markl
Hangin' with the monkeys.
Member of the Trade: Lawton Audio
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2001
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My quest for the ideal work-out AM/FM radio goes on. I don't need a cassette or MP3 player, so these are purely radios. Also, I only use them in a work-out environment at the gym. Hot buttons for me are:
1. How many FM stations can I program?
2. How easy is it to scroll between stored stations while running, stairmastering, etc. Do I have to stop and look down to see what I'm doing, or can I change stations on the go?
3. How well does it clip to the waist-band of my work-out shorts? This turns out to be the most problematic area, as these portables never have decent clips for this purpose.
4. I've never owned, nor am I likely to own an "armband" style radio. These do not seem to be very ergonomic to me, so I haven't even explored them. I'm stuck with the ones that clip to your belt/waistband.
Models (in order of preference):
1. Aiwa CR-LD101 ($59.00) This model was recently replaced by the very similar CR-LD120 ($59.00)
2. RCA RP1667 ($24.99)
3. Panasonic RF-SW70 ($49.00). This is a brand-new model just released.
Headphones used (in order of preference, see this review for more details: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=17996).
1. Sony MDR-A35G
2. Koss Sporta-Pros
3. Radio Shack 33-1133
4. Sony MDR-A44L
Aiwa CR-LD101
I'm still far from completely satisfied with this radio but overall, it's the best of the 3.
1. Maximum number of FM stations can be stored easily. Fairly easy to program, but not as easy as the RCA.
2. FM reception is pretty good. Equivalent to the Panasonic, but better than the RCA.
3. Sound quality is pretty good, equivalent to the Panasonic and better than the RCA.
4. This unit has a "bass-boost" which is pretty crucial with vertical phones which are best for me for work-outs, so this is actually a plus.
5. Belt clip is weak as hell and totally flimsy, yet it still somehow manages to stay in place miraculously.
6. Durability is pretty poor-- the two main buttons that are used to scroll between stations are somewhat malfunctioning after only 8 months of use.
7. Eronomics are passable but not good-- the buttons are small and the volume control is tiny and can be jogged accidentally.
8. Overal score: B-
RCA RP1667
1. By far the easiest to program. A + for programability.
2. By far the best belt clip of the 3 that keeps it nicely secure even during hard-core work-outs.
3. The buttons for scrolling between stations are tiny and awkwardly placed making it impossible to switch on the go.
4. Sound quality is great from the mids on up, but there's zero bass. And no bass-boost. Too bad.
5. FM reception is the worst among the three by a fairly wide margin. Bummer!
6. Requires two AAA batteries where the other 2 only need one.
7. Overall grade: C
Panasonic RF-SW70
This is a brand new, just released model.
1. Absolutely impossible to program. Ergonomics are so utterly poor you wonder if this was designed for use by humans at all. Just dismal!
2. You can only program 5 FM stations in each of two separate "modes". It's very difficult and inconvenient to change "modes" to get to the other 5.
3. The buttons for scrolling through programmed stations are merely adequate, but far from "ergonomic".
4. Sound quality is pretty good, comparable to the Aiwa. The Panasonic also has a "bass boost", so thumbs up there.
5. FM reception is OK, equivalent to the Aiwa.
6. Overall grade: D
Someday, they will produce the ultimate AM/FM radio for me! Sadly, none of these are it.
Mark
1. How many FM stations can I program?
2. How easy is it to scroll between stored stations while running, stairmastering, etc. Do I have to stop and look down to see what I'm doing, or can I change stations on the go?
3. How well does it clip to the waist-band of my work-out shorts? This turns out to be the most problematic area, as these portables never have decent clips for this purpose.
4. I've never owned, nor am I likely to own an "armband" style radio. These do not seem to be very ergonomic to me, so I haven't even explored them. I'm stuck with the ones that clip to your belt/waistband.
Models (in order of preference):
1. Aiwa CR-LD101 ($59.00) This model was recently replaced by the very similar CR-LD120 ($59.00)
2. RCA RP1667 ($24.99)
3. Panasonic RF-SW70 ($49.00). This is a brand-new model just released.
Headphones used (in order of preference, see this review for more details: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=17996).
1. Sony MDR-A35G
2. Koss Sporta-Pros
3. Radio Shack 33-1133
4. Sony MDR-A44L
Aiwa CR-LD101
I'm still far from completely satisfied with this radio but overall, it's the best of the 3.
1. Maximum number of FM stations can be stored easily. Fairly easy to program, but not as easy as the RCA.
2. FM reception is pretty good. Equivalent to the Panasonic, but better than the RCA.
3. Sound quality is pretty good, equivalent to the Panasonic and better than the RCA.
4. This unit has a "bass-boost" which is pretty crucial with vertical phones which are best for me for work-outs, so this is actually a plus.
5. Belt clip is weak as hell and totally flimsy, yet it still somehow manages to stay in place miraculously.
6. Durability is pretty poor-- the two main buttons that are used to scroll between stations are somewhat malfunctioning after only 8 months of use.
7. Eronomics are passable but not good-- the buttons are small and the volume control is tiny and can be jogged accidentally.
8. Overal score: B-
RCA RP1667
1. By far the easiest to program. A + for programability.
2. By far the best belt clip of the 3 that keeps it nicely secure even during hard-core work-outs.
3. The buttons for scrolling between stations are tiny and awkwardly placed making it impossible to switch on the go.
4. Sound quality is great from the mids on up, but there's zero bass. And no bass-boost. Too bad.
5. FM reception is the worst among the three by a fairly wide margin. Bummer!
6. Requires two AAA batteries where the other 2 only need one.
7. Overall grade: C
Panasonic RF-SW70
This is a brand new, just released model.
1. Absolutely impossible to program. Ergonomics are so utterly poor you wonder if this was designed for use by humans at all. Just dismal!
2. You can only program 5 FM stations in each of two separate "modes". It's very difficult and inconvenient to change "modes" to get to the other 5.
3. The buttons for scrolling through programmed stations are merely adequate, but far from "ergonomic".
4. Sound quality is pretty good, comparable to the Aiwa. The Panasonic also has a "bass boost", so thumbs up there.
5. FM reception is OK, equivalent to the Aiwa.
6. Overall grade: D
Someday, they will produce the ultimate AM/FM radio for me! Sadly, none of these are it.
Mark