Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Hawkins, who comments in reply to our post about the Sangean HDR-18:
Darn. Just when you thought you read a review of the latest Sangean radio another one comes out. I have yet to find a review of the Sangean HDR-16.
[The] HDR-16 is a portable AM-FM HD radio with stereo speakers. Runs on household AC power or four C cells. At 10? long this is not exactly pocket sized but small enough for beach or nightstand duty. I wonder how fast it eats up the C batteries?
I don’t think HDR-16 will hit the shelves until mid-September.
Dan then followed up with pre-order prices:
- Sangean HDR-16 on Amazon. Pre-order price is $159.99.
- Sangean HDR-16 on Adorama. This looks like another pre-order offer for the HDR-16 but the price is only $99.99!
That Adorama price is correct! I just noticed that Universal Radio also has a pre-order price of $99.99.
$100 US is not a terrible price for a quality portable AM/FM stereo analog/digital radio. Indeed, that may be the best price I’ve seen for that particular feature set. I bet four C cells will power it for quite a long time, too.
At second glance, the HDR-16 has an impressive feature list (via Sangean):
- HD Radio digital and analog AM / FM-Stereo reception
- 10 Memory Presets (5 FM, 5 AM)
- PAD (Program Associated Data) Service
- Support for Emergency Alerts Function
- Automatic Multicast Re-Configuration
- Automatic Simulcast Re-Configuration
- Auto Ensemble Seek
- Real Time Clock and Date with Alarm and Sleep Function
- 2 Alarm Timer by Radio, Buzzer
- HWS (Humane Wake System) Buzzer and Radio
- Snooze Function
- Tone & Bass Control
- Information Display for Channel Frequency, Call Sign, Radio Text, Audio Mode, Service
- Mode, Signal Quality and Clock Time
- Easy to Read LCD Display with Backlight
- Battery Low LED Indication
- Auxiliary Input for Additional Audio Sources
- Record Output for Connecting to Hi-Fi System or Recording from Audio Program
- I/O Jacks: DC In, Line-Out (Rec-Out), Aux-In, Headphone and HD / FM Rod Antenna
The feature set sounds like something that would appeal to my buddy Jeff McMahon. He’s been looking for a bedside radio for quite a while. This one has a “Human Wake System”–perhaps meaning the alarm gradually increases the volume? Of course, I question if the HDR-16 will perform well on the AM broadcast band–I suppose it depends on how well the receiver is shielded from CPU noises, etc.
I might be tempted to grab one of these and test it. I like the price tag much better than that of the HDR-18, though I’m not sure its audio fidelity will be comparable. While I doubt I can receive an HD broadcast from my home, it might be fun trying.
Have any SWLing Post readers pre-ordered the HDR-16? Care to do a review?
