radios

The Amazon reviews are (usually) very helpful when considering product choices. However, I am continually perplexed by the number of "geniuses" who participate. With this diminutive gem, you get digital tuning, tv/am/fm bands, sleep timer, clock radio, pre-set buttons, etc. In other words, for less than 40 bucks, IT'S LOADED!!!

Yet incredibly, a few rocket scientists downgraded it for not having stereo or home-theatre sound quality. That's why you have to check out the reviews individually, rather than go by the average "star" rating.

I needed a radio with great AM sensitivity and portability. I checked out a number of radios and found the GE 7-2887 Superadio III to be the best, but the size was just too big.

The AM sensitivity of this Sony unit is great! I live in a mountainous region of Arizona and use the unit mainly to listen to talk radio. The daytime AM station is almost 100 miles away and most radios have difficulty even picking it up. This one shines! I attribute this mainly to the larger than normal internal ferrite bar antenna and decent circuitry.

The speaker is large enough to listen at volume, without distortion, and with very good tonal quality for a 3" speaker. I did not notice distortion at "normal" listening levels, nor did I expect to have stereo sound in a radio of this price range.

When listening to AM I use rechargeable batteries. They last 60 hours on average.

FM sensitivity is also very good when compared to other units I tested. The digital frequency readout also appears to be accurate, a problem that often plagues cheaper units. Due to my remote location I could not verify the selectivity of the unit (ability to separate strong radio signals that are close to each other in frequency).

The radio seems to pick up weather stations that have at least a moderate signal. Weak signals simply will not be heard. The unit also has problems with selectivity on this band as even a moderate signal (mine is 30 miles away) washes over onto all the weather frequencies. This is not a problem for most folks, but would be a concern if you live mid-point between two transmitting weather stations.

As "over the air" TV reception is not possible in my area this feature could not be evaluated.

The shuttle style tuner, clock, sleep and activation timer is a great plus!

Bottom line... this is the best portable radio you can buy in this price range!

Buy this radio-- but buy the plug along with it!!!
I love these Radios w/TV sound reception!! (great for the office, kitchen, bathroom, BLACKOUTS!!) I've owned others- a Sony, a GE and a hand held portable/transistor - so I've got a lot to compare.
This radio is VERY nicely designed--compact and portable; easy to read and set. Sound quality is VERY clear and it's nice to have the sleep timer and push button tuning (MUCH better than to fish for the stations on a dial).
The color: "putty" is a bit outdated. (Black would have been better), but it'll do.
All and all it's a GREAT little radio!!!
But....here's the disappointing news....There's NO adaptor included!! NO way to plug it in.
WHY??
You'd think those adaptors would be the easiest thing to include. (how many old ones have I thrown out??!)
Anyway, it says that you HAVE to use a 4.5v adaptor (and of course what's left in my junk drawer are a 3, a 9 and a 5.5v).
So now I have to figure out where to pick up this adaptor!
And that's why it only received 4 stars!
Also--I don't remember being prompted by Amazon to make this additonal purchase when I added this item to my shopping cart. (...Hint to Amazon...)

Anyway, just be sure to purchase the adaptor when you buy this radio and you'll be a happy camper (these TV/radios are GREAT for camping, too...)