Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio (Black)
by Sony
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Our Price: $20.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio (Black)
Customer Review: Perfect Camp Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently the little radio we have used for years at our remote Alaskan camp gave up the ghost. No big surprise I suppose as it was a very cheap unit in every respect. It had gizmos 'til it didn't end but it was the AM radio we kept it for. And it ran forever on the 3 C cells it required. Generally we changed them once a year. I liked that aspect a lot: batteries which lasted and lasted.
So, finding another AM radio to replace it was a tall order. I have used the smaller "transister sized" Sonys for many years and have used them not only in camp, but also dropped them from airplanes, when needed, to weather-stranded travelers. I know the name has meant a decent product when it comes to radios. But I wanted a somewhat better radio for our cabin base camp, so I decided to give the Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio a try.
I couldn't be happier. This radio is better in quality- significantly- than the old unit we had. The reception is excellent and clear. The tuner is very accommodating, something I appreciate since the three stations we can get here are 40-125 miles away. Each station comes in loud and clear and the position of the radio, unlike the old one, is not critical (although you can make some fine, if unnecessary, tuning adjustments by turning the radio if you like.)
We use a small electric generator, but the battery power is what we depend on for the radio since our electrical uses vary quite a bit. Additionally, we also like to "secure" our fish rack (from the bears) by installing a bucket-protected radio when we are away for a time to resupply. So the battery source feature is important to us. One of the first things I wanted to know was whether the AA battery life in this radio would match the battery life we were accustomed to with the C-cell radio. To test this, I left the radio on when we left camp for a week. I tuned the radio just so the red LED tuning indicator went off. (The reception was still nearly the same.) When we returned 6 1/2 days later, I wasn't even thinking about the radio until I approached the cabin and was greeted by voices inside. What a pleasant welcome. The original set of batteries now have approximately 10 24-hour days of use on them with this radio. Obviously, I don't yet know if they'll go a year with intermittent use, but that's not critical. I am satisfied that the radio works as well as it does, and does so without eating batteries.
KNOM, KICY, and KNSA can be assured that they have ready ears thanks to a good radio at a reasonable price.
Customer Review: S O U N D is what matters
Summary: 5 Stars
I went looking for a higher end sound experience. I bought the sonido. And I sent it back. I learned something - What you have is a lot of radio guys vying for your cash. I thought I could get a lovely sound and quality if I paid more. What I got with the Sonido was muffled sound. Then I thought about the iPal and I realized, you got all these radio companies trying to provide a "high end" product and all they do is come up short on sound. You guys will read a lot of reviews about reception, am, fm, etc.... And sound quality, etc... Here's what I've learned; The Sony ICF-38 delivers. As you search for a great radio, check this, this radio is perfect. It sounds awesome. The Sonido I bought sounded muffled. As much as I wanted to spend 200 smacks for a high end product, I declined, and got the ICF-38. Forget about reception, and all those things. This radio gets it, and it delivers. 25 bucks. perfect. My sense is that you have all these radio dudes trying to pull top dollar out of your pockets. Reception is mostly location.
And they've done a terrible job. There's one company that's done a good job of it - it's called APPLE. After that, it's Sony. This ICF radio is like one step up from an alarm clock, but it is loud, or soft, and it is VERY NICE.
Why would you buy an isongbook, or an iPal, or anything else when you can sit at a campfire or next to your iMac, and let this rockstar roll for 25 bones? Please answer me that question. Please tell me how $219 for a better speaker is worth it? Search all you you want for reviews but I'll tell you this radio is KING for the price. Stop worrying about high end sound. Stop worrying about features. It's 25 bones or 220.
I figured it out. All these so called high-end radio companies are trying to milk you, without truly providing that high end product. They seem to come close but they never deliver. Countless issues with all of them. So why buy? You don't. You wait. I buy Mac products at a premium because they deliver. These radio companies seem to be desperately looking for a way to take your cash and make a profit. They are all trying to become "apple." This is what the smart buyer opts for.
Listen, you spent 25 and saved 175. Save the 175 for a rainy day. That's my 219 cents. All the rest is BS. Sorry CCradio, and Sonido & iPal and the rest. This is the truth. They all fall short. And the ICF reigns king...
Customer Review: Well Designed/Good Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a big time radio guy, and have used many models over the years. There are two things that really make any radio stand out, and this one has both of them.
