Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio (Black)

I want to start by saying I'm not really a radio person but I'll throw in my "2 cents" anyway. As a matter of fact the only reason I purchased the radio was so I could listen to it at night, 102.7 Fresh FM (I'm in New York City), has some rather relaxing songs and is my current favorite radio station. I bought this radio to replace an extremely cheap clock radio which I bought a couple of years back just to have something to listen to at a security post. The clock radio had very poor sound and a not so great tuner to say the least. I wanted to replace it and at first I looked into buying another clock/radio,but the "clock part" really didn't interest me because I just want to listen to the radio and having that bright red light in my face from the "clock part" wasn't exactly what I wanted. Any way so I came across this little radio,it was affordable and it's nothing fancy,it's simply a nice little radio,I mean more can you ask for right? I think it functions above average in my opinion,first of all it's made by Sony and Sony has a well known and very good reputation when it comes to making good radios,stereos etc. The sound is really what will blow you away,you may be thinking to yourself how could such a big sound come out of something so small. I was totally AMAZED at just how LOUD this thing can get. I mean you just have to hear it for yourself. Now for me sound is not too much of an issue but it may be for you,but unless you're very far away from the radio,you won't have a problem in the sound department. The sound on this radio is very good to say the least,at least in my opinion. The tuner is very good as well it actually says "Tune" in the upper right hand corner and it has a red light that goes on when you have the station tuned pretty much just right,likewise the light will get dull or just go out all together when you have static,so you really have to just turn the knob until you get it just right. I get 102.7 Fresh FM just fine now and I didn't even have to raise the antenna. Like I said I'm not really a radio person so I don't know how well the other stations will come in,but I'm sure they should be just fine. Also it's FM/AM so if Am is your thing then you have that as well. The radio comes with a power cord and it can used as a portable radio as well,it takes 4 double A batteries. I really don't have any complaints,I mean I just got it and opened it up barely 2 hours ago so if something goes wrong maybe I'll update this review if that's possible. I was going to give it 4 1/2 stars because the numbers that represent the radio stations that are printed on the radio seem to be maybe slightly off,again I'm not a radio person so I'm not exacty sure how this is supposed to work. As I said, I have it tuned to 102.7 fresh FM but the dial is pointing to about 104. I actually had to check on the internet and find the station there first and then tune the radio to it,just an idea I had which worked very well. I mean that's kind of nitpicking to me,but it may become an issue if you listen to multiple stations,you may have a hard time going back and forth because the numbers are a bit misleading,or so it seems. Overall though I'm very pleased so far,I just want to say one more thing and that is, this is just a simple radio. There is nothing fancy here,you won't find any tape or CD or anything like that,no way to program any stations into the radio or any other "extras". The only thing you're getting here is a radio with a band to change from FM to AM and 2 dials,one for the tuner and one for the volume and that's pretty much it. I'm saying all of this because I want people to know what they are getting before they make the purchase. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great day.

Recently the little radio we have used for years at our remote Alaskan camp gave up the ghost. No big surprise I suppose as it was a very cheap unit in every respect. It had gizmos 'til it didn't end but it was the AM radio we kept it for. And it ran forever on the 3 C cells it required. Generally we changed them once a year. I liked that aspect a lot: batteries which lasted and lasted. So, finding another AM radio to replace it was a tall order. I have used the smaller "transister sized" Sonys for many years and have used them not only in camp, but also dropped them from airplanes, when needed, to weather-stranded travelers. I know the name has meant a decent product when it comes to radios. But I wanted a somewhat better radio for our cabin base camp, so I decided to give the Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio a try. I couldn't be happier. This radio is better in quality- significantly- than the old unit we had. The reception is excellent and clear. The tuner is very accommodating, something I appreciate since the three stations we can get here are 40-125 miles away. Each station comes in loud and clear and the position of the radio, unlike the old one, is not critical (although you can make some fine, if unnecessary, tuning adjustments by turning the radio if you like.) We use a small electric generator, but the battery power is what we depend on for the radio since our electrical uses vary quite a bit. Additionally, we also like to "secure" our fish rack (from the bears) by installing a bucket-protected radio when we are away for a time to resupply. So the battery source feature is important to us. One of the first things I wanted to know was whether the AA battery life in this radio would match the battery life we were accustomed to with the C-cell radio. To test this, I left the radio on when we left camp for a week. I tuned the radio just so the red LED tuning indicator went off. (The reception was still nearly the same.) When we returned 6 1/2 days later, I wasn't even thinking about the radio until I approached the cabin and was greeted by voices inside. What a pleasant welcome. The original set of batteries now have approximately 10 24-hour days of use on them with this radio. Obviously, I don't yet know if they'll go a year with intermittent use, but that's not critical. I am satisfied that the radio works as well as it does, and does so without eating batteries. KNOM, KICY, and KNSA can be assured that they have ready ears thanks to a good radio at a reasonable price.

