Sangean DT-200X AM/FM Synthesized Pocket Radio

Sangean DT200, best pocket radio I have owned. Compared to Sony icfk10 or Panasonic rf 2400, the Seagram is digital so you just easily tune to your station. I keep all the features turned off and the volume on low where only I can hear and not distracted others, I strictly use it on speaker so not sure how it works on headphones, I use NIMH AA rechargeable battery, they last me close to a month possibly 3 weeks of daily playing for about 4-6 hours per day, week days no weekends included. Voice clarity is awesome, station is stable. It’s a good buy, still on the higher price point but after buying two Panasonics I got the Sangean and like the clarity and ease of station selection more, I strictly listen to FM .

I hesitated somewhat in buying this radio because of its size, so I made a 3 dimensional template and happily, it ended up smaller. It is exactly 4¼ inches tall x 2 3/8 x 7/8 inches without the removable belt clip. It is only slightly larger than the DT300 model, (which has served me well - for two pocket radios, but no longer available). The rounded bottom of the DT200 does not allow it to stand, so why not lay it down at a desk? Those rounded bottom and corners are likely designed to slip easily into your pocket and not catch or create wear on the pocket fabric. I like that.The many reviews here were very helpful in deciding between various models, but I am definitely a big fan of Sangean. This will be my fourth purchase, with three of them now being pocket radios and the fourth a clock radio that I really like with the buttons for station changes instead of a dial.I am replacing the Sangean DT300 with this one because that radio no longer has a working `down' button feature. So I wonder when I will lose the `up' button and be forever stuck on the same station. The identical model radio previous to that one lost its on/off function.Now back to this DT200. Overall I am pleased with its features. The port for the L plug trailing antenna/ear buds (straight plug) is on the top of the unit - I liked the side feature slightly better so that it did not interfere as much with the volume wheel. The on/off button is at the top. The lock button is on the side - I liked the top position better so as to activate the locking feature w/o taking out of pocket. But I can live with the differences. The topside port does give a point of reference for other features on the top.If the MEMORY feature is turned off, you select the band and move through the frequencies one by one or hold down the button for the radio to select the strongest. If the MEMORY feature is turned ON, you scroll through whatever channels you have set one both bands. I am pleased that this radio has only the two bands and not also the weather band (which I don't use, living in sunny southwest, it is pretty much the same) or the no longer accessible analog TV band. The TV band still exists on some other models for sale here but, since the change to digital TV a couple years ago, it will no longer work no matter what you read or expect! With my DT300, I had to scroll through 3 other bands to get to my band of choice. The mix of AM/FM on the DT200 favorites function is a most welcomed feature. It is no longer necessary to switch bands for favorite station presets.I was thinking that for those who bemoan the fact that they have only a few favorites and unable to delete slots; why not enter your favorites twice or to where you use up all the slots? Now, after I have set some of my favorite stations, I see that it does not scroll through any empty slots, i.e., I have selected only 7 favorites and it does not scroll though 8-19.I find that selecting and adding favorites is much more intuitive than the 300 model. It is much easier to understand these directions which may have been written by a more user friendly user than in the past!The overall reception after a few days use is definitely better out of doors and seems to be quite good.The display is a generous 1 3/8 by 5/8 inches and there is a brief back light - this may come in handy during an infrequent power outage or certainly when I'll use this radio at night. The battery life indicator is active when the radio is in use. If the lock button is ON, it will blink if you try to change the setting or turn it off. It does not lock the volume, as someone else indicated. It locks only the ON/OFF feature and the current station setting.Because of my main use out of doors, I keep the radio in a clear sandwich bag. Thus, our fine desert dust and occasional rain can affect my nice little radio a whole lot less. I am a big fan of rechargeable batteries, so always carry along a spare pair at the ready.How do I use my radio? Mainly out of doors, horseback rides, overnights, yard work and gardening, nature walks and finally as a companion for that dreaded job of cleaning the pool tile! The occasional power outage makes this a handy little radio to have while trying to get back to sleep. For the most part I do not use the supplied ear buds, but the trailing antenna instead, which by the way must be let out if you want FM reception. I am one of those folks who still likes to hear what else is going on around me in the realm of nature. For night time use, I use ear buds, but the ones I prefer are made by Phillips with a soft over the ear wing.This radio was an excellent choice and is highly recommended.

this is my second one. Neat features, i like it but the first one got caught on a wire and it broke the jack. I think it is pretty cheaply made but I like it still. I think this should cost more like 30 dollars considering i have a better one for 20

This device is: easy-to-manage, easy-to-tune, incredibly tuning-sensitive, delivers 5-star sound with earbuds, is aesthetically pleasing, very light (about 5 ounces w/ batteries) and is especially well-designed for pocket & on-the-go usage.As example, the volume wheel is recessed, so it won't easily be accidently turned. (And there is a 'lock' switch so that you can prevent any changes once you have things set where you want them.)Plus they kept the features & functions & buttons and such to a very bare minimum. So you can figure out the whole device in under five minutes, likely without even consulting the manual.I first purchased (the legendary) Sony ICF-P26 AM/FM Pocket Radio … I liked the styling and I liked the $20 price. And that Sony was touted by many as the best AM/FM (only) pocket radio (at that price). But the tuning-sensitivity and sound THIS Sangean radio delivers has got to be 10-20 times better than the Sony. I live in a city of 2 million people, large enough to have loads of local stations … and the Sony just could NOT do the entire job. The Sony is now relegated to the storage box in the trunk of my car … in case I get caught without a portable radio on a picnic or whatever.(And note that both the analog-tuning Sony ICF-P26 and its digital-tuning successor ICF-P27 have exited the US market entirely, the latter just months after its introduction.)I only see three (sort-of) downsides in this Sangean product:ONE: The bottom is not entirely flat, meaning you cannot 'stand it up' on its own. I admit that, aesthetically, the slightly rounded bottom looks nice … and it probably snugs-up into a pocket much better the way it is. But not being able to stand it up vertically is a bit of a loss (for my planned use, at least). Maybe when they refresh it, they could tack-on four little tiny 'nub legs' for the rest of us.TWO: There's no fixed external FM antenna. So you may have to plug in the external dangly antenna wire to get enough FM sensitivity to suit you. If you plug in earbuds then THEY will serve as an external antenna. So if your planned use is, as example, during your morning run with the earbuds, then it won't even be an issue for you. And, again, they designed this unit for pocket & on-the-go use and, in that case, a fixed external FM antenna would, more often, be more of a burden than an asset. And the dangly un-fragile external wire will suit you better. Actually I am really OK with the lack of fixed antenna, but I mention it since you might not be.THREE: The default mode is for the radio to power itself down after 90 minutes. I do know how to turn it off all by my big-boy self. And the worst that could happen if I forget to do so is that I have to replace a couple of AA batteries. You can defeat the function by LONG-pressing the Power button when you power-up. But you have to do so every time you power-up the device.I believe I saw a couple of reviewers say they could not locate a PDF User's Manual for this item. I did. Just Google up the URL for the model number listing at the Sangean website, follow it, then click on the "Support" tab. There you will find an English version of the Manual … as well as an English version of the Product Specification Sheet … available for download.But, really, you won't even need it.Happy motoring !!