Grundig G2000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio
By: Eton Average Rating: 2.5 Total Reviews: 29
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 On: 2007-11-13
ive had this radio for at least a dozen years. honestly, ive never been able to receive a shortwave signal on it. the speaker is small and tinny sounding. the reception on it is ok, not great. however, it looks WONDERFUL. its really a great travel radio and looks good by the pool next to a mai tai. but at home in the kitchen, its not so great company to me as i cook dinner. im looking for a newer better sounding radio.
 On: 2007-10-04
I received this model as a gift from my wife about six years ago. She thought its short wave feature would interest me. That feature never actually never worked, unless you are fluent in Russian or Polish. For most of its life, it spent more time in a dresser drawer than traveling with me. Its AM tuning was short lived, its FM tuning had a habit of drifting, and its its battery life was short, so I used its transformer function, ac to dc 4.5. Finally, the power button gave out. You would press it down. In two seconds, it would pop right out. I was checking to see if there was a repair center when I came on Amazon. Now, Im putting it in the trash. WMT
On: 2007-03-29
I bought this radio 2 years ago. My worst 80 dollars. It is pratically impossible to get 1 short wave station. I have tried everything. Nothing, nada. Also the slide for the volume is terrible. You cant control the volume. They should remove this radio from the market, or at least remove the short wave reception, since you cant hear nothing.
On: 2007-02-27
Beauty is deceiving. The worst thing about this radio is that the plastic on/off button will be rendered useless after one trip to the beach. Get near a grain of sand and it will cause the button to stick. Keep it inside the house and it is a marginal radio at best, and confusing to use. The plastic body is very cheap as well and seems to disolve when it gets near sun tan lotion. Thousands of these must be sitting in drawers, silenced by the elements! Junk...thats why so many ended up in the bargain bins at retailers.
 On: 2007-02-15
I go the "refurbished" one for $39 from J&R. It came with a broken antenna, the refurbisher had obviously overcranked the screw holding the antenna so that it smooshed out the plastic and was wobbling loosely in the wind, a quality breach obvious to any idiot by they put their worthless stamp on it anyway. so i was going to return it but they were sold out so i fixed it myself with a washer in the screw to grab a wider breadth of plastic and so far my hack is working just fine.
After all, i didnt want to pay more than $39 for a radio that gets only one sw station (the time station). ok the am and fm work great. its got a light but i dont like that its only on/off ideally it should stay on for a couple seconds. i also hate the volume slider, its hard to get the right volume at the low end, but if it were digital i bet the lowest setting would be way too high for headphones, so thats probably a blessing in disguise. otherwise im satisfied for the price. id have to spend $90 to get something similar.
On: 2007-01-18
JR Music and Amazon must be KIDDING to think that they do not need to have a policy to make it obvious that this is a USED product. To bury the fact that this item is "reconditioned" at the very BOTTOM of a multi-page description instead of in the TITLE or first line is deceitful! They are selling used goods as new and treating the fact that this item is used as part of a disclaimer buried so far down that they know most people will not notice it.
On: 2007-01-10
Handsome unit and convenient size but FM reception is very poor, at least
in urban areas. Too many features; not enough performance.
On: 2006-12-14
This is a nice radio. Cool design and nice to keep on your desk and use to listen to FM or AM radio stations. Thats why Im giving it two stars - because of design. If it wasnt for the the design, I wouldnt give it more than one star. The reason being that I expect a product (especially a Grundig product) marketed as a shortwave radio to actually be able to pick up some shortwave radio stations. I have had this piece for 3-4 years now, and I have still not been able to make it pick up a single shortwave radio station successfully. There are about three stations it finds, but barely. The signal it picks up is so weak one cant hear a single word. If you like a nice piece of very well designed radio to keep on your desk or nightstand, buy it. If youre looking for a shortwave radio, look somewhere else.
On: 2006-11-03
The radio arrived in its worn and torn original box with a sticker that said it was a re-manufactured unit. Guess thats why it was $40. In my haste to acquire it, I failed to notice the paragraph at the bottom of the ad stating that it was remanufactured. My fault for sure, but I suggest that in the future this information should be more prominently displayed at the top of the ad.
Radio had dirt and scratches on the case and a bent antenna. Not cool. Frequency coverage inadequate.
With great dissatisfaction, and also some embarrassment for not drilling down into the specifications, I am returning this thing.
On: 2006-10-28
I was expecting the G2000A to be much better made than it appears to be. The case is plastic, and not particularly good plastic at that. The seams between the front and back halves of the case dont fit together well, leaving an unpleasant sharp edge. The leather cover is nice, and, unlike the plastic case, gives the radio the feel of an item that apparently once sold for $180, or there abouts.
