Val's Review of the Sony ICF-801 2 bands AM/FM radio

From the box Sony ICF-801 is heavier than similar size radios. It has push on/off button on the top, light switch, convenient handle and 360 degree rotated antenna. The scale frequency lights switch working just for few seconds and automatically turn off. The receiver is working from 3C DC batteries or AC power. Headphone plug is mono.          

Tuning knob is smooth and precise on the scale of frequency. Full volume of speaker does easy fill up room without distortion of sound. Sony ICF-801 made in Japan with typical Japanese quality. It makes me enjoy this radio from first look.

This radio made especially for those consumers who appreciate sound quality. From same class of radio receivers the Sony ICF-801 is probably one of the best for the sound fidelity. It has truly amazing sound with details of instruments and purity reception.

However receiver designed for Japanese market and FM scale is wider than in North America. This makes radio less selective on FM but it is still very sensitive receiver and only with small extensions of telescopic antenna Sony ICF-801 pickup majority FM stations where I live.

 AM reception is average or it is better than average. Mostly AM reception with great null and some signals has FM quality or at list fill like FM.

Since I have this radio I forgot my other favorites, and Sony ICF-801 is always on my table or kitchen or somewhere else where I would like to enjoy of quality of sound.

Val  

Related articles

Bill Finds His Sony ICF-F10 to be His Perfect Office Radio

Val Remains Excited About the Current Radio Market

Reader Calls the $13 Sony ICF-F10 the Best Value in Radios Right Now

What's Better, the Sony ICF-F10 or the Sony ICF-38?

What Is the FM Capture Effect?

The State of Radios, 2013

Comments

[StarHalo]

I've been looking forward to some user comments on this unique big-speakered Sony, thanks Val for another buttery-smooth review. The question now is, based on sound quality, is it worth the extra money over the Meloson M7, or is the more-expensive CC Gozo the better deal?

[val]

StarHalo
CC Gozo is new technology receiver, made for North America and engineers who designed Gozo provably was aware about success of Boston Acoustic , Sungean and Tivoli. You provable can expect something similar in portable package.
Sony ICF-801 is different story. It is definitely doesn’t have pumps from speaker like Boston or Tivoli. It is work many hours from butteries and it is more classic radio from 80 with quality of time when every Japanese receiver or boom box was unique.
I don’t think Gozo from 6 AA batteries will work hundred hours pumping powerful speaker. Beside that I thing Gozo is interesting product to buy.
Val

[Sam]

Words cannot describe the beauty of this radio, it is that stunning! and I am in love with the way it sounds, very crisp highs and balance mids, although a bit lacking in the lows. I listen to it in the quiet of the night and it is soothing to my ears. It has become my favorite radio among the 20 something sony radios that I own. A must-have for any radio lover.

[StarHalo]

Thanks for the response Val. None of the radios I listed are really comparable once you take price into consideration anyway; the ~$30 Meloson vs the ~$60 Sony vs the ~$90 CCrane. That being said, I wonder if the Sony is worth the extra dough over the half-price Meloson..

[val]

StarHalo
I had few digital DSP receivers. I have Grundig G4000A. It is great receiver sensitive and selective radio even with good sound for size. But all of them starting collect dust when some new radio with better sound shows up on my table. Every receiver is unique. Before to buy I do research and I learn about radio. For example Sony ICF-801 was designed for perfect sound. This thing is attract me to buy this radio because I spent hours and hours to listen music, news, talk. Sony ICR-S71 was made for those who like old tube radio sound. I bought it too, and from my MW radio it is my favorite. This is again matter of sound. I preferred listen this radio then Sony ex5 or Supper radio. Other great not expensive radio is Sony ICF-F10 in US it is just few $ and it made for North America. I will never afraid to loose few $ than something more expensive. My preference is big D or C butteries for long working live. Every time I buy something new I learn about myself, that is what I want or what is suiting my need. That is probably why those people who already have many radios still buying again and again something new.
Val

[Sam]

I would like to add that this radio is made by Towada Audio for Sony in the Akita prefecture, the same facility that makes the venerable ICF-SW7600GR.
This is an ideal radio for bedside listening because of its balanced sound (not tiring) and the light on it (not too bright) and the way it slowly fades away into the darkness of the night. It comes with a mono earphone and AC cord (100V 50/60 Hz), but I am not sure if I can use it in the USA where the AC is 110V 60 Hz. Does anyone know?

[Doug Rennie]

A nice radio but for the $70-plus on Amazon, one can pick up a VG or better GE SR II or III (GE, not RCA version) for about the same price and get superior sensitivity and selectivity along with far richer and more robust audio. On the II, you can see that monster 5" main speaker through the grille. For an analog AM/FM, nothing in this price range can match this classic.

Doug

[herculodge]

Doug, what is a VG radio?

Also, Val's criticism of FM selectivity suggests the Sony might not grab FM stations easily. That would bug me.

[doug Rennie]

VGA is just an abbreviation for Very Good, re condition. FM on both my SRs is excellent. And the audio nonpareil for a portable. Or, for that matter, most table radios.

Doug

[StarHalo]

Good point about the SuperRadio Doug; the more I read about the Sony, the more it appears that it doesn't really take advantage of its form factor, of the case or the speaker. A large-cell portable should have quite a bit of bass and reception, especially at the $60+ price point, and the GE certainly provides on both counts.

So then is the GE worth $20 more than the Meloson?

[Carey]

I have to agree with Val on all fronts. My sister picked this gem up in Japan and the sound is wonderful. The selectivity leaves a bit to be desired as some louder stations encroach, but it is my favorite portable to listen to. My Sangean WR-ll, which I thought was always quite good, sounds way to bassy and muffled next to this.

[Mark]

Have this model icf-801 and love it.....just like the portables in the 70s that sounded good and had good reception.

[M Wouters]

Hacker soverign 2 ,or Grundig and or sony icfs?