radiojayallen

Sony ICF-EX5MKII

radiojayallen — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:37:39 +0000

The Sony ICF-EX5MKII is a totally unique radio in several ways. Available only in Japan or from Amazon partners it has limited exposure here in the US. It also features Shortwave that will work only in Japan as it is limited to six specific SW frequencies of a commercial Japanese domestic shortwave service. Yet it also features a very unique synchronous detection circuit that sets it aport from every other AM portable I have compared it against, which has placed among the best AM portables I have ever tested. In fact I have also updated my AM Mega Radio Shootout to include it as well as some other new additions. If you love AM portables the EX5 is hard to resist.

Read the Sony EX5MKII review:

Read The Updated AM Mega radio Shootout:

Senta 9 & Senta 40 Earphones From C.Crane

radiojayallen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:29:13 +0000

Senta 40

Senta 9

These two new earphones from C.Crane are both excellent values: The Senta 40′s are folding, over-the-ear headphones while the Senta 9′s are sound-isolating in-the-ear buds…each presents sound as well or better than other models I’ve tried in similar price ranges…in fact, the 9′s beat out a pricey $300 pair of isolating buds from an audiphile name brand. Both will let you really get into your music…which you prefer depends on how you plan to use them. Both are recommended.

Read the Senta 9/Senta 40 Earphone Review

Tecsun R-308 AM/FM Portable

radiojayallen — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:37:29 +0000

Tecsun R-308 AM/FM Portable Radio

Available since 2008 I have been remiss by not reviewing this AM/FM all-analog portable earlier. No sooner had I posted my review of the Sony ICF-38 than readers began asking me how it compares with the R-308 so I will cover that in this review as well.

The R-308 is a handsome, sturdy workhorse and for under $40 it’s a pretty good deal.

Read the Tecsun R-308 Review

Jay Allen

Two Inexpensive AM/FM Portables; Sony ICF-38 – Tecsun CR-1100

radiojayallen — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:45:30 +0000

Want to see what $25 can buy in today’s portable radio market? How about $50? For the price of a tank of gas (or a half a tank) Sony and Tecsun both offer credible performers…the Sony an inexpensive all analog deisgn, the Tecsun a DSP-based portable with all the latest bells and whistles. In this review we’ll compare them to each other and also to the more expensive CC Radio-EP to see what a little more money buys. All are good values but they are very different.

Read The Sony ICF-38/Tecsun CR-1100 Review

Quantum Loop & KIWA AM Loop Compared

radiojayallen — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:03:29 +0000

It has been several years since I initially reviewed the Quantum Loop V2.0. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to use several other antennas and additionally I’ve been loaned a KIWA MW Loop which is highly regarded but unfortunately no longer being manufactured. So how do these loops compare? Is a used KIWA worth more than double the price of a new Quantum Loop? I’ve wondered about that for a long time…now I finally know the answer. Read all about it here:
http://radiojayallen.com/quantum-loop-v2-0-update-kiwa-mw-loop-comparison/

Jay Allen

ATS-909x Link Corrected

radiojayallen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:53:28 +0000

http://radiojayallen.com/sangean-ats-909x-review-updated/

I apologize that the link I just sent out appears to not work…this one should do it.

Jay

Sangean ATS-909X Review Updated

radiojayallen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:39:14 +0000

I just finished comparing several samples of this new radio from the most recent production alongside one of the original samples I tested last year when they first came out. There has been one change and I’ve discovered an interesting characteristic which may explain why people have such different reactions to the sensitivity of this radio.

Read the Updated Sangean ATS-909X Review

Jay Allen

Readers Questions Updated On Radiojayallen.com

radiojayallen — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:06:27 +0000

New questions and answers have been posted at:

http://wp.me/P1wpLu-dG

I answer all emails personally but questions of general interest are posted here. If you have a question or comment please email me at:

radiojayallen@gmail.com

Jay

UPDATED Review – CC Radio-SW/Redsun RP-2100

radiojayallen — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:22:57 +0000

It has been several years since I wrote the original Redsun review and I have since received an updated Redsun model with English labelling and the C.Crane CC Radio-SW version. These are a fantastic value among the portable world band radios currently available…if you’re looking for excellent audio and great reception in a lunchbox-sized radio this is one you should look at.

Read the CC Radio-SW/Redsun RP-2100 Review

Jay Allen

Grundig Satellit 750/Tecsun S-2000 Review Posted

radiojayallen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:30:20 +0000

I had tried an early sample of the newest radio to carry the Grundig Satellit name when it was first released. Although I loved its looks and ergonomics I was not impressed with several aspects of its performance. However many posters to various newsgroups indicated that these early problems had been resolved so I decided to take a look at a fresh sample from recent production. A quick look at four pages of eham.net reviews revealed that most owners rate it 4 or 5 out of 5 stars while a very small handful rate it a 1 or a 2. Has Tecsun (which manufactures the OEM version as the Tecsun S-2000 as well as the slightly modified Sat 750 version for Eton/Grundig) “fixed” the SAT 750? Is it now worthy of that prestigious nameplate? I bought a brand new unit to refresh my memory and to see if this newest production unit differed at all from that early sample.

