Herculodge

Rare Good Condition Sony CF950S Cassette Radio Bidding on eBay

 

 

Very tempting is this Sony CF950S cassette radio. Very low bid. (I used different photo than seller's)

Brandon's Grundig Satellit 700

 

Speaking of the Grundig Satellit 700, I snatched one up a few months ago brand-new (no box) on ebay for about $400. It marginally outperforms my Satellit 500 on FM (oh so slightly more selective) and doesn't have as much variance across the AM spectrum in sensitivity. Also adds the additional feature of a true sync detector as well as a clarifier to fine-tune the BFO in SSB mode - this thing does great in crowded AM and SW bands.

Probably the best radio in its size class that you can get - not sure how it compares in performance to the new mini Tecsuns, but I like its larger size.

Owl Recommends the Meloson M7 FM/AM MP3/WMA Radio

If you can't afford a Grundig Satellit 700, here comes a cheap alternative:

Meloson M7 FM/AM (DSP) MP3/WMA radio

There are a few photos in this post at Tecsun's user forum:

http://bbs.tecsun.com.cn/0002.asp?open=455406

Size of the radio: 150/96/30mm

Its media player seems to have good functionality: 100 folder/8 level support, resume play, etc.

Currently it is for sale at Taobao (a Chinese online shopping website) for RMB 178 (around USD30). Hopefully it will soon be available on Ebay as well. The company behind this radio also developed CC Radio Gozo so I believe we can expect good audio from this new M7.

 

King of G-Shocks Is in Town: The 55MM Super Illuminator

 

 

Costing between $99-120 depending on the seller, the Invicta GD100BW-1 Super Illuminator is my favorite looking G-Shock, the King. I may have to get one. 

Another selling point: This G-Shock has a 7-year battery life. 

Bill Prefers the Grundig S450 Over the S350

 

I really struggled when I bought my GS350DL. Even with the discount and getting it for under $70 at Radio Shack it didn't take any longer than a day to decide that the build quality was so poor that it wasn't worth keeping. The tuner switch felt so cheap that I swore I would break it in less than a month.

In contrast, I ended up exchanging it for the S450DLX and with the exception of breaking the telescopic antenna I've been pretty happy with it. The only things that bothered me is that one tuner switch felt as cheap as on the 350, and the coaxial power jack is somewhat sloppy. Other than that, I prefer the 450 over the 350.

As an FYI: Eton let me know the replacement antenna for the 450 is the same one used on the 350.

 

Leo Laporte Says You're Not in Control of Twitter: You Are Twitter's "Product"

KFI's Leo Laporte was talking about how easy it is for a hacker to go into your Twitter account, steal your name, and use you as he likes. 

In this context, he reminded listeners: You are getting Twitter for free but you pay a price: You become Twitter's product, an entity to be sold. Security is not a priority. You are in a lawless land and you are on you're on. The lesson: Don't built your business on Twitter. 

A Good Version of the CCR-SW Is Superior to a Good Version of the Grundig S350DL . . . But

A reader asked which radio is better, the CCrane Radio-SW or the Grundig S350. If you get a good CCR-SW, it will clearly be better than the GS350DL. But that's a big if. There's more variability in the CCR-SW than in the GS350DL. I should know. I've owned four CCR-SWs. My current one is good; however, I fried the battery compartment by putting the wrong AC (cell phone) plug in it. 

The GS350s  (I've owned several and currently own a black one) are cheaply built with flimsy tuning wheels, feel light, but produce outstanding sound with great FM sensitivity and good AM though I should add the AM is prone to interference and background noise. 

A good version of the CCR-SW produces great FM sensitivity and good AM with perhaps less background noise than the GS350. Newer version of the CCR-SW produces better, more mellow sound. 

Common CCR-SW problems include:

1. It just dies or the speaker stops producing sound (happned to me).

2. Horrible AM sensitivity.

3. Harsh speaker sound. 

4. Tuner switch breaks. 

You're chances of getting a good GS350 are better but if you can get a good CCR-SW, get it. It's an overall great perfomer. 

NPR Shop Selling Grundig S350 DL Copper Limited Edition for $79 Plus Shipping

 Thanks, JB:

I saw a listing for a collector edition NPR Copper-colored 350dlx. It's going for 150.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eton-S350DL-NPR-Copper-deluxe-edition-collector-alert-/230829021678?pt=US_Ham_Radio_Receivers&hash=item35be7b59ee

However, if you go to NPR's site, you can get it from them for $79.

http://shop.npr.org/radios/npr-limited-edition-s350dl-am/fm/sw-field-radio/

 

Rare Panasonic RF-1180 Bidding on eBay Today

 

 

You don't see the Panasonic RF-1180 very often. An intriguing offer. 

Fame Is the New World Religion

 

 

 

I heard Martin Amis on NPR this morning talking about his new upcoming novel Lionel Asbo, reviewed today in the NYTimes. 

Amis spoke of his own literary celebrity, not as an evil, but as "a necessary complication," not something to be savored.

In contrast, he said, the world worships fame, erects it as a religion and looks at the condition of not being famous as a "deprivation."

This theme informs a lot of his new novel, about a thug who winns the lottery. I just wish-listed it.