C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
by C. Crane
List Price:
Our Price: $114.95
You Save: $35.00 (23%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $73.85 (click here)
Category: CE
See more product details
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: C. CraneModel: CSW-TCF
Color: Black
Product features:
- AM, FM, and shortwave radio
- RF Gain Control, Bandwidth Control, Bass and Treble Controls
- Clock radio with snooze alarm
- 50 radio presets (10 per band)
- Built-in charging circuit will recharge optional NiMh batteries right inside the radio, saving you both time and money
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
Customer Review: CCRadio SW - aka Boomer
Summary: 5 Stars
Owning a "few" radios provides one with some perspective to judge a radio. This one is over all the most pleasing of all to me. And that includes the GE Superadio III, Grundig S350DL, Sangean Sonido and PRD7, amongst others.
Sound:
The 5 inch speaker delivers very nice full rich sound - particularly the bass. The treble and bass controls provide the adjustments that enable tuning to your pleasure. Actually, the bass is more rich and full than even the Superadio with it's 6 1/2 inch speaker. Amazing!
Quality:
Despite some of the denigrating review remarks, after 6 weeks of about 3 hours of use per day and jumping around the dials, this radio is well put together and eminently functional.
It did take three tries to get the quality desired. The first two had defects - with the first the display light was dim and it had tinny sound, and on the other the speaker rattled. So that would indicate a weakness in quality control. But if you get a good one, it appears to be really good.
Amazon was above and beyond cooperative and helpful and expeditious with the at-no-cost exchanges. Well worth the effort for this radio.
Bells and whistles:
- While it has short wave, it's not that interesting to me. Wish this one would have been just an AM/FM radio. Probably their way of jacking up the price.
- The Fast, Slow and Stop options for the tuning dial are neat and useful.
- Yes it would be nice to have a button for each preset. But the ten presets for each band are quite adequate. And you can actually get used to working with the Memory button and the Fast tuning dial setting. I've gotten reasonably good at jumping around the dial to my heart's content.
- In-radio battery charging is a practical addition. Also, there's an option to use AA or D Cell. I normally use the Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries. They are easy to charge in the radio and last for quite awhile - haven't timed it yet.
- There are a number of other options/bells/whistles that make this radio a fun radio.
So if you want my opinion about whether to purchase this radio or not, it's a definite yes. This baby pleases me!
UPDATE: We've had Boomer for about three months now and it's still performing pleasingly. Listening to music is a pleasure - especially the full rich bass. And I'm a bass nut! Years ago, Radio Shack had a good sale on a pair of Optimus stereo speakers with excellent range and 15" woofers - 15" woofers! Headed to the store so quickly there was a sucking sound as I left the house and started my car about half way there. Those things provide chest-vibrating bass. Clearly Boomer doesn't approximate that, but for a cigar box size portable it can't be beat.
A few tips:
- The buttons have a slight delay, as has been mentioned in other reviews. Pushing them harder doesn't help anything other than possibly damaging the mechanism. Push them lightly with a slight hold and they work just fine. It took a little practice, but now it's natural.
- The in-radio charging is nice. They may be being charged in series - probably are. That means they may not all be charged equally. So it might be a good idea to charge them in a charger that charges batteries individually every now and then. I plan to do it after about the fifth charge (have only done three or four so far).
- For standard and daylight savings times, the local and world time on the clock can be set for each and then just change the default time when the change comes. Thus no time setting required. (If you have the radio and have read the instructions, you'll easily figure this out.)
- The knobs at the bottom - volume, bass, treble and AM RF Gain - have no markings on them to enable visual setting indication. I cut some small pieces of trusty light gray duct tape into approximately 1/8 inch (maybe 3/32) squares. Then, using a tweezer, placed them on the front of the knobs over the little supposed-indicator crack so they look like a diamond with one corner acting as pointer. And Voilà, now the settings are visible. And they look factory installed.
So, if you have one of these gratifying radios - enjoy. If you don't - consider giving it a try.
And by the way, Boomer's AM reception is at least as good as my Sangean Sonido radio.
UPDATE UPDATE: Wow! This is a long review. Reminds me of the guy who wrote his friend a long letter and apologized for it's length. Said he would have written a shorter letter had he had the time.
Description of C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
This phenomenal radio offers the best combination of sensitivity, selectivity and audio performance ever for any radio of this price and size. Shortwave is excellent right off the whip antenna. The five-inch speaker is accurate, pleasant and reproduces deeper bass than any portable of similar size. This radio also features RF gain control, bandwidth control, bass and treble controls, fast and slow tuning, 50 station memories, lighted buttons, a clock radio with snooze alarm, stereo line output and a headphone jack. It runs on four D-size batteries or four backup AA batteries (not included). The built-in charging circuit will recharge optional NiMh batteries right inside the radio, saving you both time and money. AC adapter and antenna connectors are also included.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
Similar Digital Cameras & Photo Products
C. Crane CCRadio-EP AM/ FM RadioC. Crane; C.Crane; C. Crane; Electronics; Network Media Player
Best price: $64.95
Price in other shops:
C. Crane Twin Coil Ferrite AM AntennaC. Crane; Release date: 2006-09-29; CE
Best price: $89.99
Price in other shops:
Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDSSangean America, Inc.; Sangean; Sangean America, Inc.; Electronics; Speakers
Price in other shops:
Sangean DT-400W AM/ FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket RadioSangean; Sangean; Sangean; Electronics; Speakers
Price in other shops:
Sangean ATS-909X AM/ FM/ LW/ SW World Band ReceiverSangean America, Inc.; Sangean; Sangean America, Inc.; Electronics; Speakers
Price in other shops:
World Radio TV Handbook 2011: The Directory of Global BroadcastingWRTH; Published: 2010-12-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $45.09
C Crane Company PS2 SoftSpeaker Pillow Speaker (Blue)C. Crane Company; C.Crane; C. Crane Company; Electronics; Speakers
Best price: $14.29
Price in other shops:
CC SWPocket AM/ FM Shortwave Pocket RadioC. Crane Company; CE
Best price: $42.50
Price in other shops:
Sangean ANT-60 Short Wave AntennaSangean; CE
Best price: $17.95
C Crane Co CC2B Radio-2 AM FM/ Weather and 2-Meter Ham Band (Black Mica)C. Crane Company; CE
Best price: $149.95
Price in other shops: