That says it all: "The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !"
Collectors and users have different price ceilings.

Although the high bidder will say otherwise, performance isn't the real
reason someone would pay a premium for such a radio because more
reasonably alternatives are available that will catch the same
stations. Bragging rights that come from chasing and paying a premium
for something "rare" figures big in the equation.



RHF wrote:
HJS - The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !

IMHO - What you see on eBay with the Drake R8B
are "Market Forces" setting the Price for a Limited
Quantity of an Highly Valued Item 'For Sale" at Auction.
Plus - Perceived High Quality of the Item.
Plus - Excellent Performance of the Item.
Plus - Very Few Items / Discontinued / Not Being Made Anymore.
Plus - Small Number of 'Very Interested' Buyers.
eBay Auction = World Wide "Open {Competitive} Market".

basic economics 101- yes it is that simple ~ RHF
.
.
. .

On Nov 29, 7:17 am, wrote:
Geary Morton wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:

Some people are paying more for the Drake R8B used than it sold for
when new??? Do it's signal catching abilities improve with age and
use? It has apparently attained collectible status alongside other
notables like the Panasonic RF9000, Sony CRF330 and Zenith TO with
performance apparently a secondary issue.

Uh, I don't think performance is a secondary issue, rather it's the
primary issue. The 'performance' of an R8B is competitive if not
superior in some ways to anything currently being offered by anyone.At those prices performance would have to be a secondary issue because
comparable reception performance could be gotten from several other
discontinued high-end receivers. And that is the price for a used
receiver not a new one.

I
don't know of any radio for the same (albeit inflated) price that offers
more, and there is certainly NO comparison between it and any of the
other radios you list, IMHO.The radios including the Drake were listed mostly because collector
interest has pushed the price beyond anything that makes sense. Those
radios perform no better now than when new and indeed they are all
gradually aging.





Geary- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

Over there in Japan,(those rich Japanese people,ya know) a lot of
American name brand thingys (such as Harley Davidson Motorcycles,made in
Milwaukee,Wisconsin.There is also a new Harley Davidson factory in
China) are Icons and that is what those rich Japanese people go for.
cuhulin

wrote in message
ups.com...
That says it all: "The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !"
Collectors and users have different price ceilings.

Although the high bidder will say otherwise, performance isn't the real
reason someone would pay a premium for such a radio because more
reasonably alternatives are available that will catch the same
stations. Bragging rights that come from chasing and paying a premium
for something "rare" figures big in the equation.

There is no receiver priced below the cost of an R8B that "gets the same
stations." In severe DX situations, the R4B will beat anything in or below
its price range.

David Eduardo wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
That says it all: "The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !"
Collectors and users have different price ceilings.

Although the high bidder will say otherwise, performance isn't the real
reason someone would pay a premium for such a radio because more
reasonably alternatives are available that will catch the same
stations. Bragging rights that come from chasing and paying a premium
for something "rare" figures big in the equation.

There is no receiver priced below the cost of an R8B that "gets the same
stations." In severe DX situations, the R4B will beat anything in or below
its price range.

At the $1600 price for a used R8B, there are better choices.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/3396.html for instance,
though the cost of extra filters might make it go above $1600.

wrote in message
oups.com...

David Eduardo wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
That says it all: "The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !"
Collectors and users have different price ceilings.

Although the high bidder will say otherwise, performance isn't the real
reason someone would pay a premium for such a radio because more
reasonably alternatives are available that will catch the same
stations. Bragging rights that come from chasing and paying a premium
for something "rare" figures big in the equation.

There is no receiver priced below the cost of an R8B that "gets the same
stations." In severe DX situations, the R4B will beat anything in or
below
its price range.

At the $1600 price for a used R8B, there are better choices.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/3396.html for instance,
though the cost of extra filters might make it go above $1600.

Many do not like the quirky interface of the AOR. On Medium Wave
DXpeditions, the Drake has tended to be the better DX receiver. It comes
close, and may be a tie, but the R8B seems to be the vastly preferred
receiver for serious DX work.

David Eduardo wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

David Eduardo wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
That says it all: "The Collector has one thought : GOT TO HAVE IT !"
Collectors and users have different price ceilings.

Although the high bidder will say otherwise, performance isn't the real
reason someone would pay a premium for such a radio because more
reasonably alternatives are available that will catch the same
stations. Bragging rights that come from chasing and paying a premium
for something "rare" figures big in the equation.

There is no receiver priced below the cost of an R8B that "gets the same
stations." In severe DX situations, the R4B will beat anything in or
below
its price range.

At the $1600 price for a used R8B, there are better choices.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...rxvr/3396.html for instance,
though the cost of extra filters might make it go above $1600.

Many do not like the quirky interface of the AOR. On Medium Wave
DXpeditions, the Drake has tended to be the better DX receiver. It comes
close, and may be a tie, but the R8B seems to be the vastly preferred
receiver for serious DX work.

I've used the R8B. It's an adequate radio.The AR7030+ certainly is
easier to transport since it is much smaller. I've used it in the
boonies on 12V batteries, though technically you don't get the full
performance. IIRC, the the soap on the rope puts out more like 14V. I
have a special power cord for the Wellbrook. [Damn positive ground
system.]

Mine has the NB built in as well. Comes in quite handy.