This is a solid, basic "old school" radio, which is exactly what I was looking for. The reception is great, sound quality is good, and the materials/construction seems to be good (it doesn't look/feel "cheap"). I do have one complaint, however, which may be an issue for some people (and it actually is a big deal for me). I use the radio in an office environment, so need to keep the volume very low (and I need to change it up/down regularly). This is SUPER touchy on this radio. In fact, I often have trouble actually dialing the volume down to a very low level. The volume knob goes from zero to barely audible to medium loud with, I would say, much less than a millimeter of travel. I have to be *very* careful, taking significant effort and care to only barely budge the volume up or down by a fraction of a millimeter. However, once I've gotten it to the volume I want, often literally just lifting my finger off the button will unintentionally move the volume to a level that I don't want...just from the friction of lifting my finger straight off the knob as carefully as I can. It really is that touchy. I don't recall ever trying to use the radio at a normal/higher volume, so do not know if the whole volume range is this sensitive. If you are not trying to play the volume low, then I suspect that you will be happy with this radio...everything else is great for me. 4/2016 update: I continue to like this radio's look and feel, reception, etc...but am continually frustrated by how much effort it takes to adjust the volume a small amount. Sometimes it literally takes me 10-15 seconds to actually successfully adjust the volume up or down. I literally touch the dial as LIGHTLY as I can with my finger, and then don't even move my finger, instead simply exerting the smallest pressure I can up or down. It *still* overshoots, even doing that. So, then I do the same thing, trying to exert pressure back in the other direction, and now it overshoots what I want again. Then, sometimes, when I get it the way I want it, just lifting my finger off the dial changes the volume. I've never had this kind of trouble with any other device, lest you think that I'm uncoordinated for some reason! We're talking about FRACTIONS OF MILLIMETERS of movement here.

It's a great radio. Not sure it is as great as this price would indicate but it is dependable with a clear, crisp signal. It is still broadcasting loud and clear after being used everyday in my kitchen for 26 Years! The most interesting thing about it has to do with the fact I bought it here on February 16th, 2016, for $28.00 including sales tax. I have heard of inflation but this is bizarre in so many ways. I just wanted to share that with you all....if they allow it to be posted. I was considering the purchase for another room in the house. I am putting that decision on permanent HOLD, for obvious reasons; check the current price!

This is a good radio, even at the current $35 price. **Here are the really good qualities of this radio: Lightweight and portable Has AC power cord built-in Really good battery life (2 weeks at 8 hours a day on alkalines or NiMH) Good reception on both AM & FM (selectivity is about average for a radio in this price range) Very good tonal quality and low distortion from the speaker Sturdy and properly sized antenna for FM Very high volume for a radio this size **Here are the not so good properties of this radio: The earphone jack is not stereo. It only plays through one channel of your stereo earphones. The tuning is very sensitive to temperature. You might set the radio outside perfectly tuned to a station when it is 70 degrees, and 30 minutes later when the radio has been in the sun, or the air has warmed, the radio will have completely lost the station. [this is a normal thing with this type of tuning, but this radio seems particularly prone to detuning from temperature swings(much of my use has been outdoors)]. OVERALL, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RADIO. What this radio is really good for: The elderly. there are no confusing buttons or knobs. There is on - off, am - fm, tone hi -lo, tuning, and volume. A general radio to have around the house. A radio to take camping or to a jobsite. A radio to have in an emergency due to it's excellent battery life and good AM reception Update: I have had this radio for over 7.5 years now; it is as good as the day it arrived! I raised my rating to 5 stars because it has survived as long as it has. It still has the above mentioned drawbacks, but it has survived on my covered, and unscreened porch for 4 years. It has been rained on, frozen, heated in the sunlight, and subjected to fog many, many times. The tuning is still clear, the volume control still not scratchy, and the audio (speaker) still like new. When it is really damp outside, the on/off switch does not completely shut the power off to the radio, but what can you expect from a basically wet radio? Probably the best, most robust portable radio ever made. I would not hesitate buying a used one.

