Grundig M300BL Mini300PE Handheld Shortwave Radio (Metallic Blue)
By: Eton Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 76
More Information
 On: 2008-06-05
I would like to say I am impressed with this Great little radio I bought the Pearl color it has a rubber coating,clock, Am-FM reception and Sw I use it for Am -Fm broadcasts.The reception is excellent and the sound quality surprised me with the clarity I was skeptical because you know as I know most things from China are junk, However this little radio is very well made in quality workmanship,let us face it nothing is made in U.S.A. anymore unfortunately I wish this was made in Germany or U.S.A. though it seems to me Grundig took efforts to have this radio made to quality standards and inspected by the workers of the plant to Grundig standards. I have listened to this for a week so far everyday for 5-7 hours a day and no problems at all. My conclusion is that this is a very well made product to Grundig standards and is perfect for work, travel, home use and as a Emergency radio I am thinking of buying another one yellow or red for my emergency kit,Choose a color you like and enjoy.
 On: 2008-05-15
This radio exceeds my expectations and serves my needs. It also works well with my Sony wireless headphones. I seldom use the shortwave and FM bands; instead I listen to talk radio as I putter around the house without the radio in hand or pocket. For my purposes, this radio is excellent.
On: 2008-05-06
Bought a Sangean 504 it had the full band for shortwave after sitting at home scanning the airwaves could not recieve any stations on any bands it even comes with a 20 external antenna which I also tried, figured the poor reception was my location so I took it camping, still zip. Returned the radio and bought the Grundig, WOW!!!! As soon as I powered it up went to the shortwave bands recieved stations from all over the world. Everytime I touched the tuning dial an other station. Loved the rubber textured finish (which I did not know about) GREAT SOUND from a radio so small. Sometimes when I have to push the power button several times to power it off but no big deal and the antenna seems a little flimsey also no biggy. All in all a great little radio @ 1/5 the size and 1/4 the price of the Sangean.
On: 2008-05-06
This diminutive radio is very good. Having recently acquired another very fine Eton model as a gift, I thought I would like this one, and it actually exceeds my expectations.
I admit, I not only read the manufacturers specs, and other literature, I also read the reviews on this site. The reviews on this site are very helpful. I agree with a couple of other comments about the case. While very nice, it is a little tight initially, but Ive managed to stuff the radio, and the little manual into the case. I can see how fitting the radio back into the carrying case is likely to move the tuning knob. I dont employ the radio while walking around, but in an office, so thats not an issue. The ear plugs are another issue. Where to stow them while on travel? Ive just looped them through the belt holder on the back of the case.
I dont mind the drift on this little radio when using shortwave -- the reason why I purchased this model. Its easily correctable. I do agree that the next generation of this type of radio should be able to address this problem better. I dont have any trouble with the sensitive tuning knob. When I do get the signal in, the sound is very good, much better than I had anticipated. The speaker is really good, and the ear plugs are quite useful.
Reception is great. Finding stations, and getting them in is an easy task. I usually set the radio someplace high up in the room to get consistently better reception. I listened to Radio Sweden and Radio Netherlands, among other stations today. This little radio is easy to use. The user manual is well written and helpful.
My only dislike is the clock. I set it for UTC (since shortwave schedules are printed using this time), and I really wish the clock would show military time because the radio guides I use in print, or off of the net employ military time. Surely this can also be an added feature for any future upgrade of this model.
I recommend this little model to persons with an interest or need for a very small radio that has more than adequate, if not extensive, shortwave capability. For the price, it cant be beat.
On: 2008-04-27
We live in Chicago and my cleaning lady can get 5 Polish stations on it. I purchased it for her after she admired mine. Even has 90 min. sleep function.
On: 2008-04-07
Hi I am the proud owner of a Grundig mini 300PE am fm shortwave hand held radio. I am very pleased with the reception on all bands , the clarity and ease of use of this product.For its size it has loud volume with its 20 inch retractable antenna,clock and alarm function.It sports a beautiful carry case with an operation manual fitting compactly together inside with the radio and ooh there is a headset port.I will definitely remain with this brand name and recommend it to anyone interested in a top of the line product.Andy Wong- Trinidad & Tobago,West-Indies.
 On: 2008-03-23
The small analog Grundig M300BL has been described by radio experts as "Cheap and Cheerful" and I fully agree (given that it is available in so many different colors). I call it the AM/FM/SW radio for the masses which is still good if it gets new people interested in this great hobby! Its tuning dial is way way too hard to carefully adjust even with a digital frequency counter readout. Only a very small amount of turning of the dial corresponds on this unit to a great change in the tuned frequency. The tuner dial setting is also easily lost either due to signal fading which is common especially as the temperature changes or when it is inadvertently bumped. Volume levels are great with the small speaker or using earphones as is its battery life, but quality reception is lacking. I quickly returned it. For only a very few dollars more (and at some sites it is even the same price), the KA11 by Kaito is far superior in my opinion since it is an extremely small, but a fully PLL synthesized, digital tuned receiver, has 1000 presets that can even be loaded automatically, comes with a charger/adapter and gets much better reception without any signal fading. Both units can very easily just be thrown in a bag and taken camping, fishing, etc. or kept around in case of an emergency situation.
On: 2008-03-23
For $30, hard to go wrong here. FM is fantastic, very clear.
Within 30 minutes of getting this, I was able to pick up the Voice of Russia (one of the more powerful SW broadcasts), Radio Ukraine, China, and at least 2 dozen Spanish stations I dont understand.
Shortwave has many limitations, you will have better results at night and during certain times of the year. Clipping a wire to the antenna will also help.
On: 2008-03-23
The small analog Grundig M300BL has been described by radio experts as "Cheap and Cheerful" and I fully agree (given that it is available in so many different colors). I call it the AM/FM/SW radio for the masses which is still good if it gets new people interested in this great hobby! Its tuning dial is way way too hard to carefully adjust even with a digital frequency counter readout. Only a very small amount of turning of the dial corresponds on this unit to a great change in the tuned frequency. The tuner dial setting is also easily lost either due to signal fading which is common especially as the temperature changes or when it is inadvertently bumped. Volume levels are great with the small speaker or using earphones as is its battery life, but quality reception is lacking. I quickly returned it. For only a very few dollars more (and at some sites it is even the same price), the KA11 by Kaito is far superior in my opinion since it is an extremely small, but a fully PLL synthesized, digital tuned receiver, has 1000 presets that can even be loaded automatically, comes with a charger/adapter and gets much better reception without any signal fading. Both units can very easily just be thrown in a bag and taken camping, fishing, etc. or kept around in case of an emergency situation.
 On: 2008-03-02
im here looking for a different radio, because ive had it with the freakishly sensitive tuning on this unit. it is difficult to locate the station you want and then heaven forbid if a puff of wind should blow on the tuning dial! because you will lose your station! there are no presets which would make life much easier. maybe someone with more patience would have better luck!
