Grundig S350 Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black

by Grundig

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 12.5 x 7 inches ; 3.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000Q5APCC
• Item model number: S350 Deluxe
• Batteries: 4 D batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #749 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #7 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Radios > Shortwave Radios
  • #17 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Radios

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Experienced shortwave radio aficionados rejoice: Now you can pick up a fully modern radio with a design that hearkens back to the early days of your hobby. The Etón S350, which is actually produced by the respected European electronics manufacturer, Grundig, offers a great feature set for listening to radio broadcasts from distant shores. The design is suitably rugged for use in the field, or you can use it at home as a simple, yet powerful AM/FM receiver and alarm clock.

Design
If you long for a return of the fashions from the film Breakin' and you're a fan of the 80s design aesthetic, the S350 is right up your alley. Everything from the blocky, silver and black case to the over-sized dials and switches will take you back to the "Ghetto Blaster" era. While the design gives the radio a solid look, we were a little disappointed that the E350 -- unlike many radios made 20 years ago -- is completely made of plastic (with the exception of the speaker cover). While the plastic knobs and controls are made to look metallic, they don't quite deliver the solid feel of metal -- something that would be nice in a rugged field radio. This quibble aside, the controls are responsive and well-positioned and the case does feel solid. The prominent tuning knob is designed well with concentric gross and fine dials. These are made all the better by a big, easy-to-read monochrome LCD display that lets you step through frequencies with extreme accuracy. It's a minor detail, but the padded carry handle is a nice touch, too.

The S350: Rugged, retro, and ready to tune in the world. See all of the S350's features.

Easy-to-use, durable controls. View larger.

Connectivity galore. View larger.

Features
At the heart of the S350 is its robust synthesized digital tuner section, meaning the tuner is analog, but frequencies are displayed on a digital readout. FM tuning offers an AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) mode that automatically picks out the strongest stations -- great if you're someplace with a crowded FM dial. You can also switch the AFC mode off for fine tuning less powerful stations. Although the S350 sports just one speaker, you can listen to FM stations in stereo through a pair of headphones.

AM tuning can be switched between narrow and wide sensitivities to control interference. Further tuning refinements are available via the low pass filter switch, as well as a handy RF gain dial. Both of these features can also be used when tuning one of the three shortwave bands. And if you're serious about shortwave, you'll be glad to know that the S350 can accept external antennas that can augment reception from the built-in, telescoping one. There's also an antenna port for enhanced FM reception.

In addition to a headphone output, the S350 has stereo RCA line out jacks for connecting the unit to an amplifier or home stereo. The radio supports battery and AC power, but we were in for a surprise when we opened the battery compartment. Not only can the radio run on four "D" batteries, but there is also another, smaller compartment that accepts four "AA" cells -- a nice little bonus if you need temporary power and you only have the smaller cells on hand. Lastly, the S350 offers basic sleep, alarm and snooze functions that were fairly easy to set and use. The LCD has a backlight button, so nighttime viewing is no problem.

Tuning In
FM tuning is very impressive. Because the radio can tune frequencies down to the hundredth decimal place, you'll easily tune problematic FM stations, or perhaps stations you've never heard before. Meanwhile, testers with very little experience or understanding of shortwave radio were able to quickly tune in stations from as far away as Japan and Russia (Etón includes a handy crash course on shortwave tuning in the user's manual). Our only complaint in the tuning department: It's impossible to keep a station tuned on one band while tuning on other bands. For example, with an FM station locked in, switching to shortwave and tuning there changes the tuning on the FM band when you return. This is understandable on an analog tuning dial, but we didn't expect it from a digital tuner.

Pros

• Exceptionally accurate tuning
• Advanced filtering and interference control
• Fun, retro styling

Cons

• Plastic knobs and case
• Cannot "lock" stations while tuning on other bands

What's in the Box
S350 AM/FM Shortwave Field Radio, AC adapter, user's manual.

Product Description

AM/FM/Shortwave Radio. With its rugged body and military-style controls, the S350 Deluxe is ready for any challenge you throw its way. The large, full-range speaker gives you crisp, clear sound, wherever you are. The external antenna output allows for excellent AM, FM, and shortwave reception, and the separate bass and treble knobs put you in control. Whether you're out in the field, or just out in the backyard, you'll enjoy listening to the best that radio has to offer.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

163 of 166 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent but with exceptions, June 5, 2008

By 

Still Spinning Vinyl "It's not final for vinyl" (New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grundig S350 Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (Electronics)

I purchased this radio to replace a Panasonic RF1100 that I have had since it was new sometime in the 1970's. The 350DL has a lot of useful features and the primary ones for me include the sleep timer, alarm colck and the published claim of good sensitivity. The overall sound quality of this radio is pleasing. The sensitivity compared to cheap radios selling for a lot less is good although not as sensitive as my GE Super Radios models 2 and 3. As I have more sophisticated equipemnt for listening to shortwave, this was not one of my primary objectives for buying this radio although the inclusion of shortwave is a nice plus.

