NIB Panasonic RF-9000 Sure to Bid Over $8,800 on eBay

Bidding is climbing to $9,000 as the auction comes to its final hour on this Panasonic RF-9000 New in Box.

Related articles

Panasonic RF-877 to the Rescue

Panasonic RF-888 to the Rescue

Panasonic RF-4900/DR49 Restoration Updated

Nathan's Video Reviews of the Panasonic RF-562 and Sangean DT-210

Comments

[Brandon]

$13k. Wow.

[Chris in Michigan]

$13,433 for a radio?? That was more that my new 1988 Pontiac Grand AM!! If I had that kind of money to blow on a radio I think it would be the ICOM IC-R9500!!!

[Brandon]

Getting sidetracked here, my first car was an 88 Grand Am (and in Michigan too) - maroon with a sunroof and tinted rear windows - still to this day my favorite vehicle I ever owned. 206,000 miles on it before a deer totaled it.

[StarHalo]

For the same price, a modestly used late-model Toyota Camry also has a radio in it..

[Michael Brent]

Yeah 13K for a radio seems a bit steep doesn't it.
So I have to ask: even though this is the "holy grail" of radios, yada, yada, does it in fact work any better than any of the newer crop of high end radios available out now? You know, the ones that dont cost more than $500.00 which in my mind is still alot of money for a radio.
Sensitivity, selectivity,that kind of thing?

[Michael Brent]

I do see it has lots of buttons and knobs and Lord I loves me some buttons and knobs.

[Paul]

Grundig G8 Traveler II Digital AM/FM/Shortwave Radio with Alarm Clock, Auto Tuning Storage (ATS), Auto/Manual Tuning, Sleep Timer, Headphones and Carry Case - $30 shipped free.

http://www.dailysteals.com/#deals/16744

[4nradio]

When it comes to collectible value (or perceived collectible value and/or investment), "reasonable" is not in the vocabulary. Who knows...the high bidder may want it for sentimental reasons. Antique car enthusiasts overpay all the time if they want the vehicle badly enough. If the new owner bought it strictly as an investment, they will likely never open the box.

To add to the off-topic: my own Grand Am was a 1975 model, in burgundy metallic paint with factory mags, burgundy crushed-velour bucket seats, & console. The 455ci engine and cheap gas made the car a perfect tire-shredder.

[Michael Brent]

There is a 57 Chevy Bel Air wagon near me that is selling for $75,000.00

[Angelo]

The '75 Grand Am was nice. Wasn't there also a limited edition of the mid-70sGrand Am----white with red and yellow pinstripes? I remember seeing those. I didn't get my license until 1979. My first car was a dark blue metallic Chevy Monza 2+2 with a powder blue interior and sunroof. I had that car almost 10 years and loved it. A few years ago, I saw another one on E-Bay----same dark blue, same light blue upholstery---and this one had air conditioning and a V8, which mine didn't. I bought it, had it trucked to my house----and still own it. Had it repainted (same blue metallic) and had a power sunroof added! All of that---purchase, repaint, sunroof, body work----all of it cost me about half of what this Panasonic sold for. And oh yeah----there's an after market Panasonic AM-FM with cassette in my "new" Monza! And I still have the original radio from my old Monza----but for now at least, am keeping that one on a shelf.

[darobin]

The RF-9000 is among radios that can arguably be considered ultimate holy grails. The fact that this was NIB, made a huge difference. As for performance, my observations using my own RF-9000 obtained several years ago are these:

The radio is extremely sensitive, on a comparative level with the SONY 320/330Ks. However, the 9000 does suffer from sound quirks/artifacts from the PLL circuit. Remember, these were made in the early days of PLL.

As for quality, there is little to say -- this is like the Lamborghini of radios. In terms of quality components on the front panel, performance on FM -- everything just oozes quality. The FM sound is unbelievable.

The only other radios that fit in the Holy Grail category are the NRD-301A/302 series, and other high end communications receivers. The 9000 is at the top of the HG list when it comes to mega-portables from decades ago, followed by the 330K (especially the ones with the LCD clocks rather than drum dial clocks).

This NIB 9000 was very likely the ONLY one of its kind in the world. In observing EBay and other lists over the years, I have never seen one of these, though my own did arrive with both original boxes.

Hope this info helps . . .

[4nradio]

I guess the winning bid of $13,433 was too good to be true. The seller relisted the radio:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261358532445

This relist was a $12,000 "Buy It Now", and it sold at that price.

[Angelo]

For that price----depending on where the buyer is located----do you really trust the box to a shipper, or do you pick it up in person? I mean, twelve thousand bucks----would it not be worth driving a few hours or even a round trip $500.00 air fare to Pittsburgh to get this thing in person?

[Al]

I have one mint for sale. I am original owner and unit has 10 hours on it.

AL

[Ed S.]

AL, list it on eBay, everyone here is tapped out from buying expensive watches.