Kaito-208 review
 

I just received the Kaito KA-208 Digital Display Mini AM-FM Radio. Though it
does not have SW on it I find the radio a pleasant surprise. I paid $15
including shipping for it. It is analog, but with digital tuning. First, it
is the smallest radio I ever had. It is as small as a pack of cards. Second,
the AM band is sensitive. I am in Maine, and I am picking up WTOP out of
Washington DC at night with good reception. So, the AM is by far the most
sensitive for a small radio I tried. Only the Sony 100 is in the same
league. Third, FM is very good reception. I tested a tough fringe station on
it and it receives it better than most radios I have had. It equals the GE
SuperRadio III for the fringe station tested. I am not sure I got lucky and
got a good model, or all of the KA-208's are this good. Construction is
good, looks like it will hold up to some abuse. Anyways, the radio is on
sale sometimes on Ebay, and a site called softwareandstuff.com has it on
sale. For being such a small radio (about 3'" long) it is a decent
performer.

"David" wrote in message news:NR8sd.414$eq6.120@trndny08...
I just received the Kaito KA-208 Digital Display Mini AM-FM Radio.

If you liked that 208 for $15.00 you might want to try the Coby CB-91
digital model. I found them at a local discount appliance superstore
for $7.00. Like you said about the Kaito, it is very sensitive on
AM/FM and does a very good job on Shortwave. Some band ranges are not
included but for $7.00 who is going to complain. I picked up one of
the Bell and Howell 9 band analog dial units a year ago, and although
it works well for the price, its dial assembly doesn't compare to the
accuracy of the digital dial and readout in the Coby. Left it out in
the sun too long and the dial pointer/freq chart, started warp a bit
and never came back rite. The pointer now scrapes against the chart.

I have several communications grade receivers so I am not trying to
find a $1,000 like performance replacement out of a $10.00 radio, but
for something to play with and not hurt the pocketbook it fits the
bill. Also makes a nice radio to take along, camping or backpacking
in the wild, where size might be a concern, and/or a/c power not
available or as a backup emergency radio for when the power fails.
The life of a couple of 'AA' cells in these units is truely amazing.

Have fun.....

Subject: Kaito-208 review
From: (Tom)
Date: 12/4/04 7:39 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

"David" wrote in message
news:NR8sd.414$eq6.120@trndny08...
I just received the Kaito KA-208 Digital Display Mini AM-FM Radio.

If you liked that 208 for $15.00 you might want to try the Coby CB-91
digital model. I found them at a local discount appliance superstore
for $7.00. Like you said about the Kaito, it is very sensitive on
AM/FM and does a very good job on Shortwave. Some band ranges are not
included but for $7.00 who is going to complain. I picked up one of
the Bell and Howell 9 band analog dial units a year ago, and although
it works well for the price, its dial assembly doesn't compare to the
accuracy of the digital dial and readout in the Coby. Left it out in
the sun too long and the dial pointer/freq chart, started warp a bit
and never came back rite. The pointer now scrapes against the chart.

I have several communications grade receivers so I am not trying to
find a $1,000 like performance replacement out of a $10.00 radio, but
for something to play with and not hurt the pocketbook it fits the
bill. Also makes a nice radio to take along, camping or backpacking
in the wild, where size might be a concern, and/or a/c power not
available or as a backup emergency radio for when the power fails.
The life of a couple of 'AA' cells in these units is truely amazing.

Have fun.....





The KA-208 looks like a re-badged version of a Coby model (or vice versa) sold
in Big Lots for $6.99. Great radio for the price -- good sensistivity and
selectivity, super compact and it isn't a battery hog like a true digital
radio.

I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering where you bought your Coby CB-91 --
what's the stores name & location? This one looks similar to the jWin JX-M14.