Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave World Band Receiver with Single Side Band Reception, plus External Plug-in Antenna
by Sony
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave World Band Receiver with Single Side Band Reception, plus External Plug-in Antenna
Customer Review: Superb Shortwave Porable Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently, I received a Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave radio for Xmas. I've been an avid shortwave radio listener since the mid-1960s and have had several radios throughout the years. As my old Radio Shack cassette shortwave radio died, I wrote a letter to Santa and lo and behold I found the Sony under the tree Xmas morning.
The radio has some nice features like full world band coverage, stereo FM with headphones, nice compact size, good ergonomics, fine memory system, synchronous detector (locks in on stations--a great feature), and ability to handle ham radio broadcasts.
I like the radio very much. I've spend lots of time playing with it to learn what it can do and I'm generally impressed. Of course, no radio is perfect and this one does have its warts.
The worts:
1. Sound is okay, but just so. I can live with it, but I'd prefer better fidelity. A larger speaker would be welcome. At least I have good headphones.
2. No rotoary tuning knob, just buttons to change the frequency. I'm a big fan of weighted rotary tuning knobs. I wish this radio had one, but the buttons work well as bottons go.
3. It would be nice if the display light would stay on when tuning.
4. A signal strength indicator would be welcome. There is something approximating one, but it is rather lame (but better than nothing).
5. No band selector--all the LW/MW/SW bands run together. I got around this by creating presets at the beginning of each meter band for shortwave.
Pros:
1. Compact size.
2. Features are excellent, especially synchronous detector.
3. Great ability to handle SSB breadcasts.
4. Tone switch from voice to music (although voice is usually my perfereed choice).
5. Line out for recording broadcasts.
6. Robust build. This is one well-built attractive radio!
7. Good documentation and external passive antenna included.
8. Scanning feature works well.
9. Fine memory system.
In conclusion, this is a fine radio. This is the best that Sony currently has to offer (in the past Sony was one of the world's best manufacturers of shortwave radios). Given that Sony's committment to shortwave radio has greatly diminished, like another reviewer, I would recommend that one buy one now before Sony pulls the plug on it.
The competition is strong and there are better offerings, but one has to pay substantially more. The similarily priced Grundig G5/Eton E5 is a viable contender, but its lack of sychronous detection would be a deal breaker for many (including, so it seems, Santa).
It would be lovely to have a table top shortwave receiver, a long antenna strewn about in the backyard, but from a practiable (and portable) standpoint, the Sony ICF-SW7600GR is superb. I highly recommend this product.
Customer Review: A great radio. Get this!
Summary: 5 Stars
Hello all,
I've been a shortwave listener/ham since eons ago, and have used most of the popular radios, desktop and portable. One of my all time favorites was the Sony 2010. In side by side tests, the 2010 could hear stations that more expensive table tops could not. This 7600GR reminds me of the 2010. The synch detector--which lets you listen to AM/shortwave stations that fade in and out more easily, reminds me of the 2010, and I think the sensitivity is similar with the whip antenna. Sony's speaker audio has never been hi fi, so get a pair of skullcandy buds, and enjoy this radio, its a very competent design. If it had a tuning knob and a push button to turn the synch detector on and off, rather than a slide switch I'd call it a 99.5% similar 2010 radio, which is saying a lot, believe me. As it is designed, I'd say it's 99% of the 2010. Yes, shortwave is receding as a radio listening activity, but still, this radio, if it is Sony's last sincere product for this listening, is worth your money for a digital radio. And, the AM broadcast band performance is quite good as well. If you want high fidelity, this, or any other radio other than a Grundig table top, is not for you in terms of sound. Technically, its a real receiver, worthy of your attention.
update June 2009: Well, the Degen 1103 is far more sensitive on all bands and I wish I had not discovered this fact. Also, the Sony chews up batteries far more quickly than I'd hoped. The Degen 1103 is far more easy on batteries.
update Aug 2010: I stand by my June update--unfortunately---since I have always liked Sony, had the 2010, and thought it was a truly great radio. The 7600GR is difficult to band scan with, and while it has sync detection like the 2010, I've found that the sync detection on the 7600GR loses 'lock' and you hear a groan sound when it does, then it re syncs and you hear a 'whooooop' sound then. The 2010 never did this. If the 7600GR had a tuning knob and stronger RF amplifier, that would make it a great performer in my opinion. If you know what frequencies you want to listen to , and not band scan, then its tuning interface is fine. Me, I like to scan the bands. I'd say, having used most of the digital keypad Sony shortwave radios, from the 2001 to the 2010 and the 7600, that the 7600 is in the same class as Sony's keypad radios except for the 2010---you can dial up a station, or listen to SSB, but the sensitivity is not very good. In an emergency, I'd want excellent sensitivity on all bands and low battery drain---the 7600 does not fill this role, and I'm very sorry to note this. If you want an excellent analog tuning Sony with low battery drain and super sensitivity, the SW23---available only from Japan sellers---is a an excellent very small analog tuning, two battery radio. The Degen 1103 and 1105 are also good bets.
Customer Review: Very fine quality as well as highly portable sw radio
Summary: 5 Stars
So far I am quite impressed with this very high quality am/fm/lw/sw radio which is the cumulative result of Sony research and development over some 25 years. Sony should certainly have provided a similar quality ac/dc adapter/charger that really works well with this unit (with very low interference noise) right at the time of purchase however. A good quality ac/dc adaptor is fortunately still available from the universal-radio website for example. This radio does have a much steeper learning and operating curve for the casual user than for example does the Kaito KA1102. The speaker is somewhat tinny sounding in comparison to the KA1102, but still quite adequate. Also, the variable attenuator controls are extremely excellent compared to the single fixed filters found on some other radios for example. I will update this review as I get further into its daily operations, but so far I am extremely glad that I was able to acquire this very fine radio right now.
