the best. I've had the current model, the III, but gave it away. I found a discernible hiss on AM and a general cheap quality. Nevertheless, many swear by it and continue to enjoy its bargain price. Now it's called the RCA Super Port and goes for about $50-$68 on Amazon. 

  

Comments

[Ed]

In all probability the best AM radio most of us have is in our car.

[jeffrey McMahon]

Try driving down Hawthorne and 190th. An AM nightmare for 3 blocks.

[Michael Brent]

Sony makes a model ICF-38.
Its an analog radio. It has no bells or whistles, just a radio.
This thing is an incredible value. It looks good, sounds good, has great reception, the batteries last forever and its a Sony and costs $25.00
You cannot find these in any stores other than Frys and I'm convinced its because they make everything else look inferior by comparison. Ive compared this puppy with several high-end Eton radios and a Grundig S350DL and the Sony can get any AM/FM stations they can get. I bought three, one for myself and two as gifts. I cant believe something that works this well can be had for $25.00

[Tom Welch]

The Sony ICF-38 is also available on Amazon.Com:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF38-Portable-Radio-Black/dp/B0016OEV7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221772098&sr=1-1

No wall wart either!

[Scooby214]

If only they could make the PR-D5 in a darker color... I guess Tivoli is the fashion maker that has so many colors to choose from. Perhaps someone could make a radio with the guts of the PR-D5 and the body of a nicely sculpted Tivoli!