The best radio. How to choose a radio receiver with good reception: an overview of manufacturers and reviews about them. Received frequency range

There are many different brands and models of radios, and they vary greatly in cost, features, size, control complexity, and other factors. The choice, first of all, depends on your interests. I deliberately tried not to mention brands and models in this article in order to allow the reader to make their own, meaningful choice.

Often, novice radio amateurs vaguely imagine the purpose of acquiring a radio receiver. Let's try to classify the purpose of the receiver.

What is a radio receiver for?

1. Just listen to the radio. Therefore, the radio receiver must receive broadcast radio stations. Broadcasting stations broadcast their programs on long, medium and short waves with amplitude modulation, and on ultrashort waves with frequency modulation. To receive broadcast radio stations, any radio receiver with the desired frequency range is suitable. It is desirable for a city to have a radio receiver with a VHF band (FM), since strong urban interference will interfere with decent reception on LW, CB and HF. For the suburbs and travel, it is better to choose a radio with a shortwave range. For the best sound reproduction, it is better to choose a radio with as large a speaker as possible (the wider the speaker cone, the wider and more linear the spectrum of reproduced sounds).

2. Listen to everything you can. In order to listen to a variety of signals in a wide range and at the same time not make great demands on the quality of sound reproduction, a broadband radio scanner-scanner is sufficient. Such radio receivers, as a rule, have small dimensions (there are even pocket ones).

3. Listen to long distance broadcasting stations (DX). This requires a radio receiver with good sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, in order to receive long-range broadcast radio stations in interference conditions, it is desirable that the receiver has a sync detector (AM-sync) and a notch filter (a rarity in consumer radios).

4. Listen to ham radio and other stations operating in telegraph mode and single-sideband modulation. Then you need a radio receiver capable of receiving a single-sideband signal (SSB) and telegraph. If the receiver can receive SSB, then the telegraph will also accept (and vice versa, since one method is used).

You must also be aware that the radio needs an antenna, and sometimes grounding (network radios, as a rule, do not need grounding, because they are actually grounded through the mains).

The built-in ferrite and telescopic antennas are designed for outdoor use, as indoors, radio reception is interfered with by all kinds of interference from local sources (network wires, electrical appliances, etc.).In addition, steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete houses shields the radio signal (and at the same time is an antenna that propagates interference), and often nothing is heard in reinforced concrete houses except for strong interference. Therefore, in reinforced concrete houses, they try to place antennas closer to the window, and preferably on the balcony. Preference, in this case, should be given to high-quality ferrite or loop antennas.

Buy a new or used radio?

Everything is simple here. If you need a warranty and you don’t understand anything about radio electronics, you need to take a new radio. If you are ready to take a risk and at the same time get a more worthy receiver for the same money, look at offers on the secondary market.

It is worth noting that old imported radios were made from parts of much better quality than domestic consumer radios. On the other hand, Soviet radios are easier to repair.

Separately, we can note the classification system of Soviet radio equipment. If you don’t go deep into the rules, then the higher the class, the better the “performance” of the radio receiver (sensitivity, selectivity, frequency stability, etc.). The model number consisted of three digits. So, the first digit indicates the class of equipment: 0 - the highest class (Hi-Fi), 1 - the first class, etc. For example, a stereo radio receiver Leningrad-006 is of the highest class, Ocean-205 has a second class.

How much will it cost

As a rule, radios for classes under the number 1 fit into the price corridor up to 3000 rubles. For target number 2 the price corridor is already 3000-6000 rubles. Radio receivers for target number 3 located in the price niche of 6000-10000 rubles. For classes under the number 4 radios are located in the widest price corridor, 3000-30000 rubles. Over 30 thousand rubles are sold amateur and professional radios with "bells and whistles" and most readers simply do not need.

The difference in price between radios does not always mean a difference in performance. Overpricing is affected by brand, design, advertising, rarity, manufacturer, etc. But the price never directly depends on the performance of the receiver.

Desktop or portable radio?

Naturally, if you want to take your radio on trips, fishing, etc., then you need a compact and lightweight receiver that runs on batteries or rechargeable batteries. Unfortunately, with a decrease in weight and dimensions, the performance of radio receivers is lost (about SDR, a separate conversation). The smaller the dimensions, the worse the sound (narrower spectrum) and the lower the volume. Small dimensions sacrifice selectivity and dynamics.

Among table radios there are a number of models that can be placed on a bedside table (radio "for bedside table"). They have a built-in clock and alarm clock, display backlight, and sometimes buttons. These models are usually small in size and are intended for those who like to listen to the radio in bed (early morning is a good time for DX).

