Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1102BLK Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver with SSB by Kaito Electronics Inc.
|
List Price: Our Price: $69.99 You Save: $9.96 (10%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $44.98 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1102BLK Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver with SSB
Digital camera Review: Best Pocket Sw Receiver for the Buck !
Summary: 5 Stars
This is it! Performance of this little gem is outstanding! No other radio that I know of at this price will receive single side band signals (most "hams" use this mode).
The 1102 has a wide/narrow bandwidth switch, with well chosen bandwidths, allows fine tuning of AM in 1Khz steps and FM in 10 Khz steps, provides an indication of signal strength, and outputs STEREO to earphones in FM.
Sound quality is decent (for its size) through the built in speaker, with a "music/news" switch provided to shape the audio response for best results. A "bass boost" function is also provided, but it only works on FM...odd.
Alarm and Sleep functions are provided, and the display has a pleasing blue backlight, that is not activated in a bright ambient (to save batteries).
Speaking of batteries, a set of three NiMH rechargeable cells is included!
On the downside, the 1102 is NOT an easy device to operate, and the instruction manual is NOT well written/translated. Some of the functions (such as SSB or fine tuning) are activated by selecting certain "pages" of station memory. If you are willing to spend a bit of extra time reading the manual while experimenting with the functions of the various controls, you will be happy with the results!
Digital camera Review: Best small radio
Summary: 5 Stars
It's the best radio ever. Very clear, very capable even though small speaker. It keeps whatever it catches in air. Usually, we are looking at chinise made equipment with some contempt, not with this one. It's sharp looking, tough, every button in its place. From now on I will know that Degen/Kaito is the best radio, highly recomend.Digital camera Review: Competes Against the Big Boys for Half the Money
Summary: 5 Stars
Built in a factory in China famous for its radio electronics, the Kaito 1102 has become a beloved radio among techies and radiophiles alike for many reasons. Open it out of the box and you'll notice it's tiny, smaller than a thin-sliced sandwich. Its silver, modern exterior looks as updated as any new Sony or Sangean or Grundig. Then place it against its competition, the Sangean 505 (about 20 dollars more), the Sony ICF SW35 (about the same price) and you'll notice that the Kaito beats the other two for different reasons. First, the Kaito and the Sony 35 have similar, strong reception, on both AM and FM, but the Kaito wins because it has a vastly far superior speaker, crystal clear and capable of good sound for this type of radio. The Kaito and the Sangean 505 have similar good speakers but the Kaito has better reception, especially on AM. My only complaint about the Kaito is the owner's manual which has five different ways of showing you how to use the presets and the "pages," and only one of those instructions (I found out two hours and much trial and error later) is accurate. You must press the M/Lock key to activate your preset option and for some reason the manual only makes this vaguely clear in one of its instructions. But if you don't mind fiddling with the controls and scouring the manual with a patient eye, you'll find yourself in possession of a gem and discover why so many techies consider the Kaito 1102 a real buried treasure that stands up to the far more expensive Sony 7600 and Sangean 909.
Post Script: In the ensuing months I've bought the lesser priced Kaito 1101, almost identical to the Kaito 1102, and have found that the 1101 gets even better FM sensitivity. Many have expressed the same experience with the Kaito 1101. Thus I must conclude that for a PLL synthesized portable radio with presets, the Kaito 1101, which cost me thirty dollars less than the Kaito 1102, is the king of digital portable radios.
Update: In spite of its awkward ergonomics, which include two-step preset choice and strange push-button volume control, the Kaito 1103 amazingly gets even better reception than the 1101. The 1102 is last of the three but has the best ergonomics.
Digital camera Review: Disappointed With Sound Quality
Summary: 1 Stars
I spent several days with this radio learning how to operate it. The manual is not clearly written but it's usable. The radio feels solid and the design has a number of nice features. The user interface could stand some improvements. I wish the clock would display simultaneously with the frequency. I wish the batteries could be charged simultaneously with playing on AC. The problem I couldn't tolerate was the distorted sound. The amount of distortion was not too bad for voice but horrible for music. I couldn't stand the distortion so I returned the radio.Digital camera Review: Excellent little radio
Summary: 5 Stars
Best radio in the world you can get at this price. Mine lasted only a year though. I think it has some software issues. I can't get it to work with batteries anymore. I like it so much I ordered another. This is something I normally wouldn't do when a product fails but these are so good I'm hoping they have been improved.