Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

This is the second one I have bought, nothing wrong with the first one other than the AC power packed up some years ago. It has accompanied me as my work has taken me to some of the remotest parts of Australia and elsewhere and enabled me to keep in touch with what is going on in the world. It wakes me every morning no matter where I may be whether at home in bed, staying in a hotel or under canvas in the bush. I decided that as old Mr Sony is now dead and the family are no longer so interested in manufacturing premium shortwave/worldband radios such as these little beauties it was my last chance to get one as they are being discontinued through marketing priorities. When the ICF-SW7600GR first came out they cost heaps more $$s and even my first one, bought secondhand, cost more back then. You won't getter a better worldband radio than this compact gem and the price is remarkable.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

You still can get a quality radio to listen to your talk radio favorites. Nice digital tuner. Compact size and good antenna. Nothing cheap looking about this radio. Built to last. Nice carrying pouch too. If like to listen to talk radio this is your treat for yourself. runs on batteries or can pickup a 9v adaptor for it. good sound switch for music or news.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

At home, this is my choice for alarm clock radio - easy to set or change. Traveling, short wave is always available. You can also listen to ham radio. It has better sound than the smaller SW07 where the clock just died after about 20 years, but is larger.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

This made in Japan shortwave is a one and only. After much study, I came to find that maybe every other shortwave radio is made in China and is of questionable quality and reception ability. No matter what brand name you look at, you can find the same radio on [@] with a strange chinease name on it. Years ago no one wanted Japansese made products, well now at least we still have one model here that isn't made in china. Think Nikon cameras. This radio is heavy for it's size, feels solid, has nice quality buttons and what I figure to be good sound quality. It is a small speaker so you won't be getting a lot big speaker sound but it is plenty loud enough and plenty clear; it is all I need for talk radio. This radio picks up some FM and AM stations that I often can not get at my house. The shortwave tuning is done in AM mode by just continuing to scan up the frequency range beyond what most refer to as medium wave or AM. There is a direct entry feature where you can enter the frequency rather than scrolling or seaching to it. You can direct enter the frequency and then dial in more precisely for better reception using the buttons. The only thing that I kind of wish it had was a twist knob so seeking could be faster than using the buttons. For me, with shortwave, I am often "browsing" for a station and don't yet know where a lot of them are so a knob to seek with is easier. The controls here are more like a car stereo tuner. Overall though I would choose this radio over a chinease made unit with a poor quality knob any day. I had a breif experience with a grundig 350 and was suprised at how wobbly and cheap feeling the buttons and knobs were. I can't figure they would have lasted long and reception was worse than with an old $20 transistor radio. [*] The 350 couldn't pick up even local FM stations; facinating. Buy this Sony if you want a real shortwave radio. It comes with a line out if you want to connect it to a big sound system. It also has a headphone jack and a plug for an external AM antenna. The package included decent a wind up wire antenna and a very nice soft leather like case. So much other stuff you buy now that is made in china just makes me not care too much for it because I know it won't last long and isn't worth much but this little radio takes me back to my first CD player when I was a kid. It just feels nice and makes you want to take care of it as you would a fine tuned instrument.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

We live in an area with poor radio reception. Unfortunately, this radio did not get any better reception than our current radios. We had to return it.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

very comfortable and alot function

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

Thrilled with gift. Easy to use and understand, esp for a newcomer to shortwave radio like me. Great quality.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

Good reception, easy to use and great sound for a portable radio.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

This radio is not easy to use, set up stations or locate the wave for othe state usage.
Very diappointed.

Terri & Richard Valentine

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

And so can you! Honestly, this Sony has been by far the best radio I have ever owned. It truly is so much more than a radio since I still remember the first transister one I got back in, well, a long time ago. I'd recommend this radio to anyone, including fellow dopes like me.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

The 7600GR is the only Japanese built shortwave radio still being made. It is well built and works great on all bands. As a bonus, the 7600GR will work with all of Sony's active antennas. I'm using my old AN-100 Sony antenna with it, and it works very well with that antenna (note: the Sony active antennas will not work with any radio w/o an electrified antenna outlet). So, all in all, this radio is worth the [$] I paid for it.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

