Review on Sangean PR D15: The Ultimate FM Stereo Rechargeable Portable Companion by Lisa Cummings

I use a different tactic in this review than other PR-D15 reviews here. and replaced the PR-D5 which I also own and reviewed almost two years ago: http://www.amazon.com/review/R20OHQ1QCHCTQ8/ Here are the feature differences between the PR-D15 and the PR-D5. :* AM and FM digital signal processing* 7-step signal strength meter* Electronic bass and treble controls* C-size rechargeable NiMH batteries* Frequency fine-tuning in 1 kHz steps for AM and 0.01 MHz steps for FM as well as for Toggle between European and American coarse frequency steps on both AM and FM* Knob (which I expect will last about as long as a snowball in hell)* Other color (D15 gray only, D5 gives you the choice between black and white) * Different acoustic power output for d different power sources. On electricity you get 2 Wh. With alkaline batteries you get 1 watt/channel. With NiMH batteries, you get 0.7 watts/channel. Unlike the D5, which gives you 0.8 watts/channel no matter what power supply you use. changed from CT display to D5) if you are on the FM band and the station you are listening to uses RDS to select one of the many RDS display modes, date, time or frequency. that it and the PR-D5 are identical, including the same 200mm AM ferrite rod antenna and the same 70 hour battery life for a good brand new alkaline battery pack. All the new features make the PR-D15 a bit more complex than the PR-D5. Take the lead, that's all I'm saying. Also, I suggest finding the treble/bass setting you want and leaving it there, as treble and bass can't be adjusted with separate wheels, but electronically by holding the volume button and waiting for the menu to show up high frequencies . then the bass comes in, then you can tune anyone from -5 to +5. You can't charge rechargeable batteries (NiMH is the only allowable chemistry) and listen to a device with batteries and an adapter plugged into the wall at the same time. . I suggest charging the batteries and making sure the internal switch is set to NiMH instead of alkaline, plug it in and let it charge. I rate the internal charger at 500mah/hour because my 5000mah batteries took 10 hours to go from full to full. Also, the printed manual I received made the mistake of using AA size rechargeable batteries when C is the only size they can use. While it lasts around 70 hours on alkaline batteries, it only lasts around 45 hours on rechargeable batteries. .Now the most important thing. How does the reception compare to the great PR-D5? A comparison that is easy for me because I have both at the same time, in the same place and under the same conditions. And by "reception" I mean marginal AM reception during the day and marginal FM reception at all times. Answer: Slightly less sensitive but just as selective in AM and slightly more sensitive but just as selective in FM. The difference between D15 and D15 D5 in AM sensitivity takes a really trained ear to hear and don't cry if you can't buy a D5 anymore, which you can at the time of writing this article. One more note, since I did the D5 survey, a local AM from St Louis whose TX is close to my QTH ie 1430 KZQZ has received a daytime resolution of 50kW versus 5kW, although it is at night 5 remains This causes +/- 30kHz adjacent channel on D5, but D15 suppresses it better. UPDATE The more I use D15, especially alongside D5, the more I notice that the difference in AM sensitivity becomes more noticeable during the day. than i first thought. On the endurance test I wrote about in my D5 review of catching WVLN between KWRE and WEW, the D15 can do that, but not as well as the D5. And for WVLN to be intelligible, you need to turn the volume up to the max. Another key test I have is reading WGGH during the day (11:50, 5kW, Marion, IL) when good old KMOX is right there at 11:20. The D15 does this, but not as well as the D5. TX WGGH is 95 miles from my QTH but not quite in line with its daily direction signal. In contrast, TX KMOX is 16 miles away. According to the WGGH theoretical signal radar map, I'm just over the edge. However, the D5 can render WGGH to me moderately intelligibly with some splashes of KMOX, but not too badly. D15 gives me WGGH less legible but no KMOX splatter. Another relatively mild acid test I have for almost every non-junk radio I own is what I call "Part of Nines". Scanning between 900-990 kHz for non-locals (WGNU is the only local in this area). With the exception of 910 and 990, there is a receiving station at every point on the dial in this area. Here are the Radio Locator results for my QTH: http://goo.gl/39o2Ga How well a radio works depends on whether and how well it can pick up a signal. Also getting 930 when 920 arrived is a great test of radio selectivity and nulling ability. Again, when comparing D15 to D5, D5 is just plain hotter. D15 can take them all, but D5 is better. Even if the D15's zeroing ability is better, probably for the DSP. Actually, D15 should be just as sensitive as D5. Logically, all other things being equal, DSP does less well in daytime AM sensitivity, but overall selectivity, spurious rejection, and sideband rejection is much better. (Since the 50kW KZQZ-TX is only 4.9 miles from my QTH during the day, that's a good thing.) I conspiratorially believe Sangean did something else to make the D15 less sensitive so he does not undermine the market for much more expensive ones. CCRadio, also manufactured by Sangean. However, I hope that my D5 will last a very long time. Maybe I should add another D5 to my Revain cart just in case while I can still get it?