Customer Reviews

Sony ICF-SW77 Multi-Band Radio

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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Hello folks its Vince the radioman . I have been a collector and buff for many years and love to do compares. This is the undisputed KING OF ALL RADIOS! It is miles above all the others in functionality , tuner sensativity and overall performance . However , it has a price to match . I know that this is an expensive radio so I take that into account when I rate all the others . But , if you can afford this price GO FOR IT ! It has a 162 memory capacity , it has .1 kh increments ( thats point one) only found on professional equipment. It has a great sound and wonderful functionality ( great information window , timer , factory presets , editing capability ...etc.)And a spectacular side band set up . I love it! It is my main radio and I have approx. 50+ radios . If you can afford it , its the best and most complete radio out there . KING OF ALL RADIOS!!!

This has been called the best of the current Sony Shortwave radios. Infact it may be the best of any manufacturer's portable shortwave. I have several radios, both desktop and portable. When compared to my other radios, this one has excellent sensitivty and selectability.I use it with a loop antenna as a bedside radio to find the distant AM stations at night. When I lock in the station with the synchronous feature it greatly improves the stability of the station and makes listening a lot easier. On SSB I am able to listen to Military and Ham broadcasts with no difficulty. It even has stereo on FM with a headset. I like the radio and I highly recommend it. Jim

Shame to see this greatest of the great shortwave portable receivers discontinued from the Sony line like the venerable and magnificent ICF 2010. Most long time dedicated shortwave listeners will undoubtedly own one or both of these two great radios from the Sony of days gone by...Let's hope that Sony is avidly working on an even better successor, but somehow I doubt they can top this one...Since they are still available here and there, grab one while you can - if you are a short wave enthusiast, this radio is worth every penny!

I've owned 14 SW Radios in my life of various brands and capabilities. The SW-77 is a quantum leap above all of the rest. None of the user complexities so publicized at its introduction will make any difference to the serious SWL. The SW-77 is the finest radio I've ever owned. It is an heirloom technology.

(I am hoping that Amazon will allow me to post information on where to look for a used one since the SW77 is discontinued.)

This information is being provided in case someone is looking for a Sony SW77 Shortwave Receiver and comes across the product entry in Amazon.

In my experience (I have no association with them) Universal Radio, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, seems to have used SW77s with reasonable regularity (I bought mine from them in late 2008). Look them up on the Web and go to their used equipment Web Pages.

If you decide to go the used equipment route be sure that you understand what you are getting. Some used equipment will have become separated from the owner's manual and you will need one if you get an SW77 (so if there isn't a manual with a particular SW77 you will have to find one and purchase it). Also with the SW77 find out (before you buy) if the receiver has an AC supply with it so you don't have to run it on batteries when you're at home. There is some evidence (I believe that I read this on one of Universal Radio's Web Pages) that at least for awhile Sony was shipping shortwave receivers with noisy switching AC power supplies; investigate this issue before you decide to buy.

When I bought my used SW77 it came without the little plastic 'ears' that provide the attachment points for the carrying strap (and there was no strap). Since I was aware that the SW77 is 'fading into history', and that miscellaneous items will eventually not be available from Sony Customer Service, I bought both the mounting ears and a carrying strap from Sony right after I bought the receiver. These items are not cheap (when you consider how simple they are) so think about this issue and investigate before you decide to purchase a used SW77 (used equipment is sold with whatever was with it when the previous owner sold the set to Universal Radio).

Best of luck if you decide that you have to have a Sony SW77 and go looking on the used equipment market.

(When considering the purchase of used equipment 'caveat emptor' must be kept firmly in mind.)

- Paul, WB5AGF
August 2009

After using several SW-receivers this is the most comfortable with the station readout functionality and the great SW-sensitivity. Only due to weak capacitors it now needs repair because MW/LW reception faded out. I look forward to use it again after repair!!!