It Appears the Sangean DT400 Is a Worthy Successor to the Sangean DT200

Commenting on the differences between his Sangean DT200V and the updated Sangean DT400, Russ writes:

I have the original DT200V and it has been a really solid radio. I use it with headphones to wander around the house listening to audio books broadcast from my CCrane FM XMTR (transmitter). Other than the TV band being replaced with weather, the other main difference with the DT400 seems to be the auto-shutoff timer has been increased to 90 minutes from the 60 minutes of the DT200V. If my DT200V ever breaks, I'll get the DT400.

Comments

[Ken K.]

Two additional definite improvements on the 400 over the 200 are the illumination of the dial when changing stations(I use mine in bad after lights out, so it comes in very handy), and a battery life indicator.

I don't really find any difference in sound and performance between the two. I've had the original for over 10 years and it's still going strong.

I also have the 200VX, which is the interim radio between the DT200 and the DT400. In features it's similar to the DT 400 (i.e. lighted dial, battery indicator). One problem I've had with that one is that the volume control frequently becomes scratchy. That hasn't happened at all with the other two. Easily enough cured with a drop of deoxit and some fast back and forth with the dial, but it is a minor annoyance. Still, it's my everyday walking radio and I like that one very much too.

All in all, 3 great little radios.

[Carlos]

I agree that the DT400 is deese. Slight problem with noise floor, especially on FM, but this is true of most digital receivers. I wonder - is there really any advantage to a digital receiver except for presets and scanning, etc.? I find I can get much better sound out of my analog receivers, in general, than digital receivers. I reach for my Sony SRF-S84 more than my Sangean DT-400.

[Ken K.]

Oh, one other improvement on the 200VX and the 400 over the original 200: You can toggle up and down on the presets. On the 200 you have to toggle thru all 19 presets to get back to the first one, fairly annoying if you just want to toggle between 2 stations.

This series of Sangeans is to me one of the few instances where "new and improved" actually meant something. Each version had real improvements over the previous one.

Plus, who could not like that cool yellow and black styling on the last one. I think it looks really sharp!

[Tom Welch]

Well, the DT-400W also added a clock!!!

[Mark Roberts]

Yes, that yellow color is intriguing. Reminds me of the Sony Sports Walkman series. Sure beats a choice of black or silver, with gray for variety.

I suspect the DT-400W and DT-200VX are nearly identical on AM and FM with slight differences in control functions. As I mentioned elsewhere, I have a DT-400W on order and will compare it to my DT-200VX once it gets here.

[Mark Roberts]

As promised, I've had the DT-400W for a few days and have written up a comparison. It's definitely capable of being another hotel bathroom AM. As with the DT-200VX, AM reception is more noise resistant than the typical pocket radio, or even bigger travel radios.

http://my.opera.com/markrobt/blog/2010/06/05/radios-i-have-known-yellow-is-the-new-black

[Mike F]

Sound quality on the Sangean DT210 is far and away better than the DT400. I tested both in detail.

Yes... the DT210 does not have the weather band. If you don't care about that, and care more about sound to your ears, than the DT210 is a better choice.

http://www.sangean.com/products/products_main.asp?pid=15&pan=5&um=3