 On: 2008-02-09
This radio has the sound quality of the one I made in physics class in high school--TREMENDOUS static.
Its hypersensitive rotary tuner menas that the slightest bump to the radio causes it to lose the signal. For that matter, it loses the signal for some unexplained reasons as well.
Pretty, with nice latex case, but if you want it to FUNCTION, forget it.
On: 2008-02-04
Bought this radio in August 07. Noticed immediately that the FM tuner would not go below 93.5. I thought it was just a fluke so I waited. Within two weeks the volume started going very low despite turning UP the volume. After 3 weeks there was absolutely NO volume!! Could have listened with the headphones but did not want to do that! I bought this radio because of the name. I am sure the name is good as I have had many Grundigs that are still working however the company (eton, inc.) totally disregards the warranty. By the time I decided I did not want it any longer it was too late to return to Amazon (not their problem, mine). I found the companys web site, found a "customer service" link and sent an email. That was mid December. Shortly after that I found a "return authorization" link and sent an email (about one week later). Still NO response. I sent a repeat email right after New Years and about 3 days later got TWO emails from two different people on the SAME day, one cryptic for my name and address and one a bit longer asking for the same information. I answered BOTH. It is now 2/3/08 and STILL no answer! Nothing by mail that they said they would send me to send the unit back. I was going to go through American Express guarantee but it is not worth my time. Just dont purchase anything from ETON Inc as they are worthless!! And I dont want to waste any more time on this. Shame, $30.00 bucks down the drain!
On: 2008-01-18
I bought this little radio for my boyfriend so I didnt get to play with it myself too much. My first impression was that it comes in a really sexy box but the product itself is a little flimsy. It feels like its made of cheap plastic because its super lightweight. Major letdown once you get past the minimal packaging. This radio has an analog slider for tuning which isnt helpful because you dont get presets so you have to re-position the slider every time you change bands to listen to your various favorite radio stations. The biggest letdown is that this radio doesnt catch a wide FM frequency range. I like to listen to 88.5 and 90.9. The slider on this radio didnt go down that far! It was pretty disappointing that we could only use this radio for shortwave or AM stations. I dont think it even caught all the AM stations that my boyfriend likes to listen to. I ended up surprising him with the Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave World Band Receiver with Single Side Band Reception a little later since the Grundig was so disappointing. The Sony is bigger and heavier but its still portable and it has amazing reception and offers presets at least. We dont even have to extend the antenna and we get all of the stations that we like to listen to with the Sony.
On: 2008-01-15
Maybe I bought a different radio from the one everybody else reviewed- they seem pretty impressed overall- but remember, youre paying around 30 bucks for a shortwave radio, and you get what you pay for. The problem is, my FM band starts at about 96, and wont even pick up stations a couple of miles down the road! Maybe its the terrain of where I live, but thats still a little much. You cant switch the display from station number to time of day; the time of day is indicated only if the radio is turned off. It does have a sleep command, which is nice, and the sound is good for such a small speaker, but thats about all I can say for this radio. With hindsight, I would certainly bite the bullet, save the 30 dollars, and use it towards a more expensive unit
On: 2008-01-14
This radio is exactly what I wanted to have in the house for the next big snowstorm. The reception is good and I am pleased with the purchase.
On: 2007-12-29
Received this as a Christmas present and its going to be returned. Find the reception extremely poor!
On: 2007-12-29
This is an update to what I bought about six months ago. Its a shame to a good name like Grundig. It sounds awful with its built in speaker as well as with any headphone. It is difficult to tune in stations because the analog tuning wheel does not have the right resistance to make it to the right frquency. It either under-tuned or over-tuned, but never right on. On weak stations, all you hear is noise. Compare with Sangean radios, its like day and night. Dont waste your money on this piece of junk, get a Sangean DT 210.
On: 2007-12-22
I bought this radio to replace my Grundig mini 100. It appears to actually be pretty much the same radio inside with the addition of a frequency counter. Even though it has the digital display, it still has the same high to low analog tuning as the 100 and seems to recieve just as well. I use these radios to listen to while commuting and tuning is not the easiest. I listen to two or three stations at the most and having preset buttons with digital tuning would make this radio pretty darn good... The case is coated with a soft rubberized coating which makes it very easy to grip and comfortable to hold.
On: 2007-12-12
I found this radio to get good reception. The only problem is that the dial doesnt stay in tune consistanly. I prefer the older model I have which was slightly bigger but had digital tuning.
On: 2007-12-07
1) The design of the radio is terrible. The volume and tuning wheels, and the band-selector slider are located on the sides, so putting the radio in your pocket while listening (or not) will probably result in one or more of these things:
* you will no longer be in the same band
* the tuner will have moved to another part of the dial
* the volume will have been raised to ear-splitting levels
* the radio may have been turned off (or on).
Although the tuning appears to be digital, it is analog and done with a wheel so small it is very difficult to land exactly on a station. Once there, there is no way to lock in.
2) Almost no shortwave stations can be located, indoors or out. This may work better in some other locations than Colorado, but I doubt it.
In short, it is no more useful than the cheap radio I had been using. Its 4 times as expensive and 4 times as heavy. The clock, alarm, and more elegant appearance do not compensate for the shortcomings.
On: 2007-11-17
I have previously owned 2 similar Grundig mini radios with the old style slider tuning bands. Carried them all over the world for several years. Couldnt wear them out. I bought this model to upgrade to digital tuning and got it at the same price I paid many years ago! This little gem delivers! Good reception on all bands and decent sound from the small speaker. Even comes with digital clock and alarm. Long battery life. The only nice additions would be an LED backlight and a belt clip for easy carrying. You cant beat this little baby for the price, and what a beautiful paint job!
On: 2007-11-12
I had heard a lot of things about these radios, so I picked one up. When I took it out of the box and installed the battery, the clock would blink no matter what. The clock in mine basically doesnt mork, it always says 10 oclock and blinks. I didnt really need the clock, but itd be nice if it worked in the first place
Secondly the LCD screen developed a slight darkening in one area that appears and disappears randomly.
The tunning is not meant for the trigger happy.
Reception wise this radio is fantastic! I was able to receive chicago from here in rochester one night on AM. This radio is excellent for AM DXing. FM is decent, although it tends to drift in cooler weather.
Shortwave is pretty good for it size. A Hallicrafters it isnt, but you can get some good use out of it. Probably best suited for travel or something to noodle on when your bored.
These chinese radios are kind of a pot luck, you may get a good one, and you may get a dud.
