"David" wrote in message news:Mprsd.218$pe.2@trndny04...
I just got the Degen 1103 from China. It took about 10 days for delivery.
First off,
the package had over 10 China stamps on it for my son's stamp collection, so
that was a bonus. My first day impressions are this is a GREAT radio! It
definitely outperforms
past portables I owned including the Grundig YB 400, Radio Shack DX-440, and
Sony SW 100. It's top strength is excellent sensitivity on all bands.
Actually superior sensitivity. I checked for fringe stations for my area and
it digged them out with the whip not used. On FM bands it is superb. I also
got two TV channels on it on the lower FM band. One TV station is 90 miles
away and it gets it. Only my GE SuperRadio III could get that TV channel,
and the Degen does it slightly better. AM band is also just as good. I am
just starting to check the shortwave bands. So this is a great radio thus
far. Though under $100, a radio like this would easily be above $200 five
years ago.



Ten days from China sounds like you got it from Liypn. So it's been tested by
him and it's from the post-Sept. 28, 2004 manuafacturing run, when they fixed
the tuning knob glitch.

I love it too. I don't use my YB-400 or 7600GR as much now that I've got
the 1103.

Give us your feedback on the ergonomics. I found no problem getting used to
the volume control and number buttons layout. If I had disliked them very much
I think the SW reception of the radio would make up for it ten fold.

Be ready for a few posters here to tell you it's Chinese crap and insuate you are
a communist or (God knows why) were actually born in China. What counts for
me is the performance. And at about $65 US delivered, it's the best value in a
portable I have ever seen.