{"id":30844,"date":"2018-02-13T08:45:16","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T12:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=30844"},"modified":"2018-02-13T08:45:16","modified_gmt":"2018-02-13T12:45:16","slug":"sony-could-halt-production-of-shortwave-radios-in-february","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/sony-could-halt-production-of-shortwave-radios-in-february\/","title":{"rendered":"Sony could halt production of shortwave radios in February"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Several SWLing Post<\/em> readers have sent me a link to this item on BCL News<\/a>\u00a0(originally posted by\u00a0Takahito Akabayashi via WOR) stating that Sony will cease production of all shortwave radios this month:<\/p>\n

SONY Japan declared in January that they ended the production of ICF-SW35 shortwave receiver. They also declared in February that they end the sales of another shortwave receiver ICF-7600GR at their on-line store. Probably they will declare the end of its production soon.<\/p>\n

ICF-SW35 has been on sale since 2000, ICF-7600GR since 2001. This means SONY will completely withdraw from the shortwave receiver market.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have not been able to locate a statement from Sony regarding this, but I’m not at all surprised if it is true. Shortwave radios represent such a small niche market for Sony, I’m surprised they’ve continued producing them up to 2018. Indeed, to my knowledge, they haven’t updated their benchmark portable (the Sony ICF-SW7600GR) since they released it in 2001. That’s an incredibly long market life!<\/p>\n

The ‘7600GR is still one of my favorite portables even though it lacks an encoder\/tuning knob and isn’t as sensitive as the Tecsun PL-680, for example. I do love its sync detector and rock-solid AGC. Additionally, it’s one of the few portables on the market that has a proper line-out audio jack for recording and a variable attenuator.<\/p>\n

Production of the ‘7600GR has been sporadic–a number of times, Sony gave retailers the impression the product line was dead only to release small batches of new units from time to time. Likely, they’ve been clearing out the final production run.<\/p>\n

I predict the price of the ICF-SW7600GR will climb as they become a little more scarce.<\/p>\n

Looking back, I wrote a post in September 2016 describing where to find new or open box units online. If you’re interested in the ‘7600GR, check out that post in our archives.<\/a><\/p>\n

If anyone finds a release from Sony regarding this news, please comment with a link!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 February that they end 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":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[495,121,6843],"class_list":["post-30844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-sony","tag-sony-icf-sw7600gr","tag-sony-shortwave"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-81u","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29990,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/rolfs-led-backlight-mod-for-sony-icf-sw35\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":0},"title":"Rolf’s LED backlight mod for Sony ICF-SW35","author":"Thomas","date":"January 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Rolf Snijder, who writes: This is a simple LED backlight modification for the Sony ICF-SW35. Simply add a 120K resistor and a bright LED: When you push the backlight switch, the light stays on. When radio is turned off, the light goes off--then push light switch and\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\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30282,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/rolfs-sony-icf-sw35-mod-removes-the-beep-sound\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":1},"title":"Rolf’s Sony ICF-SW35 mod removes the beep sound","author":"Thomas","date":"January 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Rolf Snijder, who shares the following modification for the Sony ICF-SW35. The mod is very simple: remove one capacitor. Rolf shows the capacitor location on the following images: Thanks, once again, for sharing your modifications, Rolf!","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\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Sony-ICF-SW35-Backlight-Mod-1024x669.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16143,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/open-box-deal-sony-icf-sw7600gr-98-89-shipped\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":2},"title":"Open Box Deal: Sony ICF-SW7600GR $98.89 shipped","author":"Thomas","date":"December 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Blinq.com has an \"open box\" deal on one of my favorite shortwave portables: the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Though this receiver has been on the market for many years, its AGC, synchronous detector, and selectivity are still benchmark. Check out how it was favored by readers in this blind comparison. The '7600GR\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sony-ICF-SW7600GR","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12519,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/blinq-sale-sony-icf-sw7600gr-89-39-shipped\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":3},"title":"Blinq sale: Sony ICF-SW7600GR $89.39 shipped","author":"Thomas","date":"February 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The online retailer, Blinq.com, has posted a number of used Sony ICF-SW7600GR radios for $89.39 US, shipped. This is an excellent price for the '7600GR--even used. As I've mentioned a number of times, the ICF-SW7600GR is one of my favorite shortwave portables. Click here to read a review that compares\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-RA-CO","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-RA-CO.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-RA-CO.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Sony-ICF-SW7600GR-RA-CO.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35266,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/an-external-battery-pack-for-the-sony-icf-sw35\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":4},"title":"An external battery pack for the Sony ICF-SW35?","author":"Thomas","date":"December 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adam, who writes: Hi Thomas I enjoy reading your blog and often when I put a question in Google yours is the first on the list so I wonder if you'd mind if I ask you a question about the Sony SW35. I'm interested\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Sony-ICF-SW35.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22249,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/sony-icf-2001d2010-vs-icf-sw77-the-final-result-next-contender-the-eton-e1\/","url_meta":{"origin":30844,"position":5},"title":"Sony ICF-2001D\/2010 vs ICF-SW77: The final result & next contender ~ The Eton E1","author":"Clint Gouveia","date":"November 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=m7MPaTFAQKE Hi there, after conducting a total of 14 reception tests comparing these two vintage - but excellent\u00a0portable shortwave radios, there was a clear winner - the ICF-2001D. Interestingly, the second half of the\u00a0testing identified yet another example of synchronous detection lock dropping out on\u00a0the ICF-SW77 (during reception of Radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DXpeditions"","block_context":{"text":"DXpeditions","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/dxpeditions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"eton-e1l","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eton-e1L.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\/30844","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=30844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30844\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}