Above: Tecsun S-2000 (Left) – Tecsun S-2200X (Right)

I must admit I was both curious and excited when I heard that Tecsun was replacing the discontinued S-2000 with an all-new S-2200X. Originally introduced in 2008 the S-2000 was sold under several names including the Tecsun S-2000, Grundig Satellit 750, Eton Satellit 750 and Eton Elite 750. Of all the Tecsun radios I have owned over the years (which is most of them) that radio was the quirkiest with tuning issues which really put me off. (You can read my comments on the original model here).  

Above: The New Tecsun S-2200X is one handsome radio

Anna at anon-co.com graciously sent me a review sample and advised that the new S-2200 is an entirely new radio inside the original cabinet. Although Tecsun hasn’t specified which DSP chip the radio uses the new radio uses a similar topology to that of Tecsun’s H-501 with Triple Conversion including an analog PLL front end followed by the DSP chip. It is now selling at anon-co.com for $372.

Above: BCL-2000 and S-8800 are Completely Different Internally

This is not the first time Tecsun has put a entirely new radio into an existing cabinet…such was the case when the popular BCL-2000/BCL-3000 models were replaced with the totally new S-8800 which vastly outperformed the older models. I’m happy to tell you the same thing applies here…the new S-2200X performs at a much higher level than the old model in almost every way and I’ll describe this in detail.

 S-2200’s Specs and Features:

Analog high-IF circuit and DSP triple conversion

Frequency Range:

FM: 64 – 108 MHz, 76.0 – 108 MHz, 87.0 – 108 MHz, 87.5 – 108 MHz

Fast tuning steps of 0.1 MHz or 0.05 MHz (depends on FM range and MW steps setting). Slow/Fine tuning steps of 0.01 MHz.

FM Stereo at Line & Earphone Out

Stereo/Mono setting

FM De-emphasis:  75/50 microseconds

MW: 520 – 1710 kHz (10/1 KHz Tuning steps), 522 – 1620 kHz (9/1 KHz Tuning steps)

LW: 100 – 519 kHz (when MW tuning set to 10 kHz)

50 – 522 kHz (when MW tuning set to 9 kHz)

Fast tuning steps 9 kHz/ Slow Tuning steps 1 kHz.

SW: 1711 – 29999 kHz (when MW tuning set to 10 kHz)

1621 – 29999 kHz (when MW tuning set to 9 kHz)

Fast tuning steps of 5 kHz, Slow Tuning steps 1 kHz.

AIR: 118 – 137 MHz

Tuning steps 0.025 MHz/0.001 MHz

SSB (USB / LSB) with 10Hz fine tuning steps

Bandwidths: LW/MW 1.0, 2.3, 3.5, 5.0 and 9.0 kHz

SSB bandwidths: 0.5, 1.2, 2.3, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz

SW/AIR bandwidths: 1.0. 2.3, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.0 kHz

Tuning by Direct frequency entry on keypad

Fast/Slow Tuning Plus Fine Tune Knob

VF/VM/Scan button to tune by Frequency or Memory and initiate Scan

Auto Scan Up/Down

Mechanical Analog Signal Meter

9150 station memories with ATS (automatic tuning and storage)

Adjustability ATS Signal Capture Sensitivity determines how strong a signal must be to be saved automatically.

Manual storage

Auto Paging (AP) ATS: for creating time-specific memories for MW and SW

Manual or auto memory browsing

Auto Sorting Memory: Organizes and removes duplicate frequencies

Bass & Treble control knobs

Variable Squelch Control for AM/LW/SW/Air

Variable & Auto RF Gain Control knob

Three step Antenna Signal Attenuator

Synchronous Detection

360° Rotatable MW/LW antenna

Whip Antenna 39”

LCD backlight: Auto off/Always-on

LCD displays Signal Strength, Signal-to-Noise ratio, Clock, Alarm 1/2

Clock: 24-hour format/2 Alarms/Sleep Timer/Snooze

Keylock

Beep Sound Defeat

External Antenna Inputs: (Internal antennas can be disconnected)

SW/FM/Air (BNC) 50 Ohm

SW Spring Clips 500 Ohm

AM/LW 1/8” Mini Jack 50 Ohm

Power: 2) 18650 Li-ion or 4 D cell batteries/switch selectable

USB Li-ion Charging via USB C Jack

Audio In/Earphone Out 1/8 Mini Jacks

Line Out Dual RCA jacks

Max. Output Power: 1500mW

Speaker: 4” 2W

Size Approx: 15” x 7” x 6”

In The Box:

5V/2.4 Amp charger

USB C charging cable

2 BNC plugs

Large Foldout: Quick Start Guide/Amateur Radio World Map

Owner’s Manual

Everything is very intuitive and familiar as the S-2200x follows most of the conventions of other recent Tecsuns. First there is the now-familiar Hidden Features List provided by anon-co.com:

Above: Hidden Features similar to other Tecsuns

A few other things from the Owner’s Manual and some I discovered on my own:

Battery Detection Circuit: LED’s in the 18650 compartment show the condition of the two 18650 batteries.

If the radio is not used for 6 days the batteries will be discharged to 70% for best long-term storage. You can prevent this if you want to by switching the Li-ion/ D cell switch to the D cells.

Although the VF/Scan button scans upward initially, if you first tune down manually the scan button will then scan downwards.

Air Band ATS will scan 30 times to do a better job of finding active frequencies.

