Sangean DT-300-VW Pocket-Sized Digital Radio with Tuner

by Sangean

Product Details

Product Manual [1.90mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 0.8 x 2.2 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000222MY
• Item model number: DT-300-VW
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,266 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 15, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Don't let the diminutive size of Sangean's wonderful DT-300-WV fool you--it performs better than many large radios we've tested and comes with enough features to keep anyone happy. In addition to an excellent AM/FM digital receiver, you can use the device to pull in weather band frequencies and local TV stations that broadcast on VHF channels 2-13. A digital LCD displays the frequency or station you're tuned to and also serves as a clock.

The DT-300-VW's ability to pull in signals simply awed us. We used the device for weeks in a basement office that's notorious for bad radio reception, and the small radio was locking onto stations that no other device we've tested could even detect. A handy auto-scan feature makes it easy to find stations, and you can establish up to nine presets on each band the radio can access. A button on the front let us switch to mono mode to reduced static from weak FM signals, and a switch on the top can lock the unit so that inadvertent button presses don't change the station or turn the radio off.

The sound quality from the built-in speaker is merely decent, and the included earbud headphones offer a similarly tinny level of performance. We plugged a beefier set of headphones into the DT-300-VW and were stunned with the difference it made. The little radio was pumping out a rich, clean signal that made listening to stereo FM music a joy. The radio also is capable of extreme volume that overpowered our headphones at high levels.

For the money, portable radios don't get much closer to perfection, but we did find a few slight drawbacks. The biggest is that reception falls off dramatically when headphones are not plugged in. Headphones augment the built-in antenna, and without them we had a tough time picking up any stations in our basement office, making the integrated speaker more useless than it could be. We also lost all our presets and had to reset the clock each time we swapped batteries. If you want to listen to FM radio without headphones we recommend staying away from this product, but if you plan to leave the headphones plugged in all the time, the DT-300-VW is a steal. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Incredible reception
• Clear, rich, and full audio is possible with the right set of headphones
• The ability to receive weather and VHF TV bands is a nice bonus

Cons:

• Included headphones are weak performers
• Settings are lost when batteries are changed

Product Description

Sangean Weather Band Pocket Radio - Sangean weather band pocket radio- Digital AM/FM stereo- Built-in speaker- VHF TV sound- PLL synthesized receiver - Digital alarm - Auto scan - Auto memory preset - Weather band frequencies - LED tuning indicator - 36 Memory presets - TV audio channels 2-13 - Manual scan - Low battery indicator - Digital clock - 1-180 Minute timer - All preset auto scan - 90 Minute auto shut off - Stereo earbuds, trailing antenna, and belt pouch included - Shirt pocket size - 2 AAA batteries required, not included- Dimensions: 4" x 2.5" x 1" - Weight: 3.3 oz - SilverSGNDT300WV

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing technical creation!, November 4, 1999

By 

Aaron ([e-mail]) (Joliet, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sangean DT-300-VW Pocket-Sized Digital Radio with Tuner (Electronics)

Most portable radios are big on promises, but small on performance. The DT-300VW delivers exactly what it promises. If you are interested in purchasing a small radio without the cassette or CD functions, this is exactly what you need.

I collect high-end, high-performance radios, which usually weigh 2 or 3 pounds. I wanted a radio that would fit into a small pocket and could be carried anywhere. The DT-300VW is roughly the size of a deck of cards and weighs only 3.4 ounces! This radio can go anywhere and is the ideal choice for the active person or traveler. Women will find that it fits easily into a small space in their handbag. It makes the "Walkman-type" radios seem bulky in comparison.

Don't let the small size fool you! The DT-300VW is big on features. First off, there is a "quality feel" about the unit. It's extremely well-constructed and durable. Many portables and Walkmans experience FM reception problems in the far surburban/fringe areas. I live 40 miles from downtown Chicago and the DT-300VW pulls in every Chicago FM station flawlessly. In fact, the reception is quite impressive for a unit this small, pullung in most FM stations within a 60 mile radius.

The AM daytime reception is very good, but the nighttime reception is unbelievable! After the sun goes down, the AM band comes alive with stations from all over the USA, Canada and Mexico. I consistently receive stations that my expensive receivers have never received--or receive intermittently. I'm not suggesting that you buy this radio for AM DXing, but the AM reception is absolutely amazing.

The internal AM antenna is extremely directional, and you must position the radio for the best AM reception. This might be irritating if you're moving around while listening. On the other hand, this directional reception allows you to almost completely "null out" strong local stations and receive distant stations on adjacent channels.

The radio also receives the audio portion of TV channels 2-13. This feature works great. It also receives NOAA weather stations and works very well if you live within about 50 miles of a NOAA broadcast station. The NOAA weather feature could make this radio a lifesaver.

The speaker is only 1-inch in diameter and sounds a bit "tinny". A set of earbuds come with the unit and are the best earbuds I have ever heard. Personally, I do not like earbuds--but that's a matter of personal taste. I simply bought a portable stereo headset to go with the unit, and the sound is quite exceptional! There is no "Bass Boost" feature, but the sound is clean and impressive.

You will find the clock, timer and sleep features to be convenient. The alarm feature "beeps" softly, but still manages to wake me up from a deep sleep. The DT-300VW may first appear to be somewhat complicated to program, but the owner's manual is well-written. Follow the simple instructions and you'll succeed. After the second try, you'll remember how program it without the owner's manual.

I compare the features, reception, sound and quality of the DT-300VW with my $200-$300 radios! I tend to be a skeptic when it comes to the claims made by most radio manufacturers, but this tiny wonder is worth the steep price tag! Prepare to be blown away...

99 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Smaller than DT200V but less performance, January 25, 2000

By 

R. H. Hardin "rhhardin" (OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sangean DT-300-VW Pocket-Sized Digital Radio with Tuner (Electronics)

The DT200V for about $10-$20 less performs better, lacking only the DT300VW's weather band.

The 300VW is a little smaller and lighter. Both are small enough for a shirt pocket, perhaps with a bit of sag.

The weather band doesn't work very well, getting the same station on every channel on my DT300VW.

The DT200V can be operated in the dark; this is impossible with the complex operation of the DT300VW.

The performance difference is most noticeable on the AM band, where the DT200V does remarkably well in distance reception.

The DT300VW uses AAA batteries instead of AA, and has a (unusual) subminiature jack on the earphone jacks, requiring an adapter (included) to use any other earphones.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome portable, November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sangean DT-300-VW Pocket-Sized Digital Radio with Tuner (Electronics)

For some strange reason, Amazon has posted no information on this truly awesome unit. It is an ultraportable radio with AM, FM, VHF TV (Channels 2-13) and the weather band. It has nine presets per band and includes earbuds, plus has an internal speaker for listening without headphones. It also has a built in clock with long and short range alarm.