Comparing a re-capped GE Superadio II with the RF-2200, 7-2990A, and CCRadio3 on the AM BC band
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- Опубліковано 1 лис 2024
- Hi, Friends! This is not the typical video from me. Besides being a QRPer, I'm also a complete shortwave and broadcast listening geek. I thought about keeping this video unlisted (and simply keeping it as an embedded video on my blog) but realized some of you might also appreciate checking out these fascinating solid-state portables. Here's a full blog post that accompanies this video and better explains what I'm doing here:
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL
I really am happy to have found this video Thomas. I bought my GE 7-2990A brand new and it was my first SW with a digital display. I used it mostly for SW and FM. Only later did I realize how great it was on the AM BCB. I have pretty much met with failure trying to buy a small portable that works as well and always wondered why. I was ignorant of it's Panasonic heritage and it just thrills me to see one in action against the other AM benchmark radios! It is still my best "portable" AM BCB rig but my new Sangean PR-D15 is an excellent AM BCB radio and it is a lot smaller...but still not as hot as the GE!
Again, Great video and it really helped me put my radios performance in perspective. Thank you very much!!!😀
Like a LOT of GE radios/electronics of that era, IMHO it's the clear winner in this limited radio station test. This may be in-part because of the re-capping.
I'm a little late to this party, but great video Thomas. Each of these models is a classic, highly regarded and rightly beloved almost universally by radio fanatics. It's interesting to hear (at least through your camera's audio) the difference that cap replacement made on the SRII. Wow! That REALLY is some beautifully big, clean, clear sound! I need to look into doing that on my SRII. Amazing. Thanks again for this fun video.
I have a National Panasonic radio and definitely hear the Panasonic sound. However the GE Super Radio II is the clear winner. Hats off to the restorer.
I have one restored by Chuck and it sounds great. Sensitive too. I recommend him if you have one that needs upgraded.
@@tommontgomery7580 The GE SuperRadio is one radio that used to see at Walgreens quite often for sale less than $25. I thought that it was pure promotional sales naming.
Oh well as I kick myself…..😳!
I've got the Super Radio 1 that I bought new in the 80s. Still my go-to radio for AM DXing.
Excellent.
I have a Superadio III, which is not as bad as they say.
[ it IS the G.E.version]
I have a Sangean PR-D5,
And a “Candle “branded radio , VMS-1224 which is really something❗️. MW, SW and FM are excellent, but MW is REALLY hot. My completely restored Channel Master “SuperFringe “, is also excellent.
I have both C.Crane CCRadio SW, and CCRadioSWPocket.
The big CCSW is an outstanding MW receiver, too.
I’m really wanting a Panasonic RF-2200, …. And also plan on getting the CCRadio3, eventually.
Great video.
📻🙂
I've also got a GE Superadio III as well. I think it's really wonderful and it sounds really nice too. I also really like the very helpful Narrow/Wide switch for nearby AM stations.
New to watch Ham stuff on UA-cam. Only say in the last two weeks. Always enjoy your videos. Your voice is very good.
Welcome aboard and thank you for the compliment!
the Panasonic is a thing of beauty
I've got a Vlado rf-2200 that's absolutely mint, and I love it. Nice collection!
Great review. Just purchased the ccradio3-thank you. You mentioned that there are limited radios being made today. Would love to see a video on the top 3 or 5 in terms of quality. If that even exist. Thanks again and love your collection.
I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the suggestion!
I am an original owner of a GE Super Radio I & always wondered if a recap would be worthwhile. There are a million inside. Thanx for the vid.
You bet! Replacing the old caps with Nichicon Audio Grade caps makes a world of difference.
Enjoy your presentation on all your topics.
Thanks, Tom!
I used to own the GE Superradio II, it was a very hot performer on AM. By the way, the IC-705 is pretty good on AM too. It also is a hot performer on long wave. I was able to dig out the 171 khz from Morocco as well as NDB beacons from Canada to Florida using a 4 BTV with Preamp off and set to filter 3. The selectivity on FM is well above average, being able to separate 99.1, 99.3 and 99.5. Also 105.9 and 106.1 with no problems using a Hamfest 144/440 PVC J-Pole. The FT-897 in comparison was not good on LW or FM but AM was OK.
Great feedback on the IC-705 and I would agree with you. So far, I'm super impressed with the coverage outside of ham bands and even into mediumwave. An overall stellar performer.
