Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice radio, January 16, 2009
I saw the black radio in the local Target store and thought it was really a beauty, and what a radio used to be (I'm a ham radio operator). What I really like about it is that it is continuously tune-able. If there is a heterodyne from a neighboring station, I can tune away from the noise.
The sound is wonderful.
I was surprised and a little disappointed to see that the radio runs with an external power supply that converts the house AC voltage to 12 Volts DC. The power supply has two long cords on it, and the supply measures 2 X 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 inches, and is a good weight, so you have to consider where you are going to hide it and run all the wire.
Our local FM reception for the station I like, public radio, is very hard to select with these cheap digital-tuned CD and radio receivers we had before. It seems as though 90 percent of the local stations are religious stations with constant sermons and hymns, so I am glad to be able to get the public radio station.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrilled! long range champ, October 8, 2008
When I think of the money I've spent on high-end receivers, its just ironic that this cute little inexpensive thing delivered so much better performance, it made everything else sound like junk.
Its currently connected to a hi-fi class amplifier that cost 21 times more than this little receiver.
I liked the Crosley Solo so much because of its ability for cleaner performance from distant stations--and all of the stations are distant from my house.
The easy way: Try this with headphones and you may get the highest quality sound you've ever experienced from audio equipment that costs less than a car. Why not combine this with Koss Porta Pro headphones, and find out? ;)
UPdate:
The drinking straws trick for the port tube can clarify the bass if you like. Just get enough straws together to fill the port tube (its on the back), plug up (tape over) 1/3rd of the straws, cut the straws to 2" long, wrap this up in tape and place it in the port tube. This will lower the bass pitch to "farther away" from the vocals. It just makes the port tube 1/3rd smaller. ;)
The rear antenna unscrews to reveal a standard "F" connector if you'd like to use a long-distance outdoor antenna with it. I can pick up FM Stereo stations halfway across the state with it. Otherwise it tops out at about 150 miles static free FM stereo on the little antenna that comes with it. That, of course, is a blockbuster performance as well.
The headphone jack pipes directly to the preamp section aboard the radio card, using the exact same model opamps that are aboard the M-Audio Audiophile 192 computer sound card. Whatever amplifier you'd use with a high end sound card, will also work with the Crosley Solo.
The onboard power amp is a TDA7266, and because it has a "real" amplifier aboard as well as an active crossover, it needs a "real" transformer, which could not fit into the radio. That explains why its power pack is rather huge. If you'd like to "greenwash" it, know that it is compatible with alternative power cords, such as whatever efficient Switchmode you'd use to power a Tripath. Or you could just use an in-line foot switch for the cord if you're worried about the 25 cents worth of power consumption. As for me, I appreciate the higher class linear supply that comes with it as well as the onboard capacitive multiplier (similar to high end Super Reg) inside the radio. For power efficiency, please DO consider the job that gets done (A LOT!) and not just the watts. Whatever you make of all this technical chatter, just know that you do get your money's worth inside the radio, and that it didn't run up my power bill at all.
I have three of them and they're all slightly different. Only one didn't measure up, so I exchanged it, and all is fine. On another, the AM didn't work well, but the FM was even better, so I kept it and use it on my home stereo (every day).
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy, June 25, 2008
Spotted this radio in Target first, and had to get it. Looks fantastic - quality retro look plus the sound to match. Sound has depth and clarity. Dial fine tunes and it's easy to tune to those stations that are sometimes hard to get. Powerful little thing. If you appreciate simplicity, this is it! Plug in and you're happy!
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