-1 star for faulty clock
-1 star for slightly flawed LCD
+1 star for AM reception
+1 for Shortwave clarity
+1 Price
On: 2007-11-11
I had heard a lot of things about these radios, so I picked one up. When I took it out of the box and installed the battery, the clock would blink no matter what. The clock in mine basically doesnt mork, it always says 10 oclock and blinks. I didnt really need the clock, but itd be nice if it worked in the first place
Secondly the LCD screen developed a slight darkening in one area that appears and disappears randomly.
The tunning is not meant for the trigger happy.
Reception wise this radio is fantastic! I was able to receive chicago from here in rochester one night on AM. This radio is excellent for AM DXing. FM is decent, although it tends to drift in cooler weather.
Shortwave is pretty good for it size. A Hallicrafters it isnt, but you can get some good use out of it. Probably best suited for travel or something to noodle on when your bored.
These chinese radios are kind of a pot luck, you may get a good one, and you may get a dud.
-1 star for faulty clock
-1 star for slightly flawed LCD
+1 star for AM reception
+1 for Shortwave clarity
+1 Price
On: 2007-10-09
Reception is not good. Static and a grinding sound when playing a local station. Im sure not happy with this one.
On: 2007-10-09
I was looking for an all-in-one small Sw MW FM radio for my many walks of dogs. Above all this radio provides a very enteraining SW array. My neighbor,an old time SW fanatic,was amazed at this radios SW performance.
I think that this units MW (AM) performance is just short of intolerable. Its FM performance is OK. I am looking forward to the improved MW performance of the much thriftier Sony ICF-S10MK2, though as of this writing I am not in the possession of the above unit. It just has to be be better. The tuning is so fine on the Grundig that it is nearly impossible to really tune a station that you know the number of, mostly in MW.
In closing, I think that this may be the best SW hand-held tuner on this earth, but for much else there are better options. I will carry two radios on most of my next dog walks, as there is a time for all things. And there is a radio for all times. The choice is yours. Heavy HuH
On: 2007-09-20
Grundig sold out. Hard to tune. If it would have been $5.00 w/free shipping, it would be a pretty good deal.
On: 2007-09-11
I like to go on long distance backpacking trips. The Colorado Trail, The PCT, etc. I enjoy having a small radio with me on trips over 7 days in length. However weight is always an issue. I own a Grundig Yacht Boy 300 PE and I love it. It is a great, dependable well made radio. However I wanted to shed a few ounces off my carrying weight so I purchased a Grundig M300P Mini300 Handheld. It is very poorly made. It is encased in a cheap plastic that is light, but not sturdy. The cover for the batteries wont stay shut and the tuner doesnt function properly. It is a very cheap radio and is not even worth the low price it is already listed at. I am not sure if ownership of Grundig has changed in the last few years and this is their new standard of quality or if this product line is just a fluke. My yachtboy has traveled with me over hundreds of miles and adverse weather and still works great. The antenna broke due to mishandling and it still has great reception. My advice is not to buy the Grundig M300P Mini300 Handheld, but dont rule out Grundig just yet.
On: 2007-09-03
its an ok portable radio. the sound quality is good for its size, and the AM/FM reception is clear if youre near a window. the problem is that even on top of a hill i managed to find only a handful of Short Wave stations (the religious ones...).
On: 2007-08-09
This Grundig Mini radio is just what I expected. Great reception on all bands and I love the feel of the radio. The fine tuning has a tendency to drift sometimes but not enough to be real concerned about. If you want a great little radio with am,fm and short wave this is the one. I love this radio!
On: 2007-08-09
for the price it is the best, ii is small but loud and digital which is very nice. have not tried the worldband but i know i will like it too.
great buy
by: Anonymous On: 2007-08-08
This is a great little receiver.
The alarm clock and sleep fuctions make this the perfect travel radio. The power button is recessed so it will not accidentally turn on in your suitcase. I turn the volume down just in case, but I have never had a problem.
The medium wave and FM are outstanding for a receiver of this size, and shortwave is sensitive enough to easily pick up the major broadcasters.
Battery life is amazing. I have had this radio for almost a year, and I am still on the original batteries.
It would be nice if it had a dail light and expanded coverage to receive the out of band domestic SW stations, but you cant have everything for $40.
On: 2007-08-01
Great product for the price. Amazing sensitivity for a handheld unit. Batteries last forever. Cant imagine anything better that you could do with 30 dollars.
On: 2007-07-19
I was really surprised, its small but gets very good reception.
My husband uses it in his old pickup truck.
grannysue02
On: 2007-07-13
Delivers what it claims. Bought as backup for power outages, and just a fun little toy. Picks-up AM radio in my very hilly area of Southern California better than any other radio I own.
On: 2007-06-29
Dont think you are getting a Watkins-Johnson or a Ten-Tec for $29.95, this little radio is pretty light on features. But it is extremely small and light, doesnt sound bad especially for its size and does pretty good with a weak signal, again for its diminutive size. The little analog tuner is damn touchy especially on the AM band, and I do miss the 60 meter SW band but again, for a radio the size of a deck of cards weighing maybe 4 ounces, it does pretty damn good.
I love the 2 hour sleep feature, I use it almost every night. And the thing goes forever on a couple of AA batteries. The digital display makes up for some of the shortcomings of a fairly crude analog tuner, but there is still a lot of frequency drift on SW. And the antenna stub sticking up all the time is just begging to get knocked off of there. Hasnt happened yet, but Im certain it will one of these days. And what were they thinking putting a 12 hour format clock on a SW radio. That is just plain stupid. But again, its easy enough to work around that, not that you should have to.
I gave it four stars, but it probably only deserves three because of the stupid 12 hour clock. Someone should slap the engineer responsible for that abortion. Overall, the radio is a good value, I do not regret buying it. But if I had it to do over again I would probably buy the slightly larger and somewhat more expensive Eton E100, or possibly the Sony ICF-SW12 as my carry-around radio. But for $29.95 it cannot be beat.
On: 2007-06-20
A small pocket radio for your shirt or jean pockets that you can take anywhere, anytime. It has clock, alarm, sleep timer functions which are good for bed time or waking up in the morning. Rotary wheels for tuning and volume control, again, good for one hand operation. If you love music, you can enjoy FM Stereo sound by using the headphones jack. The only draw back is the lack of fine tuning, so you have to train your finger to tune into your station. There is no or very little drifting for this analog tune-digital display radio as far as I know.
Overall, it is a good radio around the house, garage, or travelling. I use it to listen to Voice of Vietnam (6175 kHz on shortwave band), and I dont have any problem at all, reception is clear. FM and AM are also good to listen to.
It is a good choice for buying a digital display pocket radio with shortwave, Stereo FM, Clock,...and the price is about $30.00.
