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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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of C Crane CCRadio-SW (Model CSW-TCF)
Customer Review: not perfection in qc
Summary: 3 Stars
s ome good spec.are very good sensitivity, very nice in looking,good sound, but after seven days of operation the radio failed, i try to fix this probleb for five days long. i have to remove the front end pcb and cleaning with philips contact cleaner for three times , then this problem has been solved. i think this problem caused by not good in production qc, thank you very much.after this two weeks, i purchased another sw-tcf from ebay, unfortunately every things good except the lcd display is not coplete, due to no display for the AM,FM,LOCAL.Customer Review: At best, a major disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
I ordered the radio from Amazon, and when I took it out of the box I noticed that the plate on the right side that identifies the function of the three buttons there was missing. So I called C. Crane (to ask them to ship me the plate so I could glue it on) and the CSR advised me that I would have to pay for the part and shipping (the plate's about the size and weight of a credit card), or otherwise deal with Amazon. She was a little snippish about it, too.
Two things: (1) how could Crane have placed the radio in a box and shipped it to Amazon (or anyone) without noticing the missing plate? There was even a little round "passed inspection" sticker on the back (that was difficult to remove). It doesn't speak well for the assembly process, quality control procedures, or, obviously, the radio itself. (2) how could Crane offer such poor customer service?
Now, on to the radio itself. I was tired of the AM hum on my little GE, but the Crane has the same AM hum (unless you hold the radio while facing north-by-northwest and the moon is in the 7th house). And, as noted by other reviewers, you practically have to place the radio on the floor and hit the buttons with a mallet to activate them. Yet there's some free play in the knobs.
It does look nice, and the sound is very good for a single-speaker portable. But the $39 RCA RCD160 I bought for my daughter at Brandsmart outperforms the Crane SW and has a CD player (but not the clock radio, short wave, or battery charger). Indeed, my ancient Toshiba RT-80S, when I can coax it to operate, outperforms the Crane.
At $80 the Crane SW would be a good deal. But at the MSRP of $149.95, or even Amazon's price of $139.95, it's a heist. If you want a short wave portable radio, read "Passport to World Band Radio" first, then buy the Grundig the book recommends.
Customer Review: Shallow audio
Summary: 2 Stars
The Redsun RP2100 and it's cousin the Kaito KA2100 is a radio that received a lot of early praise yet ironically even at a cost of less than a bill including shipping from China relatively few have been sold. So what's wrong?
The radio's one glaring weakness is the lack of contrast between the receive audio signal and the audio background. Even using the radio in ssb mode using an external bfo doesn't improve the problem. To make matters worse the received signal itself lack fidelity and crispness even with the bass turned down and the treble turned up. The best analogy I can think of is watching an old black and white TV set with the contrast control turned all the way down. It's not that that the backgroung is any more or less noisy than other radios - it's just not in the background.
The only solution I can think of is to run the audio through a dsp filter or better yet an audio mixer but with so many other great receivers around at a similar price (my Sangean ATS-803A for example) why bother.
oli
Customer Review: Over Hyped for AM reception
Summary: 2 Stars
I have ordered 2 of these in the past month and both went back. One was dead out of box on AM & SW. The 2nd. was very disappointing on AM reception. The radio was excellent on FM so so on SW. Also it would not work with D cell batteries
I have a Radio Shack Table Radio from the 70's that puts the CCradio to shame on AM reception.
I purchased a Boston Acoustics Radio and a Terk passive AM antenna and powered FM antenna and it brings in AM stations during the day over 200 hundred miles away. At night I can bring in WSM in Nashville and WOWO Fort Wayne IN. and WLS Chicago with no problem. I live in rural central SC and I can listen to WBT Charlotte 140 miles away even during the day like it's next door.
The Boston Acoustics on FM with the powered Terk antenna is amazing.
The room filling sound of the Boston Acoustics is in a class by it's self.
Customer Review: Buy the Grundig
Summary: 2 Stars
The pitch on this radio is its superior AM reception. When I recieved the new CCrane I made a side by side comparison of AM reception with my old Boston Receptor radio and the Boston performed slightly better. Since the CCrane was purchased to replace the Boston I returned it. I then purchased the Grundig Field Radio S350DL and was thrilled. The Grundig has better AM reception, and performes great for shortwave and FM listening as well. Since the Grundig and the CCrane are so simular in price, design, and function, I recomend the Grundig. Hands down!