The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / What Was Your All Time Favourite Radio?

**Posted by RadioActive** September 4, 2024 7:14 am

They're harder to find these days, but back when radios were in every store, I owned dozens of them. My first one, which I kind of appropriated from my mother when I was a kid, was a battery operated string dial Japanese radio which went with me on family trips to the U.S., especially Florida. It was nothing special but I fell in love with it. Still have it, too, although I doubt if it works very well.

Many years later, I had a really cheap multi-band heavy but semi-portable dial tuned radio, which eventually broke. But it was great on reception and I miss it to this day.

But the best of the best was a SONY multi-band digital portable, which you could also plug in. I used it for years and my favourite part of it was you could preset either AM or FM on the same nine pre-sets without having to change the band, which is a pain that almost every radio now has. The reception was also excellent on all the bands, from AM, FM and SW.

When the motherboard finally went out on it, I took it to SONY to get it repaired and they said they no longer make radios or its internal components and they couldn't fix it. That was a very sad day. I like my current Sangean, but it's just not the same.

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 4, 2024 7:25 am

This one from Boston Accoustics.

First higer-end stand-alone radio I bought for myself. Still going strong 20 years later.

Probably the best AM tuner I've heard, too.

**Posted by Saul** September 4, 2024 9:30 am

Wish I had saved the clock radio I was given as a gift and which delivered my very first DX ... KMOX St Louis, KSL Salt Lake City, KOA Denver, KFI Los Angeles, XEX Mexico City. I don't even remember the make...

I did manage to find replacement Radio Shack TRFs to replace those that got worn out and trashed.

**Posted by Easily Amused** September 4, 2024 10:19 am

As a kid growing up in the 1960s, I had relatives and neighbours who were avid supporters of Radio Shack, and its multiband public service radios. Rarely were these tuned to AM or FM; they pretty much stayed on the most active frequency. A step below the true scanners that were a bigger investment.

In the 80s, my father seemed to pick up a number of old AM/FM tube type radios at garage sales. I think he was partly buying them as auxiliary space heaters, for the amount of heat they would throw. 😁

**Posted by mic'em** September 5, 2024 7:23 am

I have a collection of radios dating back to the early 1930's. My favorite is still the AM/FM Channel Master I received as a Christmas gift when I was 11 in 1967. It still works.

**Posted by mace** September 5, 2024 7:45 am

My Sony 2010 and GE Super Radio II.

**Posted by tvguy** September 5, 2024 8:30 am

Heathkit AJ-15. This was a “super tuner” - do it yourself tuner kt that was perfect for DX and easily pulled in most of the Detroit FM stations when I lived in London, ON, in the 70’s. I regret disposing of it when I was unable to repair it. They are “collectors items” even now - 50 years later.

**Posted by Jody Thornton** September 5, 2024 9:37 am

I have GE poratble radio from 1980, made by Panasonic (who in fact had a similar model under their own name). I would say it has a similar sound to the Superadio. It has additional shortwave bands, a wideband AM se1ction, digital and analog tuning display, and separate bass and treble controls.

Last edited by Jody Thornton (September 5, 2024 10:37 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** September 5, 2024 9:44 am

I've always been sorry over the years that I didn't try a Superadio. I've never heard anything but great things about them, especially their AM reception.

**Posted by DeepTracks** September 5, 2024 11:19 am

It had reduction-drive for tuning stations which made it great for "tuning-off" the main frequency just a little to try to improve reception.

**Posted by mace** September 6, 2024 8:16 am

RadioActive wrote:
I've always been sorry over the years that I didn't try a Superadio. I've never heard anything but great things about them, especially their AM reception.

It was fantastic for AM dxing and back in the 80's with its extremely long telescopic antenna you could listen to all of the major Buffalo FM's. And the sound. For its size, the Super Radio II's woofer could really crank out the tunes. I think mine cost me about $80 at Canadian Tire.

**Posted by turkeytop** September 6, 2024 9:40 pm

So many of my radios are favourites, I won't list them here.

My main radio I use on my desk at home is a Palstar R30 A. It isn't pretty but it's a good radio and built like a tank.

On my desk in Florida is my Grundig Satellite 750. It stays in Florida all year and the hot, humid climate is taking its toll. Last year, when we were there, I noticed the volume control was getting a little scratchy.

But my sentimental favourite is my Grundig FR 200, wind up radio. Our son gave it to me for Father's Day about 20 years ago. I love low tech. Back then' it was about a $40 radio. It's a pretty remarkable radio for its price. It served me well during the great blackout.

Last edited by turkeytop (September 6, 2024 10:56 pm)

**Posted by mace** September 7, 2024 6:57 am

Those Grundig FR-200 radios came in a variety of colours. Mine was blue. I have also seen them in red and yellow.

**Posted by DeepTracks** September 7, 2024 8:14 am

"On my desk in Florida is my Grundig Satellite 750. It stays in Florida all year and the hot, humid climate is taking its toll. Last year, when we were there, I noticed the volume control was getting a little scratchy."

Open it up to expose the expose its volume control and look to see if you can spray just a 1-second spritz of WD-40 into its wiper/resistive surface area. Work-it back and forth a few times, and voila!

As a budding technician when I was still just a kid, I got the idea to spray WD-40 into the noisy volume controls of old B&W TVs and also directly into their turret-type tuners. It worked a treat as well on the exposed surfaces of older AM radio variable capacitors. It was less expensive and more readily available than purposely made cleaner.

If anything were still "repairable" like they were in the old days I know I would still be using it.

Last edited by DeepTracks (September 7, 2024 8:16 am)