Jay Allen

Read The Full Review:

New review posted – C.Crane Gozo

radiojayallen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:43:09 +0000

The C.Crane Gozo is an amazing sounding Mini-Boom box AM/FM radio whch doubles as an amplified speaker for an IPOD or other audio source It’s sound is amazing for its size. Read the gozo review here:

New Review Posted: Sangean DDT400W

radiojayallen — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:22:31 +0000

The Sangean DT400W is the overall the best Walkman type radio I’ve ever tested. Read the review here: http://radiojayallen.com/sangean-dt400w/

Pocket Portables – 5 Small Radios Compared

radiojayallen — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:52:48 +0000

If you fell in love with a small transistor radio when you were a kid you’ll be happy to know they are still available today. They are not only inexpensive (as low as $10), but are now AM and FM capable. The best of them work very well, but the worst of them are a disappointment.

Read the Pocket portable Rado Review

Post Updated

radiojayallen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:17:26 +0000

Yesterday all subscribers were notified abour a new article on the site about Combating AM Interference. Due to an editing error an entire section was omitted from the initial article…it has now been added. For yuur convenience, if you”ve already read the article, here is the text that was deleted. Sorry about the mistake.

Other Antennas: I have focused on simple indoor solutions for noise but if you live in a low noise residential area (where the noise outside is much less than inside your house) and can erect an outdoor antenna – an outdoor random wire is the simplest and least expensive antenna you can have and often works very well. Often mistakenly referred to as longwire antennas, random wires get their name because they are much shorter than the wavelengths they are intended to receive and their length is not critical…they do not have to made to a specific length to resonate on certain wavelengths or frequency bands. Any wire from about 30 feet up to as long as you can manage will be an excellent receiving antenna for AM and shortwave if the noise levels are low in your area…50 to 100 footers are common. Just be sure to use a balun with shielded coax lead-in to maintain low noise…a simple unshielded lead-in wire will introduce noise. Here’s one good site for general antenna building information.

http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/

There are also several manufactured antennas you can buy…these are cut to specific lengths and are usually tuned and trapped to work within specific frequency ranges but can offer better performance than the random wire. While most are aimed at the shortwave listener many also perform well for AM. Universal-Radio is one good source…an internet search will yield many others. As I mentioned earlier, loop antennas are generally the best tools for overcoming noise problems and they can also be of immense value when located externally, either outdoors or just in another room or attic. The Wellbrook loops (http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/) are probably the finest available. A newer offering from Pixel has been getting favorable comments as well. Loops are valuable because they can outperform wire antennas where noise is in the air outdoors. There simplest to install are hula-hoop-sized loops which perform amazingly well and can be used indoors or outdoors, (I use a Wellbrook ALA-3330S). There are also larger wire loops with even greater capture area for the best performance you’ll find anywhere. The T2FD loop is very effective as are the large aperture loops from Wellbrook or homebrew designs.

New Article:Combatting Am Interference

radiojayallen — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:18:48 +0000

Combatting AM Interference: One of the perennial questions I receive is “how come my car AM radio is so much better than any radio I can buy for my house?” The answer may surprise you. Noise, or Radio Frequency Interference (“RFI”) is the biggest limitation to AM reception inside most modern homes. So the problem may not be your radio, but your house! But there are things you can do to reduce that noise level and improve your AM and SW reception…in this article I’ll describe the specific steps you can take to locate and eliminate noise, and how to cope with the rest of it.

This informaton could net you more improvement than that next new radio you’re eyeyng so check it out here.

Jay

New Article Posted: Zenith Royal 500 “Owl Eye” Portable Radios

radiojayallen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:44:55 +0000

I promised this article many weeks ago…here it is. We’ll look at every model from the original 7 transistor hand-wired model through the pinnacle of the series, the 500H. We’ll take a few apart to recap and align them and discuss general repairs to one of Zenith’s most popuar series of radios ever.

http://radiojayallen.com/zenith-royal-500-series-transistor-radios-–-the-“owl-eye”-radios/

Comments or questions? email me: Jay Allen

New Review Posted – Zenith Trans-oceanic R-7000

radiojayallen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:27:01 +0000

Zenith R-7000 Trans-oceanics new in-the-box often go for over $2000 on eBay…recently a few have topped $5000. Imagine my surprise when my son and daughter-in-law presented me with one in its box from a relative’s Zenith Radio/TV shop! I never expected to own one of these. We’ll open the box and check out this brand new, wonderful present and we’ll also see how this somewhat controversial ZTO compares with the previous model, the Royal 7000. I had a few misconceptions and there were a few surprises – if you’re interested in Trans-oceanincs I think you’ll find this comparison worth reading.

