Sangean DT-400 Review

The Sangean DT-400W Review

Not happy with the FM on my Sangean DT-180, especially since the TV band bleeds into weaker FM stations like KPCC 89.3, I purchased the new Sangean DT-400, which I just bought on Amazon with free shipping for $61. Unlike my DT-180 which operates on a single AAA battery, the DT-400 uses two AA batteries. This makes sense since the DT-400 has a built-in speaker, unlike the much smaller DT-180.

It appears the DT-400 is an update of the DT200, famous for its great AM but stuck with the soon obsolete TV band. Instead of TV band, the DT-400 features a weather band in addition to AM and FM.

The DT-400 includes earbuds, which work as the radio's FM antenna and you need them. Without the earbuds or provided wire, you will get NO FM reception. I replaced the stock buds with my high-fidelty $30 V-MODA earbuds. The FM reception is just as good so apparently it doesn't matter if you use the stock earbuds or not. 

What's nice about the DT-400 is you can listen through the buds or the built-in speaker. On the radio's upper left side you have a switch with 3 options: SP is for listening through speaker; MO is mono through the earbuds; ST is stereo through the buds. For FM with the buds, you will probably want MO, especially for weaker stations. You'll get less background noise.

You also get a DBB button for "Deep Bass Boost," a feature that interests me little as I don't want to thump my eardrums into intractable tinnitus. 

One of the advantages of the DT-400 W over the DT-80 is you get 19 presets combining AM and FM. This comes with a slight disadvantage: Your learning curve for learning how to set and navigate the memories is longer with the DT400W. You turn the radio on, find the station you want, then press band until the display shows you're in "M" mode. From there, you use the tuning buttons to choose the "M" preset number. One you select the number, you press the "Memo" (for memory) button to set the preset. To toggle through the presets, you press up and down the tuning buttons.

Radio Reception:

I'd need to preface my reception judgment by saying you can't measure a portable radio by the same standards of a stationary radio because for AM you position the radio to maximize reception and with FM you elevate and angle the telescopic or wire antenna to the "right spot" to optimize reception. In contrast, when you're walking or running in the outdoors with your portable radio, you can't enjoy such stability so you are going to go through compromised positions that in turn compromise your signal. Having said that, there are still marked differences in performance and I can say the DT-400 is a much better performer than my DT-180. Unlike the 180, my 400 grabs 89.3 and 103.1, relatively weak stations. Slight static when walking isn't so distracting as to dissuade me from listening. AM stations were also loud and clear even though there is no AM filter.

On weather band, channels 3,6, and 7 are all the same and the signal differs in strength. 3 and 6 have significant static while 7 is loud and clear. There is no signal on the other stations.

Final Thoughts: I doubt I will be using the built-in speaker much. The sound is so much better through my V-MODA buds that there is little point listening through the speaker. Also the radio doesn't stand up, so I'll be using it while I'm walking, a situation I'd be using the earbud-doubling-as-FM-antenna anyway.

Final Verdict: Highly Recommended.

Post Script: Because there is a large degree of interest in the DT400W, I will be posting period updates whenever I recognize something of note during my use of it--which is my daily 30-minute walk with my dog. 

Update with a Comparison between the DT-400 and the DT-200

Thanks to Tom, we have a comparison between the DT-400 and its older sibling the DT-200:

I have both the Sangean DT-200VX and DT-400W. The DT-400W is an update of the DT-200VX with NOAA weather band capabilities and a slightly thicker footprint. Both radios offer the same great performance on the AM and FM bands, see Amazon.Com for more reviews.

In Europe, Sangean markets the same pocket radio as the DT-250 but with AM and FM bands only.

The DT-400W is my everyday carry radio using the speaker, while at home, at my computer desk, I often use the DT-200VX with Koss headphones to listen to music.

Not happy with the FM on my Sangean DT-180, especially since the TV band bleeds into weaker FM stations like KPCC 89.3, I purchased the new Sangean DT-400, which I just bought on Amazon with free shipping for $61. Unlike my DT-180 which operates on a single AAA battery, the DT-400 uses two AA batteries. This makes sense since the DT-400 has a built-in speaker, unlike the much smaller DT-180.

It appears the DT-400 is an update of the DT200, famous for its great AM but stuck with the soon obsolete TV band. Instead of TV band, the DT-400 features a weather band in addition to AM and FM.

The DT-400 includes earbuds, which work as the radio's FM antenna and you need them. Without the earbuds or provided wire, you will get NO FM reception. I replaced the stock buds with my high-fidelty $30 V-MODA earbuds. The FM reception is just as good so apparently it doesn't matter if you use the stock earbuds or not. 

What's nice about the DT-400 is you can listen through the buds or the built-in speaker. On the radio's upper left side you have a switch with 3 options: SP is for listening through speaker; MO is mono through the earbuds; ST is stereo through the buds. For FM with the buds, you will probably want MO, especially for weaker stations. You'll get less background noise.