On: 2007-05-23
I bought this mainly for listening to AM radio while walking or working around the house. I didnt have very high expectations because of the price and the small size but I figured it would be just OK. Boy, was I wrong, this radio works great! Ive used plenty for AM, and Ive also listened to quite a bit of shortwave with it. Listening to shortwave is actually viable with this radio and not just a novelty.
Good Points:
-loud speaker (for its size)
-great reception for AM/FM and shortwave.
-built-in headphone jack
-long battery life
-alarm and sleep timer
-digital display
Bad Points:
-the tuning wheel is extremely sensitive you have to practice with it
-no light
-no key lock (to prevent accidental movement)
On: 2007-04-17
a great little intro radio for those wanting to hear radio stations more than a hundred miles away. Has a broad frequency coverage and the digital readout means you can make note of the exact frequency and report to the station that you listened and they will usually confirm their broadcast with a colorful QSL card. this week within one hour I have picked up Korea,China,Russia,Germany and England all broadcasting in English. This will whet your appetite for exotic stations without breaking the budget batteries seem to last for ever too! Add a 15ft wire to the antenna and bring in more stations from across the world.
On: 2007-03-15
Pro-good reception. I used it in the bus.
Con-Dont have pre-station saving feature. Dont have lock button function therefore buttons are easy touched.
Delivery is fast as promised.
On: 2007-02-15
This is a very good radio, well-built, acceptable reception by considering its size and price. The quality of the sound is great. It also shows time with alarm. Its sleep mode helps to save battery life. I strongly recommend this nice radio.
On: 2007-02-08
My daughter gave me a 50 dollar gift slip for Eddie Bauers this past Christmas. During the Holidays I went to the mall with my wife to see what they had that I could spend this nice amount on. After looking at the reduced cloths racks and some overpriced aftershave my eyes stumbled onto this Grundig Handheld shortwave. I looked it over, showed my wife and said "I have found my gift...I even had enough left over to also purchase a 2X long sleeve Tee shirt...not to shabby!
This radio is Great. I could not wait to call my daughter and tell her how I spent the gift slip. This radio really picks up. I have several other large shorwaves but this one has as good reception as my 1960s large SEARS model (even though the Sears model has fine tuning).
This is an excellent affordable shortwave at any age. Its no bigger then a pack of cigarettes and can fit in a front shirt pocket (first you need to get rid of that outdated pocket protector). I have a super heavy duty padded brown duck cell phone carring case that I bought at the Black & Decker Outlet in Lancaster years ago and it works great to really protect my new investment!
"Enjoy" Joe Kopeck "Happy New Year"
On: 2007-01-31
This is a fine pocket radio for people who need something small and dont want to suffer the interference from using an AC adapter. The Mini300 takes 2 double-A batteries. The FM/AM reception are above average in sensitivity. However, radio newbies will go crazy with the drift, the radios inability to lock into the desired station. Youre better off spending 10 more dollars and getting the Sangean DT 180, which runs on only one small battery, is digital, and doesnt drift.
If you want something for standing alone by your office or bedroom, I suggest you buy the best radio currently available, the Kaito KA2100.
On: 2007-01-27
I have several shortwave radios, but this has become the one I use the most because of its small size, generally good performance and ease of use. To be sure, there are better receivers out there that cost more, but for $30 this little gem offers a lot of value for the money. Sensitivity and selectivity are good, audio quality is better than what youd expect from its tiny speaker and the digital display makes it easy to find radio stations. All in all its a neat little package.
On: 2007-01-19
I just needed a small inexpensive radio with a good stereo headphone jack to listen to at work that had better reception than my iRiver music player and this guy fit the bill perfectly. Amazon carries suprisingly few compact FM radios with digital tuning that arent garbage. No matter, this is exactly what I needed.
Reception was far better than my music player, even with the antenna unextended, and the battery life is phenomenal. Ive had this for a few months, listening to it on average a few hours a week and I am still on my first pair of batteries.
My only complaint with it is as others have noted, that the tuner and volume knobs are hyper-sensitive. The full range between the volume being barely audible to too loud occurs over like an eighth rotation of the knob. And fine tuning stations is a chore because it will go from 101.10 MHz to 101.15 MHz pretty much just from breathing on it (it has 0.05MHz digital tuning resolution). Since the tuning knob is on the side, it gets budged slighly every time you remove it from the included sleeve so you need to re-fine-tune it to receive your station everytime you take it from the sleeve which gets kind of frustrating.
Overall a quality radio with many features that belie its low price. Four stars based on its FM tuner capability alone.
On: 2007-01-18
I just needed a small inexpensive radio with a good stereo headphone jack to listen to at work that had better reception than my iRiver music player and this guy fit the bill perfectly. Amazon carries suprisingly few compact FM radios with digital tuning that arent garbage. No matter, this is exactly what I needed.
Reception was far better than my music player, even with the antenna unextended, and the battery life is phenomenal. Ive had this for a few months, listening to it on average a few hours a week and I am still on my first pair of batteries.
My only complaint with it is as others have noted, that the tuner and volume knobs are hyper-sensitive. The full range between the volume being barely audible to too loud occurs over like an eighth rotation of the knob. And fine tuning stations is a chore because it will go from 101.10 MHz to 101.15 MHz pretty much just from breathing on it (it has 0.05MHz digital tuning resolution). Since the tuning knob is on the side, it gets budged slighly every time you remove it from the included sleeve so you need to re-fine-tune it to receive your station everytime you take it from the sleeve which gets kind of frustrating.
Overall a quality radio with many features that belie its low price. Four stars based on its FM tuner capability alone.
On: 2007-01-18
Im not a shortwave junkie, so this review may not be of interest to some people. I just wanted a small portable radio for around the house. It is going to be ok for that use, and for $22 (the gray version was cheaper than the others when I bought), it is a pretty good deal.
Observations:
- It is a digital readout, but there are no features normally found on digital radios: no scan and no preset stations.
- I havent tried many stations yet, but the reception is much better than the other radios I have in the house.
- The headphones are pretty poor; they sound fine, but are hard plastic earbuds and wont stay in my ear at all.
- There is no way to lock in your station, and the dial is likely to get moved if you are moving around or handling the radio while listening.
- The case is made from really cheap plastic, and the whole thing feels a lot more cheap than the reception, sound quality and Grundig name would make you expect.
On: 2007-01-15
I have had several of these types of radios including Sangean and Radio shack. This is by far the best one ever.
I bought it for my wife who walks several miles every day. It also is very fashionable to carry, and be seen with.
The speaker quality is excellent for its size. Reception great even the Mall.
On: 2007-01-08
I am kind of a shortwave junkie, and have a few radios all over the place,
I must admit that for the money spent, and the performance and endurance, this little bugger is probably my best buy! I cannot believe the sound quality or the reception, its phenominal! I can pick up shortwave inside the meat packing plant where I work! (Big heavy steel freezers) It is a simple, small no frills, pocket size radio, but it blows away anything in its price range, trust me!
