Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul, who writes:
This seems to be a new basic radio from Sangean:
Click here to view on Amazon (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post)
I’m not sure a radio could get more basic than this one: AA batteries, one volume control, one tuning control, built-in speaker, and a headphones jack.
Thanks for sharing, Paul!
Is it hard to measure the current consumption from the battery?
My old Panasonic and Sony 2 x AA cell radios pull about 8MA. (Single chip superheterodyne) AM-FM
These DSP radios, same cells or AAA all pull 40+ MA.
Not hard to see what battery life will be like..
Reception about the same, fidelity on AM a little better.
Like to see some affordable superheterodyne radios still available!
Being a DSP receiver and the widespread use of DAB+ in Europe why didn’t they load the DAB+/DRM firmware? I understand that the HDRadio software will cost more because Xperi charge the manufacturers and broadcasters to use their standard.
The only additional costs are the copyright costs on the software and a couple of coils to tune more bands and a 4 position band switch.
This would return stereo to all bands on the headphone socket.
It can get even more basic. A year (or two?) ago, I wanted a long-play AM/FM portable. Preferably D-cell batteries. Sound quality was not a concern.
I arrived at the Tecsun R-208. It is inexpensive. It is rated for 200 hours playtime on two D alkaline batteries. I have not logged the hours, but it is on its second set of cheap and likely expired heavy-duty batteries.
https://www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-r208-radio
BTW, that part about sound quality. Yeah, the R-208 truly lacks there IMO, thought it is acceptable for emergencies or background noise.
I will forever mourn the death of My Sangean SR-2 Pocket AM/FM Radio. One AAA Battery powered it for a very long time. It was quite small. Nobody makes anythjng similar.
Hey SANGEAN! How about a DSP version of the SR-2?
This radio was recently reviewed on YouTube by todderbert
to be truly basic it has to have a thumbwheel dial and a thumbwheel off/on/ volume control and an up/ down band switch.