The tuning dial from the Zenith Royal 76 "Symphony" (also known as the Royal 820) AM/FM radio, manufactured in Chicago from 1964 until 1968 or 1969. The linear radio dial was typical of the time, though the vertical orientation of the dial was less common than horizontal dials. The use of the Microgramma font gave the radio an up-to-date look for the 1960s. Oddly, a later radio descended from the Royal 76, the Royal 92 "Weather Commander", went back to an older-style font when it was put on the market in 1968.
"AFC" referred to automatic frequency control, a common feature on FM radios in the 1960s and even the early 1970s, designed to make it easier to tune stations on the FM dial. Circuit designs still tended to permit the radio to drift off-frequency after being operated for a period of time. AFC fell out of favor in the 1970s. For one thing, it wasn't needed any more. It also made it difficult to tune weak stations that were close to strong stations. Even so, Zenith retained AFC in many of its designs until it quit making radios altogether.
The dot above the "100" is a marker for an FM station Zenith owned in Chicago, WEFM (now WUSN), at 99.5 MHz. It was said that Zenith used the station as an aid in aligning radios manufactured at its Chicago factories.
Radios I Have Known
It's 2023 and, as promised, I haven't written any new radio reviews until now. I also took the opportunity to revise a few earlier reviews. I'm still saturated with radios (and looking to get rid of a few) and am also looking for a new site to move these reviews to. Expect changes later in 2023 or possibly 2024. Meanwhile, enjoy the reviews that I have here!
Highly recommended! The best radio reviews available are from noted DXer and experimenter Gary DeBock. Gary completed his latest reviews in May 2021, in his 2021 Ultralight Radio Shootout, also available in native HTML format via The SWLing Post. Gary goes far deeper into radio design and construction than I ever could, providing a true "inside look" into the amazing performance possible with many of these radios. He also has done extensive comparison listening. The models he covers in his 2021 "shootout" are:
- C. Crane Skywave (which I have also reviewed)
- Radiwow R-108 (which I have also reviewed)
- Tecsun PL-330 (new in 2020; I have not reviewed it)
- Tecsun PL-380 (which I have reviewed)
- XHDATA D-808 (which I have reviewed)
Many thanks to Gary for his kind permission to link to his reviews. They are extensive and valuable! (They're still available in 2023; Gary hasn't done a new shootout recently.)
Otherwise...
Most recent update, July 25, 2023: Added a review of the Tecsun PL-320, a new radio released in 2023, including an extensive discussion of many of the radio's features. Also revised the Sangean DT-800 review to include mention of the version of the radio that's sold outside North America. And I updated or adjusted reviews of the Sony SRF-AX15 AM stereo/FM stereo radio and the similar Digitech AR-1780 and XHDATA D-808 AM/FM/shortwave radios.
Radio still has a place in the crowded media marketplace. It doesn't have the prominence it once had. But it's still around, and radio receivers are providing more value for money than ever. This site reviews some of the best of the radios being produced today, using digital signal processing (DSP) technology. In addition, there are articles about AM stereo radios, pocket radios, table radios, vintage radios, and others.
I have purchased all the radios that I've reviewed, except for a few received as gifts from family members. I don't accept review samples from manufacturers or retailers.
AM Stereo radios
The Sony SRF-A1 and SRF-A100 articles also contain a brief, opinionated history of AM stereo in the 1980s and 1990s. A few AM stations in the United States are still broadcasting in stereo.
DSP radios
Widely available since 2009, DSP-based radios usually feature strong FM performance as well as features to make AM-band listening more pleasant. Some can be categorized as pocket radios, too.
