I'd tend to look for something else besides the SRIII, such as a
Sangean-built Realistic model in your price range. The SRIII is
definitely sensitive on AM, but it is really touchy to tune in the upper
end of the band and drifts off easily and often. Also, any half-decent
$20 portable AM/FM radio from The Shack is sensitive enough for most
purposes, especially with a hand-wound ferrite antenna booster, or a
simple wire wrapped around the radio and led out for a good length away
from the radio. 9 years ago, I bought my SRIII for $40, and although it
has beautiful sound, it s a pain to use compared to others I own. If you
could come up with a few more bucks, the CCRadio from Crane
(Sangean-built) is excellent at $159. It is digital readout to 1khz.,
and is rock-solid non-drift. Plenty sensitive, and they did a lot of
other things right on this one, such as spacing the slewing keys at 10
khz per jump, which makes it the BEST radio I own for AM/BC
bandscanning.

If you are comparing a modern Sangean 909 with an older rig, you cannot
really expect to "get any more" stations on one or the other, basic
sensitivity s not and has not been an issue for many years. I put my
DX-440 up against my Kenwood R-5000 with identical antennas and the
DX-440 "got" every weak signal that the Kenwood did. Of course, the
Kenwood blew the DX's doors off in selectivity and strong-signal
capability, and this test was done with intentionally small antennas. My
usual antennas in those days were sloping single-ended wires, 50' at the
high end and running up to 70' long, not including the lead-in. I also
had a 90' Windom dipole (coax-fed) and two Alpha-Delta 60' sloper
dipoles. Your location may well require at least a minimal outdoor
antenna of some kind if you cannot receive anything well enough.

I live in a residential area on the West side of Jackson,just across
Highway 80 from Metrocenter Mall www.metromalljackson.com and I know
there isn't anything wrong with my location as regards radio reception
or anything else.The only way it could be any better (if any better at
all) would be if I lived out in the country.
cuhulin

If it's made by Sangean,I DON'T want it.I tried out two Sangean radios
and I STILL SAY Sangean radios (ALL of them) are over rated over priced
JUNK! And they lose the digital displays too.
cuhulin