Angelo's Grundig Ocean Boy 820 Review

(First posted February 2009)

The Grundig Ocean Boy 820 was, like most of my radios, an E-Bay purchase.  UNLIKE most of them, it was delivered in perfect, clean condition.  The seller claimed to have a "museum quality" radio collection and this one didn't disappoint.  No scratches are present, nor are social security numbers carved into the cabinet, no tape residue, no missing battery cover or missing antenna tips---probably looks pretty much as it did when it left the factory.  

With the cosmetic test passed with flying colors, I put batteries in and turned it on---the sound was/is wonderful.  The tuning is quiet as a vault and the big tuning knob has a heavy feel to it----smooth turning, and balanced like it's weighted somehow.  If feels like the tuner from a large console stereo my parents had in the 1970's. 

It pulls in stations like nobody's business, on all frequencies.  The speaker is quite competent, with a bassy and full sound.  It was probably made in the 1980's, but I'm not sure.  It's a "Made in Germany" Grundig, which makes me happy.  It's a larger, but still practical size and weight.  I have no criticisms of the radio----but I will say that the plastics are not quite to the standard of earlier radios by Panasonic, Sony or Zenith.  It's more of a shiny, thinner, hard plastic----not a thick, stiff vinyl coated plastic.  Still, it looks great and unless the radio is dropped or something, the thinner plastic is of no consequence.  If I was going away to a dessert island for a long time, and could only bring one of my radios, I dare say I think this would be the one.   It instills confidence unlike any other radio I own.

(First posted February 2009)

The Grundig Ocean Boy 820 was, like most of my radios, an E-Bay purchase.  UNLIKE most of them, it was delivered in perfect, clean condition.  The seller claimed to have a "museum quality" radio collection and this one didn't disappoint.  No scratches are present, nor are social security numbers carved into the cabinet, no tape residue, no missing battery cover or missing antenna tips---probably looks pretty much as it did when it left the factory.  

With the cosmetic test passed with flying colors, I put batteries in and turned it on---the sound was/is wonderful.  The tuning is quiet as a vault and the big tuning knob has a heavy feel to it----smooth turning, and balanced like it's weighted somehow.  If feels like the tuner from a large console stereo my parents had in the 1970's. 

It pulls in stations like nobody's business, on all frequencies.  The speaker is quite competent, with a bassy and full sound.  It was probably made in the 1980's, but I'm not sure.  It's a "Made in Germany" Grundig, which makes me happy.  It's a larger, but still practical size and weight.  I have no criticisms of the radio----but I will say that the plastics are not quite to the standard of earlier radios by Panasonic, Sony or Zenith.  It's more of a shiny, thinner, hard plastic----not a thick, stiff vinyl coated plastic.  Still, it looks great and unless the radio is dropped or something, the thinner plastic is of no consequence.  If I was going away to a dessert island for a long time, and could only bring one of my radios, I dare say I think this would be the one.   It instills confidence unlike any other radio I own.

(First posted February 2009)

The Grundig Ocean Boy 820 was, like most of my radios, an E-Bay purchase.  UNLIKE most of them, it was delivered in perfect, clean condition.  The seller claimed to have a "museum quality" radio collection and this one didn't disappoint.  No scratches are present, nor are social security numbers carved into the cabinet, no tape residue, no missing battery cover or missing antenna tips---probably looks pretty much as it did when it left the factory.  

With the cosmetic test passed with flying colors, I put batteries in and turned it on---the sound was/is wonderful.  The tuning is quiet as a vault and the big tuning knob has a heavy feel to it----smooth turning, and balanced like it's weighted somehow.  If feels like the tuner from a large console stereo my parents had in the 1970's. 

It pulls in stations like nobody's business, on all frequencies.  The speaker is quite competent, with a bassy and full sound.  It was probably made in the 1980's, but I'm not sure.  It's a "Made in Germany" Grundig, which makes me happy.  It's a larger, but still practical size and weight.  I have no criticisms of the radio----but I will say that the plastics are not quite to the standard of earlier radios by Panasonic, Sony or Zenith.  It's more of a shiny, thinner, hard plastic----not a thick, stiff vinyl coated plastic.  Still, it looks great and unless the radio is dropped or something, the thinner plastic is of no consequence.  If I was going away to a dessert island for a long time, and could only bring one of my radios, I dare say I think this would be the one.   It instills confidence unlike any other radio I own.

Comments

[Paul]

The great divide in Seattle's radio-listening habits

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2009772091_seattleradio30m.html

[Mike W]

There are only a few of the radios that get posted here on the blog that make me actively feel jealous, covetous, and the Ocean Boy 820 is one of them. They're not easy to find in the states. Just a good, solid sensible design, AM/FM/SW, what more could you ask for in an analog portable?