» CC Skywave (review updated in 2019)
» Digitech AR-1780
» Degen DE1123
» Elpa ER-C57WR
» Grundig G8/Tecsun PL-300WT (discontinued)
» Insignia NS-HD01 (HD radio)
» Prunus J-125 (new in 2020)
» Radiwow R-108 (also nearly identical Sihuadon R-108)
» Retekess TR103 (new in 2020)
» Sangean DT-160
» Sangean DT-250 (sold outside North America)
» Sangean DT-800
» Sangean HDR-14 (HD radio) (also nearly identical Sangean SG-108)
» Tecsun PL-100
» Tecsun PL-118
» Tecsun PL-310ET
» Tecsun PL-320 (new in 2023)
» Tecsun PL-380
» Tecsun PL-390
» Tecsun PL-505
» Tecsun PL-606
» Tivdio V-115 (moving to the Media players and recorders category)
» XHDATA D-808
Headphone radios
These are radios made exclusively for listening with headphones. The innovator in this field was Sony, which has produced numerous Walkman models since 1980. I have written an article that spotlights notable models, also comparing their performance to DSP-based radios. In addition, the hi-fi manufacturer Proton produced a legendary headphone radio from 1981 to 1984.
» Sony Walkman series (radios only)
» Sony SRF-S84 AM/FM Walkman (a newer, very small model)
» Unix walkman-style radio
Media players and recorders
In the last few years, radios with recording capabilities have appeared. They can also play back media files. Earlier, some media players included FM tuners and recording capabilities as well.
» Rolton E500 (Bluetooth speaker, FM radio, media player)
» Sansa Clip (media player)
» Sansa Fuze (media player)
» Tecsun ICR-100 (FM radio, speaker system, etc.)
» Tecsun ICR-110 (AM/FM radio, speaker system, etc.)
» Tivdio V-115 (primarily a radio; also known as Retekess V115, and other names)
Performance tuner
The NAD 4300 has been my reference tuner for FM performance, and has good AM reception as well.
Pocket radios
The radios shown in this section are conventional pocket radios, even if the pocket has to be rather big in a couple of instances, with varying degrees of performance capabilities. All of them have built-in speakers as well as headphone outputs.
» Realistic 12-613A
» Roberts Sports 925
» Sangean DT-200VX
» Sangean DT-250 (sold outside North America)
» Sangean DT-400W (2011 and 2020 versions)
Table radios
A small collection of radios designed for everyday household use.
» Cambridge Soundworks Model 88
» Magno KuBo (from Indonesia)
» Sony ICF-38, modified for SCA reception
» Westinghouse RC42N38B AM/FM clock radio (late 1960s)
» Zenith Circle of Sound clock radio
» Zenith Circle of Sound table radio, without clock
Vintage radios
Mostly from the 1960s, these radios tended to emphasize AM performance over FM performance. The GE Superadios, from the 1980s, are especially prized for their AM reception capabilities. Many of my vintage radios are from Zenith, most of them made in Chicago and built to last. Also included in this category is one of the 1990's top travel radios, the Grundig Yacht Boy 400.
» GE Superadio II
» Grundig Yacht Boy 400
» Montgomery Ward GEN-1454A
» Panasonic RF-649
» Sony SRF-45W 'Soundabout'
» Westinghouse H950PN10
» Zenith Royal 51 'Symphonette'
» Zenith Royal 670
» Zenith Royal 72
» Zenith Royal 76 'Symphony'
» Zenith Royal 880 'Vocalaire'
» Zenith Royal 92 'Weather Commander'
» Zenith Royal 76 and Westinghouse H950PN10 compared
Other electronics
Articles on electronic devices that aren't radios, but that either are of historical interest, or that are useful for radio listening.
» M-Audio Bass Traveler headphone amplifier
» Mid-1960s AC adapter
» Sony Discman D-5 portable CD player (1985)
Other radio articles
Miscellaneous articles, including a couple of Usenet posts from the 1990s, and excerpts from a Zenith radio brochure from 1963.
» Brochure: Zenith 'lunchbox' radios in 1963
» Brochure: Zenith radios in 1963
» Effect of a solar eclipse on AM reception (1994)
» Explaining 'reference' benchmarks
» Ferrite antenna comparison
» Kansas City FM in the early 1960's
» Radio station KTTN in Trenton, Missouri (an appreciation, 1994)
» Review of IBOC reception, using the Sangean HDT-1 tuner (2007)
Mark RobertsOakland, California
E-mail: Please see the Contact Information page.