Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS

by Sangean

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 2.5 x 5.4 inches ; 2.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000TEVQVO
• Item model number: PR-D5
• Batteries: 6 C batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (224 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #728 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #14 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Radios
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Sangean PR-D5 WH is the last portable radio you will ever have to buy. It has an enormous 200mm ferrite antenna providing the best AM reception you have ever heard. Dual 2.5" special stereo speakers with Radio Data System (RDS) text function makes it a standout portable receiver. This light and powerful radio is capable of being powered by the included AC adapter or 6 C batteries.

An easy-to-read LCD display shows you station and time. View larger

LCD Display

An easy-to-read LCD display shows you station and time. The segment-style LCD screen measures 3.2" x 0.8", and is backlit to be easy to see even across the room.

Connect your portable MP3 player and play your music through dual 2.5" stereo speakers

Convenient Radio Functions

PLL synthesized tuning provides exact, fade-free FM reception, while a 200mm Ferrite AM antenna bar allows exceptionally strong AM reception. Ten Memory Presets for 5 AM or 5 FM station selection are available and easily visible in the large LCD display. Fill your presets with Auto Seek, which finds your active stations automatically.

Connect Your Portable Digital Player

A 3.5mm Aux-in socket allows you to connect your iPod, smartphone, or other portable digital music player using a male-to-male 3.5mm stereo cable.

Humane Wake System

The PR-D5 WH features a sleep timer with a radio alarm to turn on your favorite station at a predetermined time. There's also a Humane Wake System (HWS) buzzer alarm, which wakes you up gradually with an incrementally increasing alarm instead of a harsh, instant noise.

Technical Specifications

Display: LCD

Display Size: 3.2" x 0.8"

Memory Presets: 10 (5 AM, 5 FM)

Tuner Type: PLL synthesized AM/FM

Dial Type: Rotary

Alarm: Radio and HWS (Humane Wake System)

Speakers: 2 x 2.5" full-range

Input Power: AC, Batteries (C)

Dimensions: 10.2" x 5.4" x 2.5"

Weight: 2lb 3.6oz

Product Description

Hands down one of the best performing portable radios you will find today. With its whoppingly large 200mm ferrite antenna, its dual 2.5" speakers, and the RDS text function you would be hard pressed to find another portable radio that offers so much for so little. This lite and powerful radio is capable of being powered by the included AC adapter, 6 x 'C' batteries, and optional DC power you have the flexibility a portable should have. We could talk all day about its features and performance, but think that you are the best judge. Listen and learn what good radio is. Features: PLL Synthesized tuning system. 200mm Ferrite AM antenna - provides unmatched AM reception 10 Memory Presets (5 AM, 5 FM). Rotary Volume Control Rotary Tuning Control Auto Seek Station Stereo/Mono Selector Switch Headphone Socket 3.5mm Aux-in Socket. DC Jack (Adapter not included) Backlite LCD. Sleep Timer Radio Data System (RDS) function with radio text, station name and auto clock time. Alarm with Humane Wake System (HWS). Battery Life Indicator. AC Power Adapter (Included) Dimensions ( W x D X H): 10 3/4" X 5 1/3" x 2 2/3" Weight: 2 lbs. Batteries: 6 x 'C'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

193 of 195 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar AM/FM Reception at Attractive Price Point, August 28, 2007

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS (Electronics)

Half the price of my Tivoli Songbook, the PR-D5 has superior AM/FM reception, dual stereo speakers, and easy-to-use ergonomics, making it even better than the Sangean single-speaker Sonido. As a bedside radio, it has even better FM reception than my Sangean WR-2 but it lacks the WR-2's depth and heaviness, qualities I like in a bedside radio. For a lighter, portable radio with no remote, go for the PR-D5. If you want more luxury in your radio (remote, numerical volume indicator, heavier feel) and don't mind a slight compromise in FM reception, you might want to check out the Sangean WR-2, which is compatible with an upgraded FM antenna attachment.

One question many will have is why the PR-D5 goes for about 15 dollars less than the Sonido. The answer most likely is that the 2.5-inch stereo speakers on the PR-D5 don't have the richness nor the depth of the Sonido's 3-inch monoaural speaker.

Update: Ironically, I don't like listening to talk radio on dual speakers. This is not a technological issue, but psychological. The voices don't seem as focused as they do on the Sangean WR-2's monoaural speaker. So if you're a heavy AM talk radio listener, you might want to opt for the WR-2.

Second Update: To really test the FM on the PR-D5, I tried to pull in the weak college station 88.9. The PR-D5 pulled in the station with clarity, even better than my Eton S350. The verdict: My PR-D5 is my best performing AM/FM radio, even better than the Eton/Grundig S350. That says quite a lot. Even more astounding, the PR-D5 is 15 dollars cheaper.

Third Update: I brought my PR-D5 to my work office and like all the digital radios I've tried it suffered compromised reception. I succeeded more with my Tivoli Model Three (same as the Model One with the additional clock). So for your office, if it's full of computer interference, you might want to go with an upscale analog radio like the aforementioned Tivoli Model One or Three.

Fourth Update:

Power supply stopped working and Sangean replaced my entire radio two or three years ago. Since that time, my speakers have gradually suffered distortion to the point that I no longer use my PR-D5. Mind you, this distortion took place with normal use.

These speakers were a bit muffled to begin with, as most people agree is a problem with the PR-D5. But distortion made this unusable.

I now recommend a more superior Sangean, the CL-100: Better FM, better crisp speaker sound. And it's cheaper than the PR-D5.

