# Looking for a good am/fm portable radio **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448 "2011-03-04T04:14:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/1 "2011-03-04T04:14:03Z")
I need a radio to listen to when I commute via public transportation, and I don’t want a piece-of-crap that sounds tinny and won’t pull in stations. I’ve got decent earbuds that I’d like to plug into a quality machine. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/2 "2011-03-04T04:20:30Z")
Radioshack no longer makes the model of portable shortwave radio I use, but this one appears similar: [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4394908](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4394908) If it’s like mine, the tuning dial is really pin point sharp, it does AM and FM (lot of the tiny ones are FM only these days), and it even has world band if you’re feeling adventurous on your commute! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hennessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hennessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hennessy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/3 "2011-03-04T04:27:24Z")
My [Zen](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=zen&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6304184016450203306&sa=X&ei=x2hwTez2DMGqlAf1x92UAQ&ved=0CJoBEPMCMAI#) pulls in most stations. I also got a [inMotion iM600](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=inmotion+im600&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=15094193259071945330&sa=X&ei=jWhwTbyoKou_gQexzIg2&ved=0CEwQ8wIwAg#) I only ever used the Zen radio working inside a warehouse so maybe that is why it didn’t pick up the one station I wanted it to. All other stations were clear and not breaking up The iM600 holds charge and has a port labeled Aux which I would assume allows headphone usage. About 10’’ by 5’’ so a little big but has quality sound plus other options. I don’t know anything radio dedicated though… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/4 "2011-03-04T05:07:56Z")
I don’t need mp3 or video. I want am/fm stereo, and if the stations lock in good, all the better. Digital tuning a plus. ---
**Author:** ![Hennessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hennessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hennessy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/5 "2011-03-04T05:16:30Z")
Oh I see… Perhaps you would be interested in our [Portable Radio](http://www.amazon.com/Radios-Portable-Audio-Video/b?ie=UTF8&node=172681) section… Might I recommend the highly reviewed [Sony SRF-59](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SRF-59-Radio-Walkman-Headphones/dp/B00006JQ06/ref=sr_1_78?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1299215716&sr=1-78) or the [Coby](http://www.amazon.com/Coby-CX90BLK-Digital-Pocket-Radio/dp/B0013UCYUU/ref=pd_sim_e_8)… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/6 "2011-03-04T17:27:43Z")
> [@Hennessy](#): > > Oh I see… Perhaps you would be interested in our [Portable Radio](http://www.amazon.com/Radios-Portable-Audio-Video/b?ie=UTF8&node=172681) section… Might I recommend the highly reviewed [Sony SRF-59](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SRF-59-Radio-Walkman-Headphones/dp/B00006JQ06/ref=sr_1_78?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1299215716&sr=1-78) or the [Coby](http://www.amazon.com/Coby-CX90BLK-Digital-Pocket-Radio/dp/B0013UCYUU/ref=pd_sim_e_8)… So far, the Sony SRF-59 looks the best. Is there anything of this quality(or higher) with a digital tuner? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/7 "2011-03-04T17:46:29Z")
I have a Sony SRF-59 and it’s great. I use it for listening to ball games while mowing the lawn. Stations come in clear as a bell. I bought it because it got good reviews on Amazon. My only beef is that sometimes it’s not loud enough but I am 99% sure the problem is with my headphones, which are not earbuds. If I had earbuds the volume would probably be more than enough. ---
**Author:** ![Hennessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hennessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hennessy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/8 "2011-03-04T18:21:40Z")
Sangean has a nice line-up. [Sangean DT-210](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-210-Pocket-Size-Digital-Radio/dp/B000066R6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-1) [Sangean DT-400Weather](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-400W-Digital-Weather-Pocket/dp/B0012YHQVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-2) [Sangean DT-200X](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-200X-FM-Stereo-Personal-Receiver/dp/B00006HOKR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-3) [Sangean DT-120](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-Dt-120-White-Pocket-Digital/dp/B000G6M916/ref=pd_cp_e_3) And finally… [Insignia NS-HD01](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=portable+radio+digital&hl=en&client=firefox-a&cid=16166033540098478486&os=reviews) Portable [HD Radio Player](http://www.amazon.com/NS-HD01-HD-Radio-Portable--/dp/B002YXMPPO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1299262777&sr=1-1) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/9 "2011-03-04T19:26:26Z")
The Sony [SRF-M37W](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SRF-M37W-Walkman-Digital-Weather/dp/B00140DBRY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299266670&sr=8-3) is digital with a few presets. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/10 "2011-03-04T21:17:23Z")
Unless something spectacular pops up over the weekend, I think I’ll go with the Sangean DT-120. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/11 "2011-03-09T05:33:32Z")
As a different possible strategy, do you already have, or would you consider, a smart phone and data plan? With internet access you listen to stations from all over the world. Although, I do have to admit that with my Windows-based device I had to go through a number of hoops to get this to work, including downloading a third-party translator to play .pls files. ---
**Author:** ![nuraman00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@nuraman00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuraman00)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/12 "2013-05-06T07:57:30Z")
> [@Hennessy](#): > > Sangean has a nice line-up. > > [Sangean DT-210](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-210-Pocket-Size-Digital-Radio/dp/B000066R6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-1) > [Sangean DT-400Weather](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-400W-Digital-Weather-Pocket/dp/B0012YHQVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-2) > [Sangean DT-200X](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-DT-200X-FM-Stereo-Personal-Receiver/dp/B00006HOKR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1299262190&sr=8-3) > [Sangean DT-120](http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-Dt-120-White-Pocket-Digital/dp/B000G6M916/ref=pd_cp_e_3) > > And finally… > [Insignia NS-HD01](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=portable+radio+digital&hl=en&client=firefox-a&cid=16166033540098478486&os=reviews) Portable [HD Radio Player](http://www.amazon.com/NS-HD01-HD-Radio-Portable--/dp/B002YXMPPO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1299262777&sr=1-1) I’m looking at getting a portable radio. What are the differences, or pros and cons, between the Sangean DT 200X, and the Sangean DT 210? Is there much difference in quality? ---
**Author:** ![nuraman00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@nuraman00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuraman00)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-am-fm-portable-radio/573448/13 "2013-05-06T08:19:04Z")
What about the Sangean 220A? It looks too big to be a “pocket radio” though. > **[WR-7 FM / BT / AUX Wooden Cabinet Radio│SANGEAN Electronics](https://us.sangean.com/product/wr-7-walnut)** > > SANGEAN WR-7 acoustically tuned wooden cabinet with passive speaker, built-In bluetooth, aux-in for additional audio source, 36 hours of battery life.