Four shortwave portables that had the potential to be among the best but didn't make it 

Great instalment Clint

Love the channel and thanks for the in-depth reviews. It is always interesting to see other users opinions on a selection of equipment, and you did a good job here. On Belka DX, I would agree with you on frequency coverage (I use a LF converter with mine). However, I instantly took to its ergonomics, and found it very easy to use. It takes a little practice, but is worth the effort to me. Frequency accuracy, sensitivity and performance are right up there with some of the better receivers. One last note, it does have an I-Q output, and a small badwidth of spectrum can be fed to a PC from this output. Keep the videos coming and thanks for the effort!

Top notch analysis from you in your opinion on various radios Sir.

I enjoyed your reasoned review of these radios. I have only one of the radios you highlighted. I have the Tecsun 501x. I’ve never owned one the often mentioned radios with good sync detection so it is difficult for me to compare fairly to other models. For me sync seems to help with deep fades but it usually makes me just switch it off. I haven’t noticed much of a battery usage problem but I usually only use the radio fixed to the desk. I do like the same memory architecture with my 880 which I have copied for use with both radios. Good work!

Great video👍

Thank you, again a very interesting video. I am surprised that the h501x has such weaknesses. Yes, it would be nice if you made a few more videos with the Belka. I have the latest version. Yes, the operation is a bit special. Probably because the device is so small.

I have both the Belka DX and the newer Belka (v.3). It's great to have the expanded coverage on the new version, but one trade off is an apparent increase in the number and intensity of internally generated signals. I would also say the audio quality is slightly lower on the latest model.

Clint thanks for the video. I won both the Belka -Dx and Belka 2022 models and agree with you about both. Please watch transporting your DX model with the Antenna still attached. mine broke off the mother board when O dropped my bag. I used a Amazon cable soldered to the mother board to repair mine. The newer model reworked the way it is attached to the mother board in the newer model with the BNC attached by wires instead of directly to the board. 73! and have a nice day!

I think your comments are spot on.

The H501 reminds me of the Satellit 700 (excellent radio) and Satellit 500.

Thank you for the video, very interesting together with the video on the 10 top radios! The same passion for radios on this side, but with one difference in the approach - I never sell radios that I buy. Once I did sell the radio, and then regretted as I could not find it on the market anymore. So, you can imagine how many radios I have! Although any classification is relative and you proceeded from your own experience, I would agree with the conclusions made in both films - regarding the top 10 and those radios that did not make it. But I would like to add some thoughts on the subject based on my experience, may be it would be useful for the visitors of your channel. Speaking of the top radios, I would definitely add in that list Sony ICF-SW07, which outperforms Sony SW100. I would also add Sony ICF-1000T - although the tape recorder tends to fail, the performance of the radio is outstanding. I would have also added Grundig YB 500 and Grundig G3 - these are very different radios, but both impressed my with performance. As for Sony ICF-SW77 which is a great radio, one has to remember that Sony used capacitors of inferior quality in this model, and all tend to die unless recapped. This does not happen with and older 2001D model. The same problem exists in Sony ICF-SW55, so if one looks for the model on the market, it is better to buy those which are already recapped. Sangean 909X is a great disappointment, would not recommend it to anyone. The only advantage of this radio is its brightly lit big display! Seriously speaking, lack of light on any Sony radio is a big disappointment, as it is very uncomfortable to constantly press that light button at nights and to break eyes looking at a poorly lit display. What is the best radio to me? The original Eton E1! I even got the second one as a backup. But all of the above applies to consumer radios. From pure performance perspective and compact size I would rate as the best radio in my shack Elecraft Kx-2 transceiver. 73 de R2ARM!

really respect your honesty. I do love my Belka Dx, any Idea where I can get a stand for it? I'm in Texas, USA

I would like to comment on the Sangean ATS909X2. I have watched a few videos complaining about the low SSB audio problem and I get it that is so. I purchased this radio last year to replace my aging ATS909 (radio Shack version) and it has very good and has nice loud SSB audio. Did I just get lucky and buy a good one or did Sangean correct the isuue? I absolutely love mine. It is a shame that the radio got such a bad reputation because apparantly not all of them had this problem. Thanks for the great videos!

With regard to the 909X2, I have it in white. I’ve noticed, that unless I turn the gain up fully, I’m not able to hear stations on LW and MW. When I turn the gain up, I can hear stations, but a lot of noise on the band (and yes I listen outside). For example if I listen to 5 Live on 693, I have to tune off to 691 or 695 to not get noise. Same goes for Talksport on 1053. I have to tune to 1051. It is odd. Yet my XHData D109, D808 and Tecsun portables pick up both stations fine and without the horrible noise on the band!

Nicely done sir.did you get that sony radio fixed you said it was on its last legs....

I bought mine H501x mainly for me dx and find it does really well,as good as my big crane,bat life ok by me about 10-12hours each battery

As far as battery 🔋 life all you need to do is change out the factory battery's with some fenix 3400 mah battery's and it's a big difference.

I have a Tecsun pl 990x, I also have a pl880, I bought the 990x simply because the antenna socket can be used on medium wave. Have you noticed the ridiculously high prices for portable radios being asked by some sellers on e bay? For example a Tecsun s2000 for sale £950! Also a Sony sw55 at £895!

Thanks

Great comparison! Sony sw-7600gr yeah or nay?

the cost is astronomical. Like that Tecsun 501x costing around $500 ~ $600AUD & the ATS-909x costing around $400AUD

Thanks, I enjoyed this. I wish Sony still made receivers. 😢

Re the Tecsun 501, I understand that the PL880 is also not great with synchronous detection, yet you say you like thhe PL880? I've seen many reviews that say the PL680 is good, but the PL880 and PL990 are not good with sync detection.🤷‍♂️

Good video. However, I do not completely agree with you on your Tecsun H-501x opinion. True, synchronous derection is only mediocre but a lot better than in the 880. Granted, in the 880 it is hidden, Tecsun was right to hide it. I did manage however to receive AM stations from the USA using the 501x. Not with a Wellbrook connected but with the Tecsun AN100/200 passive and tuneable loop. The receiver really comes to life. Speaking of the 880, its AM section is even worse than the one in the H-501x. I own two 880 units, one gave up the ghost, that is, the bandwith selection in one is changing all the time. This makes the receiver useless. Nonetheless, in the other one AM comes to life having the AN100/200 hooked up. These small loops are real marvels. I place the loop on a lazy Susan so the 501x doesn’t have to be turned all the time. The 880 is placed on the lazy Susan together with the loop because the 880 doesn’t have an AM socket, the 501x has. In short, both the 880 and the 501x need the AN-100/200 loop for adequate AM reception. Greetings from The Netherlands. Bye! Willem, Hekelingen, Holland.

i have sony icf 7600D thats the best i have in my collection .... got it from my dad i love that thing ....

i have my Sony sw 55,,and i love it-iit is much betterr thann my Grundig satelllit 3400,at least on ssb i dont miss synchro det. on sw 55 thank you for your expertise.

The newer Belka is great.

My 501x is very weak on longwave I can barely get bbc radio 4