Sangean HDR-14 user review
After several days of use and tests, Here is my review of this product:
After reading others’ reviews on this radio I formed an opinion that drew from their own reviews and my past experience of owning and using many, if not most, of the ulr’s that have been available to DX’ers. I decided to invest in the HDR-14 for two primary reasons. First, the new high definition ability on AM truly intrigued me. Historically, the technology has been available for many decades. But the aspect of DSP that is now implemented in most radios has finally made the promising path of pioneering HD MEDIUM WAVE radio practical - so I couldn’t resist. Secondly, it was truly amazing to me that this technology could be added into a receiver as small as my primary portable... the astonishing CCrane SkyWave SSB. So I ordered in anticipation and excitement. The main and most important expectation was to see if this device performed well across the band on AM,.. while hoping that a night of DX’ing could actually be enhanced by a radio which could give superb, fringe sensitivity while unlocking HD signals during ionospheric transition. To me, it was not so much as important that my local broadcasting options may not have implemented HD service AS it was capturing out of area HD propagation from those distant cities that already offered the digital upgrade. As I installed the 3 AA cells in the radio and turned the unit on, I had in mind to do an immediate day check to test its ability on several known weak stations. Even without HD activated listening, I was first struck at the quality of the sound from what appears to be a gracious internal speaker with rich tone and a base component that fit somewhere between ‘no deep base’ and having “real” deep base. It truly satisfied me in every way, and was pleasant in every aspect. But the ability for the radio to capture weak signals during sunlit hours was of chief concern. You never really know how large (or small) the internal Ferrite rod is in a new radio until someone tears it apart for a peak at its anatomy,.. and for $80 I was not going to be that guy. So engineering, quality, design and performance would have to be proved thru a band-scan in broad daylight. And its performance did not disappoint!! I had read that the S/N noise floor on some of these first run production units was a bit high for fringe DX’ing. But my experience was very positive - and in almost every single 10Khz step I was amazed at the presence of the normally expected regional stations which I am so accustomed to sleuthing. Sensitivity was indeed remarkable across the band, and I knew thru my initial assessment that this was indeed a good choice and fabulous investment. Everything from the ergonomics to the truly capable function of the HDR-14 removed any doubt of regret I might have had before making my purchase. It does a marvelous job on AM and is immensely pleasurable to listen to. In fact, a one touch search of HD stations at night will easily bring in HD identifiers from around the country - which is an amazing experience as you listen to the rich, full sound that rivals AM Stereo. I did not pursue the FM performance since I spend very little effort and time on that band... but the purpose for which I bought this wonderful little radio was fulfilled on the first evening I used it, and there are no regrets here. The battery life appears to be efficient too! Nothing has exceeded the CCSkyWave SSB,.. and the Yellow Sangean DT-400 could probably not be topped by this radio either. But Sangean has introduced a new facet of ‘superb’ excellence in the HDR-14 and the quality of sound (along with excellent AM reception) gives the user a new experience in listening that appeases any apprehension for advancing to Hi-Def Medium Wave radio. Mark S. Bias KC9TSR•
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