Hey Joe, the Sony 5900W is such a beast. Now, I see you said CURRENT
models. The TECSUN R-9700DX is dual conversion...



"Joe Analssandrini" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dear Ms. Weil,

I do not believe ANY currently-manufactured portable shortwave receiver
which is analog-tuned is truly decent.

Are you sure that the Degen DE-1107 is a dual-conversion receiver? I
should be quite surprised if this were to be the case as I haven't seen
any analog-tuned SW radio in years that has featured dual-conversion
circuitry.

I do not know why you would want another analog receiver but, if this
is really your desire, then this radio would probably be all right.
Degen's have established a good reputation regarding their quality of
construction. (I have never owned a Degen/Kaito product, however.) Also
Sony still manufactures a couple of analog-tuned receivers which can be
seen on Universal Radio's site and, of course, Eton makes a number of
them also, some of which have an analog tuner but a digital readout
(NOT a "fake" analog dial). Sangean does too but, from personal
experience, I won't recommend purchase of a Sangean-made radio, at
least at this time.

Personally, I "gave up" on analog-tuned SW radios a long time ago. The
advantages offered by digitally-tuned ones (PLL circuitry) are so
clear-cut as to render analog-tuned radios obsolete, in my opinion.

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is, again in my opinion, the finest small
portable shortwave receiver being manufactured today. Both in terms of
quality of construction and quality of performance I feel there is no
other portable comparable. (I own five of them as well as two copies of
the predecessor model the ICF-SW7600G; the 'GR's feature set is much
improved over the 'G though performance, quality-of-construction, and
durability are the same.)

I also own two Sony ICF-SW35 SW receivers. These are kept in the glove
compartments of my two cars, winter and summer. This is a very
underrated and often overlooked receiver. While its digital tuning
system is not as convenient as most others (it has no direct input
keys, for example), and it does not have synchronous detection, its
dual-conversion circuitry and filtration is superb, offering very good
adjacent-channel rejection as well as excellent image rejection. And
its fifty memories plus the ability to "jump" to the bottom of a SW
band (giving, in effect, even more memories) are very helpful in tuning
this receiver. Sound quality is reasonable, memories never erase (even
with batteries removed for years), its scanning function is very good,
and its construction/durability is superb. It's a very light radio and
is very easy to use. The price is right too - if you shop carefully,
you should be able to buy it for less than $80.00 new.

I do wish you the very best of luck in whatever decision you make and I
hope your radios afford you "good listening."

Joe