A Reader Asks, Should I Get the Grundig Satellit 750?

A reader asks if he should buy the $300 Grundig Satellit 750 and Blake gives us his take:

I know it is a hard decision to get the 750 due to some of the mixed reviews. I have only grown fonder of mine since my posted comments here.

 I was going to get the Grundig 350 just to use as an outdoor SW radio that would play loud enough. Since paying extra for the 750 was not a big deal to me I figured it had to be as good or better than the 350 for this purpose. I am very glad I got the 750. There is no other radio on the market now that I would choose over it. 

I also like the audo line in that is on the front of the radio. I plug my iPod in and listen to podcasts like Coast to Coast while in the back yard. Works beatifully. It plays at a room or back yard filling volume without the sense of strain I now notice with my other radios (excluding my Tivoli Model 1). If my 750 were accidentally destroyed I would purchase another one ASAP.

Comments

[Shawn Patrick]

I think the 750 got a lot of negative reviews were people comparing it to radios that cost several times more. Even the Satelitt 700 when factoring in inflation costs 3x as much as the 750.

I suspect the $299 was the upper limit Radio Shack would allow these things to retail for. No way they would ever stock a $500 plus radio anymore.

[twitter.com/ClarenceOddbody]

Thank you Jeff for reposting my question, and Blake for your review and response. I had read your review which is one reason I was excited about getting one. So happens I have a relative in China that wants to give me a gift and has picked out a Net radio for me, http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=3036213014 : I've not done any research on it yet, so don't know how to respond; I can't read Chinese and although the face seems to be in English, the display in the photo is not. I don't know if my wife will allow the Grundig if I get this one. I have been wanting a Net radio too, I listen to Toronto AM740 each night (I'm in Mich) but would be great to tune in OTR over my home network.

[TomWc]

If he wants to get you a chinese radio, tell him you want a tecsun s-2000! It's the same as the sattelite 750. but about twice as much as the internet radio on taobao. http://search.taobao.com/search?q=s-2000&commend=all&ssid=s5-e&search_type=item&atype=&filterFineness=

[Paul]

Sony XDR-S10HDiP HD Clock Radio/Ipod Dock Refurbished, $69 shipped free:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665480062

It says $143 but once you add it to cart, it becomes $69.

Amazon reviews are good:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014T4S86/

[Radio Russ]

I just ordered a Grundig Satellit 750 from Amazon for $300. I plan on selling my Sangean ATS 909 which is in very good to excellent condition if anyone is interested. I have the original box and all accessories that came with it.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Russ, the 750 has great FM, above average AM but its AM doesn't sound as good as my Sangean U3 or even my PR-D5. The build quality is good. The buttons are too small for me, but overall a very good radio. I sold mine. I kind of regret it. Hopefully your new one will have the upgrades on it.

[twitter.com/ClarenceOddbody]

Jeff, you have owned both the PR-D5 and 750. If you could choose only one, based on its performance as an AM DXer (and not price or sound), which would you choose?

[Jeffrey McMahon]

While the PR-D5 seemed to get slightly better AM in general, its lack of a narrow/wide filter limits its use. In the end it can't compare to the big 750. Hard to compare a little white plastic purse to a SW serious radio machine.

[kr]

the grundig 750 is how i originally found jeff's blog, many moons ago. at that time, it was the holy grail, hadn't come out yet, we had that one article on gizmodo, everyone lusted for its style, wanted to use it as a floatation device to swim across the alligator infested river when the b-29 went down. then time passed and finally they came out, and the rest is all history... I never did buy one, but instead bought several thousand dollars worth of other radios. and now, all i have in my house is radios, no furniture, no utilities, just radios piled on radios. thanks a lot jeff for this blog.

[Radio Russ]

KR: You should be glad you never got a Grundig 750. What a piece of junk! Any one of your other radios you bought instead of the 750 will be a much better radio.