I bought the radio thinking it would be an excellent travel alarm/radio. However, in reality its much larger and heavier than I expected.
The above criticisms all pale into insignificance compared to the reception and sound quality. Both are extremely poor. This radio can only lock onto the strongest of stations, and even then there is a fair amount of accompanying hiss. I dont live in an area with great radio reception; however, my Boston Acoustics Receptor radio has no problem tuning into most stations. If the Grundig scans the fm band it only finds a grand total of 3 stations. Short wave is basically worthless on this radio (as is the AM band).
For $40 this radio is not a particularly good buy. There are much better radios for the same price, or significantly less. The leather cover adds a bit of uniqueness. In its absence, this radio would be worth $20, at the very most.
Bottom line - This radio looks really nice in photos, but dissapoints in reality (both in terms of fit and finish, and tuner quality).
On: 2004-08-27
Sensitivity is below par on short wave. I also own a Sony ICF-SW7600GR - a much better radio in all respects. If you want a good radio for short wave listening, buy the Sony.
On: 2003-12-30
The Grundig G2000A is like the pre-TV series Anna Nicole Smith: hot looks, feels great, but not something you want to have around day in and day out.To be sure, its one of the nicest-looking radios youll find, but as a shortwave receiver, it lacks a lot: doesnt tune the whole SW spectrum (why these radios just dont cover the full 1.7- 30 MHz range is beyond me) sensitivity leaves a lot to be desired, and selectivity (ability to separate closely-spaced stations) is in adequate. Plus, the audio is on the tinny side. For the $80 or so bucks you will normally pay for this, you can do much better. Probably Grundigs worst model.
On: 2003-12-12
I was so fascinated when saw the ad in a magazine about this
little junk. Sorry to say, but thats true in my case. Besides its sleek & attractive design, is a piece of junk for the money. I never buy a short wave radio for FM listening, any cheap radio with a pair of earbuds will do that. I was totally disappointed with the products shortwave performance. No more Grundig radio in my life. I even contacted Grundig headquarters
in Germany for the products manufacturing, the pattent, etc,they made it very clear that they all are going down the tube.
The single star I gave for the design only.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-11-01
The Grundig G2000A is a great looking piece! Given the leather case and F.A. Porsche design, I think the G2000A is one of the most stylish radios in the shortwave market. A few of its best features include the handy keypad so one can type in the stations directly, and the easy to use meter band selection and tuning controls. Being able to preset 20 stations also makes listening a breeze. Best of all, the size, weight and timer/alarm features of the G2000A make it a great travel radio. Plus, theres a travel power lock - so it doesnt start playing while in your suitcase! All in all, for me, its an eye-catching radio great for gift giving or to keep on a desk or table.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-11-01
A beautiful radio, the G2000A has sleek look - especially with its brushed, silver radio body and rich, caramel leather case. What works well - easy to use knobs and buttons. The digital direct tuning is a wonderful feature, where you just type in the station you want to hear. And if I dont know what I want to listen to, the scan/seek works well too. The radio feels very solid, but isnt too heavy to take on trips. So with the alarm and world time clock, it makes an ideal travel radio.
On: 2003-10-18
I have been a shortwave buff and radio collector for many years . I have a large collection of radios . Grundig over the years has made many good products ,however , the G2000a is certainly not one of them . I will concur that it is beautifully designed ,has nice leather case and the FM section sounds decent . The AM and SW sections are practically useless . Lots of interference and noise . Only can pick up strong signals and I have experienced fading on those stations . DXers should pass it by!
On: 2003-02-08
I now have my third G2000A, the first two having been returned under warranty. All three have (had)horrible AM sections which display considerable static on all but local a 50,000 watt station. Extremely disappointing and not worth purchasing.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-09-06
Well, I confirm with the other reviewers, that the reception quality of this radio is very poor! It looks great! I loke the design of it a lot! But sometimes the reception is useless. Plus, I do not understand why it only has 5 memory presets per band!!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-01-26
I bought the Grundig G2000A radio to be a light weight travel companion radio that doubles as an alarm clock. Within those boundaries its been great. The radio also has sporty looks with the Porsche design and nifty leather cover. It picks AM and FM fine and has adequate sensitivity. As a short wave radio, it only serves to pick up STRONG short wave offerings. If you want to do some serious short wave listening, this is not the radio for you. It has old style spectrum seperations of SW1 and SW2 that do not cover the entire short wave spectrum. Most annoying was needing to make short wave entries in wavelengths vice frequencies. Most annoying indeed!I use it as a travel alarm clock/radio. Its looks are snazzy enough to make a fashion statement. It picks up any local station that I want. When I want serious short wave radio on the road, I bring my Yacht Boy 400. Shopping around can net you this radio at much less than the suggested prices.