I have TWO Panasonic RF-2200's and it is my go-to receiver for SW in the evening (great sound) It is a superb FM receiver as well; in the 1980's, a well-known pirate operator was attempting to go legit, and looked for frequencies available in his area. He used the 2200 for precise selectivity to measure what, if any, frequencies he could propose. He & I did a lot of FM DX back in those days with our 2200's.
I have had a SR2 for years . Great radio.
I have the super II,CCRANE, RF2900.The main problem with the cc radio is in the city, it is prone to massive front-end overload big time!! Not so with the super II !! Reference Oakland, California.The cc works best out in the country.The 2900 is very sensitive and great audio !!No overload.
You need to re due the test on a very weak station so we can see how they preform .I tested the cc using 4 radios and all 4 cc radios overloaded so it was not a defect just that the cc is of poor design.My favs are the II and 2900.For broadcast band Dxing,I have a mint ICOM 751A that is great on the AM band very hot.Excellent audio. 73 W9NVN
That was fun. Enjoyed this video. All four are great radios! As far as sound quality on the video I would rank: 1. GE SRII, 2. Panasonic, 3. CCrane, 4. GE7-2990A. This is the first video or article that has convinced me that I would like to have a GE SRII restored.
By they way your review helped convince me to get the CCradio 3 and it has become my work horse kitchen and back porch (off the kitchen) radio. When working from home last year in summer and fall I would eat lunch on back porch and listen to the CCradio 3. I love talk radio and podcasts from my phone app sound terrific through the CCradio 3. For me the sound quality really delivers for talk radio being exceptionally intelligible, natural, and non fatiguing. And I still like to listen to the weather band on a regular basis.
So glad my review helped you in some way! Yes indeed, I love the CCRadio3 for all the reasons you mentioned. It is an amazing radio truly engineered for the broadcast listener. I'm grateful C.Crane is still out there producing them.
@@ThomasK4SWL Yes CCrane is a blessing to the radio community and I am glad to support them. I would like to see them take the CCskywave SSB and all its features (bands) at least and put it in a much bigger radio with proper sound quality and using the twin coil ferrite AM antenna. I believe this is a gap in their line up and if they did it right would be bought by almost all of us.
@@snowpuppy77 I believe they have such a radio in the works.
Thomas, I’ve been pretty lucky on eBay, but I just received an excellent looking GE SR 1, that has apparently been opened. The tuning wheel moves the indicator opposite to the normal direction. (Idk if the band was stretched and they were trying to take up some slack by inverting it). The price wasn’t bad, and these are getting harder to find in such good condition, so I’m wondering if it’s worth repairing. Any thoughts on this?
I got a Super Radio II free. Dirty power switch. Cleaned it and listen to it regularly. WTZQ is a local station for me.
The GE Superadio 2 sounds phenomenal. But the CCrane is definitely a contender.
I got Dad’s old Super-radio 2 over 22 years ago. The power switch died, and I just wired thru it. I plugged the radio in and just turned it down all the way at night. It played in my garage like that for over 12 years, always on the same AM station. I just had to ho try it again. It still plays today.
Chuck Rippel can re-cap it for you and it'll sound like a brand new radio.
Thanks,Tom. I might do it myself someday, but it is the low dog on my pile of old audio gear. I’m working on a battleship stereo receiver from the late ‘70s.
I have the GE super radio two sitting right in front of me it is a awesome radio
Hey Thomas... I'm looking to buy an AM broadcast radio. I'm thinking about the C. Crane EP Pro. I don't need many bells and whistles. Just good performance. I also like the antenna hook-ups on the EP Pro. How would you compare this to the C. Crane Radio 3? Or is there another "perfect" radio out there? Thanks and 73 - AA4K
They are both excellent AM radios. For a simple no frills radio, you can't beat the EP. I also love the CCRadio3. It's the best MW radio currently on the market, in my opinion.
People usualy asssign sound of radio to the speaker (or it's enclosure or both). . It is intuitive and fairly right when we are listening to FM radio with flat range of transmitted frequencies 30 - 15 kHz. and only little limited it's reception .
But we need to remember that for AM bands effective audio frequency is limited to restricted by imternational agreement - it is max 4,5 kHz in Eiurope and 5 kHz in Japan ( I am not sure about USA) It is easy to know - differences between station frequecies in Europe are multiplication of 9kHz. If is 10 Khz then standard of transmitted audio is wider and limited to 5 kHz.