On: 2007-01-07
I am kind of a shortwave junkie, and have a few radios all over the place,
I must admit that for the money spent, and the performance and endurance, this little bugger is probably my best buy! I cannot believe the sound quality or the reception, its phenominal! I can pick up shortwave inside the meat packing plant where I work! (Big heavy steel freezers) It is a simple, small no frills, pocket size radio, but it blows away anything in its price range, trust me!
On: 2007-01-05
Pretty basic SW radio, but for the money, its quite good. Reception is very good for such a small unit. I am in California and have no issues picking up SW broadcasts from Asia with it. One nice surprise: It pulls in FM stereo when using stereo headphones.
Worth the money? Yea...but you can find some superior SW radios coming out of China (redsun/kaito) for not much more and this unit does have its issues. However, if it has the features you require, the SQ (speaker sounds great for its size) is very good and its certainly small enough. Would make a fine emergency radio.
On: 2007-01-04
Pretty basic SW radio, but for the money, its quite good. Reception is very good for such a small unit. I am in California and have no issues picking up SW broadcasts from Asia with it. One nice surprise: It pulls in FM stereo when using stereo headphones.
Worth the money? Yea...but you can find some superior SW radios coming out of China (redsun/kaito) for not much more and this unit does have its issues. However, if it has the features you require, the SQ (speaker sounds great for its size) is very good and its certainly small enough. Would make a fine emergency radio.
On: 2007-01-04
Bought this unit about six months ago and would buy another despite its shortcomings. Good buy for the money!
This is a "Second" radio. It is nowhere near as sensitive as some of the others in my collection and there a gaping holes in its SW frequency coverage. Its tuning is touchy and you have to keep a hand on it to provide ground plane capacitance while listening (techno-babble way to say:"If you put it down, it sounds scratchy") and the antenna housing gets caught in stuff even when the antenna is retracted. Despite the digital readout, tuning is old-style analog, so theres no button input of frequencies or stored memory.
BUT:
Its convenient to grab for recreational listening. It gets good AM/FM reception in my area (Central NJ). Since its so small and easy to pack, I take it everywhere I might have some time to kill. Even in the home, I find myself using this set instead of the better ones in my collection because of its convenient size and weight. The clock and alarm are nice features but you have to use AM/FM stations for the best performance (SW is "Drifty").
SO:
You get what you pay for - this shouldnt be your primary set for AM/FM or SW listening (for either sensitivity or full coverage) but its small size makes it an excellent second or travel set.
On: 2007-01-02
Pros: Looks great, above average FM reception, good antenna, and good accessories included.
Cons: Over-sensitive tuning wheel, have to keep turning unit over for some printed info (band and wheel labels), tuning one band changes the station on all bands, band slider feels imprecise, no scan feature.
For the price....maybe.
On: 2006-11-05
I have to admit that with the name "Grundig" I expected more radio for my buck.
But as the old adage states, "You get what you pay for" and that seems to be the way to approach this radio.
With its small size one would expect to only get a "small sound" and that is exactly what you get. The tuning mechanism is very touchy and it is sometimes seemingly impossible to get the exact frequency tuned in.
Although functional, the long retractable antenna could easily get in someones way or possibly damaged.
On the flip side, being a small radio it is perfect for those fishing and camping trips, which is what I use it for. Its lightweight and I have to admit I like the "Cardinal Red" housing.
I purchased one for myself and then a few months later I purchaced another one for my son.
by: bay_street_stores On: 2006-09-25
This radio has a great sound and is nice and compact. A back-lit lcd and platic belt clip would have been nice. The tuning is a little touchy and jumps; however, the reception stays pretty much the same.
On: 2006-08-21
Good radio. Picks up signals pretty good but the dial is very sensitive and their is no button to lock it so it stays off. But it picks up signals quite good. Please note they will send you a refurbished unit but you wouldnt know from the looks of it. Its just like new and at J&R this radio costs 40 bucks so overall, its a great deal.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-07-19
I bought this radio over Amazon a few days ago and it works great. It has great FM reception and although the tuning isnt digital, its okay.
On: 2006-07-11
I am so happy I got this little radio. I was just looking for a little old fashioned pocket radio like we used to have in the "Old Days", but the short wave feature here really is great. I love being able to get the Catholic EWTN radio program on here. I love watching EWTN on TV, now I can listen to it on the go.
I love all of the functions this radio has,like the alarm and sleep functions. It has such fine tuning that you do have to roll the dial to set it, but thats what we always had to do years ago. This is just what I wanted. I hope it lasts a long time. It seems like a very solid little radio. It comes with earbud headphones, but sometimes you just want to listen to a radio without them. A lot of personal radios these days can only be listened to with earphones, I didnt want that restriction. Great Product.
On: 2006-07-02
I bought this little gem some months back and loved it so much, I got my father one too. He takes it on long trips to be sure to know that the weather is and for knowing road conditions and tuning into world news anywhere, anytime.
The reception is great on this rig and I have enjoyed pulling in both AM and world band stations galore. I cant understand the previous reviewer who didnt like the AM reception. All I know is that Ive taken this little radio to Colorado, Nevada, the high Sierras and on car trips to hill and dale and have never had a problem with pulling in stations near and far.
Of all the AM radios I have in the house (stereo and similar) this one has literally the finest quality and awesome audio packed into a tiny little box. Most other small radios do not pack the clean feel and performace that this radio has. The audio is crisp and for such a small radio, booms out at levels that surprise when you first listen. I pull in a local talk station that is difficult for my other receivers to get with no problems at all.
Eaton/Grundig did a nice job here and despite all of the little digs thrown at this manufacturer, I am very pleased with these radios. Frankly, Ive been so impressed, I went out and bought one of the larger Grundigs for some serious DXing work.
Buy this radio - It is worth it and youll probably want to get another for someone you care about like I did...
On: 2006-06-20
Ill keep this short and to the point. I bought the radio for AM reception. I live in NJ - southern part - and planned on using the radio primarily for Yankee games (880 out of NY). The radio did not get good reception, which is notable because most other radios that ive had in the past have not had any issues. it looks good and its small, but be aware that you may have some reception issues if you are trying to get stations that are out of the area.
On: 2006-04-27
I bought this radio to sit on my window sill in the kitchen so I could listen to NPR while cooking and doing the dishes. I have owned this radio for over a year now and have since given them as gifts several times. The sound quality is great for FM which is all I use it for. I have never used it with headphones. It doesnt eat batteries and its soooo... portable. I take it camping, outside when Im gardening, to the laundry room etc. I consider this radio to be an essential for an household especially as an emergency radio b/c its so small. I will be buying a few more for myself and others. There are a few negatives: AM does not work well where I am but I dont listen to AM anyway. I agree with people about the POWER button being a bit of a pain at times but I have gotten used to it. Shortwave settings do not work well in my area (Cape Cod) but once again I dont listen to SW anyway; SW works excellent in northern NJ. I do agree that the station drifts a bit over many hours of use but whats the big deal to adjust it. [...]
