Herculodge First Look at the "New" Tecsun CR-1100 with DSP Technology

Back in January of 2009 I wrote a Tecsun CR-1100 review in which I explained that I had to return the unit because of a faulty AM/FM tuner switch. 

So I waited until my replacement came, in May, a good 4 months later, and I decided to keep the radio in the box and try to sell it on Amazon. The CR-1100 was a solid performer but nothing amazing, I reasoned, and with all the radios I own, why keep it? So I put it for $61 and got no bites over the last 2 weeks.

And then I took the radio off the market yesterday. Here's why: It occurred to me that this radio has DSP technology, a new radio innovation explained in tantalizing detail by Kevin, and to add to my curiosity, Ante emailed to say that the Tecsun PL-300, which also features DSP, is smoking hot product, with better performance than the C.Crane CSW/Redsun 2100. 

Ante's information is supported by Kevin's comment:

"Just posted to the Ultralight and IRCA boards is a review of the PL-300WT, and it's what many have hoped: excellent sensitivity (considering the size) and other-worldly selectivity from the DSP filtering. This was specifically for the Tecsun, not for the Grundig G8."

So how can I sell my Tecsun CR-1100 when I keeping hearing all this promising info on DSP? I take it off the Amazon market, open it up and discover two things right away: The radio has Chinese printed on it, not English. Also, there's no AC adapter. 

Of course, today is Sunday and Kaito is closed. Tomorrow I'll find out if they sent me the Chinese version intentionally and if I need an adapter to use the 6V AC. I briefly put a 6V adapter I had in the unit and it worked but I quickly took it out for fear that I might harm the radio. I then put in 4 D batteries and tested it. 

Now the good news: The radio kicks ass. FM is indeed stronger than my C.Crane CSW. For my weakest station, 88.9 KXLU, a slight tilt of the telescopic antenna, grabbed the station and it was loud and clear. All other FM stations needed not antenna adjustments.  Now for AM. I put the Tecsun in the kitchen where I use my Sangean PR-D5. I have to say that while AM didn't blow me away the FM did, the Tecsun held its own against the PR-D5. I didn't get any birdy noise on ESPN 710 the way I do with most of my radios.  Also the Tecsun's speaker is richer than the PR-D5's. Both radios will cost you about $75. 

Now I need to answer some questions:

1. Is this Tecsun different than the model that was sent to me four months ago?

2. Are the Chinese labelled versions better?

3. Did my older version have the same firmware and same DSP?

4. Will my Chinese model work on AC?

5. Is Kaito sending Chinese models, with Chinese print, to customers who buy the Tecsun CR-1100 on Amazon, as I did?

6. Did I get a special unit because I'm a radio blogger?

7. Should I exchange my Chinese model, one that I know works great, for an English model that might not be as good?

Tomorrow I hope my conversation with the people at Kaito will give me these answers.

To be continued. 

Comments

[Mike W]

Interesting. Two questions :

(1) Putting audio quality aside, let's say the PR-D5's AM reception is 10. What would the CR-1100's AM reception be? Seven, nine, ten, what?

(2) That tuning knob, does it spin a full 360 degrees or is one of those maddening ones that only jogs left and right, like that Radio Shack digital AM/FM "long distance" radio?

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Mike, I believe we're talking 360 degree knob.

I can't really gauge AM until tonight. For now my C.Crane CSW, CR-1100, and PR-D5 all sound great. But tonight when AM compromises, the CR-1100 will be tested.

[Gary Kinsman]

Mediumwave (AM broadcast band) sensitivity is best tested during the day, because signals are weaker during the day than they are at night. See if you can get 550 KUZZ (5 kW in Bakersfield) on either of the radios during the day. I use this station to check low-band sensitivity from Simi Valley.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Gary, where I live AM signals fade at night. I don't know why this is the case. I'll try 550.

[Gary Kinsman]

You're right about fading at night, Jeff. This is sometimes due to the groundwave and skywave signals combining partially out of phase, or it can happen for distant signals which only have a skywave. Sync detectors can help this so-called selective fading. Even with an 8" ferrite loopstick, my GE SRIII often sounds terrible on KNX at night due to selective fading, and I'm less than 40 miles from the 50 kW transmitter.

Daytime is better for comparing raw sensitivity, due to the lack of fading, and weaker maximum signal levels.

[Huesby]

"Gary, where I live AM signals fade at night. I don't know why this is the case."...
Excuse me.. In which planet you said you live ?... This is the first time in my life I've heard that AM signals are weaker at night.. I really should go to know this place.., ;-)

[Scooby214]

Jeff, is your KSPN 710 weaker at night? A look at www.radio-locator.com shows that KSPN's signal is a nondirectional 50kw during the day, and a highly directional 10kw at night. It looks like the signal is not necessarily nulled in your direction, but is still much weaker than during the day.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

ESPN 710 gets birdy at night and day; 830 AM really gets bad as the sun goes down.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

For day, the CR-1100 sounds great on AM. I doubt, though, anyone will call it a DXer's dream. Its FM seems most groundbreaking to me.