4 Radios I'd Really Like to Have in 2010

With my house bursting at the seams with all sorts of vintage and modern radios, I clearly don't need anymore, but incurably radiophile that I am, I want four, three of which haven't yet been released and one that seems a tad overpriced. Here are the 4 I want and why:I don't need any radios

One. Sangean Fatbox. Probably better than my Sangean U3 because of the rotating antenna but at close to $240 it seems overpriced. Make it around $160 and I'm interested. 

Two. Grundig S450DLX. Seems to be a marriage of the Grundig S350DL and the Redsun RP-2100 (sold as the CCrane CSW). With bigger speaker that hopefully sounds like the S350DL and presets, unlike the S350, and at a price of $99, this is a must have.  I will get one for sure. Release date is late September. 

Three. Tivoli Model 10. Looks like my PAL but has presets. Look at that tiny footprint. I'm a bit worried about its AM and will probably wait for reviews before I fork out $199 for this new Tivoli offering. 

Four. Sangean WR-5. Looks like a better version of my beloved WR-2 with telescopic FM antenna, dual speakers and iPod cradle. At the $150 ballpark, price doesn't seem bad at all. 

Comments

[Gary]

As far as I can determine, the S450DLX, RP2100 and CCRadio-SW all have 5" speakers.

[jeffrey McMahon]

Gary, you're probably right. I find the speaker sound on the S350 to be far superior to the RP-2100s so of course I hope the S450 sounds like the Grundig.

[Radio-Timetraveller]

What, no Sangean ATS-909X/XR?

I would love to see this radio in action, but the tentative price is keeping me away ($259). The last radio I paid multi-hundreds for was the Eton E1. Though I love it for what it is, I'm not sure I'm ever going to spend that much for a portable again - those days are over for me. The Q/C alone makes me nervous. Even $259 is too much for the 909, and I fear it will be a re-box of the old 909 anyway.

If I spent multi-hundreds again, I'm going big time for a SDR radio like a Perseus or WinRadio.

I agree, the Grundig S450DLX looks pretty decent for $99.

Radio-Timetraveller (Bill)

[jeffrey McMahon]

My guess is that the S450 will deliver better AM/FM than the 909 at 35% the cost.

[Gary]

Hopefully Radio Shack will carry the S450DLX, and will have it on sale once in a while for $60 (equivalent to the 40% off sales they've had on Grundig radios in the past).

[Keith]

...or even less for the "refurbs".

[Vimal Oberoi]

CCRadio-EP promises AM/FM with Simple, Pure Performance,@ $69.95,& Due 10/22/10.It seems to be worth waiting for.

[Tom Welch]

The days of spending major bucks on a world band radio are over here in North America, when you consider most major international broadcasters no longer beam their shortwave signal to the USA and Canada.

OTOH, I can see myself buying a Sangean WR-5 after reading some positive reviews.

[carmen]

BBC "no longer beams" to NA but has a perfect signal 15400/17640/17830 midday, 5875/6195/9410 evening, and 198/3255/6005 late night, just for starters.

that said, 909XR should be delayed to include wifi, who would want to pay 15x what YachtBoy 4000's go for on craigslist?

[Tom Welch]

I once was a shortwave radio geek, having been interviewed "live" on NHK (Radio Japan), won the contest "Why I Love Swiss Radio International", and having my letters and reviews read by major Europeon broadcasters and on Glenn Hauser's World of Radio only to now realize that internet radio is the future.

[Jerry]

It will be interesting to see how the S450DLX compares to the S350DL. I might have to upgrade. And I also want to see how the CCRadio-EP compares to the GE Superadio III.

With all of the new "latest and greatest" technology available these days, can you believe all of us are getting so excited by a simple AM radio?? (LOL)

[Angelo]

I'm on the waiting list, with an advance order for the CCRadio-EP.
That should arrive in October sometime----a 2010 radio wish for me.

[Keith Beesley]

Keith, would you mind including your last initial in your signature? Nothing personal, but with two of us here, it gets confusing...

[db]

Grove radio have this listing on the Sangean ats-909X (has a good photo too):

http://www.grove-ent.com/909x.html

While youre there have look at the new WinRadio SDR:

http://www.grove-ent.com/excalibur.html

[Angelo]

Tom: I have an internet radio and I like it----though it hasn't replaced my other radios or shortwave entirely. Also, until internet radios are standard equipment in every new car, the "future" won't be here. A huge chunk of radio ad revenue is derived from targeting motorists.