On: 2006-04-20
I was a little surprised by this radio when I received it yesterday. It is nice that it comes with batteries, case (with belt loop) and wrist lanyard. I love the fact that it is digital and picks up stations that I couldnt get with many other radios. Its got an alarm function, built-in clock and sleep function, too. I was surprised that there is no "seek" function to lock to the strongest signal. Apparently an analog-style tuning wheel is considered a feature, minimising the number of annoying buttons. Great! Except for a few quirks: 1, I cant turn mine off; theres something loose inside such that I have to tap the back or move the band selector down to shortwave in order to reliably turn off the radio. 2, The case is beautifully designed to allow the speaker to be heard BUT its really hard to have headphones plugged in while the radio is in the case, plus theres no access to the dials (which can turn in the case...). Finally, the velcro already needs to be re-sewn. In short, it does exactly what I hoped it would do but initial quality is lower than I would have expected: four stars
On: 2006-03-29
this little radio is better than my other sangean radios like the sg622 at $49.00 list price the mini300 has a very good anntena,volume knob turns up very easy so be careful when using the ear bubs.good sound small and powerful way better than bigger radios i have, decent shortwave very good fm and good am,i recomed this radio i got it for $20.+shipping.
On: 2006-03-16
I have had many shortwave radios and I purchased this one especially for taking along with me on hikes and trips. I am quite pleased by the number of stations it pulled in-- a side-by-side comparison of this radio and a larger, more expensive portable showed the Mini300 received all of the same stations as the larger radio. This is a surprisingly sensitive little portable. The sound is also decent for such a small receiver. I love the blue metallic color, its a nice little eyeful as well as earful. Highly recommended if youre looking for a very small, but well-performing portable sbortwave receiver.
On: 2006-03-14
This little radio lives up to its hype. Great Grundig quality in a compact and affordable package...with an alarm clock built-in. This has quickly found a permanent spot in my travel bag. Great value.
On: 2006-03-09
This is a good radio for its size and price. I listen to it while commuting on the ferry between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, not the best environment for receiving FM signals. But, the radio does pull in FM stations clearly. Outside, it actually does pull in numerous shortwave stations as well. Tuning is a bit finicky, and a slight over input to the volume control can potentially destroy ones ear drums. A better dampended volume control and station selection mechanism would be desirable. Im nonetheless happy with the radio, and feel that it is well worth the price.
On: 2006-03-08
This is a good radio for its size and price. I listen to it while commuting on the ferry between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, not the best environment for receiving FM signals. But, the radio does pull in FM stations clearly. Outside, it actually does pull in numerous shortwave stations as well. Tuning is a bit finicky, and a slight over input to the volume control can potentially destroy ones ear drums. A better dampended volume control and station selection mechanism would be desirable. Im nonetheless happy with the radio, and feel that it is well worth the price.
On: 2006-02-28
Ok, I dont undrstand all the negativity on here with the reviews in reference to this radio.I think its superb for the money.All the stations come in great and I live in the mountains which says something.With headphones ,stereo seperation is excellent.The tuning is sensitive, and pulls in weak shortwave signals.I am very satisfied with this product and consider it the best buy for the price.The color is sharp and the case is good too which came with the radio.
On: 2006-02-27
Ok, I dont undrstand all the negativity on here with the reviews in reference to this radio.I think its superb for the money.All the stations come in great and I live in the mountains which says something.With headphones ,stereo seperation is excellent.The tuning is sensitive, and pulls in weak shortwave signals.I am very satisfied with this product and consider it the best buy for the price.The color is sharp and the case is good too which came with the radio.
On: 2006-02-25
Difficult to tune stations in for the sharpest tone. Awkward to press the various buttons. I would not endorse this as a wise purchase.
On: 2006-02-23
The radio has a digial display, but the same analog tuner your first radio had, with out the quality.
...a waste of good plastic!
On: 2006-02-23
Thumb wheel too sensative and it is difficult to dial in a station. Speaker is very tinny sounding. Radio is very directional as you must turn the radio in various directions to pull in a station.
by: seamusoriley On: 2005-12-30
(...)
1. the sound is terrific. When you play through the earphones, the true stereo sound is something else!
2. The sliding factor. Others have written about stations sliding. Where I live is a very powerful FM station that plays talk shows at night, which I enjoy. Unless I hold the radio, the station will slide. It was actually unlistenable!
3. the SW picks up quite well, but also had the sliding factor. If you put the radio in a certain spot in the house and stay away from it, you might hold a station. But how realistic is that??
What I thought was a great bargain ended up another return....
by: seamusoriley On: 2005-12-29
(...)
1. the sound is terrific. When you play through the earphones, the true stereo sound is something else!
2. The sliding factor. Others have written about stations sliding. Where I live is a very powerful FM station that plays talk shows at night, which I enjoy. Unless I hold the radio, the station will slide. It was actually unlistenable!
3. the SW picks up quite well, but also had the sliding factor. If you put the radio in a certain spot in the house and stay away from it, you might hold a station. But how realistic is that??
What I thought was a great bargain ended up another return....
On: 2005-10-27
For the price & size, this tiny radio is amazing & easily fits in any pocket!
AM-Much better than average reception for a radio this tiny.
FM-better than any pocket-portable Ive used.
SW-I believe it might have an amplified antenna or an additional RF stage. It picks up more SW stations with its built in antenna than any portable using a built-in antenna.
No RF images experienced on any band but FM. I live in the city so I leave the antenna down all the way for FM, & it performs fine. The AM isnt connected to the whip antenna, extending it for AM resulted only in increasing static on weak stations. I tried to clip a long wire antenna to it for SW. Some RF images & signal overloads occurred on SW with strong signals, but it did pick up a lot more stations that way.
The speaker sounds great & can go much louder than expected for such a tiny speaker in a tiny radio. Headphones sound great on FM, but are quite usable on other bands when you dont want to disturb others at night... Nightime is the best time to explore far away stations on the lower SW bands & AM.
A pair of 2000mah Lenmar AA rechargeable NiMi batteries lasted over 40 hours at about 10 - 4 hour intervals at a normal volume. They last longer at a lower volume or with headphones. Continuous use will be lower too. When testing battery life they last longer if given a break like in normal use. Continuous use will make the playing time as much as 1/3 less. If you play it real loud, the batteries will drain faster.
With a pair of cheap batteries lasting that long, who needs a bulky wind-up or solar radio?