The ICF-SW7600GR is built with the same quality that we have all come to expect from Sony. It is a small radio that has a heavy feel which stems from being very sturdy. The controls are well organized and easy to read. The screen is a good size considering the size of the unit and it is also easy to read. The SSB tuning wheel on the side is very sensitive and I have had no trouble dialing in with it. The speaker is OK and mono but with headphones the unit switches to stereo. So far I have not found anything negative concerning my unit.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

For a portable radio in this price range ($100-150), this Sony ICF-7600GR is the best you can buy. I've had mine for a few years and bought this as a gift for a friend to use because mine works so well. The reception is great either with the telescopic antenna or external wire antenna (included). [*]

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

I use the radio as a bed side radio.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

I bought a 7600gr primarily to listen to amateur radio operators outdoors, and listen to amateur radio and internet audio through my Ipod-type FM transmitter while in various rooms in my house. I wanted good basic "radio" performance (sensitvity, selectivity, s/n ratio) on AM and FM. Audio quality was not to be a primary concern since pretty well all I would be listening to was spoken language, not singing or music. This radio was to replace my Sony 2010 which needs repair, and my Kaito 1102 which is a low priced radio for a reason (you get what you pay for).
The unit seems reasonably well built. Looks good, other than the fact that I personally prefer black over silver. Well, on to the meat of the matter:
Pros:
1. As mentioned, seems well built and looks good.
2. Made in Japan, which is a plus.
3. Good size. Not too big or too small.
4. Decent adjacent frequency rejection on SSB.
5. Synch detector useful in SOME (albeit few) circumstances.
Cons:
1. Poor rejection on FM. Was getting interference on FM that I have gotten on no other radio I own. I do have a low power AM station close by. I think this was the source. Nonetheless, have not had the problem with any of my other radios.
2. Controls difficult to use in the dark. The tuning buttons are so close together and so light to touch that you can hardly differentiate between the course and fine tuning buttons. I didn't think the lack of a tuning knob would be an issue. It was.
3. Reciever is pretty noisy on SSB. Birdie on one of the 80 meter frequencies I like to listen to. Didn't keep it long enough to tell where other birdies may be.
4. Poor image rejection. The aforementioned AM broadcast station came in loud and clear on 40 meters. Even my cheap Kaito did not do this. This was actually the last straw by which I decided to return the unit.
5. AM sensitivity average at best.
6. SSB warble did not bother me much, but for those who hate it, this unit's definately got it.

So, overall I was simply not impressed with the unit. Sony has the know-how to do better. I loved my 2010 before it developed problems, and this radio is no match for a 2010. I just with they'd bring the 2010 back, with some updates, perhaps. Some radios you just "connect" with. You can tell, almost intuitively that you have a great radio. Sadly, the 7600GR is not one of them. Strangely enough, one of the greatest, if not THE greatest radio I own (and I own a LOT of radios of various types), considering price and overall quality, is my little Sony SRF-49 AM/FM pocket radio. Durability, sensitivity, selectivity, noise ratio and audio quality are outstanding! Sony CAN do it. They've proved that. If they only WILL, is the question.

My experience in returning the radio was great. Smooth as silk. No problems with the seller, just with the manufacturer.

Hope you find this info useful.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

This is a well built am/fm/sw radio, given it's a Sony it isn't a surprise. One surprise was that it is actually built in Japan, as most of Sonys' product line is made in China it was a surprise to see that it is made in Japan. Very compact, very good documentation and works very well. The only way it could be better is if it were made in the USA, perhaps someday Zenith will build its' Transoceanic receiver of long ago.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

reception is good. Had come in handy with all of the recent bad weather and power outages.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

The SW7600GR is a very good receiver. I use it to listen SW and also FM stations. It seems to be as good as the famous ICF-2010. I will put them side by side to make a test. A signal intensity meter could be very helpfull. The line out connector sends a good quality audio to an external amp or recorder.

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

lightweight great reception

Comments about Sony ICF-SW7600GR FM Stereo World Band Receiver Radio:

I purchased this receiver radio to allow me to get good reception on some of the US AM stations for which I listen. This radio far exceeds my expectations for that goal.

The worldwide bands are very interesting and I can't wait to have the time to find and save those stations in memory.

Once I read the directions the radio is simple to use, but as noted, you must read the directions.

I am glad I purchased this World Band and recommend it to others looking for a small, slim world band receiver with excellent sound.