ETON 960 Classic AM/FM Shortwave Radio by Eton
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List Price: Our Price: $123.45 You Save: $76.54 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of ETON 960 Classic AM/FM Shortwave Radio
Digital camera Review: Excellent Version of an Antique Classic Radio
Summary: 4 Stars
It is interesting that many remark about the poor wooden case, crappy performance, et al. Obviously, these people have never seen an original Grundig 960 radio. The original's case was made of Bakelite, a nice deep reddish-brown with a nice sheen. Also, the original radio's dial was dim - one mini-bulb, 7W .3A. So what's wrong with the repro having dim but fully serviceable dial lighting? It's entirely adequate, carpers! I've both the repro and the original antique radio from the 1955 era. My repro is a V.1, i.e., dark almost satin finish; V.2 versions had a lighter, shinier finish and somewhat better electronics. Many complainers may have the V.1. The repro's FM station performance is fine, both in rural and urban areas. Overall sound is surprisingly fine, as is FM tuning. AM performance is better than anticipated, satisfactory. CD performance is fine if you turn the CD player sound output fully up, a minor distraction. The repro, however, is not a ghetto blaster, folks, so you complainers: get over it. And **sigh** for those carping about a lack of a headphone jack, get a Walkman, certainly a more practical choice for bedtime listening in any case. The only issue the radio has is the inexpensive chassis that will shift stations as the radio warms if the room is cool...sort of like the original. One must learn to work with the radio. For those in need of hip modern technology that does everything one requests without hesitation or deviation, burn your money elsewhere. In all, the repro Grindig Classic 960 is a very decent performer and a fine piece of furniture, if not quite an Object d'Art. And it surely looks great...Digital camera Review: Expensive toy
Summary: 2 Stars
If you expect to get a German quality of craftsmanship when you buy this radio, don't. This is a Chinese made(is anything in this world still made somewhere else?) bad imitation of the famous radio set. The manual claims that even knob rims are made form the solid brass. Unless they found the way to make brass look as a metallized plastic, I dont believe it. Also, two small intermal lights for the scale illumination are so weak that you can not use this radio even in a complete darkness. My conclusion is - still a conversation piece and nice room decoration if you don't take it too seriously.Digital camera Review: For old times sake
Summary: 4 Stars
The only gripe I have with this radio is that the lighting is not strong enough to read the stations. Otherwise it is a very good buy for the price. It lacks all the mod cons such as a remote control and the like but we have Bose for that. I have two Bose radios and frankly they do have a better sound than the Grundig. They are also much more expensive! I am very happy with both the Bose and the Grundig but there is something about the Grundig that reminds me of plays on the radio in the late fifties when the radio was an important part of life. Of course this Grundig does not have the sound of the Grundig I had in Germany. That one almost had a place at the dinner table such was its presence. Nothing is as we remember it. I am very glad to have this as a reminder of simpler and perhaps happier times. The times when the attention span was not determined by a remote control.Digital camera Review: Get a Real Shortwave Radio Instead
Summary: 3 Stars
I got this little boat anchor a while back. It was to replace a dead GE portable. I had the radio about a week when one of the dial lights went out; a week or so later the other one was gone. And it is impossible (for my fat fingers) to replace the bulbs. The tuning is horrible at best; it will not stay on frequency and the linear dial is way, way off (tune 1260 AM to get 890 AM). I am happy that I did not pay anywhere near what they're selling for now. I do love the look and it sits next to me on a table where I read and listen to standard FM. This is not a radio for a novice SWL or even an experienced one like me. Get a Kaito, Eton, or even a Grundig S350DL which I listen to regularly.Digital camera Review: Good Conversation Piece
Summary: 3 Stars
This radio looks good and makes an interesting conversation piece. It's fun to use and appears to be well built. If you mostly listen to AM radio the sound quality is about as good as you'll find on other radios. I wouldn't rely on this radio for serious shortwave listening, but it does have some pulling power. However, it's impossible to tell the exact dial location of the station you're listening to from the analog dial. My biggest disappointment: the quality of FM sound. This is not a radio to listen to music on. Also, while it has a CD input jack on the back, you will be very disappointed if you think you're going to get anything more than mediocre sound. It's unforuntate that such cheap speakers were used. Bottom line: If you find this radio on sale and you're looking for a nice, retro conversation piece, grab it. At full price, go get a good shortwave radio.