{"id":33225,"date":"2018-07-18T06:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=33225"},"modified":"2018-07-17T19:41:49","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T23:41:49","slug":"mikes-review-of-the-sangean-hdr-14-am-fm-hd-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/mikes-review-of-the-sangean-hdr-14-am-fm-hd-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike’s review of the Sangean HDR-14 AM\/FM HD Radio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Sangean HDR-14 (left) and the C. Crane CC Skywave SSB (right) (Photo: Thomas)<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Mike S, who comments with his short review of the Sangean HDR-14. Mike writes:<\/p>\n

Well, I did something I said i would not do, triggered by Amazon\u2019s tendency to introduce impossibly low prices on things for a couple of days, I sprang for the HDR-14. I have used it side by side with its direct competitor (the Nicetex \u201cSPARC\u201d SHD-TX2<\/a>) for a few nights and a couple of days. Interesting little device.<\/p>\n

As has been pointed out by those that read the specs, it is barely larger than the CC Skywave overall. It is made of the same soft, shiny black plastic as the larger Sangean portables (it is alternately a fingerprint magnet or a scuff magnet) but has a much less solid feel. The swivel-out foot on the bottom is a welcome addition and works well.<\/p>\n

I have not yet played with other features (memories, etc) except to note that somebody has finally gotten it right in that memory locations store the chosen FM multicast channel instead of just the frequency.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Sangean HDR-14 RDS display (Photo: Thomas)<\/p><\/div>\n

Performance is a mixed bag. This is NOT an HDR-16<\/a> crammed into a smaller cabinet; not surprising, really, considering the amount of real estate available for circuitry. Analog FM and HD capture are right up there with the the larger sets and similar to the SPARC. I am unable to reproduce the spurious FM image problem noted by a lone Amazon reviewer. Audio is \u201cjust OK\u201d out of the speaker with a harsh emphasis on treble \u2013 the SPARC portable is MUCH better with its passive radiator \u2013 but just fine for headphones or an external speaker.<\/p>\n

However, for AM, that reviewer was spot on. The noise floor on AM is a tad too high and the native sensitivity a tad too low; resulting in \u201cjust OK\u201d useable sensitivity on the band especially compared to the SPARC. I had no trouble with AM-HD on the only two stations in NYC metro (WCBS and WINS); however, it was unable to even detect the HD carrier from known stations in nearby cities that I was able to get >50% on the HDR-16 and HDR-18. The selectivity is better than the SPARC due to the DSP active for bandwidth adjustment; witness that I was able to clearly separate stations in Connecticut (600) and Philadelphia (610) from the splatter of local powerhouses at 570 and 620. Unfortunately too, analog AM reception is plagued with DSP artifacts reminiscent of earlier Tecsun sets which can even manifest in odd distortion in adjacent-channel splatter that bleeds into the tuned signal. The fact that the audio circuit\/speaker accentuate the treble, make this even more annoying \u2013 the \u201cticks\u201d from adjacent channel splatter are so harsh that you might think the speaker cone is damaged and vibrating.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still waffling on whether to keep this one. It\u2019s a nice little set which is sure to become a collector\u2019s item, and its FM performance really is exemplary. But I kinda view the inclusion of the AM band as its raison d\u2019\u00eatre and in that regard it could certainly do better.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks for your review, Mark!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It’s interesting that you couldn’t reproduce FM overloading or imaging. I have noted images on the FM band and it hasn’t been in a market as congested as that of NYC. It’s only noticeable when listening to stations adjacent to strong signals, however. It’s almost as if the FM filter is a little too wide.<\/p>\n

I also agree about analog AM reception.<\/p>\n

My HDR-14 review has been delayed due to a very hectic schedule, but I plan to complete it in the next couple of weeks! Thanks again, Mike!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike S, who comments with his short review of the Sangean HDR-14. Mike writes: Well, I did something I said i would not do, triggered by Amazon\u2019s tendency to introduce impossibly low prices on things for a couple of days, I sprang for the HDR-14. I have used it […]<\/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":[373,3781,3,26,129],"tags":[6649,7164,600,6648,7163],"class_list":["post-33225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-fm","category-news","category-radios","category-reviews","tag-hdr-14","tag-mike-s","tag-sangean","tag-sangean-hdr-14","tag-sangean-hdr-14-review"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-8DT","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29265,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/sangean-hdr-14-a-new-am-fm-hd-pocket-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":0},"title":"Sangean HDR-14: a new AM\/FM HD pocket radio","author":"Thomas","date":"November 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Steve Lekuecher, who writes: A technology forum friend recently noticed Universal Radio listed a new Sangean HD portable (HDR-14) on their website which is very similar in form to the Sangean DPR-65 and I was curious if you are considering reviewing it. https:\/\/www.universal-radio.com\/catalog\/spcialty\/0214.html Thanks for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32628,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/a-review-of-the-sangean-hdr-14-portable-am-fm-hd-radio-is-in-the-pipeline\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":1},"title":"In the pipeline: a review of the Sangean HDR-14 portable AM\/FM HD radio","author":"Thomas","date":"June 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Based on readers correspondence, the most anticipated non-shortwave radio to hit the market this year might be the Sangean HDR-14 AM\/FM HD radio. Sangean sent me a sample evaluation unit and I've had it on the air since taking delivery last week. I'm starting to put the elements of my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Sangean-HD-14-e1528019923524.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Sangean-HD-14-e1528019923524.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Sangean-HD-14-e1528019923524.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Sangean-HD-14-e1528019923524.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36755,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/sangean-hdr-15-dpr-64-and-notes-from-2019-catalogs\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":2},"title":"Sangean HDR-15\/DPR-64 and notes from 2019 catalogs","author":"Thomas","date":"April 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Schuster who writes: Hi Thomas, Sangean has quietly buried yet another AM\/FM HD radio in the PDF of their US 2019 catalog [download as a PDF]. It's the HDR-15 which appears to be a small clock radio\/phone dock [photo above]. Also, in their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Sangean-ATS-405.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Sangean-ATS-405.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Sangean-ATS-405.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Sangean-ATS-405.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54870,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/cyber-monday-sale-sangean-hdr-14-and-many-other-sangean-models-discounted\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":3},"title":"Cyber Monday Sale: Sangean HDR-14 and many other Sangean models discounted","author":"Thomas","date":"November 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Chan, who notes that the Sangean HDR-14 has been discounted to $67.99 for Cyber Monday at Amazon.com. We have to assume that the sale will end today. This is an excellent little AM\/FM HD radio that I reviewed several years ago. Click here to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Sangean-HD-Radio.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20362,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/the-sangean-hdr-16-dan-takes-notice\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":4},"title":"The Sangean HDR-16: Dan takes notice","author":"Thomas","date":"August 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"HDR-16","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HDR-16-1024x688.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HDR-16-1024x688.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HDR-16-1024x688.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33001,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/sangean-hdr-18-hd-radio-fm-stereo-am-wooden-cabinet-table-top-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":33225,"position":5},"title":"Sangean HDR-18 HD Radio\/FM-Stereo\/AM Wooden Cabinet Table Top Radio","author":"Robert Gulley","date":"June 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"For those who might be interested, Amazon currently has this radio discounted more than I have seen previously. Current price is $137.75 - as always, this may be a limited time or limited amount of radios available at this price. Here is the link: Sangean HDR-18 Robert Gulley, AK3Q,\u00a0is the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33225","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=33225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33225\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}