In USA mostly is prevented that local stations are "very near".. In that case even if radio has wider than required selectivity alowing more "good" sopranos to go thourgh, interaction between neighbouring stations is not likely - But it was possible in past in Europe so there standard was 9kHz (4,5kHz audio) Adequate selectivity of radios was respected. . Any good widerange speaker met in most AM radios reproduce .5kHz band with no troubles. Even such limited range is capable to produce amazing sound comparable to FM. - problem is in radio receiver's IF filtering. for AM. With less IF selectivity radio alows wider audio band to go though. That is why I think USA radios should sound much better than all those produced in Japan for export to Europe and in made in Europe. Because for customer satisfaction , american producers alowwed wider IF filtering. Some radios in pre WWII era had switch to adopt IF range to actual conditions. . Today in lack of crowd in AM such "low selectivity" AM radio works with no problems in any place in world.
in radios not intending to be source of quality music filters may be designated so that lowest audio range is on top of all all. . Then producers put low frequencies filtering and result is acceptable sound but dull. I think may be it has to do something with miniature size of IF filters. The bigger have more quality. .
Thomas, thanks for the nice comparison video. I have an SRII on the way and can't wait to re-cap it and compare it to my RF-2200. I'll go ahead and re-cap the Panasonic while I'm at it as it has several of the Matsushita "purple" capacitors that have a tendency to leak. The shoot-out should be fun. 73
Both of those are brilliant MW portables and re-capped they're simply benchmark!
Superadio II sounds like it's tuned to FM, brilliant fidelity.
It is insane fidelity for MW and a normally weak-ish station at that!
you probably dont care but does anyone know a way to log back into an Instagram account?
I was dumb lost my login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me!
@Terrence Kohen instablaster :)
@Briar Donovan thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and I'm trying it out now.
Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Briar Donovan It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my account!
Thomas, I bought an original Super Radio 2 in 1980's new. I have a chance to have it capped or buy a set of caps. Who can I call for direction on recap and repair on the SuperRadio2? Thank you so much! Paul sounds like a great place to start. Please help!
Chuck Rippel is THE Super Radio repair guy. He's great at recapping all of the various models.
Cool video! This was my 2nd time watching it! I have some pocket radios and 1 portable that has really good AM fidelity, better than some of my table top models such as these that you've shown. Makes me wonder which components make for better AM and FM like sound in a radio. Again cool video!
Thank you!
That GE Superadio II makes AM sound like FM and is the clear winner here. I have a Panasonic RF-1150 (GX600) which sounds a lot better on AM that my RF-2200, I think this GESRII is the closest I've heard to the RF-1150. Thanks for this video, hopefully you'll have more radio fun in the sun!
Thanks for sharing!
What is the range on the GE Superradio?
The GE SuperRadio is an incredible mediumwave DX radio. It really all depends on conditions and the listener's ability to do DXing.
10:28 The old Superradio ii was loudest but had an hf his and clipping. The Panasonic just sounded great.
Hey Thomas, can you tell me what makes the GE a Super Radio? Is it the size of the ferrite antenna?
Yes, the ferrite bar is a good one, plus the receiver is sensitive and the audio absolutely superb. The filtering is well-chosen for the broadcast band as well. It's a great radio because of all of these factors working in harmony.
@@ThomasK4SWL thank you very much!
I miss my RF-2200, was one of my main shortwave radios along with my Sony 2010
The RF-2200 is one of my all-time favorite portables! A classic for sure!
Fantastic video! I have the RF-2200 and the Superadio 2 (as well as the 1 and the 3). Could you provide the website for the gentleman who re-capped your RF-2200?
To my knowledge, Chuck Rippel doesn't have a website per se. You might comment on this post because I know he is following it: swling.com/blog/2021/02/chucks-re-capped-ge-superadio-ii-might-set-a-new-am-bcl-benchmark/
I just bought my Panasonic RF-2200. I did a research and this model is considered to be some sort of a benchmark monster of a receiver. The item came in superb cosmetic condition with all the knobs and switches working as intended. Gyro antenna was smooth and clicky, not even a scratch on the body.
However, once I put in the D size batteries, turned it on and started surfing, my excitement waned. Don't get me wrong, I was able to get tons of stations on the FM - superb FM capabilities.
I tuned in to a whole bunch of AM stations, as well. However, I wasn't able to get anything from SW bands - the whole reason I bought my RF-2200.
I am just getting into the hobby, so I am a complete noob. So, I figured that's how it supposed to perform. I reasoned, I had higher expectations than I should. But...I had a point of reference... And that point of reference was a weaker, less capable vintage receiver that performed noticeably better than the RF-2200.
Yes, my Japanese Vintage Candle TK-1848 was able to get a better, more intelligible AM signal with more stations overall!
