The Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo and Solo Are Entirely Different Radios

If you're trying to decide between the BAH Duo, about $130, and the Solo, about $85, you should consider the following:

One.The Solo has a preset toggle button that allows you to scroll through any combo of AM and FM you want for 20 presets. You don't have to press a band selector button like you do with the Solo on the radio or itself or the Duo's remote (the Solo does not have a remote). This one-button toggle feature makes the Solo great as a bedtime radio.

Two. The remote and dual speakers on the Duo make it a better radio for the kitchen or living room where you would be more likely to utilize the remote and the bigger speaker sound.

Three. Both radios have wire FM antennas and have sensitive tuners, but the stereo sound on the Duo, in contrast to the mono sound on the Solo, makes the Duo more susceptible to hiss and static noise on weak FM station. In my case, strange weather sometimes gives me a little hiss on the Duo whereas the Solo is static-free during the same time. This is usually not a big deal, but I should point this out if you're deciding between the two.

Four. The smaller footprint of the Solo makes it an easier bedside radio companion for two reasons: One the small size more easily fits on a bedside table. Two, the smaller size is easier to rotate for AM reception.

Conclusion: I really like both radios. Neither is perfect, but I use both of them more than my other radios and I do have a lot. Another radio I use a lot in my computer office is my Sangean WR-2 with its remote (I keep my radios a good 6 feet from my computer to avoid interference). Like the Solo, the WR-2 seems less prone to hiss and static in bad weather. But the WR-2 costs $50 more than the Solo and loses in the price-performance ratio. I'd say for a bedside radio, get the Solo and for a kitchen or living room radio, get the Duo. 

Comments

[Mike W]

I just brought home a new Horizon Solo and hear it playing a little Roy Orbison right now.

It's way too soon to judge, but my initial impression is favorable.

I didn't bother with the pigtail for FM. I ran a mini-coax up to the attic space to some old TV rabbit ears I had and seem (at first look, anyway) to be getting basically the same stations my Satellit 800 gets with that antenna. Very good FM tuner for the price.

The AM tuner is OK, and AM sound is very good, clear and strong when the signal allows.

I had the more telegenic Recepter for a while, so the controls don't surprise me - I know that I already like the Solo's preset knob before I've even tried it.

Of course, I'll soon wish I had gotten the Duo, but if I had, I'd be thinking I should have gotten the Solo, so no harm done there.

A little funny-looking but I suppose it could grow on me. Good value for the price.