Kaito KA321 Pocket-Size 10-Band AM/FM Shortwave Radio with DSP (Digital Signal Processing), Black

EDIT: I bought the radio in September 2013, and almost 2 years later it still works great, and I still use it. A great pocket radio - great price and it seems made to last! I am thinking of buying another even, as having another one of these around the house will be nice in case I lose this one (perish the thought).I didn't expect very much when I ordered this product because, while the reviews were generally positive, I didn't think a pocket radio with FM/AM and shortwave could be all that great at such a cheap price. I'm happy to say my doubts were wiped away as soon as I had the radio in my hands using it the first time!I have had the radio for a few weeks and it has worked without issue during this time. I use it almost every day, mostly for FM but I like to also scan the shortwave band to see what I can pick up. The shortwave doesn't work as well inside of the house but it can be surprisingly quite clear when I tune it outside. I have listened to shortwave programming from China, Australia, etc. It is not my first shortwave radio, actually my second, but the price is about 1/5th the other one I purchased. That radio had digital tuning while this radio has only an analog interface. If you're new to shortwave listening, remember to start with the upper frequencies for daytime reception scanning and near the bottom for nighttime reception. Just a general rule that should save time when you just want to see what's currently broadcasting.Tuning is at times difficult because you can move past the best tuning spot with just a tiny move of the dial. After you get it just right, the station sounds very clear over the built-in speaker and never drifts or fades! Selectivity is superb, the FM channel you're listening to never sounds mixed with another. I never hear the station drop out in reception unless I'm moving it around the room, and even then it performs well. Shortwave is unpredictable by nature and with only the included whip antenna, you can't expect it to be very stable, so you may need to clamp a long wire to it which I haven't tried yet. The sound with headphones is a very pleasing stereo, not mono, which was something I was looking for in the radio before I ordered it. Sound is great either way, so no worries in this regard. On headphones, a slight amount of static may be heard in the background. This doesn't bother me as I barely notice it though it's something you should consider.Finally, I can't say enough about the battery life. If you're like me, you've long since started using rechargeable batteries because it's so much more convenient for many devices which seem to suck batteries dry in no time. This radio has been using the same regular AA batteries I put in it when I got it, and I haven't had to change them yet. I am very pleased that the radio seems to last a long time between battery changes, and I'm sure you will be, too. Although there is no low battery indicator like some radios, the little red LED that shows a station is tuned in is likely to dim at some point before the batteries are about to die, so I am watching to see if I can use that as a warning indicator.In summary, the interface is simple and meant for a low budget but it is not a low quality radio for the money. I think you're getting quite the deal with this product, so I highly recommend it - even if you have a much more expensive radio with big speakers sitting around, you should just buy one of these to have as a convenient, portable radio. Best pocket FM radio I've ever owned so far.

The Kaito KA321 is a new radio offering from Kaito USA it is a small pocket size radio with DSP . This radio is very small it is about the size of a cell phone with a 4" screen in a leather case . SW seems to be its strong point with good sensitivity and selectivity all across it SW bands . FM reception is good and works off the same antenna as the SW band . Using ear buds can make listening to the SW an FM bands a lot more enjoyable . AM sensitivity is very weak and this is not a radio for the AM dxer as it has a very small internal AM antenna . This radio has tuning steps of 5khz and does not tune like a regular analog radio So tuning around on the AM and SW bands has to be done with care . The FM bands have good selectivity also because of the digital signal processor . The only problem with this radio is the AM band's low sensitivity if Degen could improve on that , this would be a very good radio . Would I buy another one , yes I would . Update at 6:00am in the morning I was tuning across the lower end of the FM dial and heard a college station in Ft Myers Fl 150 miles in a straight line from me , I live in Homestead Fl . I was very surprised to hear this college station as most college station are low powered and they are not received very far . Also I received some other FM stations that only a very expensive receiver can snag . Taking it with you in your car to listen to shortwave broadcast this receiver is excellent it does not pick up electrical sounds from the motor that regular radios pick up . So with this radio you can tune in a shortwave station with no sounds to stop you from being able to hear and enjoy what ever station yo want to listen too on shortwave . The best part is a set of double AA alkaline battery's will last about 200 hours . I have just put this little receiver side by side against Radio Shack newly introduced $79.99 dollar version , catalog number 2000629 this is Radio Shack new version that has LW AM FM SW with Single Side Band . What I have found out is that the Kaito KA321 out does the Radio Shack version on FM and Shortwave bands better sensitivity and selectivity . The Radio Shack radio is way way better then the Kaito KA321 on AM . But as far as sound output being able to understand what people are saying the Kaito KA321 is a clear winner because of a more of a treble sound while the Radio Shack $79.99 dollar model has a deep base sound and it is very hard to hear anything but on local channels and powerful distant stations . The only reason I have bought the Radio Shack radio is for the AM band which it receives as good as the best car radio . Super Sensitive....This Kaito KA321 tuning processor works to change frequency through voltage changes through the band switch which has 1% resistors hooked to each band selection of a certain value and a tuning thumb wheel hooked to a potentiometer thumb wheel tuning control to adjust the tuning of each band . The only other IC is a audio amplifier for sound output . There is no tuning adjustment inside the radio RF or IF or Audio it is all done with the digital signal processor and different voltages applied to it no cans what so ever . The audio output is controlled by a standard potentiometer thumb wheel design like on older transistor radios of the past .