Customer Reviews

Sangean ATS-505P FM Stereo/MW/LW/SW PLL Synthesized World Receiver

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

- a nice radio and top rated by Radio Netherland

- here are my nitpicks:

1. LCD backlight only stays on for 7 seconds

2. 1KHz tuning increment setting is inconvenient (you have to push in and turn the rotary knob first, and it only lasts for one tuning session)

3. too few SW memory settings

4. the back stand is useless unless you use the radio while sitting at a desk - a much better approach is to take an 8x10 sheet of plexiglass, heat and bend to make a stand so the radio sits more upright for use...

5. the build feels 'flimsy' as the radio doesn't have a solid feel

6. there is a discernable (1-second) delay when entering digits in the direct-access keypad - you'll need to get used to the delay, and the keys require more pressure than you'd expect for a keypad..

7. battery life is not great

I did a lot of research before buying the Sangean 505 and must say, now that I own it, that I'm disappointed on two fronts: the cheap plastic feel of the radio and its weak AM reception. I live in LA and the Sangean 505 gives me a weak signal for a major AM radio station 790. The internal AM antenna is such that I have to turn my radio far south to get the aforementioned station. There are the radio's strong points: clear speaker, strong FM reception, easy-to-use presets. My Sony SW35 has clearer AM reception, a more solid feel, but alas, has a tinny speaker, so I can't recommend that either. In contrast, my Grundig S35, which has no pre-sets and relies on a spin dial tuning system, gets strong AM and FM reception though it is the size of a lunch box. For digital tuners with presets, I'm still looking for a portable radio that delivers good speaker and strong AM reception. I may have to start looking at two-hundred-dollar models, such as the Sangean 909.

Post Script: Several weeks later I have found the radio I wanted Sangean 505 to be: The Kaito 1102, which gets great AM radio, has stronger FM than the Sangean, is smaller, and costs significantly less. To save even more money, the Kaito clone, the Degen 1102, costs another 15% less but arrives with only a Chinese operating manual.

Update: The Kaito 1103, in spite of its ergonomical difficulties, is the uncontested king of FM reception with above average AM reception. Ironically, the cheap GE Superradio III is the king of AM reception, largely because it has an 8-inch internal ferrite AM antenna, twice the size of any other radio.

I purchased this radio after buying and using a Grundig G-2000A for about a year. The Sangean is a little larger, with perhaps a three inch speaker versus a two inch speaker for the Grundig. The Grundig has only moderately good sound quality for AM and FM. This Sangean has surprisingly good sound quality on AM and FM, particularly for a radio this size. I put it in our kitchen, and when someone is down there playing it I noticed that I can hear it upstairs and the sound is really like a much bigger radio with a larger speaker. The sound is clear and has very good tonal quality and richness. This Sangean has settings for both music and voice programs. Tuning and reception are also good. The Grundig is kind of a battery hog, that will run down in around three weeks with moderate use. The Sangean has better battery life with similar use, although I think using the shortwave bands seems to be a greater drain on the batteries of both radios. If you haven't used a shortwave radio before be prepared for a booming and fading pattern of the sound. Both radios have this quality, and it is a characteristic of shortwave transmission. You are likely to find that this will detract from your listening satisfaction with some programs, but again, I would have to give the nod to the Sangean for overall quality on the shortwave tuning and sound. With either radio you certainly can listen to some stations you have never heard on AM and FM. I was listening to a station in Florida one night and then when I changed channels some, I was surprised to find that a Cuban station was coming in pretty clearly. The Sangean also has a small light that changes color to help you determine the strength of radio signals as you adjust the tuning knob to find stations. This Sangean is quite a nice radio, and I think most radio fans will like it.

Hi folks its Vince the Radioman . I have a large collection of radios and I love to do compares and share my thoughts. The ATS 909 and 606 , if you've seen my reviews are great buys and probably Sangeans best radios. The 505 is a very good buy for someone who want Single Side Band and can't spend a large amount of money .The 505 is the least expensive radio out there with side band and fine tuning( 1kh increments). The overall construction and quality of the build is ok at best and the radio is a little top heavy and bulky . The tuner sensativity is far better than the Grundig yb400 on AM and FM but on SW the 505 is about equal on its best day. The step down to 1 kh tuning is inconvenient where you need to push in the tuning dial to go to the fine tuning mode. The dynamic range and selectivity is good but the ATS 606 blows this radio away, same price , but the 606 has no SSB. The new Eton E 10 ( probably the best of the new Eton line for the money) also blows it away but no SSB. So , if you want SSB and a fairly decent radio for a low price this is a no brainer. If you want a mid-sized and priced radio for AM/SW and FM get the Eton E 10 or the SONY SW35 or the Sangean ATS 606.