Portable radios tend to be cheaper and simpler than their desktop counterparts. On the other hand, not every desktop "coffin with music" has sufficient characteristics.

Specifications and advertising

Often, in order to present the radio in the best light, manufacturers and sellers manipulate technical specifications. Often they do not indicate important parameters, but they describe non-essential functions in excess.

1. Range of received frequencies

If you are going on a long trip, short waves are indispensable. Most often, digital (PLL) consumer radios receive in the range from 150 kHz to 30 MHz, as well as the VHF band. Older radios often only have a few sections of the broadcast shortwave band.

2. Mode of operation

Mode SSB(single-sideband modulation) greatly expands your possibilities, tk. it will be possible to receive not only broadcasting stations, but also amateur, military, service, ship, etc. The mode of the amplitude sync detector is also interesting ( AM sync) which allows you to receive signals from broadcasting stations on one sideband, thereby narrowing the required bandwidth and attenuating interference.

3. Sensitivity

The lower this indicator, the better (indicated in microvolts). Sensitivity alone does not make a good receiver, but without sufficient sensitivity it will be "deaf". As a rule, more expensive and higher performance receivers have higher sensitivity than cheap portable ones. There is a reason for this. Due to the lack of selectivity and dynamics, cheaper home receiver models are prone to the "overdrive" that strong radios create. These overloads lead to distortion, several radio stations are heard at the same time. To combat these phenomena, sensitivity is underestimated. Many radios have a "Local/DX" switch that reduces sensitivity. In more advanced models, instead of such a switch, there is a smooth high-frequency gain control (RF Gain) and an adjustable attenuator.

4. Selectivity (selectivity)

Selectivity is specified as a bandwidth in hertz, where the signal is attenuated by a factor of 2 (by 6 dB) at the edges. This is the ability of the receiver to separate the signals of two stations located on adjacent frequencies. Sensitivity and selectivity go hand in hand for overall performance. Cheap models do not have the ability to separate strong stations on adjacent channels, you can hear both stations at the same time. More expensive receivers are better at this task.

Bandpass filters are responsible for selectivity. Modern radios use ceramic (cheapest), quartz, electromechanical and digital (DSP) filters. Household receivers are supplied with ceramic filters. They are cheap and small in size, but their amplitude-frequency response (AFC) has gentle slopes, which allows adjacent signals to “leak through”. Quartz filters have the best selectivity, have steep slopes of the frequency response. Electromechanical and digital filters provide good selectivity, but are used mainly in military and very expensive equipment.

5. Dynamic range

The magnitude of the strongest signal that a radio receiver can receive without distortion or overload. It is measured in decibels. It is desirable that the dynamic range of the receiver be greater than 70, and preferably 100 dB.

Tuning scale

Radio receivers can have a digital or linear (analogue, pointer) tuning scale. Radios with a linear scale are cheaper, but a digital scale has a number of advantages:
1) convenient frequency indication;
2) greater reliability than the analog scale (no mechanical parts and cables);
3) with digital display other information can be displayed (operating mode, radio station name, time, etc.);
4) Digital scale is more accurate than analog scale.

Radios with a frequency synthesizer PLL (PLL) always have a digital scale.

Connector for external antenna

The ability to connect an external antenna also significantly increases the capabilities of the radio. This also allows the use of a preselector and other interference suppression devices (active directional antennas, phase compensators, etc.).

Radio control

Receivers also differ in controls. There are radios with many knobs, buttons and switches. There are receivers with concise controls (literally a tuning knob and volume control). There are receivers with buttons only, no tuning knobs. However, in itself, the abundance of buttons and knobs does not indicate good radio performance.

However, the more different adjustments, the wider the listener's possibilities, but not everyone likes to twist and press something all the time.

Trademark

Currently, the brand is rapidly losing its value. Brands pass from hand to hand and the so-called “company” can “knit Chinese brooms” for a long time (for example, the Grundig brand).

Very often brands are distributed geographically when the same radio model is sold in different countries under different brands and names (although produced at the same factory). In this case, there may be differences in the frequency ranges received, taking into account national broadcasting regulations and laws.

Appearance (design)

Here, as they say - "there are no comrades for the taste and color." However, it should be mentioned that "solid design" very often covers up mediocre performance. The fact is that a shiny body and handles are much cheaper to make than the “correct stuffing”.

On the other hand, a laconic design very often hides wonderful technical solutions and worthy opportunities.

Modern technology is developing simply insane leaps. It would seem that a hundred years is nothing for history, but during this time a person has gone from simple radio, which only a few could afford, to mobile Internet at a speed of under 100 Mbps, through which modern young people prefer to listen to music. It is understandable, all streaming music services like Google Music, Apple Music, Spotify and the usual “contact” offer an incredible library and an individual approach - you listen more, more new similar music will be offered to you.

