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- Verified Buyer
I compared this to some other radios under $50 which included the Sangean SR-35, the Sony ICF-P26, the ICF-8 and the only digital-tuning radio I tested, the Sony ICF-M260.My interest is primarily AM through a speaker. Eneloop batteries were installed in all radios and all radios were allowed to break in for about 6 hours before I began to test and listen. The break-in time is important because performance changed somewhat during this time.This radio and the Sony ICF-8 were both the least pleasant to listen to through the speaker. Whereas the ICF-8 was squawky and boxy, the KA-210 was too thin and tinny-sounding with an annoying 'ring' or upper midrange peak. Attaching my pretty neutral Sony 7506 headphones, bass was clearly rolled off and much of the midrange peak seemed to be originating from the amplifier, not the speaker. In contrast, the sound from the Sony ICF-P26 was much better balanced, but high frequencies were not as extended. Also, whereas the Sony produced monaural headphone sound emanating from the center, the Kaito's headphone sound was rather diffuse as to direction, as if the two channels interacted due to phase or differing frequency response. At arm's length, the radio played fairly loudly before distorting.Of course, the sound won't matter if you're primarily listening to the NOAA band with its less than telephone quality audio, so if your primary interest is NOAA, the radio is well-recommended.The Kaito's real strength is its ability to rapidly find and hold a station presumably due to its “digital signal processing”. In this regard, it was the best of the analog tuning radio group. Stations “popped” in and out and inter-station noise was suppressed as you progressed across both AM and FM bands. Stations could be found and tuned much more quickly than the other analog-tuning radios. This was the only radio in the group where the tuning light actually worked and indicated the the station's reception nearly 100% of the time on both AM and FM. Other tuning indicators stayed mostly lit the entire length of the bands making them useless.Unlike other radios, all the printing on the radio can be easily read including the important battery polarity diagram.Pocket radios are susceptible to antenna damage. I think this antenna is less likely to be broken at the junction of the radio's body and the antenna unless it is accidentally snapped. However, the antenna's position has been fixed vertically and can't be moved unless you turn the entire radio. The Kaito can also sit upright, but it's so shallow it will easily be knocked over.In my opinion all these pocket radios under $50 seem to have serious performance shortcomings. You have to pick whatever shortcomings you can live with.This is a fantastic little radio. I am very impressed with its performance. I own approximately 50 radios of all kinds, tube, old transistor, shortwave, modern/digital, you name it. So, I know what I am talking about. This one does the job. It receives firmly with high sensitivity and locks in the stations on all bands.In the FM band, it receives all strong stations in the urban area that other, much more sophisticated radios do with its own small whip antenna about 8 inches long. I did not try the difficult to get stations, since I don't listen to them. There is no hiss, no static, no weakening of the reception when you move around.In the AM band, I tested it in the evening, and the dial was full of all kind of stations, local and long range. It can be difficult to understand where the radio it is tuned to in the tiny dial until the radio stations announce themselves. For instance, the WSM, Nashville, TN 450 miles away was heard like it was next door. Other stations from New York, Boston, Chicago, around 700+ miles away were heard loud and clear, much better than in other much more expensive receivers. I am not sure how it can perform so well with it supposedly tiny ferrite antenna. (I did not take in apart to look inside). The size of the radio is like a cigarette pack.NOAA band, a bonus, two NOAA channels were heard loud and clear, better than in the Radioshack "Crystal Controlled" dedicated NOAA radio.The sound quality was decent for the small (around 2 inch diameter) speaker size. It does not sound tiny at all. Much better sound quality comes from the headphones jack, which makes listening a pleasure.From how it tunes to the stations, it gives me the impression that it is a DSP radio, even though it is not advertised as such. It locks in the stations and kind of jumps to the next one without much static in between, like when the FM AFC is engaged in the old analogue radios. DSP makes all stations with a signal level above a given threshold to be heard with the same strength, which is mostly good, but it makes difficult identifying them from the tiny dial. This explains the exceptional performance of this radio for the size and the price ($20). There is no drift when the stations are tuned in.The only cons I have is the tiny dial that I mentioned above. But hey, what do you expect from an analogue looking radio of the size of a cigarette pack in that price range? It is supposed to be an emergency and funny/gadget radio that you can take anywhere, hiking, biking, walking around and enjoying your life. And you can have the weather condition notices at your fingertips.Very highly recommended.Bought this unit specifically to replace a worn out, 1989 model from Radio-Shack (yes we had them in Canada a while back). I listened to the AM/FM band and it worked surprisingly well, but I was really impressed by switching to the NOAA band and got excellent reception right at the first channel position.And this was inside a building with the antenna still not pulled to full length... Well built, solid and lightweight unit. Runs on 2 AA batteries, has a handy lanyard and increased reception outdoors and with antenna at full length. As good as my Jeep Wrangler's radio. Also has a headphone jack, although the small speaker does a very decent job even on radio bands.Great value for the price!Size and weight are perfect for walking. The radio is not digital, so tuning can be difficult. The on/off switch is also the volume control. Found the lowest setting to be to loud, such that could not use earphones. If looking to use during walk, would not recommend. Dials to sensitive, and so easy to lose station or volumeLove having the weather band in addition to AM/FM. Also like how compact it is and that there's a headphone jack. The problem is the reception - weak. Sound quality could be a little better also.Good product does exactly as advertised and has a fairly good receiver and is very clearafter 6 months, the radio stopped working... I contacted the seller but no reply from them
