C.Crane EP Radio Due in August of 2010

Ante has apprised us of the CCrane EP, an analog radio due in August of 2010, which shows on a PDF CCrane catalog. I can't drag the PDF photos but we read on page 5:

CCRadio-EP 

AM/FM with Simple, Pure Performance 

Everyone appreciates simplicity with high performance. Thatʼs exactly 

what youʼll find when you listen to your favorite AM and FM radio stations 

using the CCRadio-EP. There is no clock to set, no station presets to pro- 

gram. All you have to do is push the red power button and turn the dial. 

There is a separate button for the dial light. 

Bass and treble can be adjusted for best music or voice rendition. A 

switch for voice and music stations is also provided. 

Using whatʼs known as a “double-conversion” design, the CCRadio-EP 

can reject interference from strong stations that might overload other 

receivers. For very weak stations, AM reception can be fine tuned with 

manual adjustment of our built-in “Twin-Coil Ferrite® Antenna.” 

Other features include: 

• External AM antenna terminals 

• “F” connector for FM 

• Line In for MP3 players or 

other source of external audio 

• Headphone jack 

• Built-in, flip up carry handle 

• 6V AC adapter included or runs on 

four (optional) “D” batteries 

Weight: 4.5 lbs. Size: 11.4" W x 7.3" H x 

2.75" D. Expected in August. 

Item #CEP ..... $ 69.95 

Comments

[Paul]

Pure's internet radio lineup ships to America on July 1st

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/03/pures-stylish-internet-radio-lineup-ships-to-america-on-july-1s/

[Tom Welch]

CCrane is very good at writing clever marketing hype, so I wonder if this radio will actually perform?

[Radio Russ]

Hard to say how it will perform until it actually arrives. I remember all the hype about the Mini CCRadio including the little wooden plaques that Bob Crane supposedly made himself.

I get the feeling from looking at it that this model is aimed at the same people who buy GE SuperRadios. It's got all the ingredients for good AM/FM performance like the external antenna connectors and an adjustable internal twin-coil AM antenna. That's a nice feature for this price range.

It also has separate bass and treble controls like the SuperRadio so they're paying attention to the sound quality. The voice/music switch is unusual too. With good performance and better build quality than the SuperRadio, they could have a real winner here.

[Tom Welch]

Great comment Mr Russ, I hope this radio is a winner...I'm for more solid performing radios and I actually like the handle on this thing and the fact that the radio is analog.

[Radio Russ]

So do I Tom. Many older CCRadios like my Platinum edition had defective LCD displays and flaky digital tuning knobs. All that is avoided with the slide rule type of tuning indicator which is another thing it has in common with the GE Super Radio. The dial light is a nice touch.

Another smart move was the AUX input for MP3 players. They have room for a good sized speaker. If they design it to have at least 2 - 3 watts of power, it could fill a room with good sound.

[dorpmuller]

Any more pics available? That PDF link won't load as usual.

[Shawn Patrick]

CC Crane has a history of hits & misses.

ALso remember this, CC CRane doesn't make anything. They simply give their ideas to the Chinese who produce, develop, and manufacture the radio, then slap a CC Crane label on it and ship it back to the states.

Now this being a simple analog with no frills (like the WRX-911) radio, it should do well in performance.

[Michael Brent]

What do they mean by "manual adjustment of the built-in twin-coil ant"?

[Keith Beesley]

This is or something very close to it is probably already available from Tecsun or Sangean. (do I sound a bit disillusioned?).

[Rickajho]

Take a look at the image on the CCrane site with the handle in the upright position and then take a look at an image of a TecSun R-308 - it's the same handle. (You never reinvent mold castings if you don't need to.)

I'm betting this is a replacement in the TecSun line of the R-308, which is several years old now, with the CC antenna and a couple minor tweaks slapped in.

[Rickajho]

P.S. It's not going to be a "double conversion" design as initially stated. CCrane has already updated that spec on the site, indicating it will be a "single conversion" design.

[Wayne King]

Would it be reasonable to conclude that the decision to use single conversion instead of double conversion is a cost-cutting measure? Doesn’t double conversion aid in image rejection? Were the GE SR radios single or double conversion?

[Dz]

Well go to their website...now the date is pushed to October. Probably just another tease like the Mini CC radio that will never happen. I think i am canceling my pre-order and putting the money toward a good used vintage Zenith portable. I have a 1960 Royal 755 that will stay with anything ever made. All these years of technology and you think they could build something better. Phooey.

[Dz]

Now the date went from October 8th to October 22nd. I canceled my order and bought a TecSun R-308. No DX machine, but it is a nice basic radio and reception is better than most.

[Jaz R.]

I have a Tecsun 308 AM/FM radio and it's a good radio, but not a GE SuperRadio I or II in terms of sensitivity on AM.

Here's my idea: Get one of the Chinese manufacturers, such as Degen (they make the incredible DE 1103) to consider obtaining the GE SR II design, licensing it or whatever, and building that radio again--using a real tuning capacitor.

I have my doubts about the C. Crane EP being a SR II clone, but let's hope that it will be. My guess is that if C. Crane had somehow licensed the SR II design, they would plaster this fact all over their ad for the EP. BTW, I agree that the handle looks like a Tecsun 308 handle.