Short Wave Radio Online Stores: Etón E1XM AM/FM Shortwave XM-Ready Radio

Etón E1XM AM/FM Shortwave XM-Ready Radio Review

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Etón E1XM AM/FM Shortwave XM-Ready Radio Feature

First radio ever to combine AM, FM, shortwave, and XM Satellite Radio technology
Digitally synthesized PLL tuner with synchronous detector, passband tuning, and selectable bandwidth filters
Massive 240 x 320 pixel, dot matrix display
Programmable memory features 500 frequency entries, as well as 1200 user-definable country memories
Ready to accept an optional XM Connect and Play antenna for satellite radio reception

If you're a shortwave radio enthusiast, you've probably heard of the E1XM from Etón. You've heard all the hype about how it's the first radio to combine AM, FM, shortwave, and XM satellite radio reception into one device. You've heard it's a major step up from the Satellit 800, the E1XM's worthy, but behemoth predecessor. Well, it's all true. The ten years of development that went into producing this tabletop radio was worth it; for a radio this size, the E1XM currently wears the crown when it comes to tuning accuracy, quality of reception, and features.

The numeric keypad allows for direct frequency entry, while a row of soft keys below the screen provide contextual controls depending on radio mode. View larger.

While subtle ghosting is present, the screen is bright, with a logical layout. View larger.

A trapdoor conceals the reset button, screen brightness control, and battery compartment.

The all-important manual tuning dial has a smooth, progressive feel. View larger.

In addition to a dramatically smaller cabinet than the Satellit 800, the E1XM's addition of XM radio compatibility, an effective squelch control, direct digital synthesis tuning, and more make this a must have for the serious radio listener. In fact, the E1XM is so well designed that even less-experienced listeners will quickly understand and master many of the radio's impressive capabilities.

Design and Controls
While the E1XM couldn't be called compact, it is perfectly portable. Dimensions of 13.1 x 7.1 x 2.3 inches and a weight of four pounds, three ounces make it perfect for taking along. The entire case is coated in a durable, slightly rubberized finish that offers good grip and scuff resistance. Indeed, there's nothing cheap or chintzy about the E1XM; construction is solid throughout.

The front of the radio is dominated by the speaker and the 5.7-inch LCD display. Although it offers only mono sound-- which is all you need for shortwave and AM -- the four-inch speaker offers rich, full sound, even at high volume levels. Fortunately, there's a stereo line-out jack for delivering audio to your home stereo or other amplified speaker system.

To the left of the speaker, you'll find knobs for controlling squelch, bass and treble, and volume. Meanwhile, a large tuning knob is placed on the opposite side of the radio, just above a smaller knob for controlling PBT (passband tuning). All the knobs on the E1XM offer a smooth, progressive feel with just the right amount of resistance, which is especially important for the tuning knob.

A nine-digit keypad is placed below the LCD screen for direct frequency entry, as well as menu selection. Other controls, including those for scan and seek tuning, up/down tuning, memory programming, and DX mode are arrayed to the right of the numeric keypad. The top of the radio features a big snooze button for sleepy hands, as well as a control for the LCD's backlight. The E1XM's very long telescoping antenna is housed in the top, too. It's worth noting here that the E1XM does not have an internal ferrite AM antenna, relying instead on the telescoping antenna.

Dials and connectivity options on the left side of the device. View larger.

LCD Display
The E1XM's big LCD is where all the magic happens. The dot matrix display is capable of displaying information for whatever mode the radio happens to be in. A row of buttons immediately to the right of the display controls the radio's tuning mode. A particular tuning mode triggers a row of contextual controls, or "soft keys," arranged at the bottom of the display. For instance, when shortwave mode is selected on the right side of the display, a row of soft key options appears, including an AGC (automatic gain control) selector, and selectors for bandwidth, passband tuning, AM mode, and SSB (single sideband) mode. Users will find that this control scheme works well and limits the total number of dials, buttons and switches that would otherwise be necessary to control such versatile tuning options. For the uninitiated, it also provides a simple and logical way to learn about the E1XM's capabilities.

The LCD also provides access to a menu system that controls alarm, timer, radio, XM, and audio settings. The menu system is deep and quite intricate, but a little practice will have you navigating them with ease. Fortunately, menus are set up very much like the on-screen menu of a television or a DVD player -- familiar territory for most folks.

