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: Excellent AM. Slightly inconvenient FM
Summary: 4 Stars
I've used both the DT-210 and its big brother, the DT-400W. The smaller radio has incredible AM reception that the DT-400 doesn't come close to matching, for whatever reason. A distant AM station I can barely pick in daytime up on the DT-400 (and not at all when it goes directional after dark) pops up loud and clear on the DT-210. Or, as clear as a distant weak AM signal can be, hearing it on earbuds.
That said, the bigger DT-400 has a much more convenient tuning system (fewer buttons to press to go through presets) and better over-all FM. The DT-210 is much more susceptible to FM stations fading in and out depending on what directon you're facing. Actual sensitivity seems about the same between the two, but you're more likely to find yourself shifting about to keep a station with the smaller radio.
The smaller size of the DT-210 is a little more convenient; the need for AAA batteries instead of the more easily available AA's is less so. Every convenience store has AA's, fewer have AAA's. The belt clip provided is pretty useless. These radios are durable enough; mine have been dropped on hard surfaces now and again and survived. Don't get one wet, thogh!
And yes, the power button failed on my last example of a DT-210, too. But it gave me three or four years of nearly daily use, so it didn't bother me that much. Both Sangean radios are much superior to the Sony equivalent, for my money. If you're trying to pull in a fringe AM station, the DT-210 is the next best thing to a bigger and more expensive Crane. And most of the games I want to hear are on AM.
If anybody knows of an MP3 player with halfways decent FM reception, I'd like to hear about it. Most have radio strictly as an afterthought.
Customer Review: Excellent Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been using a sony walkman headphone radio that had excellent reception because of an external antenna, but it broke when it fell off a shelf and Sony had discontinued these headsets and used ones were selling for $100 on ebay.
This radio was a great replacement. It has excellent AM and FM radio reception. AM reception was important to me because I like sports and political talk on the AM band and many portable radios have poor am reception. The three local npr stations closely packed on the bottom of the FM band also came in clearly.
I live in an urban area, a top 30 radio market, and all signals came in strong with this radio.
Controls are excellently designed. It is really easy to switch stations and bands through the presets and to set presets.
Size and weight of radio make it easy to use while moving around. Its dimensions are similar to credit card with an additional 1.5 inches in length. The waist band works very well. I never liked belt clips with walkman cassette players or cell phones. However, this one works great because the unit only weighs a couple of ounces and the belt clip has swivel so that it will pivot when you are moving around. This seems to keep it from either falling off your belt or digging into your waist.
I also found the speaker option more useful than I thought. Good sound quality and volume. I use it for talk radio more than music. Sound may be a little tinny for music. Headphones provided do provide good sound quality of both music and talk.
Battery power is excellent. I have had mine about three months. Still on the original set of batteries after 35-45 hours of use.
Great Product.
Customer Review: Special ! Simplicity Done Right....
Summary: 5 Stars
Was looking for lightweight portable, mostly for AM station I listen to nowadays, while on go in NYC. Old "walkman" was heavy, staticy. Well, sangean is lightweight, easy to set up and navigate. As I struggle with most set-up, install situations and over-complicated navigation, off the bat for me, sangean was special. Reception is good. I don't like ear buds; am using my own headphones. I'm nearly certain sound will be even better with new pair of headphones. Haven't yet used with wire antenna.
Now, here's anecdote re: sturdiness. I was 'lovin my sangean- the look, quality, convenience, comfort, etc. Took sangean on it's 1st subway trip. At Grand C Stat, 42nd Street, crowd pushed, kid punched me [long story], which ripped sangean [clipped inside my pocket] right out of headphones- onto subway track bed! Was in bit of shock, crestfallen. Being observant, series of NYers started to help, culminating in special MTA squad! retrieving sangean while I was at my app't, based on info I gave a token clerk. Joyful. But after cleaning it, it wasn't working. Next day, replaced batteries. It worked! [Had to re-set up.] Wish it hadn't been thru ordeal, but it seems to be working better with some passed time. Good lessons learned: You can get what you pay for and when you do, it's a joy and does save money in long run.
Only wish is that sangean build on current model's features; for ex, adding recording feature. Based on design, quality of this product, I'd consider any mp3 etc they come up with.
Customer Review: It's Ok. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Summary: 3 Stars
I've owned this radio since May and feel I've used it sufficiently long enough to merit a valid opinion. My first radio was a transistor unit back in the early 1960s and I've owned or used countless portable units since. My first reaction upon using this radio was to send it back. Then, after reflecting on the abundance of stellar ratings, I thought maybe I was missing something and needed to give it a fair shake. So, I didn't seek an RMA, but I also didn't feel like the hassle. That said, now having exercised a sufficient amount of cognitive dissonance, I also don't feel bad about having kept it. But one thing drives me crazy, reception while walking. I live in a major population area adjacent to countless powerful radio stations. So signal is not an issue. When trying to walk, one must constantly adjust the ear bud wire which doubles as the antenna. Even presumably stronger stations seem to require antenna adjustment. If you're stationary, you can adjust the antenna and listen without any problems via the unit's speaker or ear buds. I also don't see it's ability to pull in distant signals particularly impressive. Otherwise, sound quality is excellent and the radio is solidly built. It uses two AAA batteries and is easy on power consumption. I see it as a perfect radio for use while working in a shop or to use in the event of power outage. For walking, I now use my MP3 player. Otherwise, I still think it's ok, nothing more, nothing less.Customer Review: Comparison with the Sony Walkman.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Sangean to replace my Sony Walkman radio, which after ten years of brutal treatment, finally became unusable. The little Sony had been dropped, bashed up against hard objects, thrown into a bag and forgotten for months, left in the sun in the car -- you name it. The belt clip broke a few years ago, but it kept ticking. Finally, I think there must be a crack in the circuit board, because it randomly just cuts off. (It still works if I remain stationary). It was time for a new one.
I came onto the web site to buy another Sony, but saw that the Sangean was available for slightly more money. Since I remembered the Sangean commercials from the Art Bell show years ago, I decided to give that brand a whirl. After two weeks of use, it seems to be doing well. No regrets, but I do note two possible negatives:
1. It does not appear to be as structurally strong as the Sony. It has a big plastic face that seems more vulnerable to "smashes" (which haven't occurred yet). On the other hand, the belt clip on the Sangean seems stronger than the Sony.
2. The controls seem to be a little more complicated than the Sony -- so for the technically challenged, the Sony might be a better buy.
I note no real difference in the reception. It gets weak to nonexistent in the gym just like the Sony did. All in all, no regrets. We'll see how well the Sangean holds up.