ETON S350 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Review
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ETON S350 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Feature
- Fully modern AM/FM/shortwave radio with retro design and easy-to-read monochrome LCD display
- Continuous coverage of 14 shortwave bands for listening to radio broadcasts from around the world
- FM tuner with Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) automatically picks up the strongest signals
- RCA line-out jacks connect to home amp or stereo; wide and narrow bandwidth filter controls
- Runs on 4 D batteries; measures 10.5 x 6.5 x 3.5 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
Experienced shortwave radio aficionados rejoice: Now you can pick up a fully modern radio with a design that hearkens back to the early days of your hobby. The Etón S350, which is actually produced by the respected European electronics manufacturer, Grundig, offers a great feature set for listening to radio broadcasts from distant shores. The design is suitably rugged for use in the field, or you can use it at home as a simple, yet powerful AM/FM receiver and alarm clock.
Design
If you long for a return of the fashions from the film Breakin' and you're a fan of the 80s design aesthetic, the S350 is right up your alley. Everything from the blocky, silver and black case to the over-sized dials and switches will take you back to the "Ghetto Blaster" era. While the design gives the radio a solid look, we were a little disappointed that the E350 -- unlike many radios made 20 years ago -- is completely made of plastic (with the exception of the speaker cover). While the plastic knobs and controls are made to look metallic, they don't quite deliver the solid feel of metal -- something that would be nice in a rugged field radio. This quibble aside, the controls are responsive and well-positioned and the case does feel solid. The prominent tuning knob is designed well with concentric gross and fine dials. These are made all the better by a big, easy-to-read monochrome LCD display that lets you step through frequencies with extreme accuracy. It's a minor detail, but the padded carry handle is a nice touch, too.
The S350: Rugged, retro, and ready to tune in the world. See all of the S350's features. |
Easy-to-use, durable controls. View larger. |
Connectivity galore. View larger. |
Features At the heart of the S350 is its robust synthesized digital tuner section, meaning the tuner is analog, but frequencies are displayed on a digital readout. FM tuning offers an AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) mode that automatically picks out the strongest stations -- great if you're someplace with a crowded FM dial. You can also switch the AFC mode off for fine tuning less powerful stations. Although the S350 sports just one speaker, you can listen to FM stations in stereo through a pair of headphones.
AM tuning can be switched between narrow and wide sensitivities to control interference. Further tuning refinements are available via the low pass filter switch, as well as a handy RF gain dial. Both of these features can also be used when tuning one of the three shortwave bands. And if you're serious about shortwave, you'll be glad to know that the S350 can accept external antennas that can augment reception from the built-in, telescoping one. There's also an antenna port for enhanced FM reception.
In addition to a headphone output, the S350 has stereo RCA line out jacks for connecting the unit to an amplifier or home stereo. The radio supports battery and AC power, but we were in for a surprise when we opened the battery compartment. Not only can the radio run on four "D" batteries, but there is also another, smaller compartment that accepts four "AA" cells -- a nice little bonus if you need temporary power and you only have the smaller cells on hand. Lastly, the S350 offers basic sleep, alarm and snooze functions that were fairly easy to set and use. The LCD has a backlight button, so nighttime viewing is no problem.
Tuning In
FM tuning is very impressive. Because the radio can tune frequencies down to the hundredth decimal place, you'll easily tune problematic FM stations, or perhaps stations you've never heard before. Meanwhile, testers with very little experience or understanding of shortwave radio were able to quickly tune in stations from as far away as Japan and Russia (Etón includes a handy crash course on shortwave tuning in the user's manual). Our only complaint in the tuning department: It's impossible to keep a station tuned on one band while tuning on other bands. For example, with an FM station locked in, switching to shortwave and tuning there changes the tuning on the FM band when you return. This is understandable on an analog tuning dial, but we didn't expect it from a digital tuner.
Pros
- Exceptionally accurate tuning
- Advanced filtering and interference control
- Fun, retro styling
Cons- Plastic knobs and case
- Cannot "lock" stations while tuning on other bands
What's in the Box S350 AM/FM Shortwave Field Radio, AC adapter, user's manual.
S350 AM/FM/SHORTWAVE RADIO - With the rugged look of a retro field radio and the latest in AM/FM/Shortwave radio technology, the S350 Field Radio features the best of analog and digital. The S350 is the perfect addition to active lifestyles that demand high-performance portable audio capable of receiving news and information from across the globe.
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Nov 25, 2011 11:40:04
