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.
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.
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