Sangean America DT-210 DT-210 AM/FM Digital Tuning Pocket Radio
by Sangean
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sangean America DT-210 DT-210 AM/FM Digital Tuning Pocket Radio
Customer Review: Amazing Signal Strength, Concern about Durability...
Summary: 4 Stars
Sangean DT-210 Pocket Radio
The positives:
I have now owned the Sangean DT-210 pocket radio for almost two months and have found its performance exceptional. It even exceeds the Radio Shack branded Grundig radio that it replaced in signal reception. It grabs a weak signal inside my office space that only the Grundig had a chance of grabbing - with poor results. The Sangean picks it up ok and in more locations. No other radio picked up any signal.
Also, unlike some here, I find the controls to be well designed for a radio this size and weight. The large button on the top-right of the unit initiates the scrolling through preset channels. After pressing that button you can cycle (bi-directional) through the presets using the large tuning buttons. Memorizing the presets is simple as well. There is a large Memo button that acts as expected.
Finally, the `lock' button is useful for locking the controls in their current setting. Sometimes it will self-lock because of its location - but that is no big deal. Another thing that is actually nice is the little rubberized `button' on the back that seems to hold the radio in place when you lay down on its back. I like it.
Now for the only negatives:
The casing seems lighter (more flimsy) than the Grundig. I don't know if it will survive the multi-drop test like my Grundig. We shall see. It has already survived one.
When the batteries drain the radio doesn't degrade well. It runs well till it doesn't. The Grundig would start losing volume, the Sangean keeps signal and volume strength till the batteries almost fail. I guess that is both good and bad. However, battery life is quite good.
Finally, the 90 minute shut down may be a 'feature' but I think it is a bug. Not much to cry about...
Thus, the only thing that keeps this radio from receiving a `4 Star' rating from me is a potential problem with casing strength. On that we shall see.
Customer Review: Watch Out For A Very Serious Flaw!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
As a longtime user of the Sangean DT-300VW radio, I needed topurchase another radio and didn't need the weather band. I have
been extremely satisfied with the DT-300VW except that the coating
on the metal faceplate wears off very quickly (the radio does not
age gracefully).
I received the DT-210V only eight days ago and had similarly high
expectations. I am extremely disappointed and am planning
to return this radio as I write this review.
My disappointment concerns the method of using the memory presets.
Incredibly, the memory presets are not the default method of tuning
for this radio. The user must depress the recall button on the side
of the radio in order to place the radio in memory preset selection
mode. An "M" on the display begins to flash allowing you to select
the presets for a short period of time. The radio then returns to
manual tuning mode automatically. On my radio, the recall button
is also very imprecise making it difficult to ensure you are in memory
preset tuning mode without holding the button down for an extended
period of time.
This is an incredible engineering error by Sangean! How many
car radios (or any radios) do you know that do not have memory
preset tuning as the default or allow you to select that default.
I even wonder if Sangean only found this error at the last minute
and didn't want to recall the radios in the distribution pipeline. I
mention this because the photo on the back of the DT-210V's box
shows the graphic "SEL" adjacent to the button instead on
the term "RECALL" that is on the actual radio. A select function
would make more sense allowing the user to select either
manual tuning or memory preset tuning.
In my opinion, this is a grievous engineering error and I would
not recommend this radio in any circumstance (at least
until Sangean corrects the problem).
Customer Review: Pretty good radio...
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this radio to mostly listen to FM radio at work. After a shipping snafu that Amazon made right, I was able to try it out and compare it to my Sony radio that was integrated with an old Minidisc player.
Reception is somewhat better than the Sony, though of course, AM takes a nosedive near the interference from a computer.
The overall sound quality is better than the Sony though, due to the DBB. I replaced the crappy earbuds that came with this radio with Sony EX-71s and the sound quality was fully realized. (ugh, how do people even use the earbuds that come with most players? You guys are cheating yourselves out of a ton of audio quality)
I thought about the DT-200V due to the AA batteries, and the DT-300 due to the weatherband, but I thought the bass boost was more important than either, and I think I made the right choice. DBB makes music sound a lot better, but then, I like my bass.