And this is undoubtedly the future, but traditional radio is not going to give up yet. Live presenters, current news, modern trends - all this is still only on the side of familiar radio stations. Most of the listeners are motorists, but pedestrians also like to listen to music. Take, for example, the situation when you went to the country or got out to the shore of a picturesque lake for barbecue. Civilization is far away, the mobile network does not catch, and the good old radio will still delight you with its sound. Also, such devices will be of interest to people of age who use the radio simply out of habit.

Unfortunately, there are not enough radios in the assortment of large electronics manufacturers, because the main forces are now thrown into trendy smartphones, wireless speakers and much more. However, there is still plenty to choose from. And we did it especially for you. The traditional rating is waiting, let's go!

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The best portable radios

Opens our rating category, devices from which the best way Suitable for summer cottages or outdoor recreation. These devices are compact enough that you can safely toss them into your bag without worrying about the space they take up. Of course, these are not pocket radios, but the reception quality is much better thanks to the telescopic antenna. They work from ordinary batteries, and they live more than modern smartphones, so you don’t have to worry about a suddenly “dead” receiver on a hike. All in all, a great choice for people who want to always be in the company of music and radio hosts.

3 Sony ICF-306

The most modern design
Country:
Average price: 1,949 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.5

Sony products have always stood out for their original design. So the ICF-306 model attracts attention primarily due to appearance. Here, plastic is pleasant to the touch and a stylish mesh encircling the case around the perimeter. All this looks modern, stylish and even expensive. Build quality is top notch. All "krutilki" have a clear, smooth ride. Together, this leaves a very pleasant impression of communicating with the device.

In technical terms, everything is noticeably worse. Yes, the receiver supports not only FM, but also MW, but the sensitivity leaves much to be desired. In the city and within a radius of 30-35 km from it, the reception is confident, but then you will have to listen only to local radio stations. The good sound quality, which many users call "soft and velvety", saves the situation a little.

Advantages:

• Great design
• High quality materials and assembly
• Quality speaker

Flaws:

• Not very good signal reception

2 Perfeo PF-SV922

The only model with a digital tuner
Country:
Average price: 950 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.7

How nice it is when domestic products are ahead of eminent foreign competitors by several orders of magnitude. The Perfeo radio is a real discovery. First, it costs a penny. Secondly, it has a huge functionality. In addition to working with the FM band (via digital tuner, by the way), the device is able to play music from USB or MicroSD flash drives, act as a speaker when connected to a computer, and even ... charge a mobile phone. Is it hard to find competitors with similar capabilities? For us personally, yes. Thirdly, excellent build quality. Yes, the PF-SV922 looks frankly cheap because of the terrible shiny plastic, but everything is assembled just fine. Add to everything else a reliable signal reception and good sound quality and you get just a great device.

Advantages:

• Lowest Cost
• Digital tuner with 50 station memory
• Support for USB flash drives and MicroSD
• Can work as a speaker when connected to a computer
• Excellent build quality

Flaws:

• Cheap, sloppy look
• Supports FM only

1 Panasonic RF-3500

Best Features
Country:
Average price: 3,000 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.7

This model from the notorious Panasonic could be mistaken for a stylized “retro”, but this is not entirely true. The RF-3500 has simply been in production for over a decade! Has it become obsolete by this time? Not at all. And why modify something that works so well. Support for FM, MW, LW, HF is available. There is a high-quality speaker with relatively rich bass. Mains power is also available. Also, this device good reception signal, as reported by users in many positive reviews, which means that even far from civilization, it will delight you with music.

Advantages:

• Widest supported frequency range
• Can work from the network, i.e. Can be used as a fixed radio
• Quality speaker
• High battery life due to the use of 4 batteries

Flaws:

• Headphone output mono
• High price

The best fixed radios

We have considered portable models of radio receivers, and now the turn of their heavier counterparts has come. These devices already have significantly larger dimensions and weight, which, together with operation exclusively from the network, allows them to be placed only indoors. In terms of functionality, there are almost no differences, but the increased size allowed engineers to install larger speakers to provide high-quality sound and high volume.

2 Sangean WR-12

Best sound quality
Country: China
Average price: 16,450 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.7

Unfortunately, it rarely happens that you want to place some kind of device in the most prominent place in the most popular room of the house. The Sangean WR-12 is one of those. A stylish wooden box with a bevelled front edge, on which all the control knobs are located, and the frequency scale simply does not want to be hidden from the eyes. Still, the retro style in 2017 may look organic. What makes it even more pleasing is that under a nice case there is just excellent acoustics, including 2 speakers and a subwoofer, with a total power of 16 watts. This will “pump” a small apartment without any problems or country cottage area. In addition, in addition to radio in the FM and CB bands, the WR-12 can play music from an external source through a regular AUX connector. And if this is not enough for you, you can pay attention to the WR-12BT model, which even has Bluetooth and a line-in - then the classics will definitely play in a new way. And the price ... In this case, the high cost is just a small nuisance that you simply don’t want to pay attention to.