Set Bandwidths: Press BW button repeatedly or press BW and rotate Fine Tuning Knob

If you set the backlight to ON, it will stay on while you use the radio. But unlike most modern radios it will turn off when you turn the radio off but then come on full time every time you use the radio. This is how this function should work but few radios get it right.

Performance: Whew! That’s quite a list of specs and features but what it really comes down to is how well does the S-2200X perform? To find out we’ll compare it with my best reference radios and also of course, the radio it replaced, the original S-2000.

I started as I usually do sitting with the radio and I went through the Owner’s Manual checking settings as I went along, then I put the S-2200X up against some well-known reference radios to see how it performs.

RF Performance/Reception:

I first put it side by side with the older S-2000 and I’m pleased to report that the new model greatly outperforms the old one overall. I never liked the way the S-2000 tuned and its filters were asymmetrical and quirky to say the least, with different center tuned positions between the Wide and Narrow filters and in SSB mode. None of that here…the S-2200 tunes as precisely as any of Tecsun’s DSP radios and it has no tuning muting or soft muting…it is a pleasure to tune and the analog meter is a joy. SSB is much easier to tune and performance in SSB mode is very good. I expected all of this but what really surprised and impressed me is the immensely improved audio…the S-2200X is the best sounding Tecsun there is, with nice bass and treble it can pump out some impressive audio…this radio approaches boom box performance on FM music and sounds wonderful on AM and SW as well with truly useful Bass and Treble control ranges. Wow! The old S-2000 sounds very filtered next to it.

The S-2200X is built with essentially similar topography as the H-501 and putting these two radios side-by-side their reception is almost identical as expected. SW and FM are excellent with FM ranking ***** on the FM Mega Shootout list…unfortunately there is no FM RDS. And while the AM ranks *** on the AM Mega Shootout list this is as good as it gets for current day world band portables. The rotating ferrite antenna atop the radio is solid and the analog meter is a great aid in aiming it for either signal peaking or nulling. I do wish though that Tecsun (and in fact all of today’s world band radio manufacturers) would consider making their AM sections more sensitive such as the C. Crane CC-2E or EP-Pro which are noticeably more sensitive on AM. Tecsun’s AM sensitivity spec is < 1mV/m but the best AM radios achieve approximtely .03mV/m.

Whip Antenna – Amazing AM/LW Sensitivity Outdoors: The S-2200X (as do other recent Tecsun radios as well as the Qodosen SX/DX-286) allows you to use the whip antenna for AM/LW by holding the #3 button for a few seconds. This will almost never work in a typical home where the RFI will completely desensitize reception and replace it with noise. But if you are in a low noise environment, such as outdoors, the AM reception is incredibly sensitive. Signals which are fairly weak and noisy with the ferrite antenna are rendered with low or no background hiss…this is something you have to experience to believe. Take the radio out into the yard or a park and give it a try…you will be impressed. This elevates the S-2200X from *** to  ***** AM Sensitivity in this mode.

External Antennas: I tried both amplified and passive external SW and AM antennas and the S-2200X handled them well. Any signs of overload at night were easily compensated for with the Antenna Attenuator and RF Gain control…this radio is great with external antennas. I will say though that the RF Gain knob has a rather abrupt effect rather than a smooth reduction of gain..still, it is useful.

Synchronous Detection locks adequately and works as it should in eliminating certain types of interference and selective fading but it so filters the sound that I think the cure may be worse than the disease. SSB has the same filtering of audio which Tecsun has advised is inherent in the DSP chip and cannot be changed at this time. However SSB performance itself is very good and SSB mode can also be used in ECSS Mode – if this is new to you please read about it here:  SSB is further enhanced with a three step Antenna Attenuator and variable RF Gain knob and the SSB Calibration feature makes tuning as easy as possible.

External Antenna facilities are excellent with low impedance BNC connections for FM/Air/SW, both high and low impedance inputs for SW and an 1/8″ mini jack for AM/LW, and in addition the internal antennas can be disconnected on all bands. The use of external antennas is also aided by the above-mentioned three step antenna attenuator and variable RF Gain knob.

Battery Power: The S-2200X is powered by two paralleled 18650 Li-ion cells and can also be powered by 4 D cells, selected by a switch in the battery compartment which is a great flexibility. Tecsun supplies a 2.4 Amp USB power cube and the radio charges very quickly – in my tests a full charge took under 3 1/2 hours yet the double Li-ion cells provide surprisingly long play time per charge. Of course, with its powerful 1 ½ watt amplifier you can drain the batteries more quickly at very high volumes and with lots of bass boost, but at normal volume levels battery life is excellent. Unfortunately, there is no provision to run the radio directly on AC power without interference on AM and SW bands but with the long life from the Li-ion cells plus the backup capability of 4 D cells you need never run out of battery power..

Ergonomics: I must admit that I love the look and feel of this radio. I find it attractive and it has a solid feel. It is a great lap portable but also serves well as a desktop radio. The whip antenna is sturdy and the rotating ferrite rod combined with the analog signal meter are a joy to use.  It had a sturdy fold down handle plus two rack style handles on the sides which make the radio extremely easy to use and carry around. The handle never interferes with the whip antenna which, trivial though it sounds, can be an annoyance with some radios where you must collapse the antenna to open or fold the handle. Playing with the radio I was struck by its powerful audio…it’s just a lot of fun to use and listen to. The S-2200X is a great new flagship radio for Tecsun.

Recommended.

See it at anon-co.com   

See it at Amazon: (When Available)

Jay Allen