I'd like more info, too. I was considering the M97 not for DXing, but rather for casual listening while walking or biking. So as long as I can pick up, say, KMOX 120 miles away, that's about all of the DX ability I'd need.
I've seen a couple of reviews that have said that finish and construction seem cheap, so I'd like some more input on that. Thanks. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:19 AM To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America Subject: Re: [IRCA] Sony SRF-M97 Ultralight Radio.. Not for Serious AM DX! Hi Gary: Sorry about the M97 - it sure looks good, though! Like a cub reporter on the lookout for information, would it be possible to get a full rating on this tiny guy? My guess is: C Sensitivity B Selectivity B Nulling B AGC B Audio C Defects (lotsa images?) B Tuning noise (tuning muting and/or delay?) A Quality control Could you correct me where I'm wrong??? Thanks! Kevin > Hello All, > > In the never-ending quest to separate the contenders from the > pretenders, a digital Sony SRF-M97 was recently purchased from a Hong > Kong vendor on > eBay, at the rather inflated price of $68.49 including shipping (but not > nearly as inflated as Amazon's price of $158.33 plus $8.38 shipping, from > Wall > Street Photo). Unfortunately, high prices don't always indicate high > performance. > > The SRF-M97's big problem on AM is its microscopic antenna.. less > than > 1 inch in length. It just doesn't have the RF circuitry to compensate > for > its tiny (3.25 x 1.3 x .6 inches) cabinet. Sensitivity is well off from > the > $15 SRF-59, and to make matters worse, the SRF-M97 only tunes up to 1610 > kHz. > This radio has fairly decent selectivity and nulling ability, but that > won't > get you very far without better sensitivity. > > FM stereo performance seems to have been the primary objective of > Sony > in this "Ultralighter" model, which actually does look exactly the same > size, > shape and color of a cigarette lighter. It has decent FM sensitivity and > audio quality for its size, making it the digital equivalent of the > SRF-S84, a > similar-sized analog portable with the same CXA1129 IC chip as the SRF-59 > (but nowhere near the SRF-59's performance). > > In summary, unless you absolutely must have one of the smallest FM > stereo receivers around, it is recommended that you pass on this "Made in > China" > model, and go for the superbly designed, Made in Japan SRF-T615 instead. > > > 73, Gary DeBock > > > > **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. > (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp0030000 00025 > 48) > _______________________________________________ > IRCA mailing list > [email protected] > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the > original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the > IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > To Post a message: [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected] _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