You also get a DBB button for "Deep Bass Boost," a feature that interests me little as I don't want to thump my eardrums into intractable tinnitus. 

One of the advantages of the DT-400 W over the DT-80 is you get 19 presets combining AM and FM. This comes with a slight disadvantage: Your learning curve for learning how to set and navigate the memories is longer with the DT400W. You turn the radio on, find the station you want, then press band until the display shows you're in "M" mode. From there, you use the tuning buttons to choose the "M" preset number. One you select the number, you press the "Memo" (for memory) button to set the preset. To toggle through the presets, you press up and down the tuning buttons.

Radio Reception:

I'd need to preface my reception judgment by saying you can't measure a portable radio by the same standards of a stationary radio because for AM you position the radio to maximize reception and with FM you elevate and angle the telescopic or wire antenna to the "right spot" to optimize reception. In contrast, when you're walking or running in the outdoors with your portable radio, you can't enjoy such stability so you are going to go through compromised positions that in turn compromise your signal. Having said that, there are still marked differences in performance and I can say the DT-400 is a much better performer than my DT-180. Unlike the 180, my 400 grabs 89.3 and 103.1, relatively weak stations. Slight static when walking isn't so distracting as to dissuade me from listening. AM stations were also loud and clear even though there is no AM filter.

On weather band, channels 3,6, and 7 are all the same and the signal differs in strength. 3 and 6 have significant static while 7 is loud and clear. There is no signal on the other stations.

Final Thoughts: I doubt I will be using the built-in speaker much. The sound is so much better through my V-MODA buds that there is little point listening through the speaker. Also the radio doesn't stand up, so I'll be using it while I'm walking, a situation I'd be using the earbud-doubling-as-FM-antenna anyway.

Final Verdict: Highly Recommended.

Post Script: Because there is a large degree of interest in the DT400W, I will be posting period updates whenever I recognize something of note during my use of it--which is my daily 30-minute walk with my dog. 

Update with a Comparison between the DT-400 and the DT-200

Thanks to Tom, we have a comparison between the DT-400 and its older sibling the DT-200:

I have both the Sangean DT-200VX and DT-400W. The DT-400W is an update of the DT-200VX with NOAA weather band capabilities and a slightly thicker footprint. Both radios offer the same great performance on the AM and FM bands, see Amazon.Com for more reviews.

In Europe, Sangean markets the same pocket radio as the DT-250 but with AM and FM bands only.

The DT-400W is my everyday carry radio using the speaker, while at home, at my computer desk, I often use the DT-200VX with Koss headphones to listen to music.

Comments

[Paul]

Jeff,

Do you have the DT200VX and can provide a comparison?

[jeffrey McMahon]

I don't have one. That would be a useful comparison. However, the DT200 has TV band, which is obsolete.

[Tom Welch]

I have both the Sangean DT-200VX and DT-400W. The DT-400W is an update of the DT-200VX with NOAA weather band capabilities and a slightly thicker footprint. Both radios offer the same great performance on the AM and FM bands, see Amazon.Com for more reviews.

In Europe, Sangean markets the same pocket radio as the DT-250 but with AM and FM bands only.

The DT-400W is my everyday carry radio using the speaker, while at home, at my computer desk, I often use the DT-200VX with Koss headphones to listen to music.

[Paul]

The reason I asked is because I have a DT200VX and was wondering if the DT400W offered significantly better performance in terms of sensitivity or selectivity, in addition to the weather band.

[Tom Welch]

Paul:

Since you already own the Sangean DT-200VX, the DT-400W would not be a performance upgrade for you.

[Barry]

Hello, I'd like to know how much use you get out of a set of batteries with the dt400?

[jeffrey McMahon]

I walk my dog every day for 30 minutes with the DT400 and have been doing so for about 2 months. So far the batteries are fully powered. My guess is a long time.

[mark s bias]

The Sangean DT 400 WX is proving to be an invaluable upgrade from the Grundig Etraveller 7 SW/MW portable radio; which I carried for about two years - in lieu of a smaller Medium Wave receiver that also provided alerting capabilities from NWS on the NOAA weather band. Sensitivity on AM is absolutely remarkable and demonstrates Sangean's continued success in providing exceptional specifications in the very smallest package. The weather alert function utilizes the speaker only in Alert emergencies (by design and for the user's safety) and is extremely reliable when the radio's instructions are followed. Much like a motorola minitor II fire pager's alerting status' the DT 400 WX will provide you continuous carrier squelch alerting(up to 16 hrs per programming; which takes only a second) on your local or regional weather frequency - even while you monitor an AM or FM radio station frequency. Upon alert, an audible and visual component will sound and light simultaneously at any NOAA NWS all-call. Then you must touch the WX button for the emergency message.
This device is very productive with rechargable batteries (2xAA) or Alkalines and can literally save your life! It is bright yellow and priced very graciously!
Mark S. Bias Mainlinemark@yahoo.com