We found the LCD's backlight to be very useful in low light situations, and it intelligently shuts itself off after a short time, thus saving power if you're running off batteries. A contrast control is provided for the LCD but, curiously, it's hidden behind a door on the front of the unit that covers the E1XM's battery compartment. Our only issue with the LCD was that it had a tendency to display slight ghosting -- we'd expect something a little crisper from a radio this advanced (and expensive).

Tuning Options
This is where things start to get interesting -- and a bit complicated for newcomers to advanced shortwave radio operation. First, it's important to note that the E1XM features a digitally synthesized tuner, which enables the E1XM to reach new heights of tuning accuracy. When turning the tuning knob, you get the "analog feel" of stepping through frequencies in a precise, controlled manner.

In addition to XM satellite radio, the E1XM tunes a wide array of signals, including FM, longwave, shortwave, medium wave (also known as AM), and single sideband (SSB). Of course, the E1XM tunes FM and AM broadcasts with aplomb, but having a radio like the E1XM just to tune those frequencies would be akin to delivering the mail with space shuttle -- this unit is capable of much more.

Of course, our main interest was in testing out the E1XM's shortwave capabilities. If the idea of listening to far-flung radio broadcasts intrigues you, this radio is the ticket to the best reception possible. Tuning is virtually effortless. After scanning the E1XM's manual, we were quickly able to select the appropriate meter bands for the time of day of our listening session. First, we manually tuned known broadcasts from China and the United States. We were delighted that the E1XM allows one to set the manual tuning knob to tune in 10 Hz steps, which lets you hone in on difficult-to-tune stations. 100 Hz and 1 kHz steps are selectable, too. Next up, we turned to the radio's seek function, which scans stations in 5 kHz steps. We soon made new discoveries, although our limited language skills made it difficult to always know exactly to whom or what we were listening! Seek tuning is further enhanced by the handy squelch knob, which will negate reception unless the received signal achieves a preset quality. This way, you don't have to listen to a bunch of static and other oddities while searching for a good signal.

Much of the accuracy and precision of the E1XM's tuning in shortwave and other modes is owed to the unit's superior electronics and high dynamic range, which permits the detection of weak signals in the presence of strong signals. Other enhancements include a DX mode, which provides preamplification of distant or weak signals; a passband tuner and knob, which allow the E1XM to selectively reject interference from nearby signals; and selectable automatic gain control (AGC), which provides automatic leveling of volume and distortion across a wide range of signal types. Controlling these and other features of the E1XM fall into the advanced category, to be sure, but if you're a newcomer to shortwave and other types of reception, it's nice to know that this radio provides you with capabilities into which you can grow.

XM Radio
Once you've plugged in an XM Connect-and-Play antenna and switched the E1XM into XM mode, you're ready to go with satellite radio (of course, you'll also need an XM subscription). When in XM mode, the receiver suddenly becomes a conduit for truly incredible, commercial-free radio. The LCD acts as a complete XM digital readout, offering song and composer information, as well as a scrollable station seletion menu.

Connections
With the exception of the XM antenna, all of the E1XM's connections are made on the left side of the unit. A line-in jack allows you to connect an external device and listen to it through the E1XM's speaker. As mentioned, a line-out jack is provided, too. Most serious radio users will appreciate the inclusion of a KOK-type external antenna port for connecting more advanced AM, FM, and shortwave antennae. Meanwhile, in addition to a stereo headphone jack, there's a jack for connecting an additional speaker to the E1XM.

Pros

Incredible tuning accuracy
Easy to use; just read the manual!
Compact (for a unit with these capabilities)

Cons

No XM reception right out of the box
Slight LCD display ghosting

What's in the Box
E1XM radio, AC adapter, documentation CD, and user's manual. The E1XM is the world's first radio to combine AM, FM, Shortwave, and XM Satellite Radio technology into one ultra-high-performance unit. The finest port-a-top in the world, the E1XM offers powerful reception through its digitally synthesized PLL tuner with synchronous detector, passband tuning, and selectable bandwidth filters. Offering rich sound, the latest in radio technology, 1700 station presets, and memory scan function, the E1XM is designed without compromise, giving you direct access to news, sports, and music from around the world.