I just received my $88 Sangean Sonido today and expect to write a longer review over the next few weeks. But here are some first impressions as I compare it to my $75 Sangean PR-D5.
The speaker sound on the Sonido is much better, more clarity, depth, and richness. It's very similar to my Sangean WR-2. Sadly, the PR-D5 dual speakers sound a bit muffled. The PR-D5 is best for close listening with the volume on low.
The Sonido's FM seems a little better. I received less background noise on the weak 89.3 KPCC.
However, 640 comes in better on the PR-D5. My initial impressions are that the PR-D5 gets markedly better AM with its 8-inch ferrite than the Sonido's 6.5-inch ferrite. So it's a mixed bag. For now, the Sonido is going in the guest bathroom and the PR-D5 will remain in the kitchen, "supplemented" by my Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo, which I'm using strictly as an FM tuner for kitchen-filling sound. You need this loud sound when you're doing the dishes.
Update #1: Subsequent AM testing on the Sonido leaves me less than impressed. It's mediocre, like my Tivoli Songbook. FM continues to impress. But I think the question any reader might have is this: Should I get the Sonido or the PR-D5? For me, since neither radio is being used for long-range, room-filling listening and since the PR-D5 offers FM that is about 95% of the Sonido's and AM that is vastly greater, I give a strong nod to the PR-D5.
I'm glad to hear that the Sonido sounds more like the WR-2 than like the PR-D5. I found the latter to have a very boomy upper bass and severely muffled treble, which made intelligibility with voices on AM quite poor. I wish Sangean would put separate bass and treble tone controls on the Sonido and PR-D5 as they did with the WR-2.
Posted by: Gary | November 06, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Good info, Jeff. I always wondered about that Sonido. Let us know how you feel about tuning it without a tuning knob when you write the full review.
Posted by: Mike W | November 06, 2009 at 05:34 PM
So far the lack of a tuning knob doesn't compromise my enjoyment of the radio.
I wish they'd match the Sonido speaker with the PR-D5's AM. Is this going to be the case with the PR-D9? We'll see.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | November 06, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Hmhmhm...Those radios seem made for the Hello Kitty stores...
Posted by: Huesby | November 06, 2009 at 10:39 PM
They match white bathroom and baby room but don't do well in the Man Points category.
Posted by: Jeffrey McMahon | November 07, 2009 at 08:34 AM