Dear Gregg,

I own seven examples of the entire GE/RCA 'Superadio' series. ALL were
purchased new. The first model, the 7-2880A, came in two forms: the
first one without battery straps and no antenna connection screws and
the second model, the 7-2880B, came with both. The build quality of
these two models was fine (the A being the better of the two) as was
(is) their reception and sound quality. (On the A model, the one
without the battery straps, the six D batteries would fall out easily
and quite frequently any time you opened the compartment to retrieve,
for example, the AC line cord; the B model corrected that.)

The second model, the first to be actually named 'Superadio,' was the
7-2885 and it came in various letter series depending, I suppose, on
its production run (that is a guess on my part - I do not actually
know why the letter suffixes changed); I own one 7-2885D and two
7-2885F models. While the sound quality, especially in the treble
range, was improved over that of the first model (noticeable, of
course, primarily with FM reception), and the reception quality was
very slightly improved, the build quality took a distressing dip. On
one of my units (the 'D' model), AM reception and, to a lesser extent,
FM reception is poor; I did not notice this until well after the
warranty had expired and I did a side-by-side comparison with a
subsequently purchased 'F' model. But that "better-receiving" 'F'
model had horrible wobble in its knobs and the antenna retaining clip
almost immediately broke off (and for no apparent reason!). The third
'Superadio II,' also an 'F' model, still in use, in built slightly -
only slightly - better than my first 'F' model (and the 'D' one), but
it is not to be compared in quality to the original 7-2880A or B.

Later, in the early '90s, I bought a 'Superadio III,' Model 7-2887; I
tried it only once and then packed it away in its box, where is
remains, on the off-chance I may need it someday. I do not know what,
if any, letter suffix is present in the model number. On its very
brief trial (I just wanted to make sure it worked!), it seemed to be
okay but was certainly nothing special. Its styling, of course, is
very different from the 'Superadio I' (the commonly-used name
nowadays) and the 'Superadio II.'

Now to the RCA 'Superadio' Model RP7887A. First, I recommend that you
do NOT - repeat NOT - buy one.

Let me explain.

I saw that this radio had been re-branded and I thought that, as I had
example of all the previous models, I should buy one of these too. So
I put it in my Amazon wish list and began watching its price and
availability. At first it was selling in the $40.00 range and then it
went into the $50.00 range, much more than I wanted to spend for this
radio (which I figured would get little use).

But one day early this year, as I was perusing my wish list, lo and
behold, it was being offered for $20.66! I immediately ordered it
(along with something else to bring the total to more than $25.00,
thus qualifying for free shipping) - AND I immediately posted a notice
on this group of the price (which, as it turned out, lasted only the
one day) and the link to the radio for anyone who wanted one.

A week or so later the radio arrived - and it was defective. (There
was a loud howling noise all across the AM band and, obviously,
reception of even slightly weaker local stations was impossible.) As I
had ordered it from Amazon, I contacted them and immediately received
a free return shipping label and I returned it the next day, asking
for a replacement.

The replacement arrived several days later - and it too was defective.
(FM reception was non-existent.) Another contact with Amazon, another
free return label, and back it went.

This time they the replacement came two-day shipping. This sample has
the power button askew - VERY noticeably - but the power button does
work and the radio functions normally.

At $20.66, it is an "okay" buy - but I wouldn't spend one cent more
and I'll tell you why. Last night (and this is only the most recent
example), I wanted to listen to Bloomberg Business Radio (WBBR 1130
kHz), a station located about 100 miles from my location. Normally it
comes in well at night but last night, of course, it didn't.

It was EXTREMELY difficult to find the station using the 'Superadio's'
rubbery tuning knob (that's not the feel of the knob, but the way it
tunes in stations - it is very difficult to tune the station in
accurately; you must go back and forth many times to tune in properly
- it has a rubbery feeling to the tuning) and, when I finally did, the
selective-fading distortion was extreme. So I quickly put the radio
down and pulled out one of my Sony ICF-SW7600GRs and tuned it to 1130.

Obviously, with a digital tuner, it is no problem to find the station
you desire, something quite difficult on any analog radio and
especially this one (its dial markings are almost worthless). Not only
was the station received with the same apparent strength as on the
'Superadio,' when I activated the sync, the selective-fading
distortion completely disappeared.

Of course the Sony doesn't produce near the mellow (very fine) sound
quality the 'Superadio' does - but what good is sound quality if you
can't quickly find the station you want and then, when you do, can't
understand what is being said?

I wanted a "complete" collection of this radio; I have it - but,
unless you also wish to "collect" this model, I recommend that you
avoid it (UNLESS Amazon offers it again for $20.00 or so - put it in
your wish list and check daily). The radio I would recommend is the
new CCRadio 2; I do not have one of these (nor am I going to buy one)
but I DO own an original CCRadio. I bought it in 2003 and it is in
daily use (mostly by my wife). While its build quality is nothing to
write home about, its sound, at least on AM, is fine and, being
digitally tuned, stations are easy to find. And the dreaded LCD
"problem" has never manifested itself on our sample.

If $150.00 is too much for you, I recommend that you investigate some
lower-priced shortwave radios such as the Kaito KA-1103 to see if it
would satisfy you. Even though the Sony ICF-SW7600GR is priced
approximately the same as the CCRadio, its versatility - and that sync
circuit which works on AM as long as your station is not adjacent to
an AM IBOC station (and, fortunately, they're becoming fewer and
fewer) - makes it a superior radio in all but sound quality. And even
that can be "improved" by use of external computer speakers connected
to the Sony's line output jack.

In conclusion, I feel that you, as well as anyone else who buys the
RCA RP7887A 'Superadio,' will be disappointed in it. Why do I continue
to use mine from time-to-time? Because I'm too lazy to go into my
crawl space, retrieve the box, and pack the d--- thing away! That's
why!

$20.00 or so? Sure. Any more, NO!

That's my opinion, anyway.

Best,

Joe

On Apr 26, 8:45*am, Gregg wrote:
OK, this is getting cornfusing so I bring it to the tribal committee.

Apparently Amazon doesn't even sell this anymore - or out of stock.

But what I'm finding is the RCA/GE SR3 is modestly priced, correct?
Model number 7-2887 - this is the one a few of us have been speaking
about.

What I am seeing is that there is also a RCA RP7887 AM/FM Super
Portable Radio that costs $149.99 - - - What's up with that? It looks
somewhat smaller and compact but it didn't have the feature to enlarge
the pic so I couldn't tell if the controls were in the same place as
the SR3

I can't remember anyone mentioning this specific radio in here before,
is this somewhat new and shame on you all for no one speaking of or
doing a review on it before anyone else spent their own money. ;-)