On: 2001-12-10
The Grundig G2000A World Receiver is not a valid represenatative of Grundig quality or performance. For a much better value (at only [amount]additional)the Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE is the standard by which all other popular priced SW radios are judged. Excellent value, excellent performer. (...)
On: 2001-10-14
A lot money was thrown away on a cheap, designer-label radio of transister-radio quality. I was looking for a nice, compact, quality radio which could also receive news from the various hotspots of the world. I researched numerous travel radios in all price ranges and various web sites: Grundigs G2000A was the winner. Not.First, reception on any short-wave band is non-existent and the lo-fi FM sound was an even greater disappointment. To date, hubby, master of all bathroom radios, uses only one FM station and occasionally one AM station. Worse yet, he still travels with his Sharper Image radio, which cost half as much and has many more useful features as a radio and, of course, its quality sound and reception leave the G2000A biting the dust. Finally, the G2000As fine leather cover with its fancy logo interferes with operation of the radio, so it rests peacefully in a closet. Which Grundig design engineer fell asleep at the wheel of this feature?
by: Anonymous On: 2001-10-14
I just ordered one of these at GoodGuys.com for $99.95, free shipping, no tax. Why is Amazon so much higher?
by: Anonymous On: 2001-06-18
Well, after spending a fair amount of time looking for a small, good quality radio I chose this.
I found it to be merely average: sound is mediocre - no depth; build quality is in my opinion, poor - the two halves dont join well and make it look cheap and plasticy.
Only five presets per band, which one can only access by switching to that band - id est, you couldnt have 198 LW on 1 and 91.3 FM on 2, etc.
The case is indeed an idea, but I found myself taking it off most of the time because it gets in the way - I prefer to stand a radio up and not lay it on its side.
The design is good - in a little picture on the net; it still looks and feels cheap in the hand.
For the price I feel mugged and will go for a Sony or Grundig soon and be done with it.
by: cjnieman On: 2001-01-23
In recent years, no other portable shortwave radio has rated quite as high on the "neato" scale as the Grundig G2000A. This Grundigs two best design features are its Porsche-designed cosmetics and its handy leather carrying "case." These things alone are cool enough to inspire almost any shortwave listener to want one and have fun using it.The radios performance isnt quite as great as its beauty, however. For its small size, it performs fine with an external antenna, but less well with the aerial. Its sensitivity is decent, and selectivity is passable. But dont expect a listening experience on par with rivals within its price class ($100-$150). Bottom line is, youre paying more for the looks than anything else. If performance is what you desire, keep looking. I give it less than four stars for several reasons. First, it fails to cover the entire shortwave spectrum from 1600 khz to 30 mhz. Thats a big drawback among todays digital radios. Second, the keypad is awkward to use, even though it looks fabulous. Third, the software provides a measly 10 memory positions for shortwave, which is okay if you only listen to the major broadcasters. Nevertheless, the G2000A is an aesthetically nice radio thats fun to operate for casual listening. For a novice listener, Id recommend something simpler. If youre a more serious, demanding listener, you probably already have something else. I enjoy using it because it reminds me of my dads old Zenith Royal 500E, which has a great leather case. I like this Grundig, but Im glad it isnt my only one.
On: 2000-07-11
The Grundig G2000A is made of solid plastic thats lightweight and durable. At about 1.5 pounds, this little (but powerful) radio is easy to transport (A leather carrying case is included as are two excellent ear pieces.)The Grundig G2000A is powered by three AA batteries that seem to last a long time. There are two digital clocks built in - set one to your home time and the second to your travel destination. A handy wake up alarm feature and a small (1.5 inch) speaker. The speaker is a testament to the fine German quality we have come to expect from Grundig. I did have a difficult time picking up remote world channels, but I easily found several new stations to listen to. I had to remind myself that this was a portable radio and I couldnt expect the same power performance from this model as I do with my Grundig 960. Overall this is a quality piece of craftsmanship and electronics. It is sturdy, dependable and easy to carry - it is worth the price charged.
On: 2000-07-10
The Grundig G2000A is made of solid plastic thats lightweight and durable. At about 1.5 pounds, this little (but powerful) radio is easy to transport (A leather carrying case is included as are two excellent ear pieces.)The Grundig G2000A is powered by three AA batteries that seem to last a long time. There are two digital clocks built in - set one to your home time and the second to your travel destination. A handy wake up alarm feature and a small (1.5 inch) speaker. The speaker is a testament to the fine German quality we have come to expect from Grundig. I did have a difficult time picking up remote world channels, but I easily found several new stations to listen to. I had to remind myself that this was a portable radio and I couldnt expect the same power performance from this model as I do with my Grundig 960. Overall this is a quality piece of craftsmanship and electronics. It is sturdy, dependable and easy to carry - it is worth the price charged.