UPDATE: June 27, 2008:
Having built and owned numerous Heathkits as well as Grundig/Eton and Kaito SW radios, I can readily say that this Sony under review is more of a SW radio with FM capability added on whereas the KA1102 is more like an AM/FM radio with SW capability added to it. Part of this description is surely based on the very high quality sound of the KA1102 and the relatively tinny sound from the Sony except through a set of reasonable quality earphones. Most people interested in SW radio listening don't care a great deal about the quality of the radio's musical sounds very much, whereas those who listen to FM a great deal really want high quality musical sounds with full bass and treble adjustments. In addition, however the broad range of listening capabilities on the Sony for reception of LW/AM (MW) and SW bands, all integrate together very nicely as a full package, whereas it seems less connected as an integrated unit on the KA1102. Overall I far prefer the Sony in its SW listening capabilities and very full set of features. Of course the Sony also costs some $70-80 more than the KA1102 too.
On the negative side, one earlier reviewer on Amazon did note that when the very long telescopic Sony built-in antenna is fully extended it is very vulnerable to breakage and he was completely correct. Sony should have attached either a shorter antenna or reinforced the attachment to the radio for the fully extended position (when extended this antenna is about 20 inches in length). So just to be safe, I don't usually extend the antenna all the way or else I simply attach the supplied external antenna when necessary for improving my SW listening.
Customer Review: Best Value -- Get one while you can
Summary: 5 Stars
For many reasons this is absolutely the best valued shortwave receiver on the market.
1. Synchronous detector! It enables the radio to lock
onto signals with tenacity. It reduces fading and noise and
enables you to eliminate interference by selecting a sideband
on the other side of the interfering signal. On the SW7600GR
it works very well. No other radio at this price has sync
detector.
2. Build quality. Made in Japan. The radio even feels
robust. It is.
3. Sensitivity.
4. Great portability.
Of course there are also some liabilities.
Sound through the little speaker is not as good as some
competing products. But given that this little Sony blows
the competitors away in almost all other respects,
this is a minor quibble. The sound isn't bad; it just
isn't room filling. As a personal radio this isn't such
a liability. Plus, you can always use earphones or connect
to auxiliary speakers (Cambridge Soundworks?).
The memory system is simple, without alphabetic labels.
There is no tuning dial, just jog buttons for scanning
the bands. Simplicity makes for easy operation, though.
FM reception is respectable (much better than the very
expensive big brother the Sony ICF-SW77). Standard AM
reception is good, possibly very good. But if you are
interested in DXing the AM bands, you already have a
GE Super Radio.
It doesn't have an AC adaptor (and you should AVOID buying
the horrible--and horribly expensive--official Sony adaptor).
If you want to power from AC, get an inexpensive one. I power
mine with rechargeable NiMH batteries which work better than
alkalines and can be reused hundreds of times. Buy two
sets of batteries and you'll always have a set charged and
ready to go. Battery drain is respectively low and the unit
functions perfectly on the slightly lower voltage NiMHs.
As a travel radio, or as an introduction to shortwave, I can't
think of a better unit. Probably the best recommendation for
the 7600GR is that in spite of all the laudable reviews, using
one for the first time still surprises. Originally priced
at just under $200 US, current street prices make this an
incredible value.
Now for the bad news. Sony is getting out of the world band
radio business. These little gems may soon be unavailable.
So if you're interested in the 7600GR, now is the time.
Customer Review: I LOVE THIS RADIO!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a radio hobbyist and defiantly not a radio professional. I love this radio because the realm of global radio is made available. With the Sony ICF-SW7600GR radio you have access to ALL the broadcast frequencies. This radio is easy to operate and has ALL the important technology(Synchronous Detection, a MUST have and SSB) to dial into any broadcasted radio signal being sent from anywhere. Right out of the box this radio pulls in an incredible wealth of exciting and interesting things(as I'm writing this I am listening to 2 ham radio operators talk to each other) like navigational beacons, ham operators, aircraft communications, CB radio and various world broadcasts like China International Radio, Voice of Canada plus a multitude of others! With the 7600GR it's easy to zone in on a signal then fine tune it to maximum reception. Whether you intend to search the waves for what may be out there or you want to tune into specific broadcasts from any country around the world the 7600GR makes it easy and extremely enjoyable! The radio is light weight and the buttons are laid out in a perfect fashion for searching the waves and fine tuning. I can hold this radio for may hours, working the controls to search the air waves with no problem. It's easy to operate and all the technology really works with you. The backlit screen makes the display easy to read even in the dark. The INCLUDED case also looks very nice and keeps your radio clean and protected. The buttons are well laid out and the screen has a very good viewing range. The speaker does sound good for a portable radio. The reception is very good right out of the box even without the INCLUDED reel antenna. I researched this radio and the Sangean ATS-909. I was leaning towards the ATS-909 but it didn't have Synchronous Detection, which I now know I could simply NOT do without! It's a great feature, don't buy a World Band radio without it. The tuner on the 7600GR is also great. You can dial in a specific frequency via the number pad, or scan with the push button tune buttons. Tune in steps or 1 kHz fine tune, add the SSB (Single Side Band, BOTH Upper Side Band and Lower Side Band) and you can tune within the 1 kHz you are listening too. It's fantastic for picking out those weak signals and really homing in on them. This radio has all the features(and some extras) of much more costly Shortwave (World Band) radios. THIS IS TRULY THE BEST RADIO IN THE UNDER AND UP TO $200 RANGE!
This is the best investment I have ever made. I simply LOVE the Sony ICF-SW7600GR! I recommend it to you too!