Herculodge

Radio Eye Candy: Panasonic RF-5410

 

Craig has apprised us of this Panasonic RF-5410 cassette radio. You'll have to see it to believe it. 

Beater Watches for Swimming on Sale for a Day

KR asked about watches for the swimming pool. Here's a couple on sale: The Swiss Legend Commander for $78 with free shipping and the Helix Okto in navy blue for $78 plus shipping. These are one-day sales. Both appear to have stop watch functions on the chrono. 

 

 

 

Woolman Penn's Comparison of the Grundig Transistor 865 and the Sony TFM-8000

 

With Radio Peking long gone and since Radio Moscow has been dismantled, The Voice of Korea, that is North Korea, has become our favorite station for traditional style Imperialist bashing and Communist rhetoric all presented with a “modern interpretation of Marxism.” After all, isn't this why we listen to shortwave?

The objective word here is listening. First and foremost we listen to shortwave and the Grundig Transistor 865 wins hands down versus, for instance, the often touted Sony TFM-8000W. At first glance the TFM-8000W feels a bit more selective. This is due to its excellent tuning mechanism and inclusion of a simple “fine tuning” control. The Grundig's tuning mechanism is a bit more coarse and balky reminiscent of a Zenith TO. The Grundig requires a deft hand to tune, more rocking back and forth. Once tuned though it really locks onto stations, better than any of the TOs in our experience.

The Grundig's audio superiority becomes apparent once one is actually listening to program content. Its rich full audio provides headphone style clarity but with a room filling volume that is felt in addition to being heard. The audio is reminiscent of listening to a local FM station on a good stereo. Speech is very intelligible and when listening to music you will hear mid-range and bass tones that are simply dropped and ignored by the Sony. The Grundig has a push/pull switch on its lower right front panel that enables/disables a separate tweeter.

If your objective is to tune up and down the bands simply trying to identify as many stations as possible then you may appreciate the Sony's vernier tuning mechanism. If you halt tuning to listen to and interpret the speech and music then the Grundig is the only way to go. It entertains. 

The poor audio quality of current production tiny hand held shortwave radios must be partially responsible for shortwave's apparent death spiral. High quality audio is being transmitted. It's your choice now as there are currently available on Ebay examples of both the Grundig Transistor 865 and the more common Sony TFM-8000W .

 

Invicta Sea Hunter for $229 and Free Shipping One Day Only

 

The biggest Invicta ever made with its 60mm bezel and usually selling between $400-500, this Invicta Sea Hunter is a one-day sale for $229 and free shipping. 

Sangean Coming Out with a New Sangean SR=35 Pocket Radio

 

Sangean's new SR-35 appears to be an analog pocket radio. Thanks, Ante.

Carlos Opens His New Tecsun PL-390 to Find It's Now So New After All

 

Here's Carlos unpacking the PL-390:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G67yWW3q-x8

My Tecsun PL-390 arrived from Kaito Electronics USA on Thursday. It had obviously been opened before. I have heard other bad news from people ordering radios from Kaito Electronics USA (via Amazon). I do not mean to slander the Kaito company, but the best bet yet may be to order via eBay's excellent seller Anon-Co, in the name of QC.

 

FM Hiss Alert on the PL-660: Ron's Comparison of the Tecsun PL-660 and the PL-600

I just posted my review of the PL-660/comparison to the PL-600 here:http://www.thehobbylife.net/

 

Blake Pits His Tecsun PL-606 Against His Grundig G6

Got my Tecsun 606 today. Really nice for the price. Clearly not as sensitive as the 390 on the wip antenna on SW. Got over 60% more SW stations on the 390 using ETM. However when plugging in the wire antenna into the 606 the # of SW stations using ETM evened out. So which will be the prefered pocket radio? The 606 or the Grundig G6? I have not decided yet but the G6 clearly has a tough fight on its hands. Here is the first battle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpQkl9CzMb8&feature=channel_video_title

 

Angelo's Zenith Table Radio

I just received a Zenith table radio----I'm guessing from the early 1970s.  It joins my similar era Panasonic table radio.  I absolutely love the sound of the Panny.  It might be the best audio I've heard in this size range.  I believe it's more pleasing for talk radio than my C Crane EP and that's saying a lot as far as I'm concerned.  I like the Panasonic so much, I just won another auction for a similar one---looks like my model but also has weather band.

 

Regarding the Zenith, it also sounds good.  In my opinion, the audio quality isn't on par with the Panny, but it has good power and the tone control does its job (though I strongly prefer separate bass and treble controls).  "Audio quality" is a funny thing----a subjective topic.  The Zenith is nice and clear, plenty loud enough too.  To my ears, the Panasonic is "crisper" and smoother.  It is possible someone else would say the Panasonic sounds "tinny" and the Zenith delivers more boom for the buck.  I listen to a lot of talk radio and for that purpose, I prefer the Panny.

 

On style:  Panasonic and Sony table radios of this era, in this size, are basically decluttered wood boxes, all function and not much form.  Meanwhile, the American brands, Zenith and RCA, went a different route.  I've seen plenty of these table radios that appear to be mini versions of the large console stereos of the era.  I also have an RCA on the way and I can't wait to see it.  The styling on the RCAs and Zeniths mimmicks those consoles in several ways---including the fact that they are offered in different wood tones----maple, walnut, fruit wood---probably others too.  The big consoles, which were actually pieces of living room furniture back in the day, also offered these wood tones to match buyers' decor.  All of this reminds me of American vs. Japanese cars:  The Japanese models used to be function over form---appliances that did not offer jazz, but delivered reliability and worked as they should.  The American models put a big emphasis on styling---fancy wheels, opera windows, plush interiors and lots of chrome.  This analogy works well because I see that comparison in my Panasonic and Zenith table radios.  Depending on the objectives of your radio collection, I definitely recommend having a look at these offerings on E-Bay.  They tend to go for far less than shortwave or field radios from these makers and electronically, they're very good from what I can tell.

 

Angelo      

Amazon Selling the Sangean PR-D5 for $35 Plus $13 Shipping

 

Carlos has apprised us of this price aberration for the Sangean PR-D5.