I love this little radio. I was looking for an inexpensive world radio to fool around with. I looked at various sony, grundig, and sangean radios. I chose this one because of the price, features (lots of presets, digital tuner, range of bands), and some solid reviews. Now that I own the radio myself, I couldn't be happier. I work in an office full of electronic equipment, an d the building is build into the side of a hill. My office is 1/2 below grade and radio reception is bad. This radio can pickup many stations that I previously thought were unreachable from my desk. The sound is really amazing for such a small radio. It's rich and full (a nice pair of headphones lets you enjoy the fm stereo). Battery life is wonderful, plus the ac adapter was included. The radio feels solid and well made. Also, the included protective pouch is a nice thing to have when transporting or storing the radio. I would recomend this radio to anyone.

I like my Sangean ATS-505P very much. For such a small radio it packs alot of features in its price range. It has very good frequency reception in all bands; good speaker quality; easy to use controls and buttons and excellent battery life.

You do need to know when and where to use the radio in shortwave mode(this is not the radio's fault). Shortwave does have idiosyncrasies that are not found in AM and FM.

If you are really in to shortwave radio, this radio probably isn't for you. If you are just trying shortwave radio for fun, you won't be disappointed in this model.

As I write this, there is at least one Amazon seller that offers this radio new for less than $100. It is a good deal at that price.

I have 30 years experience as an amateur radio operator, and have used equipment on the low end, the high end, and everything in between.

This radio does quite well given the price paid. It seems generally very sensitive on all frequencies, except possibly at the low end of the AM broadcast band. The filtering is excellent. The manual is acceptable, but is not as good as some radios that I have seen. The single-sideband capability (a must for any radio that I use) is excellent.

Bravo to Sangean for producing a great budget radio.

I was really satisfied with the radio. It will pick up other cities in my area. I live in a small town and most radios I have bought would only pick up our 1 oldies station. I can now listen to cities that are at-least 30 miles away. Batteries do not last as long as I like. Since I work outdoors all day I have to have battery power and I listen to it about 2-3 hrs a day and have had to replace 4 AA batteries about every 18 days. I have rechargeable batteries but have not tryed them on it yet. ALL IN ALL I LOVE MY RADIO.

Great little radio!
Have been A Ham Radio operator for 20+ yrs.
Battery consumption Low,sensitivity Great,features nice,very easy to use.Great BUY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sangean 505 was my first shortwave radio. Although I've used a number of other radios - some quite a bit more expensive and sophisticated - I still consider the 505 one of my favorites for the following reasons. First, it has a large legible dimly lighted window with digits that can be easily read. Second, the tone is adjustable by a three-position switch. In the "Music" position, the tone of the radio is very bright and crisp. This may be a bit too bright for some tastes (there are two other darker settings), but it allows the upper frequenceies of both music and voice to sound brilliant and clear. Sounds such as bells are beautiful, and shortwave broadcasts are anything but muddled. And third, the radio is extremely well designed, simple, and intuitive. As it's often advertised, it would make an excellent "enty-level shortwave radio." Some people think it's a bit cheap to the feel. Granted, the 505 is not of a top-of-the-line build quality, but - with the exception of once having to have an antenna screw tightened - mine is several years old and still working just fine.

Regarding the radio's reception, I would say all three bands are slightly better than good. It also receives SSB and has a clarifier thumbwheel that works well. The shortwave reception is substantially improved by the wind-up wire antenna that's included.

The 505 handles radio frequencies in several ways: by typing in the digits on the keypad, by turning the tuning wheel, by memory, or by automatic scanning. Also - except for the shortwave band - if you hold down both tuning controls at the same time, the radio will scan the band and automatically memorize the strongest stations. Finally, the 505 also has a stereo head phone output that offers a nice rich tone.

As a bedside radio, the 505 is ideal. It has an automatic shut-off feature that allows you to fall asleep to any station after either 120, 90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes. You can then be awakened by either the radio or a beeping alarm that starts softly and grows louder. Also, the brightness of the window light is just right for the middle of the night, but a bit dim in general.

I would call the Sangean 505 a very good general use multi-band radio that's remarkably easy to master and simple to use. Again, it's not a top-of-the-line unit; it's not meant for sophisticated DXing or SWLing. Nor can its speaker fill a room with rich sound; the overall tone is on the thin side. But as a reasonably priced general use desk or bedside radio with the added benefit of moderately good shortwave reception, I would give it a full five stars.