Here is a mini review, hope it helps:
First at all, it is a general purpose AM FM MP3 radio with strong and solid reception.
Construction: this small radio is well constructed, all switches and knobs work as they should. I love the analog potentiometer for volume control, far more convenient that those digital steps in Tecsun´s, which jump from zero to loud even in lowest volume settings. The numeric keypad works well and is very handy to introduce frequencies (no backlight here). Maybe, one of the weakest points is the antenna (seems to be a little bit fragile) and the display, a tad spartan (the most important lack is no battery status shown).
The two left knobs are just for decoration (remember that the shape resembles a mini Grundig 700..)
Reception: compared with my similar sizes radios (tecsun pl606, Degen DE17 and Degen DE1127), reception is similar in both AM FM..Of course I´m not a DX chaser, but the hard to get stations (on AM and FM) could be hear on the Meloson easily.
Regarding the AM band, the step is fixed with 10 khz step (on FM you have a 100 hz step)... and the sound, that´s where the Meloson excels...I dare you to find another radio with this form factor (even bigger) with this warm, sweet and great balanced audio..a pleasure! You never get "tired" to listen it!
The MP3 section is just fine..the M7 uses micro sd cards and reproduces the sound again in a impressive way for the size..but the functions and the display information is just basic.
The battery really do an excellent job, given me the ability to play it (with an average of 3/4 hours of listening) about 5/6 days at mid/moderate volume. The radio can be charged with the provider ac adaptor or a usb connector to your pc/laptop.
The M7 is very useful also as a portable speaker for my laptop, to do this the radio has an aux in jack.
The radio could be improved in many aspects (specially the display info and MP3 section) but I think it is a nice radio for everyday use.
Nowadays, is my more often used radio all around the house (along with my beloved Mutant portable internet radio) and I can´t be more pleased..
Sorry for my poor english.
The Degen DE32 combines analog styling with MP3 features
Posted on November 20, 2012 by Thomas
http://swling.com/blog/2012/11/the-degen-de32-combines-analog-styling-with-mp3-features/
Posted by: vimal oberoi | November 20, 2012 at 11:10 PM
Available on Amazon at lower price http://www.amazon.com/Meloson-M7-Rechargeable-Processing-Portable/dp/B009XUBVMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353513489&sr=1-1&keywords=Meloson+M7
Posted by: Tom Welch | November 21, 2012 at 08:01 AM
Well this is just my opinion but I'm not going to buy a $35 radio which has two cosmetic knobs! How hard would it have been to make the knobs adjust treble and bass?
Posted by: Paul | November 21, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Paul, just my two cents, I think the idea was to give the radio the look of a "mini" Satellit 700; there are plenty other radios out there, costing more than this with no separate bass & treble controls,
specially if you think about the size of this set.
I agree that "real" knobs would be great.
Posted by: Pablo | November 21, 2012 at 03:33 PM
Pablo, I understand that. And yes it indeed looks like a Satellit 700. But for a radio which apparently excels in audio quality, one would think they would put those 2 knobs to good use, for even better audio quality. Very strange decision on the part of the designer.
It would be great if somebody opened the radio up to see what (DSP) radio chip and audio amplifier it uses.
Posted by: Paul | November 21, 2012 at 08:42 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140616518472?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Panasonic, made in Indonesia. Shortwave. Retro. Affordable (at least through this seller-----I've seen it going for much more)
Posted by: Angelo | November 22, 2012 at 12:25 AM
SWLing.com’s 2012 Holiday Shortwave and Radio Gift Guide
Posted on November 22, 2012 by Thomas
http://swling.com/blog/2012/11/swling-coms-2012-holiday-shortwave-and-radio-gift-guide/
Posted by: vimal oberoi | November 22, 2012 at 07:26 AM
I've been looking for a small radio/mp3 player for some time... a radio with a SPEAKER. And while this radio has some faults and quirks, it serves its purpose and the price was right.
The M7 has great sound and reception while not great is acceptable. It seems to play all mp3 formats I've tried both CBR and VBR... at least in the 96kbs to 320kbs range. It remembers where you left off on an mp3... but there's not fast forward or reverse when playing a file... only the choice to play the next file or go back to the beginning of the
I don't like the trend to these small lithium batteries. This one is a mere 1000mah compared to a standard AA rechargeable that's between 2000 and 2600mah. The battery that came with the radio was dead but the company sent a new one. Luckily I bought a recharger and 2 extra batteries. There's an preset equalizer but it doesn't seem to work if there's no SD card in the slot and it doesn't remember the setting. While there's a photocell, the display back lite is always on in the dark. The radio seems to lower in volume on occasion... just for a few seconds. While there's a supplied USB cord, the M7 does NOT act as an interface with your PC. To change files on the SD card you must take it out. And there's no display name of what you're playing... only the file number.
Other than that... it does what I want... a decent radio AND it plays podcasts.
Posted by: Robb | May 23, 2013 at 08:40 AM