I researched long and hard in order to find a low-cost, relatively small footprint, portable am/fm radio which would have the power to bring in our Philadelphia, hard-to-tune-in fm "oldies" station through the metal and concrete walls of a sheltered workshop. It was purchased as a Christmas present for my special needs brother, for 8 hour/day, 3 days/week use. For the most part, this little Sony came through. It started out great when he started using it in January, 2011. While it took some doing each morning, as long as the batteries were in good condition, I could always find the station and fine tune it for him. (It would sit stationary on his worktable, untouched during the day -- no one "manhandled" it during the course of each day. Then, after less than a year, I realized that it was becoming increasingly difficult to tune in ANY FM station, although the slidebar was definitely pushed to the left (the FM side). As a matter of fact, NOTHING -- NO STATIONS COME IN when the bar is on the left. I started to having to literally do a bunch of what I called "Fonzie bumps" (referencing Fonzie's juke box turn-ons on Happy Days) in order to get FM stations to tune in. Now, after three years of smashing the poor thing each morning, I'm at the point where I'm REALLY beating it up, smacking it on all sides, banging it on the table, etc. in order to get FM stations to awaken. So far, I've been successful in eventually finding the FM's each morning, but it takes more and more time -- and strength. And there is NO way that my brother would ever be able to tune in this puppy by himself. My only other complaint is that I really wish the "on/off" was not a separate slidebar, but rather part of the volume control dial. The on/off slidebar is very delicate/sensitive. It's very easy to accidently/unknowingly slide the bar to the "on" position, thus prematurely draining your batteries. We have found that if you at least turn the volume all the way down, if the slidebar DOES find its way back to the "on" position, the batteries don't drain as quickly. So, bottom line: This is a good, basic radio with some strength and a fairly small footprint. However, you must be prepared for eventual problems with FM tuning. (I've read of this problem in a number of reviews, so I know I'm not alone in this experience.)

This radio sits atop the bookshelf in my office and plays ETV radio while I work. It's a great little radio, and here are a few fine points to consider before buying: ◘ Reception is great once you have a station finely-tuned. Luckily, the dials don't roll around haphazardly...they are solidly connected and allow for tweaking to a very small degree. One caveat to this...in my office, I had to place the radio up high to pick up a clear signal, and I also had to angle the antenna away from the wall (EM interference from electrical/data cabling behind the drywall). Note: I've only utilized this radio for FM stations, as there aren't many worthwhile AM stations in my area...AM listeners take note, and check others' reviews for AM performance commentary. ◘ The sound is solid, so far as mid-level tones go. I do appreciate the Tone switch, as it allows me to take the sharp edge (High setting) off of musical broadcasts with a louder sound (Rock, Jazz) and restore it for talk radio. I can't comment on using this radio in a loud or open area...I'm sure it would work fine in a garage if only for background noise, but for clarity over a larger square footage and good bass-level tones, I'd recommend the Sangean LB-100 Compact AM/FM Ultra Rugged Radio Receiver instead...it's a bit more pricey, but rugged and able to produce a consistently full sound. ◘ The option to use wall power, as well as batteries, make this a very versatile radio. The power cord only stretches to about 6 feet, so keep that in mind if you wish to run continuous power in a larger space. Bottom Line: If you wish to have a radio with solid mid-level tones that can be sharpened or dulled, and this radio must be a no-frills AM/FM radio with the ability to fine-tune and use two power methods, this radio will certainly fit the bill...and at this price point, it's a steal. **Update 9/24/2013**: I had to move this down to a corner of my desk in the center of the room in order to cut down on interference to the signal, which means I had to begin using four AA batteries instead of the provided power cord. I have since begun using Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries, and love the portability of this little marvel! Sound quality and reception are still excellent! **Update 1/30/2015**: I'm not sure if other owners have had this issue, but the speaker cone seems to be damaged in some way. I've never played the radio at top volume or stored it in extreme conditions. It's been relegated to the radio pile for now in my third bedroom (pile of radios with no batteries in them...so sue me, I'm a collector!) and am using a Sony ICF-304 for my desk at work.

