Herculodge

Amazon Selling Tecsun PL-660 for $105 Plus $7.50 Shipping

 

 

Blake has apprised us of Tecsun PL-660's debut on Amazon. This Tecsun includes an AC adapter. 

Amazon Selling Tecsun PL-390 DSP Radio for $70 Plus $7.50 Shipping

 

 

 

Ed has apprised us of Tecsun PL-390's debut on Amazon.

Also the Tecsun PL-380 is also featured on Amazon for $70 and free shipping.

Manly Watch Sighting: Invicta I Force Destroyer

 

 

I like the blue version of this 48mm Invicta I Force Destroyer. Very tempting. About $103 with shipping. 

TiVo for Radio Could be a Disappointment

 

 

 

Ed has apprised us of this article that says TiVo for radio may not be a good thing.

Roberts R800 Radio Selling from Germany

 

Ante has sent us this link to a very nice example of a Roberts R800 radio.

Tecsun PL-390 Review

 

 

 

Blake has sent us a link to this Tecsun PL-390 review. This is the portable that interests me most currently but I wouldn't get it unless it had an AC adapter.

Angelo's GE World Monitor Radio Is a Survivor

 

I'm amazed by the shear number of different radio models General Electric released over the years.  The period I'm most familiar with is probably 1965 through 1985 and it's mind boggling how many radios they came out with----pocket transistors, portables, shortwaves, boomboxes----different shapes, sizes and colors.  They even seemed to make multiple models of radios that were at or near the same price point, seemingly serving the same purpose.  Maybe like Coke and Pepsi, GE just decided that the more radios they offered, the more store shelf space they would get and more importantly, the less space their competitors would have.

 

This was an E-Bay find a couple years ago.  It's the GE World Monitor.  It arrived in decent condition, a little dirty----but cleaned up nicely.  I added the linen American flag, which doesn't seem to affect sound, even though it's taped to the speaker grill.  I keep this radio in my office at work and listen to it often.  It sounds fine on AM and FM----haven't really played with the SW bands.  In my office, I also have a large Grundig receiver with shortwave, so at the times when I work here at night and want to listen to some shortwave, I usually turn to the Grundig.

 

I haven't seen this GE too often.  I would say it dates to around 1970-----just based on the looks.  It's typical GE:  Decent performer, respectable build quality and materials (I like the sturdy carry handle.), conservative styling.  GE broke that mold a few times, but this model follows that basic formula.   

 

I like the radio.  It's survived an office move and it's seen other radios come and go.  It's a survivor!   

Doug's Beastly Panasonic RF-2600

I recall last year sometime your post comparing a pair of borrowed radios, a Panasonic RF-2200 and RF-2600, and your conclusion that you preferred the look, the heft, and most of all the reception (mainly FM, as I recall) of the 2600 which struck me at the time as near anathema as the RF-2200 seems have long been the Holy Grail of portable receivers.

I have both a SONY ICF-2010 and Pan RF-2200, so I really didn't NEED another radio of the same ilk. But a RF-2600 appeared on eBay (apparently only minutes before I went there) described as in excellent condition cosmetically and functionally, and with a BIN price of $100. Well, I'd seen a 2600 in fair to good condition go for something like $160 a few days earlier, so I just did not want to leave this fine specimen behind for someone else to pluck. So, relying on the calculus of # of radios you need = number you currently have + 1, I bought it.

The radio arrived yesterday and it is everything the seller described; if anything, even better than I expected. The cosmetics are near flawless, the antenna straight and true, the carry strap perfect, the LED readout bright. I installed 6 D cells, fired it up (on our classical station, 89.9) and was dazzled by the rich, resonant, room-filling sound coming out of the 5" speaker. Damn close to the audio of my GE Superadio II and bigger in every way than that of the 2200 and WAY bigger than the 2010's.

This thing, as you described it in your post, is a TANK: Heavy and substantial and giving off a high-quality vibe at every look and touch.

Now, reception. In a word: Superb. In both sensitivity and selectivity. The equal in every way to the 2200 on FM, ditto AM. As for long range DXing, I don't do it, so I really can't compare the two. Perhaps the 2200 would win this one due to its gyro antenna but, to me, it's irrelevant. I dabble in SW, and did a comparison this morning pitting the 2600 against the SONY 2010 from 5800 kHz through 9500 kHz with a 40-foot longwire attached by alligator clip. The 2600 more than held its own; in fact, it surpassed the 2010 on several stations, often with less background noise and, with its larger speaker, produced a more pleasant listening experience. No presets on the 2600, so the SONY is much easier to hop around on. 

I am not putting down the SONY, not at all. It has always been, and remains, one of my favorite radios. Perhaps it is just the combination of location, the room I use for SW listening, how well the radio adapts to the longwire, etc. A lot of factors at play here. But as a SW receiver, the 2600 shines. I couldn't be more thrilled with it.

For the same 100 bucks one would pay for a Grundig S350DL, I have 3x the radio (functionally and aesthetically) in the 2600. I know most Herculodegers out there are in love with the 350 but I have never been one of them. I sold mine a few weeks back. Reception was mediocre (89.9 never came in clearly and static free and SW reception was ordinary at best), the sound okay to good (though not as full and rich as that of the 2600) and the whole unit always just looked and felt light and cheap from the case to the controls to the overall heft, or lack thereof. Pre-emptive apologies to all those offended.

BTW: Can anyone out there tell me the function of the "SW Cal" dial (lower right hand corner)

From Denmark: The Denver FM Radio

 

Reminding me of the discontinued Sangean PR-D2, the Denver FM Radio has been presented to us by Ante:

Herculodge Readers,

Here is one cool looking radio from Denmark. It's called the Denver FM Radio with USB/SD card slot.

Best regards from snowy and cold Sarajevo!

ante 

 

Dan Gives Thumbs Up to His Tecsun PL-660

 

 

 

Partly because of the original post of Craig's review, Ive owned a PL660 for about a month now. Got it from ANON-CO. I am impressed with its performance on all bands - especially SW, which is why I got it.

I am especially impressed by its audio quality. Very pleasing to listen to for extended periods. I like more bass tone when listening to World Band, like the classic wood cabinet radios. The Grundigs all sounded too tinny to me. Oh, and before I forget...The SYNC works. Period.

I have also owned a G6, G5 and a G3 - all of which have been sold or returned to the point of purchase.

I love my 660, and will probably order a Silver model as well just to play with or have as a backup.