Moreover, I was able to tune in to a few SW stations (Asian, German, French). And I was hardly able to get it on the RF-2200, which suppose to obliterate my good lovely Candle in its performance!
Any station I got on the Candle sounded muddy, noisy and weak on the RF-2200 with some background hum as well. All SW bands were pretty much empty. I mean , the RF-2200 couldn't be so inferior to the Candle?
As I have no experience in this, would you think that my capacitors are out of spec or perhaps some have failed completely? And my reception power would improve after recapping? In any case, I probably wouldn't even know that something wasn't right if I wouldn't have a reference point.
If anyone could enlighten me, please do so))
High probability that your RF-2200 needs re-capping. This is very common in a radio of this vintage. You might try to contact Vlado (N3CZ) as he is quite the expert on re-capping RF-2200s. He has a website at hamradio.repair Once re-capped, it'll sound a million bucks! :)
I just ordered a used Superadio ii off eBay. The photos showed a few scratches on the front of the cabinet. Can these be removed or hidden to make it look more pristine?
Great question--I hope someone else may answer this. I would be very careful about using anything with even a super fine abrasive.
I just won an auction for one of these GE Superadios and I'm excited to get hold of it and see how well it works. How much do one of these recaps cost on average ?
I'm not sure. You might check with Chuck Rippel. I'm not sure if he still does these or not.
Need to repeat Sensitivity test comparison on a much Weaker in the noise AM station comparison....The GE tone controls can be bandwidth "Optimized" for reducing noise level.....
This is radio porn! I have owned both the Super Radio 2 and the 2200F, both are awesome. Best audio is the Super Radio 2. Great video!
Ha ha! I agree.
did u ever try one of the Grundig satellit s ? analog radio s ?
I have not yet. Would love to someday though.
GE Super RII clear winner, IMHO
Nice vid de WA3AHC!
Hello I also my self have 3 of the 4. For whatever reason the 2200 still is the bench mark for mw . Just my opinion. Should you ever find yourself in the Springdale pa area please feel free to stop by the museum for a visit. 105 receivers and still growing. FYI I'm a collector I don't sell radios Best regards Ron z.WA3090SWL.
Will do!
Superradio 2 sounds best by far, followed by the Crane. The other two would not be on FM dial to listen to. Just for AM listening. I've heard the recapping by Chuck Rippel makes the AM reception as good as any other radio you can buy, and good improvement on FM as well.
YOu're 100% correct about Chuck Rippel. When he works over a Super Radio it's as good as new and nearly impossible to beat.
very cool really!
No doubt, the best audio comes out of Superradio with quality, similar to "Belka DSP" receiver, but using headphones...A big size of speaker does the job...
I think I’ll be a new sub. That’s what I think.👍
The GE Superadio II blows the other three out of the water for audio quality.
I know! Honestly, I didn't think it possible to outshine the RF-2200!
@@ThomasK4SWL The Hacker RP18 Sovereign has similar performance.
The Crane had bad image rejection on FM .
Chocolates in the sun? No, they melt.
I have a Superadio III model 7-2887. It seems it's slightly below the I and II models. I don't think it's a great radio. AM reception is ok but nothing special. I have a pocket digital radio (not going to mention the brand) which pulls faint AM stations much louder and clearer than the S3. The tuning wheel on the S3 feels too springy. The speaker doesn't have 'character' and sounds flat compared to a basic portable Panasonic CD cassette radio from the 2000s. I have the feeling that quality modern digital units would come close or beat most of the good old radios from the 70-80. That said, useful review, only wish you would have also compared a faint station.
Is this the pixel phone camera?
Yes it is!
@@ThomasK4SWL Very nice picture. I ended up ordering the DJI osmo action. Thx for the vid.
@@qrptedmac a solid choice! You'll like it.
How do I get in touch with Chuck? Do you have his email?
Thanks
This page has his email address: swling.com/blog/2023/02/chuck-rippels-ge-superadio-repair-and-recapping-service/
What?! No Eton Elite Field radio?
Not in this one!
The station on 1600 kilohertz would be about 2 kilowatts .
Do you know Raleigh Road church?
Can't say I do...
@@ThomasK4SWL it's in Franklinton.
Super radio 2 best
So basically the GE Superadio is the best but if I buy one it probably want sound like that.
At this point, no, because they're so long in the tooth. With a proper re-cap, though, it will sounds like this.
U should help them make a button that doesn't suvk I know I have one
🤝🤝🤝👍👍👍❤❤❤
The CCrane 2 series is pretty garbage. Dead displays and bad buttons are common. No thanks.