Click here to read the article.

Jay

New Review Posted – ITT Schaub-Lorenz Touring International 103 AM/FM/SW Radio

radiojayallen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:30:36 +0000

The ITT 103 has long been my referce radio for sound quality…it’s a one-of-a-kind. I finally got around to doing it justice with a full review:

Read The ITT 103 Review

Jay

New Review – Hacker Herald RP35

radiojayallen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:01:31 +0000

I’d never before heard of Hacker radios but guess wht…this one’s a winner…it’s one of my better AM radios.

Read the Hacker RP35 Review

New Review – C.Crane FM Transmitter 2

radiojayallen — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:09:36 +0000

C. Crane has improved their already terrific FM Transmitter…I got the very first one of the new models sold! Here are the details.

http://radiojayallen.com/c-crane-fm-transmitter-2

Jay

Reader’s Questions Updated

radiojayallen — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:12:19 +0000

We’ve got some new questions and answers in the Reader’s Questions column…I hope you’ll check them out when you can.

http://radiojayallen.com/readers-questions/

And as always I invite your questions and comments for this column. Email me at:

radiojayallen@gmail.com

Jay

Reader’s Questions Updated

radiojayallen — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:16:03 +0000

There are new questiosn and answers potsed…please check in soon and see what’s going on!

Jay

Questions & Answers Updated

radiojayallen — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 11:26:12 +0000

I’m constantly adding new questions & answers. I hope you will check back frequently and send me your radio-related questions and comments. I will share all that are of general interest.

Jay

Questions & Answers Updated

radiojayallen — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 11:17:55 +0000

I’m constantly adding new questions & answers. I hope you will check back frequently and send me your radio-related questions and comments. I will share all that are of general interest.

Jay

Reader’s Questions

radiojayallen — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:44:38 +0000

Reader’s Questions

May, 2011

Q: I do not know all of the technical measuring tools for sensitivity, but every review I have read on the G3 is that is not nearly as sensitive as the 7600 gr and that the G3 does not hold it’s sync well. Can you comment on this?

Thanks,Daniel

A: Daniel,

There is a lot of variation in the G3’s…I bought three before I got a good one. So there are many reports that are based on people’s experience with a less-than-good sample. It shouldn’t be this way obviously, and we can infer that the G3 is a risk. That said, I can report on how a properly operating G3 works.

It will beat a 7600GR easily on SW…it is much more sensitive. It is also much better on FM…more sensitive and much more selective. They aren’t even in the same category. They are closer on AM…then G3 is as good or better over most of the band but is perhaps just a tad weaker than the Sony above 12 KHz.

The sync on a good G3 holds very well and can be a big help as it is on the Sony. It does tend to drop out prematurely on bad samples though. So the thing with the G3 is to be sure you get a good one and if it doesn’t perform as it should, get a replacement.

Or get the Sony. No QC issues…they all work the same (which is as it should be), but it’s been somewhat eclipsed by newer models. And it sounds rather midrangy too. I don’t use mine much anymore.

I might recommend a Degen DE-1103 to you. Decent quality control and superb reception on all bands. It’ doesn’t get any better in this size but you have to put up with the quirky volume control arrangement.

I hope that helps you…it’s never black and white.

Jay

Zenith Royal 700 Series Article Posted

radiojayallen — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:54:00 +0000

It’s been The Zenith Royal 700 Article is up on the site. I wanted to let you all know.

Let me know what you think!

Jay

Welcome To RadioJayAllen

radiojayallen — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:18:30 +0000

Hi! Welcome to my new site! I’ve worked in broadcasting and electronics all my life and have been interested in portable transistor radios since the early pocket portables of the 50′s through today’s multiband radios. I’m currently employed by CBS Radio as Production Director for one of its station clusters but I also managed a repair facility for an audio shop for 18 years back in the 70′s and 80′s.

I’ve written many reviews for Radiointel and a few for Monitoring Times, but going forward all my reviews and vintage radio articles will be right here. I hope you’ll stop by often to see what’ s new and please feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

email me at: radiojayallen@gmail.com

Coming Soon: Tecsun PL-660

Latest Reviews:

Sangean’s Long-awaited successor to the ATS-909 is the new ATS-909X and it’s a beauty with many upgrades but still one major flaw. Whether or not it will suit you will depend almost entirely on whether you plan to use it with an external AM/SW antenna or as a portable.

Click here to read the review

C.Crane’s Wonderful CC Radio-EP is a winner with “Top Tier” AM perforamnce in a simple, analog radio…and it’s only $69.99!

Click here to read the review