909X2 AM sensitivity

[Falcon9h]

Wondering if I got a dud. MW is dead without using my Tecsun loop, but all of my book sized portables need the same.
I could use feedback if any of you have one before I decide to return it or not.
It works fine when I use the loop and it's a nice receiver otherwise.

Thanks 👍👍👍

 

[Boombox]

If all your other portables need the same, perhaps it's your location?

Not all locations have the same MW reception characteristics. I don't have a 909X or 909X2, so I really don't know how good they are on MW. My orig 909/DX-398 is very good on MW. But they made changes to the circuitry with the 909X, from what I understand, and took it from there....

There are a lot of 909X2 guys here on RR so hopefully someone else will chime in. But my guess is that if you need a loop for other portables, it might be that you live in a low MW signals area. I know I do.

 

[Falcon9h]

If all your other portables need the same, perhaps it's your location?

Not all locations have the same MW reception characteristics. I don't have a 909X or 909X2, so I really don't know how good they are on MW. My orig 909/DX-398 is very good on MW. But they made changes to the circuitry with the 909X, from what I understand, and took it from there....

There are a lot of 909X2 guys here on RR so hopefully someone else will chime in. But my guess is that if you need a loop for other portables, it might be that you live in a low MW signals area. I know I do.

I'm all right with my "real" radios like the RF2200 I"m fine so location isn`t it.

 

[Falcon9h]

Anyone else? Still debating a return while I can. When I said poor without a loop-that meant as in nothing at all. So I wanna find out if I got a bum.

 

[Boombox]

I'm all right with my "real" radios like the RF2200 I"m fine so location isn`t it.

The reason I suggested it could be the location was that you said all of your book sized portables also needed help of a loop. Indicating that maybe it wasn't the radio itself.

I'm not certain what size loopstick is in the 909X2 (it would be a good thing to know -- if anyone here on RR has that info), but if it isn't robust, even a great MW section can only make so much signal if the loopstick isn't all that good. The only pic I could find of a 909X2 with the back off didn't show the loopstick at all, and neither did the one video I found where a guy opened it up (the pic came from that video).

Your RF2200 has a fairly large MW loopstick antenna. I think the 909X2 is a fairly small radio, and the loopstick may not be very large or thick.

RadioJayAllen, who usually has pretty decent reviews of all sorts of radios, rated the 909X2 as Three Stars on MW (by itself). The GE SR models were 5 stars (SRIII being 3 stars, depending on the individual radio), RF2200 was 5 Stars, Sony 2010 was 4 stars.... You get the idea.

—————AM Portables Mega Shootout – 2022 Update————— | radiojayallen

Apparently some people have had dud 909X2's, saw some of those instances mentioned in the online retail reviews (Amazon) and a few of the comments on the vid where the guy opens the back of the radio.:

(5) Sangean ATS-909X2 Teardown - preproduction EU version, firmware 070 - YouTube

 

[Falcon9h]

Oh, geez, no wonder! Looking at the teardown, look at the tiny loopstick buried under a shield no less.🙄 Sensitivity jumped when I used the Tecsun loop and I do well with DX using "normal" radios
I have to accept the fact that none of these radios are gonna be good barefoot on MW. I think it's pretty much an afterthought with most manufacturers. The one exception is the Grundig G5. They got that one right.
However, the 909 holds its own, especially on FM and SW is as good as any other receiver I have.
So thanks! You answered my questions. 👍👍👍

 

[Boombox]

No problem, man. Glad to be of some help. Enjoy the radio.

I still use my DX-398/orig 909. It's had it's hard knocks (stuck on 'narrow' bandwidth because I inadvertently broke the lever; stand in the back broke off a couple times), but it does pretty well considering.