I've owned the popular little Sony ICF-S10MK2 pocket radio for years and it has served well. Sometimes, though, you just want something a little larger and heavier that works at least as well. Sony's ICF38 is nearly as popular and while it is not beautiful or stylish in appearance, it has the basics down pat: AM/FM with red tuning light for both bands, a collapsible antenna that I barely need here in town; a handle that pops up from the rear. It is "form-follows-function" incarnate: I was able to load the four AA batteries (purchased separately), shift bands, tune, and find my favorite stations without the aid of any written directions, just common knowledge. It is surprisingly heavy for its size, and some may consider that a drawback. I like it, though, especially because it contains a curled-up power cord adjacent to the battery compartment and thus is reasonably well-balanced. (Sony recommends removing any batteries if you intend to use the radio on AC for long periods of time.) It has only the one speaker but it is adequate if you don't expect "hi-fi"; most people would use headphones for that anyway. Thus far, it appears to hold its signal well, an important consideration for me because one public-radio station, while of adequate signal strength, is apt to be crowded out by larger commercial stations on either side. AM strength could be better, but AM is a bit of an afterthought on most receivers regardless of size. (We have an easy comparison-test in Chicago -- WBBM AM-780 and WBBM FM 105.9 are simulcast. 'BBM AM typically comes in stronger in my car, the FM station typically comes in stronger indoors; this radio is no exception though the AM reception is okay.) All in all I am very pleased, especially at this price. If you're looking for a very basic, functional radio and simplicity matters more than visual appeal, I'd recommend this Sony ICF-38 totally. Note that while Amazon's price is in line with other vendors,' it's much easier to avoid paying an extra shipping fee, either thru SuperSaver or Prime.

Nice one You have to buy adaptor plug Noise filtering very good Delivery took lot of time

Sony ICF38 Radio portable Noir Reçu avec prise deux plots plats japonais et voltage 110V heureusement que j'ai vu le voltage sur la boîte avant de mettre mon adaptateur Japon, une semaine après avoir j'avais reçu mon établi Bosch avec les graduation en pouces au lieu des centimètres, j'ai pas de chance sur Ama ou quoi? Bon, je l'utilise avec des piles, ça consomme pas tant que ça. Cette radio est telle qu'on les construisait dans les années soixante, pas de cadran ou de recherche de stations électronique, c'est du solide. !!NOTE BIEN!! la réception en AM est impec, jamais aussi bien reçu l'Italie par rapport à toutes les radios électroniques à 100€ et plus que j'ai eues.

THIS RADIO IS MADE TO WORK ON 120V AC ONLY AND HAS A WARRANTY FOR USA ONLY I FEEL THAT THIS RADIO SHOULD NOT BE SOLD IN UK VERY DISAPPOINTED AND FEEL CHEATED !!!!

After computing AC vs DC power consumption, I returned my ICF-F10 for this model. Running AC saves more as it just consumes 4watts of power. Besides when power goes out I can usually use AA batteries for emergency. Pros: -Sensitive -LED Tuning -Cheap -Economical -Tone Control -AC or DC -Good Sound Cons: They are just minor... -No option for 220 volt switch -Can run only 110 volts -Power cord is too tight inside battery compartment (So I left it tied outside when not in use) -Headphone output is just MONO (it isn't a deal-breaker). Overall I am satisfied with this radio and I might be buying another one in the future. Conclusion: If you want a basic AC or DC powered radio, analog, cheap and has good reception without spending time to learn a lot, this is for you. I am satisfied! BUY it, and enjoy it for years with minimal energy consumption (Around $3 a year when used 12 hours per day on AC).

received in good condition and working condition is alao good