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Bob D.
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Joined: 17 May 2009
Posts: 96
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 4:42 pm |
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Did Zenith ever make a largish transistor potable with a good sized speaker and C or D batteries? (Something like the Heathkit XR-1)
I'm a Zenith collector, but if they didn't have a model like this what would you recommend. I would consider a 4x6 size speaker a minimum.
Bob D. |
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Dave Doughty
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 6976
Location: Utica, NY 13502 (USA)
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 4:58 pm |
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The Royal 2000 was Zenith's first solid state AM/FM portable. I believe it features a 5x7 inch speaker. The one I have performs well and sounds good.
(picture courtesy transistor.org)
Dave
Last edited by Dave Doughty on Oct Wed 28, 2009 5:10 pm |
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TonyC
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 2926
Location: Westminster, CO, USA
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 5:02 pm |
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Well, you didn't say it had to be US made so... how about a Grundig Satellit 210 (also carries the number 6001)? I can't imagine a bigger sound coming from a portable transistor radio (it's heavy, but so is the TO 3000-1). Maybe it's not quite Vintage enough being from the early 1970s.
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Tony Casorso |
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michaeljpro
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 397
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 6:58 pm |
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There were several nice sounding/good performing Zenith radios.
I agree with Dave's choice of the 2000 and will add a few others.
I like Zenith's Royal 750, 675 and 800 too. A bit smaller than the 2000. |
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TonyC
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 2926
Location: Westminster, CO, USA
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 8:00 pm |
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Sorry I can't read. You said Zenith... 
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Tony Casorso |
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Dave Doughty
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 6976
Location: Utica, NY 13502 (USA)
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 8:27 pm |
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| TonyC wrote: | | Sorry I can't read. You said Zenith... |
Bob also said he would consider other sets. Although I think he is talking about AM-only big sound radios, some of the the Nordmende "Globetraveler" series have huge 6x9 inch speakers driven by a powerful amp. This one has superb AM sound with a choice of IF selectivity. In the wide mode, well-maintained AM stations sound almost like FM.
(photo courtesy dr-boesch.ch)
Dave |
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N9JCQ
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Joined: 20 May 2009
Posts: 34
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 8:41 pm |
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Or how about the Sony CRF-230? dual speakers, big sound, big everything [/img] |
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Mbird97x
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 1854
Location: NE Fla.
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| Posted: Oct Wed 28, 2009 9:39 pm |
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This ought to sound good.... 
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Gary
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HadYourPhil
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 661
Location: Naples, FL USA
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| Posted: Oct Thu 29, 2009 12:15 am |
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The GE P780...
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We improve things by making them worse... |
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FM Refugee
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Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 1069
Location: Brunswick, ME, USA
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| Posted: Oct Thu 29, 2009 4:00 am |
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| Dave Doughty wrote: | | TonyC wrote: | | Sorry I can't read. You said Zenith... |
Bob also said he would consider other sets. Although I think he is talking about AM-only big sound radios, some of the the Nordmende "Globetraveler" series have huge 6x9 inch speakers driven by a powerful amp. This one has superb AM sound with a choice of IF selectivity. In the wide mode, well-maintained AM stations sound almost like FM.
(photo courtesy dr-boesch.ch)
Dave |
...6x9 (or a close metric equivalent) maybe in the earlier sets like that one, but the later versions (like my Globetraveler IV) had a 5x7 with a coaxially mounted tweeter...still very good sound, though...of course, the wood enclosure helps, too... |
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majoco
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Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 1238
Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand
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| Posted: Oct Thu 29, 2009 4:08 am |
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TonyC wrote:
| Quote: | | This one has superb AM sound with a choice of IF selectivity. In the wide mode, well-maintained AM stations sound almost like FM. |
Where? Mine hasn't got one, an original German variety that only goes to 104Mhz FM. The FM AFC button has "AM filter" written alongside, but that just brings in a simple top-cut to reduce the SW whistles. I tuned up the AM IF strip too tight and cut the BC band highs so experimentally detuned to get the best audio response - I agree - local stations sound damn good! 
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Regards - Marty ZL2MC
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Dave Doughty
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 6976
Location: Utica, NY 13502 (USA)
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| Posted: Oct Thu 29, 2009 12:03 pm |
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| majoco wrote: | | Dave Doughty wrote: | | This one has superb AM sound with a choice of IF selectivity. In the wide mode, well-maintained AM stations sound almost like FM. |
Where? Mine hasn't got one, an original German variety that only goes to 104Mhz FM. The FM AFC button has "AM filter" written alongside, but that just brings in a simple top-cut to reduce the SW whistles. |
Mine is the 108 mhz FM version. I looked at the schematic and you are correct. The "AM Filter" button puts a sharp cut-off low pass filter in series with the detector output that makes it sound like it reduces IF bandwidth...but it doesn't.
Dave |
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Naddy69
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Joined: 04 Jan 2009
Posts: 708
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| Posted: Nov Wed 04, 2009 1:34 am |
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There is the Zenith Royal 94. I have had one for about 20 years, my brother bought it new in the mid 60s.
