Sangean ATS-909X2

Brand: Sangean

A large portable world receiver with 406 memory presets, dual conversion on shortwave, longwave and air band, plus SSB with a fine tuning control. The display is one of the clearest on any portable, with a proper backlight and station names stored alongside frequencies. A rotary tuning knob, separate keypad and real bass and treble controls make it feel like a desk receiver that happens to have a handle.

Best suited to a listener who sits down with the radio rather than carries it around, since it is heavy and takes four AA cells. Sensitivity on the whip is respectable but the set really opens up with an external wire or loop on the antenna socket. It costs several times what a Chinese DSP portable does, and the difference shows in ergonomics more than in raw reception.