Eton S350DLS Deluxe AM/FM Shortwave Radio (Red)

by Eton

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 4 x 7 inches ; 2.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FA7PUI
• Item model number: S350 Deluxe
• Batteries: 4 D batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,939 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get the best of both worlds: A modern and high-performance field radio combined with classic styling, rugged construction, and military-style controls. The Etón S350DLR Deluxe AM/FM Shortwave Radio also features highly sensitive and selective analog tuner circuitry that ensures reliable, accurate tuning across the AM, FM, and shortwave bands. Other features include a large, full-range speaker for clear sound; a line-level output; separate bass, treble, and RF gain controls; and wide and narrow bandwidth filter controls. All this and more is contained in a case that's only 10.5 inches wide and weighs under 4 pounds. It's a great way to tune in to local and international news, music, and sports wherever you roam.

Design and Controls
One look at the S350DLR Deluxe and you'll think you've stepped back in time. However, the classic design conceals technology that's anything but retro. The large, integrated speaker offers full-range sound while the digital frequency readout displays accurate frequency stepping for all three bands. The bright LCD screen also displays clock and alarm info. Precise tuning is handled by a large tuning knob and a concentric, independent fine-tuning control knob. You also get variable RF gain control, a rotary volume control, independent bass and treble control, and a low-pass filter for shortwave and AM reception. Controls for clock and alarm functions are arrayed above the LCD display. A built-in telescopic antenna handles FM and shortwave reception, and there's a built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM.

Tuning and Bands
On the AM band, you'll get tuning between 530 and 1710 KHz, while FM tuning is available from 88 to 108 MHz. When tuning in shortwave, the S350DLR Deluxe offers continuous coverage from 3 to 28 MHz. This includes 13 international broadcast bands: 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 25, 31, 41, 49, 60, 75 and 90 meters. As mentioned, the S350DLS Deluxe is built with high-quality tuner circuitry that maximizes accuracy, while offering an AM/shortwave frequency lock system.

Connections and Power
The S350DLR Deluxe is equipped with a number of connectivity features, including a stereo line-level output and jacks for supplementary AM, FM and shortwave antennas -- great for boosting reception when you need it. A stereo headphone jack makes it easy to listen to the radio in full stereo without disturbing others. The unit can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via four "D" or four "AA" batteries.

Extras
The S350DLR Deluxe also allows you to set the radio's clock and alarm while the radio is still playing. A sleep timer will shut the radio off after a set interval, and last but not least, a convenient, strap-style carry handle makes it easy to take the S350DLR Deluxe along for any jaunt.

What's in the Box
S350DLR Deluxe radio, AC adapter, and user's manual.

Product Description

The S350 Deluxe blends the best of yesterday and today. With the look of a retro field radio sporting a rugged body and military-style controls ¿ the S350 Deluxe also features today's innovation for excellent AM/FM and Shortwave reception and a large, full-range speaker for clear sound. The external antenna input is ideal for enthusiasts. And features such as line-level output, separate bass, treble, and RF gain control, wide and narrow bandwidth filter controls, put you in the command seat for tuning in to local and international news, music and sports.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of a Good Thing with Stellar FM, June 29, 2005

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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The S350 DL Deluxe is essentially an upgraded version of the popular Grundig S350, which features analog tuning with a digital read-out. The improvements on the Deluxe version are as follows: Longer telescopic antenna, an AFC switch for FM to grab stronger stations over the weaker ones; the elimination of "drift" whereby the station "drifts" away from the chosen station; a bigger stereo speaker; and the ability to listen to stereo with the included very nice headphones.

The question for many will be is it worth the extra fifty dollars for the deluxe version. For me the answer is yes. I want stereo and I want the elimination of drift.

As the owner of both the regular S350 and the deluxe version, I can say that both are nearly identical in AM/FM reception. What stands out in the deluxe radio is the brighter stereo sound. In the case of both radios, what really shines is the FM reception. The S350, in both versions, grabs everything on the FM dial.

The internal ferrite AM antenna is such that to improve AM reception, you need to angle the radio, moving it left or right, until you find the sweet spot. It's pretty easy and is a normal procedure for all the dozen radios I own, whether they be digital or analog.

If you're looking for a similarly priced radio with digital tuning and presets, you might want to check out the Tivoli Songbook. You'll be getting a beautiful sound and an attractive package. But while the Tivoli gets above average reception, it's still not quite as strong on FM as the Grundig S350.

For a cheapter alternative, fifty dollars will buy you a Degen DE1107, which I assume will be eventually released as a Kaito 1107. It's an analog radio that presumably has the best FM reception, tied with its digital cousin the Degen/Kaito 1103, and has a decent speaker. You might want to check that out as you're getting similar performance as the Grundig for a hundred dollars less.

Postscript: For those who are disappointed with this radio and have dismissed it in their reviews, may I suggest that some environmental factors, like interference, can be so insurmountable that no radio can overcome them.

Update: AM stations 980 and 1150 overload and bring in two stations at once. Highly annoying. Lack of separation and filter. Maybe AM is "too good." My Kaito 1103 has excellent separation and gets these stations with no overload.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Can Have Only One Radio, June 2, 2006

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eton S350DLS Deluxe AM/FM Shortwave Radio (Red) (Electronics)

Every house should have a Grundig S350 Deluxe. Big, brawny, "grabbing" in all the hard-to-get stations with ease, championing a big antenna that says this radio means serious business, the Grundig S350 Deluxe version, is a bigger, better version of the old Grundig S350, eliminating some of the "drift" problems of the earlier model. The speaker on the Deluxe is bigger and brighter. Whereas your fancy digital preset radios often sound like tin, the Grundig S350 DL has depth. Is it a perfect radio? No. You don't have presets in spite of the digital read-out. You get a little AM overload. Here in Los Angeles I get overload on 1150 so that I'm listening to two shows at once. Also the cheaper (and cheaper built) GE Superradio boasts an internal AM ferrite antenna twice the size and as a result gets slightly better AM.

If you're looking for a radio with similar features as the Grundig S350 DL but erases its weakness--no presets and AM overload, then you might want to check out the Grundig G4000A. It's the same price as the S350 and its speaker is surprisingly good for a digital preset shortwave radio. Or you might look at the stunning Kaito 1103 or its more expensive cousin the Eton E5. But even if you get a fancy preset radio, every house should have the big easy-to-use Grundig S350 Deluxe.

Update: Comparing the S350 to the same-priced G4000 for several months, it becomes clear that the G4000 is a better buy: superior AM, superior separation of AM stations, presets, same warm speaker, and smaller.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great looks and sound, March 26, 2007

By 

J. Seidel - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eton S350DLS Deluxe AM/FM Shortwave Radio (Red) (Electronics)

I have this radio for two weeks now. I am very satisfied with the reception of AM, FM and Short Wave -- very sensitive. Has great sound. The only negative is the lack of being able to preset the stations. Would buy the radio again - worth the money.