Review on 📻 Sony ICF-SW35 Digital World Band Receiver (Discontinued) by Jeff Long

This little Sony ICF-SW35 Digital Tuning World Band Receiver is a great starter or second HF receiver. It's also a great portable AM/FM radio. As with most Sony radios, the music quality is honestly just about adequate, but for listening to the news and conversations, which is what most shortwave listeners do, the sound quality is really good and very clear. The radio has very few functions. For example, it has no direct input keyboard and does not accept SSB (single-sideband) transmissions used by radio amateurs. This only applies to listening to local and worldwide broadcasts. Some might see this as a minor obstacle, but for those just starting out with a shortwave receiver, this relative lack of complex features can be a boon. And remember, it's not the features that make a receiver good or bad, it's the performance. And it's the performance that really shines with this Sony radio. It is very sensitive and very selective due to its telescopic whip antenna. (Adding a $15.00 Sangean ANT-60 shortwave antenna attached to the whip antenna improves reception, although it's not essential. You fancy it), in a word, great, better than anyone compact shortwave receivers. Its overall reception performance is at least as good as, or in most cases better than, most shortwave receivers under $150. actually it isn't. You must read the instructions. Sometimes they need to be read. A lot of people just won't do it - and for them radio, especially using his memory, will be really difficult. But for those of us who read the manufacturer's instructions, taking this receiver to its full potential and learning how to do it very quickly will have absolutely no problem. Literally a child or even a very old person can do this. It's so easy to learn and use. It is made in China. Most Chinese-made radios, such as the Degen/Kaito, Sangean, and Eton/Grundig models, have variable quality control, often even mediocre. However, like most Sony products, this device is of exceptional quality in design, performance and construction. It has non-volatile memory so saved stations will not be lost even if you remove the batteries for several months. The only thing that needs to be reset when you put the batteries in is the clock. Memory wise there are 50 plus 2 more for alarm related transmitters all user programmable plus the low end of all shortwave bands for a total of over 60 memory settings. While other radios may have more storage, there is actually plenty of storage space available here, more than most people really need. Child. This is also a great radio for adults, either as a backup radio or as a relatively inexpensive shortwave radio to take with you on the go. It has two alarms so you can use it as a travel alarm and it will almost certainly be better than anything you can find in a hotel room. . While there are other brands in this price range, I don't think any of them will match the overall performance and especially the overall quality of these. Sony products have always been known for their quality and durability. This radio is no exception. Mine is five years old and works the same today as it did the day I got it. I think $89.95 is a very low price for all you get with this radio. I wish there was some way to give it 4 1/2 stars but since there isn't one I gave it a 4 star rating. I think anyone who buys this radio will be very happy with it. I.============================================ = === ========================================== == ====== ============== Update: March 9, 2008 Unfortunately this radio appears to have been discontinued after seven years of production. Unless Sony discovers a stock of these receivers languishing in a warehouse somewhere, it looks like this simple but excellent receiver will no longer be available new. I don't think there will be many for sale that have been used for a while. I think most owners are as happy with it as I am and will not want to part with it. and also check if other dealers are available. ============================================== = === ========================================== == ====== =========== Update: May 16, 2008 I see this radio is still being offered "new" - but at ridiculous prices. The radio originally cost $89.99 and was excellent value for money. Additionally, it was often much cheaper to find, making it an outright superior value. you get with this model. I recommend all people to AVOID this radio UNLESS you can get it "new" for $90.00 or less.