Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Full disclosure: I work in broadcasting (former FM DJ and radio news anchor), so to say the least -- I'm a bit of an audio snob. But I'm also a pragmatist. I'm looking at this radio through the eyes of someone who remembers what radios used to cost, and how they used to sound. That said, let's dive in. I paid $23.00 for this little guy -- free shipping -- and it arrived within two days. Initial thoughts: -- It's cute as all hell. -- It's plastic (of course) but it has a solid feel to it. -- It arrived fully charged -- turned right on. -- Others have complained about the lack of smoothness in the volume knob; I had the same problem at first, but once you start using it, the knob smoothed itself out, allowing a nice variable volume control. -- Bluetooth pairing with my MacBook Air was instantaneous. -- The sound is awesome* (*FOR A UNIT THAT COULD ALMOST FIT IN YOUR POCKET, COSTING ONLY $23!!!) Doing a deeper dive: -- The two silver knobs (selector and volume) have a decently solid feel, but use them GENTLY, especially the selector knob; each of the 4 positions are quite close to each other, so a light touch is best. -- The radio dial. It lights up in a gorgeous period-authentic golden glow, and stays on even during bluetooth mode when you're not using the radio. It has a tight, solid, and precise feel to it, even if the dial markings are pretty far off (CBS-FM here in New York City -- 101.1 -- was between 102 and 103). Frankly, this is not a big deal for me; once you figure out the stations on the actual dial position -- very few analog dial radios (especially in this price range) have ever been exact. -- Use the antenna. Despite being non-directional, it helps tremendously with pulling in the stations. -- FM sounded great, but AM was actually the big surprise here. AM talk radio sounds so rich and full, you'd almost swear you were inside the station, listening to a studio monitor. -- This little guy also does a fair job of pulling in shortwave. BUT -- don't get too excited -- and don't buy this just for the shortwave. If you're really serious about shortwave, get an actual shortwave radio. Still -- it does a good job of pulling in overseas signals -- as long as you're patient, deliberate, and delicate with the dial. Review: Here's where my audio snobbishness is tempered by my pragmatism and experience. I remember how much "transistor" radios used to cost back in the day (1977): the equivalent of $70 in today's dollars, AM only, with an (at best) tinny-sounding little speaker. To get this kind of sound -- AM, FM, *and* shortwave (not to mention the unheard-of-in-1977 ability to plug in 2,000 hours of programming with a chip the size of your fingernail, PLUS the ability to connect to basically the entire WORLD via bluetooth) -- one would have had to spend upwards of $700 (of today's dollars) back in 1977. So -- for 20 bucks and change -- this little guy is a gem!! Final analysis: I'm planning on using this radio primarily for music and news in the kitchen (which is why I needed both AM and FM). This radio delivers a bigger punch, wider range, and richer sound than the "table radios" (with much bigger speakers) of the '60s-'80s. It's more than enough to fill my 1920 10x12 ("closed") kitchen with rich sound. *BONUS*!!! It takes a mini-SD card onto which I'm going to download my old-timey radio shows, and have on my bedside, as I drift off to sleep, back into the 1940s. FINALLY, A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT THE BATTERY: It's a sealed battery that can be charged only via USB. ***IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND NEVER PLUG THE USB INTO A CHARGER THAT PUMPS MORE THAN FIVE VOLTS OF DIRECT CURRENT INTO A MAXIMUM OF 1000 MILLIAMPS PER HOUR ("DC5V/1000MaH").*** Not all USBs are created equal. Some of the new wall adapters and power strips have built-in USB chargers that push out 5 volts of DC power into as much as 2,400 Milliamps per hour. That kind of power will ultimately fry the radio's battery; it's like trying to fill a shot glass with a fire hose. This little guy needs to sip power, not gulp it like your MacBook. Look carefully at the charger's output before you plug it in -- and when in doubt -- DON'T. FINAL THOUGHT: Given its tiny size (but big sound), this little guy is perfect for college dorm rooms ... on your desk at the office ... in the kitchen or (extremely well-ventilated) bathroom (use common sense and don't give it a steam bath or allow it to get wet). It's also a great gift idea for housewarmings, Secret Santa grab-bag-style gift exchanges, etc. Enjoy!!!