{"id":12876,"date":"2015-03-31T10:59:59","date_gmt":"2015-03-31T14:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=12876"},"modified":"2015-03-31T11:05:18","modified_gmt":"2015-03-31T15:05:18","slug":"my-new-to-me-sony-icf-2001-shortwave-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/my-new-to-me-sony-icf-2001-shortwave-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"My new (to me) Sony ICF-2001 shortwave radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sony-ICF-2001-003\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, I made an impulse purchase: a Sony ICF-2001<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it was the post about John Lennon’s ICF-2001<\/a>, or perhaps it was the simple fact I couldn’t afford a\u00a0‘2001 when I was a kid; either way, I saw what I thought was a fair price and I bit the bullet.<\/p>\n

\"icf2001l\"<\/a>At about 9-10 years old I remember seeing the (above) image of the ICF-2001 in an advertisement and imagining all that I could hear with this amazing–microprocessor-controlled, dual conversion, frequency synthesized general coverage(!)<\/em>–portable\u00a0receiver.<\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At the time, my only shortwave radio was the Zenith\u00a0Trans Oceanic Royal D7000<\/em>–a wonderful radio for sure–but the convenience of digital tuning? I could only\u00a0imagine.<\/p>\n

The ICF-2001 had revolutionary featured like direct access keypad tuning and an\u00a0LCD digital readout. The ICF-2001 covered\u00a0150 to 29,999 kHz and, like my Transoceanic, could receive\u00a0single sideband. It also had six memories\u00a0that could be assigned to buttons for quick access to my favorite frequencies. Six. Whole. Memories! \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-1\"<\/p>\n

I picked up my used ICF-2001\u00a0for $67.00 US shipped. The seller (a fellow ham radio operator) insured that the radio was in excellent mechanical shape, though cosmetically showed some signs of wear. The only thing missing was the ICF-2001’s shoulder strap. That was fine by me, though, because the seller included all original manuals\/documentation and a very cool canvas carry bag (below) that fits the ICF-2001 like a glove.<\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-8\"<\/a>I’ve had the ICF-2001 for a few weeks now and I must say that I’m quite pleased. \u00a0It’s much larger that most portables currently on the market, but was probably slightly smaller than the venerable ICF-2010.<\/p>\n

The audio from the ICF-2001’s built-in speaker is top-notch; with separate treble and bass control, it’s easy to adjust audio to your taste.<\/p>\n

Would the ICF-2001 out-perform a modern portable receiver? Probably not. Was performance similar to the ICF-2010? No way. The ICF-2001\u00a0has a few annoying quirks (like muting between frequencies, no tuning knob, a backlit display that’s rather small and hard to read at certain angles)–items most modern portables have long since addressed.<\/p>\n

With that said,\u00a0the ICF-2001 does have a few features I wish modern receivers would<\/em> adopt, like, a built-in antenna trimmer.<\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This morning, on my porch, I listened to several broadcasters across the bands and used the antenna adjustment to tweak the match. The adjustment would sometimes increase reception by three S units. I would love to have a similar feature on, say, my Tecsun PL-680<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I also like the old school power switch–a proper mechanical switch that makes it much more difficult to accidentally turn the radio on while traveling or operating in a portable setting.<\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Even thought the ICF-2001 was a bit of an impulse purchase, I have no buyer’s remorse at all. She’s a sturdy rig with great audio and, I believe,\u00a0decent performance on the shortwave and medium wave bands. I\u00a0can certainly confirm that it would have\u00a0blown my mind when I was 9 years old!<\/p>\n

Besides..if the ICF-2001 is good enough for John Lennon<\/a>, it’s good enough for me!<\/p>\n

\"Sony-ICF-2001-5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Any SWLing Post<\/em> readers out there still have a Sony ICF-2001?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago, I made an impulse purchase: a Sony ICF-2001. Perhaps it was the post about John Lennon’s ICF-2001, or perhaps it was the simple fact I couldn’t afford a\u00a0‘2001 when I was a kid; either way, I saw what I thought was a fair price and I bit the bullet. At about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,3,305,26,129,43,154],"tags":[3750,495,3350],"class_list":["post-12876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radios","category-reviews","category-shortwave-radio","category-shortwave-radio-reviews","tag-icf-2001","tag-sony","tag-sony-icf-2001"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3lG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28701,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/from-the-shortwave-archives-radio-rsa-reviews-the-sony-icf-2001\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":0},"title":"From the Shortwave Archives: Radio RSA reviews the Sony ICF-2001","author":"Thomas","date":"October 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I've mentioned many times before what a joy it is to curate the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive (SRAA). Sometimes I'm sent recordings that evoke a flood of memories. SRAA contributor, Tom Laskowski, just submitted another such recording. Tom included the following notes with his Radio RSA - Voice of South\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35226,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/dave-spots-a-sony-icf-2001-in-sitcom-family-ties\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":1},"title":"Dave spots a Sony ICF-2001 in sitcom “Family Ties”","author":"Thomas","date":"December 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who writes: You like to point out SW radios on TV shows. I caught a part of a episode of \u201cFamily Ties\u201d (Season 2 Episode 11, \u201cBirthday Boy\u201d) where Alex was given a Sony ICF-2001 (it was the original 2001 version\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Family-Ties-Sony-Shortwave-1024x594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Family-Ties-Sony-Shortwave-1024x594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Family-Ties-Sony-Shortwave-1024x594.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52157,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/sony-icf-2001-and-icf-2010-choice-radios-for-spies\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":2},"title":"Sony ICF-2001 and ICF-2010: Choice radios for spies","author":"Thomas","date":"March 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Zack Schindler, who writes: I have been watching a series on the Science Channel called Spycraft. It is about the \"business\" and history of modern spycraft and is quite interesting. The most recent episode (3\/8\/2022) was called \"the Perfect Recruit\" and was about spies\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sony-ICF-2010-close-up-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sony-ICF-2010-close-up-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sony-ICF-2010-close-up-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sony-ICF-2010-close-up-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11199,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/john-lennon-and-the-sony-icf-2001\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":3},"title":"John Lennon and the Sony ICF-2001","author":"Thomas","date":"October 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader,\u00a0Robert Yowell, who writes: \"I happen to be a huge Beatles fan, and especially a fan of John Lennon's solo music as well. The last album he recorded was \"Double Fantasy\" which was made in New York City during the summer of 1980. As you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"icf2001l","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/icf2001l.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/icf2001l.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/icf2001l.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/icf2001l.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30844,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/sony-could-halt-production-of-shortwave-radios-in-february\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":4},"title":"Sony could halt production of shortwave radios in February","author":"Thomas","date":"February 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Several SWLing Post readers have sent me a link to this item on BCL News\u00a0(originally posted by\u00a0Takahito Akabayashi via WOR) stating that Sony will cease production of all shortwave radios this month: SONY Japan declared in January that they ended the production of ICF-SW35 shortwave receiver. They also declared in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Sony7600GR.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Sony7600GR.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Sony7600GR.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22222,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/which-is-the-best-sony-icf-2001d2010-or-icf-sw77-the-halfway-score\/","url_meta":{"origin":12876,"position":5},"title":"Which is the best? Sony ICF-2001D\/2010 or ICF-SW77? The halfway score","author":"Clint Gouveia","date":"November 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=W0kbb9S5LIo Hi there, here is a summary of the first half of tests comparing the Sony ICF-2001D against it's replacement the ICF-SW77. Both receivers are widely acknowledged as being amongst the best shortwave portables ever made, but how close are they in performance? Is there a clear winner after the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/W0kbb9S5LIo\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12876\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}