C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
by C. Crane
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List Price: Our Price: $114.95 You Save: $35.00 (23%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $73.92 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
Customer Review: Very good reception and speaker
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought a Crane CSW radio from Amazon last week intended as a gift and it arrived by US Mail yesterday. I opened the box, inspected the radio and checked it out against a Kaito KA2100 I bought last year (and my favorable review of that radio still stands). The Crane CSW is essentially a repackaged Kaito KA2100 with a few modifications. The Crane version has a few superficial exterior changes to knobs and side switches and labels. The biggest change is the elimination of an interior AC converter in the Crane version--and a wall brick exterior AC converter with a small DC plug-in is supplied instead. The discontinued Kaito has an interior AC converter and a normal (removable) power plug.
FM, AM and SW reception between the Kaito and the Crane appeared about identical. Be sure to set the AM sensitivity switch to distant (rather than local) to get a clearer reception and sound. The only apparent difference between these radios besides the differences noted above is a slightly more sloppy quality control regarding the knobs. More of them are loose or not centered with the Crane radio--an esthetic issue only, but it gives a more Mickey Mouse character to the radio operation when the knobs wiggle or turn out of true. Other than this, the radio is fine--reception in all bands is really very, very good. The separate gain, treble and bass knobs function well across their entire travel range. And because the radio has an internal ferrite AM antenna, the Crane CSW responds very well to the use of a Terk AM-1000 passive AM antenna to really boost reception of weaker AM signals.
The radio is a fine portable with a surprisingly good speaker. Sound from headphones plugged into the radio is excellent, with the volume and tone controls working with headphones. The knobs are an irritant, but it still will make a fine gift.
Customer Review: Great cousin of the CC Radio
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been a fan of the original CC Radio Plus for a few years... but now the latest addition to the family is rising up the ranks.
The CC Radio SW, adding shortwave but removing the TV & Weather band, is as good (or better) than its CC-cousin. With many of the same features, incl., lighted dial, alarm & snooze functions, as well as terrific AM reception...and excellent sound, it outperforms most portables of similar size. It has many of the same extras as the Grundig S250, incl., an AM RF Gain knob. Also, separate switches for local & distant AM reception, in addition to operating on 2 types of batteries!! Either 4 AA's or 4 'D size. When plugged-in to the AC adapter, it has the ability to charge the batteries. This of course is only useful if you're using rechargeable cells in the unit. I haven't had this long enough to give a comment on battery usage, although if the key-pad lights are used too often, that will help to drain them quicker. The tuning ability is excellent. The large knob is easy to control and the ability to switch between slow & fast tuning (plus locking it on a frequency) is a nice addition. Another plus; it's very lightweight, and the built in (pop up)handle makes for easy transport.
The only gripes I have is that the small function buttons are a bit difficult to decipher at first due to the tiny print, and I wish there was a way to "lock out" the backlight display when tuning stations, on battery-power... like there is on the original CC.
If you like the CC Radio... you'll like this. Or, if you already have a Grundig, or similar brand, you may want to try the CC Radio SW!
Customer Review: Excellent Radio For AM/FM dxing and SW.
Summary: 4 Stars
I love my CCRadio CSW. It pulls in TONS of stations with its standard antennas and has rekindled my interest in shortwave! I'm very impressed with its sensitivity on FM, it's overall sound, and the number of stations it receives on shortwave. In a two hour period I logged over twenty-five English shortwave stations. REE in Spain, Radio Romania, China Radio International, Voice of Turkey, Radio Japan, Radio Bulgaria, and the Voice of Russia are just a few. It's also very sensitive on the AM band too and I've enjoyed a few nights of AM Dxing. This is also a very simple radio to operate. A few minutes with the owner's manual will answer a lot of questions. For example, the on/off switch also enables a timer, so the radio will automatically turn itself off after the programmed time passes. This is not a fault, and can be disabled if you want the radio on continuously. I set mine for 60 minutes which works great for me. Overall a great upgrade for the standard clock radio or tabletop radio that a lot of us have.Customer Review: CCRadio SW
Summary: 4 Stars
Its a pretty decent radio, not quite as good as I'd hoped but pretty good nonetheless. Good selectivity. I live in a pretty remote area but can still get stations on AM at night about 350 miles away depending on the weather etc. On FM I can only get 2 stations with other radios, with the CCRadio, I can get about 6 more. There are a lot of electrical emissions here that I think inhibit signals or the radio would perform even better. I like that you can have AA, D batteries in the radio and use them or use the cord. Batteries can be recharged in the radio. You can easily connect external antanaes and/or ground etc. Read the manual to be able to use your radio for best use, but pretty easy to figure out by "trial and error" as well. $10 cheaper at Amazon than from the manufacturer and free shipping, pretty quick delivery too.Customer Review: This is my second C. Crane Radio
Summary: 4 Stars
I have owned the CC Plus for 6 years. I never did think it lived entirely up to the hype, but I was happy enough with it to buy the CSW. I traveled for a living and the CC Plus has traveled many times in checked airline luggage. The display light is flickering lately, but I think it has more to do with the handling during travel than age or craftmanship of the radio. I only use either CC radio for AM and it has never let me down. The twin coil ferrite antenna on the CSW is cool. From South Florida I picked up stations from as far north as New York and as far south as Havana, Cuba.
Once T.V. stations go digital next year the T.V. audio function on the Plus will be obsolete. I plan to explore short wave too, so I feel I am good to go. I am happy with the unit.