99 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky Design, Outstanding Reception, Breakthough Price, September 17, 2007

By 

Mike Walsh (Voorheesville, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS (Electronics)

The PR-D5 upgrades Sangean's well-reviewed Sonido radio with a second speaker, the 200mm internal AM antenna from their CCRadio, a well designed side-mounted tuning knob, and a few other touches.

The iPod-generation look of the new radio doesn't appeal to me, but that's a matter of taste, so you can judge that one for yourself. The pushbuttons unfortunately seem to be the same pressure-sensitive foil type used on the Sonido and CCradio, which tend to stand up poorly to prolonged use, but at least the addition of the new tuning knob means you'll use the pushbuttons less, so perhaps that's not a major issue.

I find the dual speakers odd, but the audio is loud and clear, especially in FM stereo mode. Mono FM mode really cleans up the weaker signals. I have not found the dual speakers to be a problem on AM voice, as Jeff McMahon writes. The AUX input is a nice feature given how many MP3 players and other such gadgets people use now. The backlight goes on for a few seconds if you touch any non-analog control - very practical. There's no real handle, just a slender ridge along the top back of the radio for your fingertips to precariously claw at, so don't try picking this thing up with wet hands.

What really distinguishes this unit, however, is it's performance as a receiver. This degree of FM sensitivity and selectivity would be outstanding on any portable, but at this price I suspect it may be a first. Really strong AM receivers are rarer still, despite all the hype that gets thrown around, but the PR-D5 is up there with the best of them. When I ordered it I hoped that it might at best match my aging CCRadio on AM reception, and have indeed found them too close to call - with the newer radio at half the price of the older.

I am giving the PR-D5 fours stars because I find the design quirky, and am concerned mostly with AM voice programming. If you are primarily interested in FM stereo, this design makes more sense. On a strictly value-for-dollar basis, it's a strong five stars either way.

Hope that helps you decide.

56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The PR-D5, an excellent portable radio., August 25, 2007

By 

W. A. Hill "Tek Geek" (Finger Lakes area of NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sangean PR-D5 Portable Radio with Digital Tuning and RDS (Electronics)

As it is with many products these days, a bit more time taken in design and more attention to detail in the execution would have made this a 5-star product. First, just how portable is a unit this large (and heavy, with the 6 C batteries installed) without a shoulder strap? They do give you a grip rail on the back so you won't drop it carrying it from room to room, but it's not satisfactory for say, a camping or hiking trip. And speaking of batteries, Sangean did not put a foam pad on the inside of the battery hatch lid to help prevent the batteries from shifting around. That lack is not hard to rectify, but it did detract from my score for this unit. This just in: I wondered if there was any protection for the memory, etc. when it is time to change the batteries, so today (8/26/07) I ran some tests to find out. I pulled a battery for various periods up to one minute - the presets and other memories remained intact and the clock held too. A REAL MANUAL would tell you exactly how much time you have to putz around and get the new batteries in. It would also tell you that you MUST install batteries for the memories to be maintained for lengthy periods.

. As with the RCR-22 which I also reviewed today, the "manual" leaves much to be desired. For the units shipped to North America, Sangean could leave out all the languages except for English, Spanish and French, and use the freed-up pages for more thorough information. Simple things for the non-technical folks like whether you plug the AC adapter into the radio and then into the AC outlet or vice-versa would be useful (the first method is correct for nearly all AC adapters). And for the more technically literate buyer, what happens when you plug in the AC adapter? Does it disconnect the batteries entirely or just protect them with a diode? Apparently the batteries are protected by a diode as nothing happens (the radio keeps on playing and the clock tells the time) when you plug the AC adapter into the radio while the adapter is not plugged into an AC outlet. At least make complete info available from the web site, but noooo... My first Sangean, the ATS-803, AM/FM/Shortwave receiver came with a REAL MANUAL, but then it cost more than twice as much too. Unfortunately some sleazy barstid [sic] stole it from me.

. The controls are very easy to use and the reception is excellent (as noted by Universal Radio on their web site). As with many other Sangean models, the AM tuner and antenna system is not simply an afterthought. The speakers give a very good sound for their size and there is a headphone jack for those who want even better sound quality. I tried a pair of self-powered speakers (such as used with computers, etc.) with it to great effect. As Letterman is fond of saying: You can "blow the roof off the joint!"

. I listen to AM radio a lot, so I've looked more closely at that aspect of the PR-D5. This past evening I listened to WSB in Atlanta very clearly (I'm in a deep valley in the Finger Lakes of NY). I recall picking up Charlotte, N.C. and New Orleans too. The length of this unit (10-3/4") means you will need a good sized, free area on your night stand or table to rotate it for best reception and perhaps a way to elevate it too. Though a couple of my nearby AM stations are working on their transmitters/towers, I am still able to receive them at their current low power outputs.

. The other functions of clock, alarm, timers, etc. work as described, and since this unit lacks a direct-entry number pad, the presets are a necessity. I set them to my regulars and fortunately their frequencies are scattered pretty well across the band (from 570 to 1390) so they can serve as starting points for tuning other frequencies. I'd prefer that the available 10 presets could be used for either AM or FM band stations, but the five I have for AM are just adequate for my needs.

. A thorough manual would have gotten the PR-D5 a 9 point or 4.5 star rating from me. One can't ask for more pure radio performance from a unit in this price range. I don't think that anyone would be really disappointed with this radio. .bh.