I gave this unit 4 stars and not 5, because there are some issues I have with it.
First, the interface. As many others have said, the temporary recall toggle tuning method is really inconvienient. Also, I noted the absence of a DX/local switch. I thought the belt clip was unusually large and unweildly, and didn't seem particularily secure.
The speaker seems largely useless. Due to the size, it is not really suited to be used outside of an extremely quiet environment, and even then, sound quality is pretty bad due to the size.
For a future product, I would suggest making the controls more like the DT-200V in terms of functionality and layout, and probably removing the speaker. I think you need a somewhat larger unit in order to have a properly usable speaker.
But, the unit does have very good reception and audio quality (especially with the DBB) when paired with a good pair of headphones. Just don't use the included ones, they are, as to be expected, quite terrible.
Customer Review: good signal; poor interface
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this radio to replace my Panasonic RFSW200 Shockwave which was great at one-button channel hopping. It also had an arm band and battery power level display but the reception, especially FM, was not up to snuff. Now I'm happy it stopped working.
After using this Sagean for a couple of months I offer these observations.
Cons:
The method for changing stations using presets is horrible. No way a real engineer or radio user did this. It complicates the use of the radio - I have 4 or 5 AM stations I like to listen to while walking. AM commercials encourge one to change stations frequently but with this radio you have to first hit the Recall button, then scroll up/down through 10 presets including unused presets which provide static. Now I most often just turn the radio off while there is a 10-minute commercial break.
The earbuds aren't very useful for me as they keep falling out of one ear or the other. But that's pretty easy to solve with some over the head phones.
I miss an armband but it OK by me to carry the radio in my shirt pocket.
Pros.
I'm satisfied with the reception AM, FM and TV channel 9 PBS.
I was pleasantly surprised at the builtin speaker. When I'm alone I forgo the headset and just listen via the speaker.
For FM listening without the headset connected, an antenna is provided.
The TV band (2-13) is not something that interested me but I discovered that I often listen to the PBS News Hour on from the local PBS TV station.
I like the 90-minute auto-shutoff. Two AAA batteries instead of one if fine but there is no continuous power meter.
I recommend this radio as long as you are warned about the presets design so you can decide if you can live with that hassle.
Next time I might look at something like the Sony SFR-M37V.
Customer Review: A Robust Little Radio - No Regrets!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had my eye on this radio for a few days and purchased it when it came up as a Gold Box Special. I'm very glad I did.
This little radio does a great job, especially for AM purposes, where my favorite newsradio stations are. I had no trouble tuning in on my favorite stations (AM and FM) including one station that broadcasts from Tampa, FL that I'm able to pull in from the opposite coast. The TV does quite well, but my area only uses 3 or 4 channels within the 2 to 13 range, so I hardly use that band area.
The only surprise (for me) came with the needed use of an antenna for the FM and TV stations. Normally, the wire for the ear buds works as the antenna, but if you use the on-board speaker (which works great) you'll need to use the included antenna wire which plugs into the ear bud jack. But that's not a big overall deal.
The first day I used it I accidently dropped it on the brick floor with no ill effects. One battery popped out from the impact. It still works fine - just a few tiny nicks in the front.
I'm glad I didn't buy a cheaper radio, which is what I had originally set out to do. I like this radio. It's easy to handle, it's already taken a beating, and it works really nice. I look forward to using it for years to come.
UPDATE: Five months later and I have fallen deeper in love with this darling little radio. It's been dropped and slobbered on countless times (on tile, brick, and concrete flooring) by a 1 year old toddler. It still looks and runs great. (The lock feature comes in VERY HANDY when dealing with a curious toddler. Super feature.) My husband has complimented me on choosing this radio...it's helped us through Hurricane Charley and helped beat off boredom the days without power afterwards. I do not regret buying this radio and would gladly buy it again and again and again if I had to.