{"id":23857,"date":"2017-02-01T14:58:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T18:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=23857"},"modified":"2017-09-08T10:34:09","modified_gmt":"2017-09-08T14:34:09","slug":"tecsun-s-8800-unboxing-photos-and-initial-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/tecsun-s-8800-unboxing-photos-and-initial-impressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Tecsun S-8800: Unboxing, photos, and initial impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATE<\/strong>: Click here to read our full Tecsun S-8800 review.<\/a><\/p>\n

Yesterday, I received a Tecsun S-8800 from Anon-Co<\/a> in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

<\/a>

I like opening radio boxes to find a cardboard insert like this one. It protects the radio and has so much less waste and individual cardboard bits inside.<\/p><\/div>\n

As I always do when a new radio comes on the scene, I requested to purchase an early release of the Tecsun S-8800\u00a0radio for review months ago. \u00a0But this time, my contact at the Chinese distributor Anon-Co, Anna, insisted on sending us one “as a gift for the Chinese New Year of the Rooster.”<\/p>\n

Because I’ve worked with Anna at Anon-Co for at least a\u00a0decade, having purchased numerous\u00a0radios for review and as gifts for family and friends, this was difficult to refuse. \u00a0I decided there was no need to\u00a0do so. Each time I do an in-depth review and note shortcomings\u00a0or deficiencies in the radios I’ve purchased from Anon-Co, Anna immediately passes my\u00a0feedback and criticisms directly to the manufacturer’s engineers. I believe this feedback loop between customers, reviewers and manufacturers leads to improved product iterations. Of course, sometimes the negatives can be\u00a0so problematic, manufacturers simply drop the product line and move on (remember the Tecsun R-2010D<\/strong><\/a>? \u00a0Case in point). So, while there are a number of other eBay retailers in China that distribute Tecsun radios, I prefer Anon-Co for these reasons.<\/p>\n

Thank you, Anna!<\/p>\n

<\/a>

The S-8800 is packed face-down to protect the front panel.<\/p><\/div>\n

Manufacturers and retailers who send me products for review know that we radio geeks have fairly high expectations of our gear, and will therefore hold them to exacting\u00a0standards. I’m not the least among these. \u00a0While I endeavor to be realistic, understanding producers’ limitations and the need for product growth, I also try to\u00a0keep my reviews as objective as I can, and accommodate my own and others’\u00a0particular requirements and preferences.<\/p>\n

So In the spirit of full disclosure, I must note that I’m not as avid a user\u00a0of large portables like the S-8800 (or the Grundig GS350DL<\/a>, S450DLX<\/a>, or the C.Crane CCRadio-SW<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Personally I prefer smaller, full-featured travel-friendly portables, or else larger tabletop models. \u00a0Radios with a form factor like the Tecsun S-8800 are an “in-between” product in my world, thus I rarely use them.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

That said, every month I receive questions from readers looking for this very “large portable” form factor. Some hobbyists enjoy a radio that’s easy to operate, featuring\u00a0simple controls, robust audio, and dedicated external antenna connections. \u00a0For these listeners, a large tuning knob and generous\u00a0display are more important than things like SSB and synchronous detection.<\/a>In other words, they want a broadcast receiver. Some have literally asked for a modern version of the venerable Panasonic RF-2200<\/a> (which I admittedly love, an\u00a0exception to the rule of my avoidance of large portables). In terms of aesthetics, it’s impossible to live up the legendary solid-state RF-2200, in my opinion…kind of like comparing a modern muscle car with the 1960s original from which it copies its design.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The S-8800, and its many predecessors, were certainly influenced by the RF-2200’s popular design & form factor: large speaker on the left, large tuning knob, wide-spaced knobs, and a generous\u00a0display. Like the RF-2200, it has a durable, adjustable woven carry strap. \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The S-8800 ships with the accessories in the photo below: an IR remote control, two rechargeable cells, an RF adapter, and a USB charging cable.
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Note the charging cable is only a cable; the S-8800 doesn’t ship with a wall-wart type charger. If you’re like me, you probably have a handful of USB chargers scattered\u00a0around your home that you could use for the purpose of charging this radio. \u00a0And if you don’t, you can also use any free USB port on your PC to charge it.<\/p>\n

USB chargers are cheap and well-known to spew RFI. I doubt you’ll enjoy listening to shortwave or mediumwave\/AM while charging the S-8800’s internal cells. It doesn’t appear the S-8800 was designed for listening while plugged in; Tecsun\u00a0clearly wants you to charge it and then<\/em> listen, off battery power. The latter is my preference for listening anyway, but it may put off some potential S-8800 owners.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The display is easy to read from any angle, and it’s also easy to view in bright sunlight. In low light, you’ll be pleased with the backlight function.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

On the right side of the S-8800, you’ll find an internal\/external antenna switch, a DX\/local switch, RCA type stereo line-out ports (covered in the photo above) and a stereo headphone jack.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

On the back, you’ll find a mini USB port for charging, an antenna port for a radiator and ground wire, as well as\u00a0an FM antenna port.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n

