Higher end radios...

The cheap and fast answer is the Sony XDRF1HD. Usually around $100, but I got one for $50. You'll find hardcore hams and radio geeks raving over it. It has a remarkable tuner and sounds terrific. One of the truly great bargains out there.

If you want to get into the old-school tuners, consider ones from H.H. Scott, Marantz, Yamaha, McIntosh, and Magnum Dynalab. All made or make some wonderful tuners. You might want to nose around www.fmtunerinfo.com for more detail and specs. I run a Scott 350B because it's an all-tube FM multiplex (stereo) receiver. Sounds great and tubed multiplex tuners were only made for a few years before chips took over the market. I keep a 1946 Hammarlund HQ-129X alive for tubed AM and shortwave reception. Fine old boatanchor.

Another route you might want to take is picking up a communications receiver. You'll find good ones from Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu. You'll get AM and FM, but also shortwave, amateur bands, and most of the spectrum save for military and cellphone frequencies. Lots of fun to spin the dial and hear propaganda broadcasts out of Cuba and other goodies. I use an Icom 756ProII. A transceiver (I'm a ham) but love digging out obscure signals from all over.

One big consideration is an external antenna. I like Antennacraft - good quality and prices are reasonable. The antenna is about half the equation in getting good reception, so take a little trouble to put one on the roof.

But unless you want to geek out over tubes or pick up a cool-looking older tuner, that cheap little Sony is about as good as anything out there. Advances in technology really paid off in price and performance.

the sony has a great tuner but i do not think the sound is that good. for table top radios i like the boston if they still make it. the mono one has a better tuner obviously. for actual rack tuners an 80's day sequera is the finest there ever was imo. am/fm is like all but gone now.

$500? I had no idea. I got one while it was still in production and there was a $50 rebate on it. Never figured the price would skyrocket.

As for battery-operated and portable, look at some of the Yaesu HTs. I like the diecast aluminum bodies and have used a couple of them regularly. Icom and Kenwood also make good ones. I'm not terribly current on them, but several have wideband reception. Take a look around Ham Radio Outlet (www.hamradio.com) and you should find several models.

This place appears to have it for $79.19. Be advised that I know nothing about this seller, please research them before making a purchase.