The controls are nicely laid out, the instruction manual quite easy to understand to enable you to derive the full enjoyment of all this radio has to offer.

The big drawback and dissapointment I found with the 350DL is the tuning control. There is a lot of " slop " in the control, not just the knob but from what is behingd the control panel. Another problem with the tuning control is an overabundant " backlash " when trying to set the tuning on a station, particularly when tuning in shortwave stations. You tune in the station or desired frequency, let go of the tuning knob and you can actually see it change as it moves forward or backward from where you left it. For those desiring to tune around the shortwave bands to see what is there this is a big drawback. I actually wonder how long the tuning control will last on this radio before it falls apart. The entire tuning knob assembly wiggles and wobbles while you turn it. This should not happen, and I feel is a major cause for concern. For the $100 price tag I am not expecting a mil-spec radio by any means but the poorly designed tuning system in this radio gives me no other choice than to down rate it. That is unfortunate too as this radio has many other features so worthwhile.

If you are planning on purchasing this radio to use for AM & FM broadcast reception and not change stations too frequently, it's a decent radio. If you plan on tuning to different stations frequently you may wish to consider looking at other makes and models befoe buying this.

I purchsed this radio primarily to use as a bedside clock radio with sleep timer and only occasional tuning. The digital display is not absolutely accurate but for the price it is good enough.

93 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Basic Table Radio Is Tops for AM/FM Reception, October 31, 2008

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grundig S350 Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (Electronics)

If you're looking for a basic table radio without presets and digital tuning, you would do well to consider the Grundig S350 Deluxe, which I have owned and used for the last 3 years. The S350 will get you best FM performance possible. AM is great also. The speaker is loud and fills a room easily.

The antenna is very long. Make sure you have room to extend the antenna so it doesn't bend by jamming against a wall or a ceiling.

The tendency to drift in the old model of the S350 has been fixed with the new Deluxe model.

You will also like the fact that though the radio is analog, you can see the digital read-out, so you always know what station you're on.

Another outstanding feature is fine-tuning and RF grain so you can filter as much as you need in the event you get AM overloading.

My only complaint about the S350 is really a complaint about all modern radios: They are built of light plastic. Gone are the days of heavy, high-grade radios. But on balance if you are a stickler for AM and FM reception, you will find that you have a reception champion in the S350.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good for the average listener, September 27, 2009

By 

Tightwad (Henry, Il United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grundig S350 Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (Electronics)

Radios are all about sound and the Grundig 350 has very good warm tones that are easy to listen to all day long. This radio can do very well as a table radio which is how I use it. The sound is solid with no distortion even if driven to full volume. This radio is a keeper for the sound alone.

As far as Am/Sw reception goes the Gundig 350 does very well provided you use external antennas to pull in the signals. The new added frequency lock works well to stop the drifting this radio was so infamous for. The Fm reception is very good pulling in many stations on the built in whip antenna and holding them rock steady.

If you want SSB ,or better Am/Sw signal capture, a full sized proper Communications Receiver is a better choice. That said, for every day casual listening ,on all bands offered on the Grundig, it does a fine job that will entertain one and all. This radio does Am/Sw well enough I can take my time now to find a deal on a decent older Communications Receiver in the used market. For now (maybe longer????) I'll just enjoy the Grundig.

All the controls on the Grundig work as they are supposed to instead of just being dials/switches to look good. Reading the well written manual will help the new user to gain full benefit of just what this radio can really do. One point about this radio that is little understood is the analog tuning. Analog tuning gives the user a way to really control this radio in ways not possible with electronic tuning while holding down the cost to enable Grundig to put in other features that normally would cost more. More bang for the buck 'cause you do your own tuning. Oh yes, I prefer analog tuning because I can slide right onto a weak signal I couldn't with electronic tuned radios.

Can I recommend the Grundig 350DL? Yes, as long as the buyer understands this is a first rate "casual" radio and they will not be disappointed at all.

Follow up after external indoor antenna added........
WOW!! Talk about an improvement!! A simple $2.50 300ohm wire dipole that I bought at the hardware store worked magic on this radio. I just hung the dipole & clipped it to the radio's antenna and this little radios was able to reach waaaaaaaaaay out there with ease. There is still the imaging problem but that is to be expected. That said, now I can listen to lots of stations that were not there before !!!!