The battery cover is predictably located at the bottom of the back panel and\u2013\u2013a first for any shortwave radio I’ve reviewed\u2013\u2013accommodates two<\/strong><\/em> (supplied) 3.7V Li-Ion (internally) rechargeable cells.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The right side panel has no connections or controls.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

I must admit…the Tecsun S-8800 has some front panel controls I really appreciate. Most notably, it has a dedicated AM bandwidth selector and fine tuning control. I also like the dedicated treble and bass controls which can also be found on its predecessors’ front panels.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Over the next week, I’ll be evaluating the performance of the S-8800. I plan to post blind audio samples as I’ve done in the past, comparing the S-8800 to other portables: likely the PL-880 and the ICF-7600GR, PL-660 or PL-680. \u00a0Please be patient, however, as making these recordings takes time as I like to make sure each radio has a true representative sample and fair shot at showcasing performance.<\/p>\n

What about those initial impressions?\u00a0Yes, I must say I do like the package of the S-8800 better than its predecessors.<\/em> I like the dedicated IR remote control, the many antenna connections, and, so far, the audio fidelity from the built-in speaker. Makes for a nice package.<\/p>\n

But, ultimately, the proof is in the pudding: \u00a0let’s put the S-8800 on the air and compare it with some benchmarks!<\/p>\n

Follow Tecsun S-8800 posts by bookmarking the tag: S-8800<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UPDATE: Click here to read our full Tecsun S-8800 review. Yesterday, I received a Tecsun S-8800 from Anon-Co in Hong Kong. As I always do when a new radio comes on the scene, I requested to purchase an early release of the Tecsun S-8800\u00a0radio for review months ago. \u00a0But this time, my contact at the […]<\/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":[373,3781,433,836,3,297,26,129,43],"tags":[2749,4397,479,4396],"class_list":["post-23857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-mediumwave","category-new-products","category-news","category-pirate-radio","category-radios","category-reviews","category-shortwave-radio","tag-anon-co","tag-s-8800","tag-tecsun","tag-tecsun-s-8800"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6cN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28164,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/tecsun-s-8800-anon-co-publishes-listing-and-price\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":0},"title":"Tecsun S-8800: Anon-Co publishes listing and price","author":"Thomas","date":"September 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We now have a price for the Tecsun S-8800. Anna at Anon-Co has notified me that they've published the listing for the new Tecsun S-8800. The price is $268.00 US with free shipping to the USA. She also noted that the S-8800 won't actually be available until some time next\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-AM-Local-Dial-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-AM-Local-Dial-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tecsun-S-8800-AM-Local-Dial-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15637,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/tecsun-s-8800-launch-possibly-early-next-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":1},"title":"Tecsun S-8800 launch possibly first quarter 2016","author":"Thomas","date":"November 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"After learning about the new Tecsun S-8800, yesterday, I contacted Anna at Anon-Co and asked for any information regarding specs and availability. \u00a0Anna replied: \"Regarding the S-8800, there is no information available of when this will be actually launched. I think that the absolute earliest could be some time in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-BCL3000-001","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Tecsun-BCL3000-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Tecsun-BCL3000-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Tecsun-BCL3000-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Tecsun-BCL3000-001.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33728,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/tecsun-s-8800-hidden-feature-frequency-display-calibration\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":2},"title":"Tecsun S-8800 Hidden Feature: Frequency display calibration","author":"Thomas","date":"August 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following procedure for calibrating the Tecsun S-8800. Dan received this procedure from Anna at Anon-Co: Apparently there is a \"hidden function\" through which you can manually calibrate the SSB frequency display. Please follow the below calibration steps to see\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\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Angle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24111,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/tecsun-s-8800-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":3},"title":"Tecsun S-8800 update","author":"Thomas","date":"February 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: Click here to read our full review of the re-engineered Tecsun S-8800. Note that the post below refers to the first production run units only. If you're considering purchasing the Tecsun S-8800, this is an important post. I've had the S-8800 for about two weeks and\u00a0had planned to have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Manufacturers"","block_context":{"text":"Manufacturers","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/manufacturers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tecsun-S-8800-WWV-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27762,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/video-daytime-mediumwave-shootout-with-the-tecsun-s-8800\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":4},"title":"Video: Daytime mediumwave shootout with the Tecsun S-8800","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"About a week ago, I received a re-engineered version of the Tecsun S-8800 from Anna at the excellent online retailer, Anon-Co. If you recall, I evaluated an early production unit of the S-8800 in February and while putting it through the paces, I discovered loud, warbling DSP birdies throughout the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Tecsun S-8800","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_20170823_191416757_HDR-1024x690.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49069,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/more-tecsun-s-8800-hidden-features-adjustments\/","url_meta":{"origin":23857,"position":5},"title":"More Tecsun S-8800 hidden features\/adjustments","author":"Thomas","date":"May 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who has recently been in touch with Anna at Anon-Co and discovered a few Tecsun S-8800 hidden features we haven't mentioned in the past. Anna notes: There are some hidden features for this model that are worth mentioning, and are available on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tecsun-S-8800-Front-Table.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23857","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=23857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23857\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}