Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s just published a new article exploring why the Tecsun PL-660 and PL-680 “twins” aren’t quite twins after all. Jeff compares the two radios in his garage setup and finds that while the PL-660 is more sensitive, the PL-680 has a clear advantage where it really counts outdoors: better audio fidelity without distortion at high volumes.
(Source: The Herculodge)
Many of you long-time SWLing Post readers may also be followers of my good friend Jeff McMahon’s blog, The Herculodge. Since 2006, Jeff has been writing thoughtful, candid, and often entertaining and cheeky posts about radios, reviewing countless models, and chronicling his fascination with radio.
Sadly, with the pending demise of Typepad on September 30, 2025, The Herculodge will finally be shutting down. Jeff mentioned to me that he kept the blog online in its basic mode for many years, even after posting less frequently, because it still served as a rich archive of his radio reviews and thoughts—and because so many of us in the community (myself included) still referenced it.
Jeff recently published a piece reflecting on the end of Typepad. You can read his farewell post here: Typepad R.I.P. — Obituary for a Dinosaur
Although The Herculodge will disappear, Jeff continues to write at his current site: Cinemorphosis. As he notes, Cinemorphosis focuses more on literary, cultural, and philosophical topics—not specifically radio—but he hasn’t ruled out posting the occasional review or reflection about his long-standing radio obsession.
For those of us who have enjoyed and benefited from Jeff’s writing over the years, The Herculodge will be missed. Thank you, Jeff, for nearly two decades of radio insights, humor, and thoughtful commentary!
And, hey, Jeff—don’t be a stranger around here!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s published a new article on the Herculodge reflecting on his latest impulse radio purchase: the Tecsun PL-330.
Jeff shares how this venerable compact portable seduced him — despite an already impressive collection of Tecsun greats. Click here to read his full post.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s published a new post on his blog, the Herculodge. In this article, he compares the Tecsun PL-680 with its near-twin, the PL-660, and shares his observations on performance, design, and speaker quality—along with a few unexpected surprises. You can read his full post here.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s just published a new piece on his blog, the Herculodge. In it, he explores why listening to classical music on a high-performance radio feels so much more engaging than streaming the same content digitally. Jeff draws compelling parallels between the tactile, skillful nature of tuning a radio and the appreciation of mechanical watches, highlighting how both offer a sense of ritual, authenticity, and independence. It’s a great read! Check it out here.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon for sharing a recent Herculodge post, where he battles radio frequency interference (RFI) while trying to enjoy his Tecsun PL-990—only to find his PL-880 unaffected. This led to a deeper reflection on FM listening habits and the temptation of tabletop radios like the Sangean HDR-18 and HDR-19. But with RFI always a threat, is a new radio the solution or just another problem in disguise?
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he’s published a new post on his blog, The Herculodge.
This time, Jeff examines the Tecsun PL-880 vs. PL-660, exposing the quirks and realities of DSP-based radios in his interference-heavy household. Jeff finds that in real-world conditions, the trusty PL-660 often outperforms the PL-880—especially when battling household RFI.