Advantages:

• Excellent 2.1 sound
• Stylish retro design
• Excellent quality materials and assembly
• Has AUX input
• Bass and treble can be adjusted separately

1 Panasonic RF-800UEE-K

Best functionality
Country: Japan (made in Indonesia)
Average price: 4,589 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.7

And again, the leading position is occupied by a radio receiver from the Japanese from Panasonic. But if in the previous category their device managed to become a leader due to excellent reliability and a large range of frequencies, then the RF-800UEE-K stands out for completely different features. First of all, it is worth noting MP3 support and the presence of a USB interface for connecting the “flash drives” familiar to all of us. The device also supports shortwave frequencies. Finally, it is worth noting the ability to work on 4 D-type batteries, which is not quite usual for a stationary device. True, at first, an autonomous version of work will be forced, because the manufacturer ... saved on the power supply - it is simply not included in the kit, which means you will either have to buy it separately or make it yourself.

Advantages:

• Supports HF
• Supports MP3 and USB flash drives
• Can also run on batteries
• Relatively small dimensions

The best radio alarm clocks

Finally, we have a category left that will be useful to a slightly larger number of people than ordinary radios. This is due to the fact that everyone has to get up in the morning, and the standard alarm clock on the phone or watch eventually becomes so annoying that you just want to smash the hated device against the wall. It is much more pleasant to wake up to the lively chatter of the leading radio or new music. Yes, and the watch itself will not be superfluous - it is much easier to look at them while awake than on a brightly glowing smartphone.

3 Philips AJ3400

Best price
Country: Netherlands (made in China)
Average price: 1,789 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.5

Philips products have always stood out for their excellent quality and good functionality. The AJ 3400 alarm clock radio is no exception. Outwardly, this is an ordinary block with glossy glass in front, which is why the numbers are not visible in the bright sun due to glare. But at night, on the contrary, the brightness should be reduced - there is a special button for this. As a radio receiver, the device shows itself very well - the reception is confident, and the sound quality can even be called good. The main nitpick is that the device does not show the time and does not turn on the alarm clock when running on batteries, although it uses three AAA batteries.

Advantages:

• Confident radio reception
• There is a memory for 10 radio stations
• Good speaker for this class of devices
• Alarm clock and in the "beeper" mode, and in the radio mode smoothly increases the volume
• Has a sleep timer for up to 120 minutes
• A quartz resonator is used, so that the time does not go astray

Flaws:

• The glossy front panel collects dust and glare due to which information is not always visible in the sun

2 VITEK VT-3525 (2014)

The richest functionality
Country: Russia (produced in China)
Average price: 2,046 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.6

Most people have already weaned from devices with this shape. But it pleases not only unusualness, but also thoughtfulness - there are no elements that would perform an exclusively decorative character. Take at least the “bells” in which LEDs are installed - you can use them both as a night light and as a light alarm clock. By the way, the alarm settings here are very extensive - you can choose a "beeper" or radio, set the operation only on weekends or work days. Also, the main features of the VT-3525 include the presence of a projector that displays time and temperature on the ceiling or any other flat surface (yes, there is a thermometer here too). The brightness is quite low, so that during the day the numbers do not spoil the interior, and at night they do not blind the eyes. The only thing you can complain about is the mediocre quality of radio signal reception, but in urban conditions the sensitivity is enough.

Advantages:

• Unusual design
• Presence of a projector
• The presence of a night light in the "bells"
• There is a thermometer
• Lots of alarm settings

1 Sony ICF-C1T

Best Sensitivity
Country: Japan (made in China)
Average price: 2,290 rubles.
Rating (2017): 4.7

Remember, we said that Sony equipment always looks very stylish and beautiful? Here's another confirmation for you. It seems to be another watch, but the shape of the perfect cube, the combination of glass, frosted plastic and grilles make it look very pleasant. There are no complaints about the quality either. In addition, users note confident signal reception. Yes, and support for SV can be safely written down as an advantage of the device. What else? Two alarm modes - the usual "beeper" and radio, plus there is a sleep timer, which means you can not only wake up to your favorite radio station, but also fall asleep.

Advantages:

• Stylish design
• Excellent build quality
• Support for MW frequencies
• Confident signal reception
• Has a sleep timer
• There is a backlight brightness adjustment (3 levels)