Radios I Have Known

Quick look: Panasonic RF-649 AM/FM radio

Panasonic RF-649

Several friends over the years have said very good things about Panasonic portable radios. I have a 1984-model Panasonic RF-502, which is a competent radio though not spectacular in its performance. It was also kind of bland in appearance, and occasionally hard to tune with precision. In an online auction, I got this RF-649. I don't know much about it, but I believe it's from the early 1970s. The front tuning wheel is, unusually, cylindrical rather than just a round knob or a thumbwheel. It takes 4 AA batteries; later Panasonics of this general category required just 3 batteries.

How does it perform? Short answer: "not bad". AM reception is moderately sensitive with reasonable selectivity. Audio bandwidth measures a little low, starting to roll off at about 3.8 kHz. I'd rate the AM section as good. On FM, I'd rate it as fairly good. There is some evidence of less-than-ideal image rejection. FM reception isn't as sensitive as some of my other portable radios. Most notably, some of the stations in the crowded (in the Bay Area) noncommercial 88-92 MHz section of the dial are hard to pick out. So, just like its later sibling, I'd say the RF-649 is competent but not exceptional.

What is notable is the compact size of the radio: just 6 3/4" wide by 3 3/4" high by 2" deep. Most radios this compact don't perform nearly as well.

Posted June 25, 2011