Customer Reviews

ETON 960 Classic AM/FM Shortwave Radio

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is an absurd piece of junk. If you intend to limit its use to light local AM and FM broadcasts or pretending you're Flash Gordon it may suffice, as long as you have a home palatial enough to accomodate it. However, even with a decent long wire shortwave antenna you will need either a lot of patience or very strong stations, because tuning the clumsy slide-style tuner is almost impossible to do with any degree of precision. Even in an area of good radio reception this unit requires a quality antenna for any, including the strongest, stations, especially on FM. You will need -- and this is not a myabe, you will will will need -- separate antennas for FM and AM, and don't underestimate the headache this may represent for you, not to mention the extra expense and rat's nest of wires needed just to bring static down to acceptable levels. And you won't get away with just a cheap FM dipole antenna: the one I tried did nothing for this gigantic colossus, and I had to use a powered FM antenna. (I had to try three until I finally tuned out the static on FM). The feel is mushy, and in fact, the knobs aren't even firmly set in place -- whatever it is that they're are attached to moves around as you rotate the knobs, as if they didn't finish putting the thing together inside the case. It surprised me how shabbily made this fairly cool-looking radio was when I first started messing around with it. There are two things about this radio that are unforgivable: NO HEADPHONE JACKS! Even as I write this I can't quite believe it, and feel like one will appear, it will have been cleverly hidden -- but no matter how hard I look, how much credit I give them for ingeniously disguising the thing -- it's not there. So if you're going to use this bedside, just remember that it will always be a group activity, and using it to record anything is ruled out for you. This is absolutely beyond belief, considering that a jack would have added about four cents to the cost of this behemoth. Equally irritating is that the line input for using an auxiliary sound source -- your cd walkman, say -- is absolutely terrible. You need to turn the unit way up just to hear what you've attached, and then it comes through sounding like a damp toilet paper and comb kazoo. I don't know how they could have possibly failed to do this properly, but please do not buy this device if you expect to listen to your cd player through it. The sound will kill you. The wooden case is nicely made, but beware, it is much bigger than you might expect, about the size of a medium-size microwave oven, and it needs even more space than its footprint alone would suggest, because two of the three speakers are on the side. Bottom line -- if you really like the way it looks and you don't mind static on most stations, if you never intend to listen to an auxilliary player through it, if its use as a shortwave is limited to maybe BBC and other big-output stations, AND if you both never want to use headphones or record anything, then this might, just might, do the job. Or you could get a real radio nd use something else for decoration.

If you're looking for an exact replica of a fifty-year-old radio, or if you want the latest in shortwave technology, this is not the radio for you. However, if you want to add a cool retro touch to your home or office, and you also want a radio with modern electronics and decent sound, this could fill the bill. Although it is constructed from modern materials, it is well-made and doesn't look cheap, at least to me. I don't use it for shortwave, but it does a great job of pulling in AM and FM stations in my steel-frame office building. It's a great conversation piece that everyone notices. It met my expecations and I'm glad I bought it.

Grundig's Classic is designed to call to mind the wonderful days of sitting around the radio listening to Fibber McGee and Molly, but most of the materials used in this presentation weren't even invented then. then it was labor, now its injection molding. It looks cheap as a result.

And, it doesn't perform as well as a portable battery powered Sony. With the exception of AM broadcasts. If you need to hear a ballgame in the middle of nowhere, this is for you. If not look again.

I think there are TWO things to keep in mind when purchasing one of these:

1.) There are two versions of this radio, one that was "the 960 classic". Identified by it's extremely dark finish and a horizontal list of small boxes with counries listed in them just below the FM scale. Another couple of ways to tell edition one from the second edition is the side speaker grills on version one is divided in four sections (on the Second edition has only three sections). The function keys (FM,AM,SW...) on the Second editions are much taller then on the first.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT??? The second edition has much better attention (and quality control) on the tuning section. Over all it's better performing product.

With that said that brings me to my second point (I take it you're really interested if you've read this far!!!)

2.) I own both editions of the "Classic 960" and enjoy both. I think (by reading the other reviews) some folks expect a bit much from this radio IT IS NOT A WATKINS JOHNSON 8718 SHORTWAVE RECEIVER!!! NOR IS IT A McIntosh STEREO SYSTEM!!!

Again with that said it is solid on AM/FM and Shortwave if setup properly (A.K.A. like ALL radios it needs a GOOD antenna).

My point in closing is this; this radio can be had for less then $150.00 for the money it looks, sounds and performs very respectable. If you expect more than that you will not be happy. However if you keep your expectations realistic you will enjoy this fine little radio.

I'm pleased with the Grundig 960 my wife and son gave me for Christmas. No, it doesn't have quite the reception ability that my Grundig "Yachtboy" does, but it does pull in a good number of shortwave stations, both foreign and domestic. And it really dresses up the room. It also makes a portable CD player sound good when plugged in. My only complaint is that the tuning knob is a bit stiff. Otherwise, this is a "keeper."

This radio is not a replica of the 960. In fact nearly every claim made for it is false. Reception is marginal on local stations, sound is so-so, shortwave tuning is hit-and-miss. The cabinet material does have some wood origin, but one has just to compare this radio with the real 960 pictured on the carton to see how pitiful this one is. I can't believe I fell for it. A great shame on the Grundig name...

If you expect to get a German quality of craftsmanship when you buy this radio, don't. This is a Chinese made(is anything in this world still made somewhere else?) bad imitation of the famous radio set. The manual claims that even knob rims are made form the solid brass. Unless they found the way to make brass look as a metallized plastic, I dont believe it. Also, two small intermal lights for the scale illumination are so weak that you can not use this radio even in a complete darkness. My conclusion is - still a conversation piece and nice room decoration if you don't take it too seriously.

After reading some mixed reviews of this radio, I purchased it with some apprehension. However, after using it for a week now, I am pleased to report that the radio has worked very well and that it really is a First Class Radio.

The radio looks beautiful and sounds wonderful. Reception on AM, FM and Shortwave has been very good and the feature of being able to play a CD or Tape player through the auxiliary plug-in has proved to be a real bonus. The tone quality makes listening to the radio a real pleasure!

The tuning dial is a little tricky at first, but with a bit of practice I have had no difference finding the frequencies I have been looking for. For people used to tuning a digital radio where you simply punch in the frequency you want, this radio does take a bit of practice, but this is not a major obstacle.

The only complaints I have are that I do wish that an external head phone had been included and that the lighting on the dial were stronger but these are minor complaints. Grundig has a reputation for producing quality radios and the Classic 960 is proof that this reputation is well deserved.

Purchase and enjoy this great radio!

This radio is not only cheap looking but the sound has a tin quality to it.Forget the short wave as I can barely pull in any stations.I need a flash light to see the lighted dial at night.What a fool I was to buy this radio.Please learn from my mistake!

This radio looks good and makes an interesting conversation piece. It's fun to use and appears to be well built. If you mostly listen to AM radio the sound quality is about as good as you'll find on other radios. I wouldn't rely on this radio for serious shortwave listening, but it does have some pulling power. However, it's impossible to tell the exact dial location of the station you're listening to from the analog dial. My biggest disappointment: the quality of FM sound. This is not a radio to listen to music on. Also, while it has a CD input jack on the back, you will be very disappointed if you think you're going to get anything more than mediocre sound. It's unforuntate that such cheap speakers were used. Bottom line: If you find this radio on sale and you're looking for a nice, retro conversation piece, grab it. At full price, go get a good shortwave radio.