The ICF-38 is an excellent performer as far as reception of both AM and FM signals go. Weak signal pick up on both bands is markedly better here than with almost all small portable radios I've used, and even more importantly, selectivity (ability to seperate stations cleanly) is better as well. The tone switch (which some radios don't even have) cuts the treble when desired, if you want a less harsh sounding AM signal. The dial has no clock or light, but an LED for indicating if a station is tuned in. Battery life is excellent if alkalines are used (it takes 4 AA batteries). Output volume is listed as 4 watts, quite loud for a radio of this size, with little distortion at top level.
The other ingredient for a good radio is ease of use and a well thought out design. There are little things here which most people won't notice that actually make this radio a joy to use. Many radios today that run off both internal batteries and AC require a seperate wall-wart that plugs into the radio and the outlet, but the ICF-38 has the power cord built in so you won't have to search for it when needed. Also, the battery cover is hinged, which is great as battery covers can disappear as easily as wall-warts (and you can't just go to Wal-mart to buy a new battery cover). The carry handle flips up when needed, and there is an indentation in the cabinet which allows you to slip in a finger to raise it easily, and you'll find out how nice this is when your hands are full and you need to bring the radio with you as well. Both slide switches for band selection and power have a raised bump in the middle which makes it easier to change bands or turn it on. Finally, The shape makes it easy to place in most locations and it is very stable, making it unlikely to get knocked over.
If there were no markings on this radio to indicate the manufacturer, I would have easily guessed that it was a Sony product. It has the great performance and clever design that I associate with Sony.
Customer Review: Perfect Cheap Portable Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a perfect, simple AM/FM radio. No clocks, no alarms, no bells, no whistles. Just a reliable AM/FM radio with good sound which is exceptionally easy to tune.
I bought this as a replacement for my favorite simple portable, the GE 72664, which I was dismayed to learn is no longer being manufactured. (My GE 72664 still works, but is covered in sticky grease after years of living in a New Orleans kitchen.) Although the Sony ICF-38 doesn't look quite as good as the GE 72664, it is a worthy replacement in all other respects.
There are two critical considerations when comparing stripped-down portables: (1) ease of tuning in to stations and (2) sound quality. This radio tunes in to stations wonderfully, and even picks up weak stations that my Technics tabletop receiver doesn't pick up. The sound quality is also very good for a portable of this size and price range. The sound fills the room better than smaller portables I've purchased at twice the price.
This radio has three features which aren't necessarily common to many stripped-down portables. First, it has an on/off switch, rather than relying upon turning the volume knob all the way until it "clicks". Second, it has a light which comes on when you are tuned into a station. This feature seems unnecessary, as you can hear whether or not the station is tuned in properly. Therefore, the light seems like it will just waste the battery, and serve no other valuable function. Third, and most bizarre, it has a tone switch with "high" and "low" settings. You can tell a difference between the two, but I imagine most users will forget about this feature quickly, as it doesn't dramatically alter your listening experience. Although this radio does have good sound quality for its size and price range, the sound isn't so incredible as to make the tone switch necessary or desirable.
If you're looking for a simple portable AM/FM radio with no fancy features and a nice price, I don't think there is a better alternative being manufactured today.
Customer Review: A Good Basic Radio for a Good price !
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted a basic AM-FM Radio with analog tuning to take traveling with me. As different countries have different channel spacing digital tuning would not always be suitable and I prefer analog tuning anyway. Initial comparison testing prior to my travels indicated that, for the price, the Sony ICF38 has quite good signal sensitivity and selectivity for a basic radio in this price class. One area I was going to with this radio is in a strong " RF " enviornment where several nearby broadcast stations can easily overload the front end of cheap radios making them nearly useless. This Sony ICF38 proved itself when used in this strong signal area without front end overload which also allowed listening to weaker out of town stations on both AM and FM.
Basic and decent quality radios like this are not always easily found in retail stores, especially the nationally known chains where shelf space is at a premimium. I am happy I was able to find this radio available on line. It is a fantastic, basic ( easy to use ) portable radio reminiscent of portable radios we had years ago long before the digital tuning age. Battery consumption is conservative. The sound quality is pleasing for a radio in this price range and size. I find it rather attractive in visual appearance and very practical including the detent in the carry handle to position it up or down without it flopping around if the radio is moved. The tuning indicator calibration is fairly accurate as well if you know the frequency of the station you want to listen to it will not be difficult to tune in.
I like the Sony ICF38. It is a good one to keep on hand for loss of power emergencies. I am seriously considering ordering a second one.