The Drake SW8 has a front speaker and is a better receiver than either
the R-1000 or R-600. An SW8 with a serial number starting with a '6'
(1996) or higher (final version) goes for about $500. If that's too
much, consider the Drake SW2. It doesn't have all the features of the
SW8 but you still get the front speaker and a very good sync' detector.
The SW2 sells for about $300. Both of these receivers are out of
production so you'll have to find one on Ebay or perhaps Universal Radio.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/0088.html

http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/2222.html

BTW- The R-1000 and R-600 are not 'pure' analog receivers. They use a
semi-synthesized design which generates the thirty 'Mhz' ranges with a
PLL synthesizer. Each Mhz range is tuned with a conventional analog circuit.


wrote:
I was hoping to get some information on this receiver if anyone can
help.

Currently I have an R-1000 which is great for my needs, except for the
speaker being on the top instead of front-firing. I like the fact that
it's analog tuning yet has a digital frequency counter (I don't care
about entering frequencies like on digital synthesized receivers).
Occasionally I run it through my small stereo amp into a nice pair of
bookshelf speakers and the audio is terrific with the wide 12 kHz
filter (not too bad with the narrow 6 kHz, either), but mainly use it
for bedside listening to shortwave.

I'd like a receiver with a front-firing speaker for my bedside, and was
wondering how the '600 matched up to the '1000. I do know that it came
out later, is it also anaolg tuning with the frequency counter, minus
the analog display? How is the audio compared to the '1000, run
through a stereo system? I'd probably swap the stock 6 kHz filter for
something a bit wider to improve fidelity. How much attenuation of the
signal does it give you when you use that function?

I'm not too worried about what I'd lose in dynamic range, etc. since
I'd only use a modest antenna to listen to the BBC and such major
broadcasters.

Thanks for any help!