John Tutolo writes:
Check out the new offering from Radio Shack. They are beginning to gain my respect back. It is a re-badged version of the improved Sangean ATS-505..aka ATS-505P...Cat#20-629.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=21589936
I compared it to my Sony 7600GR. It is a winner! FM and MW reception is awesome. On SW, the sensitivity is remarkably similar to the Sony but on weaker signals the audio gets a little muddy, however headphones help here. I think it is a very well made radio and looks beautiful in black (I personally don't prefer the silver version of any radio). Considering that it has a tuning knob, a nice large display (although a bit lacking in info), a beautiful green led backlight, nice large buttons,and good clean audio, I prefer it over my Sony. It is quite bigger than the Sony and is similar in size to the Grundig YB 400. I think it is a bargain for $80.
It would have been so cool if they brought back the "Realistic" name for this radio. I had a Sangean ATS-505 a few years ago----liked it well enough, but sold it and never looked back once I had the Sony 7600-----which I still believe is the best of these large paperback book sized radios.
Posted by: Angelo | July 23, 2013 at 01:05 PM
Does this mean that Sangean will be releasing a new version of the ATS 505?
Posted by: Tim | July 23, 2013 at 02:18 PM
Looks like this IS the new version of ATS-505 or 505P, the differences being the color and price.
Posted by: Sam | July 23, 2013 at 03:09 PM
The 505P is simply the old 505 radio plus an AC adapter and a reel antenna. I was hoping we might be seeing a new version - perhaps a 505X, but apparently not. Just another Radio Shack version with all things the same except the name and color. But I'd be happy to see Sangean offer a revamped 505.
Posted by: Tim | July 23, 2013 at 04:09 PM
Radio Shack had for many years been selling the 505 as a Sangean, in fact, it's still on their website at $149
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4209386
Is Radio Shack in competition with themselves now selling the same radio at two different prices?
Posted by: Shawn | July 23, 2013 at 07:47 PM
Shawn: I was wondering how they were bringing in the new one for less money than used 505s bring on E-Bay, including the one I sold----and I was already the second owner of that one, it was a few years old! Is black plastic half price of silver plastic????!!!!
Posted by: Angelo | July 24, 2013 at 04:26 AM
I would bet the family farm that you will not see a new version of the ATS-505 from Sangean anytime soon.
Posted by: Tom Welch | July 24, 2013 at 06:43 AM
I lucked into a Radio Shack DX-402 for $50 back in 2000, on closeout. This was their version then of the 505. One of my best buys ever. Nice crisp audio and decent SW performance off the whip. Great FM. Note that if you press in the tuning knob you have finer steps on SW and FM. On FM this can make all the difference when trying to tune in a distant station surrounded by strong locals. I just wish it would stay in fine mode regardless of further button presses. It reverts to coarse tuning if you use the up/down buttons or enter a frequency. Also I wish the lamp could be selected to stay on. These are minor complaints though. Even at $80 this is a fine portable. I am guilty of having a "thing" for silver radios.
Posted by: Chuck E | July 24, 2013 at 09:55 AM
Some glowing reviews on radioreference.
http://forums.radioreference.com/hf-mw-lw-equipment/267831-radioshack-synthesized-world-receiver-reviews.html
Posted by: Sam | July 24, 2013 at 10:02 AM
And another one here:
http://www.thebdr.net/articles/ops/test/TLP-RS20-629.pdf
Posted by: Sam | July 24, 2013 at 02:45 PM
That was a very favorable review. It's also a reminder that Sangean tends to make substantial upgrades to their radios without making it at all evident from their outward appearances. In other words, the greatly improved 505 is not given a altered name, such as 505 Mk II, or whatever. The same has been true for the older 909, of which there were three versions - all them called simply 909.
Posted by: Tim | July 24, 2013 at 09:03 PM
Great reviews indeed----but wow, his ex-girlfriend was quite the firecracker.
Posted by: Angelo | July 25, 2013 at 03:45 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Panasonic-SG453-Portable-Phonograph-Record-Player-AM-Radio-/221258821560
Always amazes me that no matter how many times the different versions of this product are ignored on E-Bay----another seller finds one and think they've struck gold. Not rare. Not one of Panasonic's better efforts either----jack of all trades and master of none.
Posted by: Angelo | July 25, 2013 at 09:07 AM
Jay Allen does
"Panasonic RF-4900 Restoration & Evaluation"
http://radiojayallen.com/panasonic-rf-4900-restoration/
Posted by: Vimal Oberoi | July 26, 2013 at 08:22 AM
Over the years, Sangean upgrades internal electronics probably b/c the original parts are nolonger available, a huge problem the longer a radio is on the market.
Posted by: Tom Welch | July 26, 2013 at 05:03 PM