Keep a set of alkalines handy if you want this as your emergency radio. NiMi rechargeables lose about 1/3 of their power per month just setting around. If the power goes out in your area, you wont be able to recharge them, & your local radio stations may be down. So DX & shortwave may be your only connection with the outside world & the news during an emergency. Alkaline AA batteries have a shelf life of years.
The tuning dial is a little touchy but one quickly gets used to it after the first day of using it. SW tuning wasnt as touchy as expected for this type of tuner, & less touchy than other pocket radios. Tuning is analog, but the LCD readout is digital & accurate.
Update 7/28/06 - Quote: "I live in NJ - southern part - and planned on using the radio primarily for Yankee games (880 out of NY)"
Im way across the state in Buffalo, NY, surrounded by tall steel-frame buildings, & pick up 880 from NYC clearly with this radio day or night. It is more sensitive than most ordinary pocket radios, & almost as sensitive on AM as my GE "Super Radio". But my E5, DX-394, DX-390, & DX-380 are far more sensitive on AM. The E5 is the most sensitive portable on all bands... even FM (Sony fanatics may disagree but actual real tests prove them wrong).
On: 2005-10-26
For the price & size, this tiny radio is amazing & easily fits in any pocket!
AM-Much better than average reception for a radio this tiny.
FM-better than any pocket-portable Ive used.
SW-I believe it might have an amplified antenna or an additional RF stage. It picks up more SW stations with its built in antenna than any portable using a built-in antenna.
No RF images experienced on any band but FM. I live in the city so I leave the antenna down all the way for FM, & it performs fine. The AM isnt connected to the whip antenna, extending it for AM resulted only in increasing static on weak stations. I tried to clip a long wire antenna to it for SW. Some RF images & signal overloads occurred on SW with strong signals, but it did pick up a lot more stations that way.
The speaker sounds great & can go much louder than expected for such a tiny speaker in a tiny radio. Headphones sound great on FM, but are quite usable on other bands when you dont want to disturb others at night... Nightime is the best time to explore far away stations on the lower SW bands & AM.
A pair of 2000mah Lenmar AA rechargeable NiMi batteries lasted over 40 hours at about 10 - 4 hour intervals at a normal volume. They last longer at a lower volume or with headphones. Continuous use will be lower too. When testing battery life they last longer if given a break like in normal use. Continuous use will make the playing time as much as 1/3 less. If you play it real loud, the batteries will drain faster.
With a pair of cheap batteries lasting that long, who needs a bulky wind-up or solar radio?
Keep a set of alkalines handy if you want this as your emergency radio. NiMi rechargeables lose about 1/3 of their power per month just setting around. If the power goes out in your area, you wont be able to recharge them, & your local radio stations may be down. So DX & shortwave may be your only connection with the outside world & the news during an emergency. Alkaline AA batteries have a shelf life of years.
The tuning dial is a little touchy but one quickly gets used to it after the first day of using it. SW tuning wasnt as touchy as expected for this type of tuner, & less touchy than other pocket radios. Tuning is analog, but the LCD readout is digital & accurate.
Update 7/28/06 - Quote: "I live in NJ - southern part - and planned on using the radio primarily for Yankee games (880 out of NY)"
Im way across the state in Buffalo, NY, surrounded by tall steel-frame buildings, & pick up 880 from NYC clearly with this radio day or night. It is more sensitive than most ordinary pocket radios, & almost as sensitive on AM as my GE "Super Radio". But my E5, DX-394, DX-390, & DX-380 are far more sensitive on AM. The E5 is the most sensitive portable on all bands... even FM (Sony fanatics may disagree but actual real tests prove them wrong).
On: 2005-09-27
The Mini300 is an okay radio for the price, but it has a couple serious issues -- the tuning on SW is overly sensitive and it drifts significantly. SW stations are generally spaced 5kHz apart, which is the tiniest movement of your thumb on the tuning wheel of this radio. I usually have to tune back and forth over a station four or five times before getting it centered properly. Thats when the drift kicks in. I havent figured out if its mechanical, electrical, or some of both, but the thing just wont stay tuned. I continually find myself fiddling with the tuning wheel to get a station re-centered. Its not too bad on FM and MW, but on SW it gets to be a pain.
As one would expect of a radio in this price range, the SW filter is rather broad and shallow. The upshot of that is you can get a lot of bleed-over from strong stations that are close by on the dial.
For MW reception there is an internal ferrite antenna that allows directional reception, but the whip is also active. For weak stations where you dont need directional reception, you can extend the whip and often greatly improve the signal. I do this all the time for a fringe station I enjoy listening to.
For the reviewer who complained about this radio being not much different than analog, that was a very astute observation. It actually IS an analog radio, it just has a digital frequency display. The radio being analog is the reason for the drift problem.
Ive had my Mini300 for a year and a half. Despite the tuning issues, I still use it fairly often. Its definitely not a serious SW radio, but its not terrible for the price. I think of it as my "dont really care if I lose it" radio. Theres a certain value in that. If youre looking for a good SW radio, you would do well to look elsewhere. If you want something that does okay for hearing the major broadcasters and that you wont cry about if you drop it overboard or it gets stolen from your luggage, this might be the ticket.
On: 2005-08-02
An annoying switching system and a too sensitive dial selector combined with poor indoor reception adds up to a mediocre radio at best. Battery hatch is very insecure (pops open all the time). Typical Chinese workmanship. Definitely not your fathers Grundig. Recommend buying a good used one from Ebay.
On: 2005-08-01
For the size and price, this radio provides outstanding shortwave reception. I compared it against an old Realistic DX-440 and a Sony ICF-7601, and was able to pull in most of the frequencies that were received on the larger radios with equal clarity and sound quality. The analog tuning knob is firm and tight, but it takes some practice to coordinate your finger movements with the digital readout (which really flies if you have jumpy fingers!). The Mini 300 comes with two generic alkaline batteries, which is always a nice touch in this "batteries not included" marketplace. Plus they throw in a cellphone style, neoprene carrying case that is adequate and functional. The shortwave/FM telescopic antenna comes out about a foot and appears to have excellent sensitivity. The speaker produces a bold sound relative to its size, which is not hollow or shrill like many radios of comparable dimensions, and equally important, it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The unit comes with a pair of standard earbud earphones, and the clock/sleeper features make this a very attractive piece of equipment.
Initially, I questioned the performance in the AM mediumwave band. Since most of my radio time is spent DXing distant AM channels, I was concerned that while the stronger stations came in loud and clear, bringing in those distant signals at night "seemed" to be a problem. Not so! Most nights I can pick up stations like WHAS in Louisville, or WBBM in Chicago which is about 800 miles away! Its all a matter of getting a feel for that small tuning knob.
Overall, in my opinion, this is an outstanding radio. If youre looking for something pocket-size thats strong in the seven supplied shortwave bands, as well as great FM and AM signals, this is an excellent choice.
