I was going to wait another month for the CCRadio-2 to be available on Amazon. With free shipping and $100 dollars' worth of coupons, I was going to save big money. But I couldn't wait. So as a California resident I had to pay $13.20 sales tax and $10.75 on shipping on the CCRadio-2's full retail price of $159.95 for a robust total of $183.90. I suppose I can console myself by saying that I'm defraying the cost with the modest advertising revenue I make on this blog. There, that's better.
But the real soothe can only come from the radio itself. As a replacement for the CCRadio-Plus, which is nearly a decade old and boasting a radio industry top level internal ferrite antenna close to 200 mm, the CCR-2 represents a major radio release. So I wanted to get the CCR-2 sooner than later.
What better way to judge it than by comparing it to some other big AM players, the vintage GE Super Radio II and the Sangean PR-D5? And for fidelity comparisons, I thought I'd add the Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo, which at $130 is close to the CCR-2 in price range.
The bottom-line question is of the aforementioned radios which one would I purchase if I could only buy one? The answer is easy. It's not even close. I'd buy the CCR-2.
Is the CCR-2 the Miracle of All Radios? No. But on balance it beats all the other players mentioned in this game. Here's why:
AM Reception
The CCR-2, the GESR II, and the PR-D5 get pretty close AM reception in terms of raw strength (they all have similar sized internal ferrite antennas), so the real issue is sound. I noticed the GESR II sounded distant and a bit echo-like on 570 and 710. In contrast, the CCR-2 sounded a lot warmer, closer, more intimate. The PR-D5 has lousy, weak speakers so it lost easily. The Horizon Duo has mediocre AM in spite of its majestic speakers so it also lost. The winner: The CCR-2. Most buyers of the CCR-2 are probably looking for strong AM sound so this is a huge category to be won by the CCR-2.
FM Reception
The CCR-2 and the GE SR II are very close here. My weakest station 88.9 could be grabbed fairly easily by both. But here's a significant advantage for the CCR-2: It's digital with presets plus it has a strength meter. The PR-D5 is weaker. Worse than the PR-D5 is the Horizon Duo, which is prone to static on FM. Again, the CCR-2 wins.
Speaker Sound
The clear winner is the Duo but what use is great speaker sound when mated to mediocre AM and a pigtail FM antenna that is prone to static? I'd give the CCR-2 a grade of B or B plus for speaker sound. Voicing on talk radio is great, an A grade. Like I said earlier, voices are warm and close. In the case of musical fidelity, the CCR-2 lacks the wow factor of the Horizon Duo, and Horizon Solo for that matter. One advantage the CCR-2 has over the PR-D5 is that it has treble and bass controls, which are lacking in the PR-D5. By increasing treble, I can get a little more brightness out of the CCR-2's music sound.
Ease of Use
All of these radios are easy to use. I'd put the GESR II in last place since it's an analog tuner. Try moving from 88.9 to 106.7 on the FM dial. No fun. I like to toggle, so I'm a digital preset man. Because I own a Sangean WR-2 and Sangean makes the CCR-2, I was familiar enough with the controls that as I write this post I have not even opened the CCR-2's owner's manual. I'm sure I'll get around to it.
Bottom-line
For me, the CCR-2 is the clear choice here. I overpaid for it by $24, (as an Internet shopper, I'm averse to paying tax and shipping) but that's okay. A grade AM and FM with a big speaker. Handsome to look at. Solid with good build quality, the CCRadio-2 is a winner. Don't be surprised if I use my Amazon coupons to pick up a second one in the next month or so.
That's good info on the batteries. I'm going to use a power plug though. The LCD screen problem should be resolved. It looks like the same as the Sangean WR-2, which has never given me problems.
I believe Angelo would like the build quality of the WR-2.
The display looks fine to me.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | June 06, 2009 at 06:59 PM
i still haven't recovered fully from the review of the grundig 750... the using it as a life preserver if your airplane hits the water, being able to hear spacewomen on venus, all my dreams were crushed...
Posted by: kr | June 06, 2009 at 07:22 PM
KR, I've learned to lower my expectations with radios, but, dude, when I'm ready to shell it out for an LCD 50 inch TV, my life better change radically or I'll be disappointed.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | June 06, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Jeff - Since the CCR-2 has 1 kHz tuning resolution on AM, you can get more brightness out of the sound by tuning 1 kHz above or below the station's frequency. This feature can also be used to "tune away" from interference.
Posted by: Gary Kinsman | June 06, 2009 at 09:00 PM
How well does the weather band work? From your area, Channel 7 (162.55 kHz) is the one to try.
Posted by: Gary Kinsman | June 06, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Gary, so far Channel 3 comes in okay. Thanks for the AM advice. I'll try it.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | June 06, 2009 at 10:43 PM
It looks like you are getting the weather from Santa Ana (162.45 MHz).
http://www.freqofnature.com/mwiki/index.php?title=Weather_Frequencies
I believe the transmitter for Los Angeles (162.55 MHz) is on Mt. Wilson.
Posted by: Gary Kinsman | June 07, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Angelo, electrical irregularities (even from batteries) have nothing to do with the original CCRadio and early CCRadio Plus displays failing. That was caused by the ribbon cable loosing connection on the back of the display. CCRadio Plus’ manufactured from April 2004 forward as well as all CCRadio-2's are immune to this happening.
Jeff, I am glad the CCRadio-2 is working so well for you. Please let us know if you have any additional comments or suggestions.
John Wilder
C. Crane Company
Posted by: JW | June 08, 2009 at 01:08 PM
What can you tell me about the orginal CCRadio? Was it any good at FM selectivity? I want it for my office made of cinderblocks and no windows. Thanks!
Posted by: Dena Deen | August 27, 2013 at 04:37 PM
I not sure any AM or FM radio would work well in a cinderblock building with no windows.
Posted by: Gary | August 27, 2013 at 07:50 PM
I'm in a cinderblock building with no windows and AM is impossible. You need an internet radio for that environment.
Posted by: herculodge | August 27, 2013 at 08:47 PM