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. 

  

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

[Jeffrey McMahon]

A reader complained that this post is a repeat. I do sometimes repeat posts if they are popular based on traffic. Sorry to the reader, whose comment I deleted, is so offended.

[Mike W]

Well, this reader is not complaining that this post is a repeat. This reader is complaining that he just got an RCA Superadio III, and it sucks.

I had the GE SR III for years before giving it away as a gift, so I assumed the RCA version was a known quantity. No such luck.

The alignment is so off that 590 AM reads as almost 700, and the NYC stations that I bought it for are hard to receive.

I bought it on impulse and see now that it might be a refurb, and the seller's return policy is mostly for defective items.

Another impulse buy was a Sony ICF-6700W yesterday, after which I wished I had waited for an ICF- 6800W. or just bought neither.

This impulse buying sure leads to disappointment.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

I've bought some duds, plenty in fact.

I gave my GE SRIII away but kind of miss it. I loved the big sound. But the tuning dial was as you described.

[Mike W]

This may be too off-topic, but I think it's the stock market that has me bummed, and the radio thing is just a more tangible disappointment for my mind to latch on to.

The S&P was down big again today, important resistance levels were breached, and it shows no sign of stopping. I could fill my place with radios with what I lost in a few hours today.

So the radios being screwed up is just icing on that mound of s***.

I think a lot of boomers are feeling some version of this. Well, I'm going to go to sleep. At least that still seems to work.

[Ed]

I can't even sleep, the economy keeps me up at night.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

What kills me is nobody can assure that there is a bottom or where that bottom is.