am-fm

I purchased this radio after buying and using a Grundig G-2000A for about a year. The Sangean is a little larger, with perhaps a three inch speaker versus a two inch speaker for the Grundig. The Grundig has only moderately good sound quality for AM and FM. This Sangean has surprisingly good sound quality on AM and FM, particularly for a radio this size. I put it in our kitchen, and when someone is down there playing it I noticed that I can hear it upstairs and the sound is really like a much bigger radio with a larger speaker. The sound is clear and has very good tonal quality and richness. This Sangean has settings for both music and voice programs. Tuning and reception are also good. The Grundig is kind of a battery hog, that will run down in around three weeks with moderate use. The Sangean has better battery life with similar use, although I think using the shortwave bands seems to be a greater drain on the batteries of both radios. If you haven't used a shortwave radio before be prepared for a booming and fading pattern of the sound. Both radios have this quality, and it is a characteristic of shortwave transmission. You are likely to find that this will detract from your listening satisfaction with some programs, but again, I would have to give the nod to the Sangean for overall quality on the shortwave tuning and sound. With either radio you certainly can listen to some stations you have never heard on AM and FM. I was listening to a station in Florida one night and then when I changed channels some, I was surprised to find that a Cuban station was coming in pretty clearly. The Sangean also has a small light that changes color to help you determine the strength of radio signals as you adjust the tuning knob to find stations. This Sangean is quite a nice radio, and I think most radio fans will like it.

I like my Sangean ATS-505P very much. For such a small radio it packs alot of features in its price range. It has very good frequency reception in all bands; good speaker quality; easy to use controls and buttons and excellent battery life.

You do need to know when and where to use the radio in shortwave mode(this is not the radio's fault). Shortwave does have idiosyncrasies that are not found in AM and FM.

If you are really in to shortwave radio, this radio probably isn't for you. If you are just trying shortwave radio for fun, you won't be disappointed in this model.

- a nice radio and top rated by Radio Netherland

- here are my nitpicks:

1. LCD backlight only stays on for 7 seconds

2. 1KHz tuning increment setting is inconvenient (you have to push in and turn the rotary knob first, and it only lasts for one tuning session)

3. too few SW memory settings

4. the back stand is useless unless you use the radio while sitting at a desk - a much better approach is to take an 8x10 sheet of plexiglass, heat and bend to make a stand so the radio sits more upright for use...

5. the build feels 'flimsy' as the radio doesn't have a solid feel

6. there is a discernable (1-second) delay when entering digits in the direct-access keypad - you'll need to get used to the delay, and the keys require more pressure than you'd expect for a keypad..

7. battery life is not great