On: 2000-05-30
People might think this Grundig Radio is too expensive, but its worth it! Why? Many people might like it because its so good at all its radio functions, but I think its worth it is because it also looks good, it is the best looking radio I have ever had, its awsome! Love it!
On: 2000-05-29
People might think this Grundig Radio is too expensive, but its worth it! Why? Many people might like it because its so good at all its radio functions, but I think its worth it is because it also looks good, it is the best looking radio I have ever had, its awsome! Love it!
On: 2000-05-18
The best looking Radio in the world, you will love it no matter what. Handsome little machine.
On: 2000-05-17
The best looking Radio in the world, you will love it no matter what. Handsome little machine.
by: Anonymous On: 2000-04-18
On more than one occasion Ive packed my trusty batteryoperated larger than my purse radio on vacation. This lug would gowith me to the remote places Ive been. Monday mornings would come & I would spend the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in search of the "market update." With the not so good fortune of hearing blurps and bits of up..dow..nsdq. That was before... GRUNDIG. Recently I was able to flip this beauty on and walla, I enjoyed the rest of my vacation. The first try, was a success. I tuned in my favorite speaker,much to my surprise every word was clear, crystal clear, I was able to listen to every detail of every trade. After receiving such pleasant news, I sat by the creek and tuned in some music to relax by. After a bit I tuned in some clear country music, and continued my hike. Hats off to Grundig for making a classy information piece. It is so light and looks so costly. Great Job. END
On: 2000-04-17
On more than one occasion Ive packed my trusty batteryoperated larger than my purse radio on vacation. This lug would gowith me to the remote places Ive been. Monday mornings would come & I would spend the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in search of the "market update." With the not so good fortune of hearing blurps and bits of up..dow..nsdq. That was before... GRUNDIG. Recently I was able to flip this beauty on and walla, I enjoyed the rest of my vacation. The first try, was a success. I tuned in my favorite speaker,much to my surprise every word was clear, crystal clear, I was able to listen to every detail of every trade. After receiving such pleasant news, I sat by the creek and tuned in some music to relax by. After a bit I tuned in some clear country music, and continued my hike. Hats off to Grundig for making a classy information piece. It is so light and looks so costly. Great Job. END
On: 1999-11-28
If General Motors could dress up the Chevy Tahoe and sell it to folks who wouldnt be caught dead in a Chevrolet as the Cadillac Escalade, perhaps the same thing could be done with a world band radio. In either case, only people who WANT to be deceived will take the bait.Were not suggesting that the Grundig G2000A Porsche Design is all that bad, just like the Escalade isnt a bad vehicle if you dont mind being tossed all over the front seat when you run over anything thicker than an expressway expansion joint. Under the genuine lambskin case, the "DESIGN BY F. A. PORSCHE" logo and aluminum-flecked paint job lurks a decent world band receiver, perfectly capable of picking up such powerhouses as the BBC, Radio Netherlands and Deutsche Welle but not much more. In fact, for $20 less, you can get this same radio shorn of all its finery as the Grundig Traveller III. Fortunately, Grundig itself offers a superior alternative to the G2000A and its plainer sibling, the Traveller III but it WILL take another half of a C-note out of your wallet. Look up the Grundig YB400PE, the latest version of the now-legendary Yacht Boy 400. It, too, is available from Amazon.com. It might not wear the name "PORSCHE" like the G2000A but it WILL make Deutsche Welle (Germanys worldwide broadcaster) sound as close as any local station.
On: 1999-11-27
If General Motors could dress up the Chevy Tahoe and sell it to folks who wouldnt be caught dead in a Chevrolet as the Cadillac Escalade, perhaps the same thing could be done with a world band radio. In either case, only people who WANT to be deceived will take the bait.Were not suggesting that the Grundig G2000A Porsche Design is all that bad, just like the Escalade isnt a bad vehicle if you dont mind being tossed all over the front seat when you run over anything thicker than an expressway expansion joint. Under the genuine lambskin case, the "DESIGN BY F. A. PORSCHE" logo and aluminum-flecked paint job lurks a decent world band receiver, perfectly capable of picking up such powerhouses as the BBC, Radio Netherlands and Deutsche Welle but not much more. In fact, for $20 less, you can get this same radio shorn of all its finery as the Grundig Traveller III. Fortunately, Grundig itself offers a superior alternative to the G2000A and its plainer sibling, the Traveller III but it WILL take another half of a C-note out of your wallet. Look up the Grundig YB400PE, the latest version of the now-legendary Yacht Boy 400. It, too, is available from Amazon.com. It might not wear the name "PORSCHE" like the G2000A but it WILL make Deutsche Welle (Germanys worldwide broadcaster) sound as close as any local station.
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