There are a couple on eBay right now if you want to see one, item #
190345965184. It uses 8 D batteries or 12v adapter, and has a 4 x 6 speaker.
For really outstanding sound from a portable, its hard to beat the Panasonic RF-1150. Its from the mid 70s and has a huge 6" diameter speaker, uses 4 D batteries or AC with built-in power supply. I have had one of these for a few years now.
Review and pictures at:
http://www.radiointel.com/revi ... rf1150.htm |
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Dave Doughty
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 6976
Location: Utica, NY 13502 (USA)
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| Posted: Nov Wed 04, 2009 2:14 am |
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I re-read Bob D's initial post and it seems he might be thinking of something a bit more "vintage" than some of the radios we've been suggesting. He mentioned the Heathkit XR-1 as an example. I just checked the speaker size in my Magnavox AW-100 and appears to be 5 x 7 with a hefty magnet. The radio does have a very smooth "big" sound and is a decent performer. I understand it is a 1957 model. It pre-dates the Royal 1000 Trans-Oceanic and sounds better to my ears.
The question remains - did Zenith produce an early big-sound AM solid state portable like that Heathkit Bob mentioned?
Dave |
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Lou deGonzague
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 3770
Location: Latham NY
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| Posted: Nov Wed 04, 2009 2:25 am |
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| I had a Royal 94, good sounding and a good DX'er on AM. One of my best sounding potables is a Panasonic 1401 AM-FM with a Loudness sw and Bass- Treble controls. It's about the size of a GE Super Radio. Super sensitive on AM. |
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FM Refugee
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Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 1069
Location: Brunswick, ME, USA
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| Posted: Nov Wed 04, 2009 2:53 am |
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| ...seems to me that the Zenith Royal 94 'Interoceanic' used to be dubbed 'the poor man's Transoceanic' (it was an approximate contemporary of the Royal 3000 T-O). It IS a pretty good radio...I'd like to get my hands on another one (had one a few years back and sold it)... |
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speaker dave
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Joined: 20 Aug 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Nov Tue 10, 2009 10:34 pm |
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Good sounding AM radios: one of my favorite topics.
I have a Zenith Interoceanic and would only place it middle of the pack. Balance is a little mid centric.
I would second the votes for the Nordmende GlobeTraveler and especially the Sony CRF 230 (an amazing radio). I also have a Nordmende Transita and Tandberg that are pretty good.
I've also heard great sound with Zenith TO 1000 or 3000s via the headphone jack into my stereo, although I guess that's cheating.
But my absolute favorite is a Grundig Transistor 685 (a Yacht Boy derivative). It is a fairly humble multiband but the 4x6 speaker and little too much bass EQ makes AM sound like FM.
David |
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FM Refugee
Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 1069
Location: Brunswick, ME, USA
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| Posted: Nov Wed 11, 2009 6:41 am |
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| Dave Doughty wrote: | I re-read Bob D's initial post and it seems he might be thinking of something a bit more "vintage" than some of the radios we've been suggesting. He mentioned the Heathkit XR-1 as an example. I just checked the speaker size in my Magnavox AW-100 and appears to be 5 x 7 with a hefty magnet. The radio does have a very smooth "big" sound and is a decent performer. I understand it is a 1957 model. It pre-dates the Royal 1000 Trans-Oceanic and sounds better to my ears.
The question remains - did Zenith produce an early big-sound AM solid state portable like that Heathkit Bob mentioned?
Dave |
...to the best of my knowledge, probably not until the early 1960s. With a few exceptions (such as your Magnavox), it took a while for the 'novelty' aspect of the transistor radio to wear off and for other makers to start exploring the possibilities of trying to make transistor radios that acted and sounded like 'real' radios rather than just being something you could take out of a pocket and hold up to your ear and amaze all your friends in the process. And all of these other radios that have been mentioned (except the Sony CRF-230 and possibly the Tandberg and the Transita--depending on which Transita--are now 40 or more years old (the Globetrotter/Globetraveler series dates as far back as 1964, and that particular style lasted from 1964 to 1970 in three different basic versions; the Zenith Royal 94 is a mid-60s radio, so it's around 45 years old, give or take (there was also an earlier version of the 'Interoceanic', it wasn't a 'Royal 94' (different number), and it did not have FM); we all know pretty well the age range of the Royal 1000 and 3000 T-Os; the Royal 2000 dates to the early 1960s; and even that Grundig Transistor 685 is late-60s--40 years again (And another example of a Western design that the Soviets blatantly copied--take one of those Grundigs in that original Yacht Boy range and put it next to a Soviet VEF 202 or 206--the resemblance is striking...). All of these are pretty 'vintage' in my book. But that Magnavox and the Royal 1000 are probably among the earliest transistor radios that used larger speakers that would have produced a 'big' sound. If you're talking AM only, well, ya got me there...the multibands always got more of my attention than the AM-only stuff did... |
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