On: 2005-06-29
Ive gone through a few radios over the past couple of summers... all I want is to listen to the Cubs game when Im out and about.
I had recently lost my Sony, which was may favorite. It was the dark grey little digital one with a few presets, and a belt clip. So, upon looking for a replacement, I decided I wanted:
a) Another pocket-sized radio
b) digital tuning, cant beat that
c) This time, I wanted a speaker as well, so I can kick back with it at the park or the beach.
Well, after scouring through the reviews here, the Grundig looked like the best choice. It had great reception, a long extendable antenna, and "digital tuning"
The only problem is... the digital tuning on this device may as well just be analog, cause you still have to slide that wheel up and down... and it wont stay locked on your station. SO, whats the point? To me, digital tuning means two buttons for up and down, and a third button to "hold" or "lock" all the other buttons, so you dont have to worry about accidentally changing stations.
Plus, the power button on my particular model didnt work very well. I had to press it like 5 or 6 different times before it worked.
Anyway... very disappointed. A cheap $10 Sony, or Panasonic pocket radio could accomplish the same thing.
On: 2005-06-28
Ive gone through a few radios over the past couple of summers... all I want is to listen to the Cubs game when Im out and about.
I had recently lost my Sony, which was may favorite. It was the dark grey little digital one with a few presets, and a belt clip. So, upon looking for a replacement, I decided I wanted:
a) Another pocket-sized radio
b) digital tuning, cant beat that
c) This time, I wanted a speaker as well, so I can kick back with it at the park or the beach.
Well, after scouring through the reviews here, the Grundig looked like the best choice. It had great reception, a long extendable antenna, and "digital tuning"
The only problem is... the digital tuning on this device may as well just be analog, cause you still have to slide that wheel up and down... and it wont stay locked on your station. SO, whats the point? To me, digital tuning means two buttons for up and down, and a third button to "hold" or "lock" all the other buttons, so you dont have to worry about accidentally changing stations.
Plus, the power button on my particular model didnt work very well. I had to press it like 5 or 6 different times before it worked.
Anyway... very disappointed. A cheap $10 Sony, or Panasonic pocket radio could accomplish the same thing.
On: 2005-04-11
A truly excellent radio for the price. I found it easy to pick
up major international shortwave stations during evening hours.
Americans who are not familiar with shortwave can get a great
introduction to the field for little cost with this item.
This package provides so much more than cheap armband radios
that only offer FM scanning...try it, youll like it!
On: 2005-04-09
Im an Angels fan living in Orange County (OC) Ca. The tower for the Angels broadcast station is in Hollywood Ca. which is approx 45 mi north of OC. I am also a mobile fan, moving around the county walking, running, shopping, working, all while listening to my games. I tried other radios over a period of a year including the 49.99 Sangean DT200V and the 34.99 Sony SFR-M37V... but they sucked so hard ... they would static in and out during my travels and daily business. This compact radio solved all my problems: it delivers a steady and accurate signal for weaker AM stations within reasonable locations (no it doesnt work in concrete parking structures). I believe that this is because of the analog tuner with a digital interface (genius to make this techonology available to consumers) and the portable antenna (which if you so desire can extend to approx 2 ft.!!!). This thing is made for people who are serious about enjoying their radio broadcasts. I LOVE THIS THING SO MUCH. I NEVER WRITE REVIEWS but I was so lost when I was searching for some testimonies with similar circumstances, I had to share my zeal. Plus it comes with superb FM reception and the added benefit of basic Short Wave reception. But the best thing of all... its my teams color: RED (one of many colors--Dodger blue is also available for the foolish). These radios are a must for any serious baseball fan. THANK YOU GOD! Buy Grundig stock (even if they manufacture in China).
On: 2005-02-25
This was a tough choice with the antenna sticking out a few inches, but its obvious Grundig has maximized antenna science. This radio is wonderful, it is my 4th Grundig (satelite 700-power jac broke, traveller-junk, YB300-too big and heavy, terrible sound, and now this). The audio is great on this, very surpising on tiny speaker. Shortwave works very well on all bands outside even when broadcast is at its worst, 1PM in northern state. The analog tuner is a speed dial on FM, MW, on SW there is more fine control plus analog finds many more stations than an auto seek function. The antenna is fixed and highly sensitive. To get control of a weak Canadian FM station favored I had to pull antenna out one segment. Indoors with antenna extended there is no noise even when it is right next to a computer CRT monitor, on AM or the touchy FM canada station. I needed a small light radio for outside and on bike, the YB300 was too heavy and bulky. If this was sold as a package of the 5 colors Id get it and give them away. Could not be more pleased with this new radio. High performer and very useful. It took JR, a seller at Amazon, only an hour to ship it.
On: 2005-02-09
This model is great for travel, with clock, alarm, and sleep timer features. The tuning can be tricky as there is no fine-tuning knob and it takes some patience and practice to dial in the exact frequency.
Often, on shortwave functions, the frequency drifts + or - 5 KHz over time and when you touch the radio or if the temperature changes (i.e. if you keep the radio on a windowsill, it will get colder and the frequency will drift). This is only a minor problem for shortwave bands -- the drifting is not as noticeable for FM and AM stations.
The Tecsun R-919 is identical to this radio and sells for 1/2 the price of the Grundig mini 300. Tecsun manufactures these radios for Grundig.
On: 2005-01-28
I bought this radio because I wanted the features it offered in as small a package as possible. After having it for two weeks now, I am happy to report that Id buy one again.
Reception is very good on all bands - AM, SW and FM. Audio fidelity is also very good, a surprise given the tiny speaker. I have no problem listening to Radio Havana, BBC, Deutche Welle (sp?) or numerous other stations, including my favorite AM & FM station. There is a small amount of frequency drift over time on AM and SW. Stations are easy to tune with the digital display although a light touch is required, especially on the higher bands. It is important to note that although the read-out is digital, tuning is analog - not DDS or PLL controlled; thus the small amount of drift I mentioned.
But for the money, a very good radio/clock/alarm which also has a "sleep function".
On: 2005-01-27
I bought this radio because I wanted the features it offered in as small a package as possible. After having it for two weeks now, I am happy to report that Id buy one again.
Reception is very good on all bands - AM, SW and FM. Audio fidelity is also very good, a surprise given the tiny speaker. I have no problem listening to Radio Havana, BBC, Deutche Welle (sp?) or numerous other stations, including my favorite AM & FM station. There is a small amount of frequency drift over time on AM and SW. Stations are easy to tune with the digital display although a light touch is required, especially on the higher bands. It is important to note that although the read-out is digital, tuning is analog - not DDS or PLL controlled; thus the small amount of drift I mentioned.
But for the money, a very good radio/clock/alarm which also has a "sleep function".
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