Pre 1970 Tube SW Radio for Casual AM Listening

[RufusDawes]

Help me pick out a tube shortwave radio for casual AM BCB listening that has excellent audio. Doesn't have to be a world beater on SW, it will be connected to an effective external antenna sor AM listening mainly. The radios with push pull tubes are supposed to sound the best, but not required. I would like it to have an internal speaker, and it will be a candidate for restoration, something like a Halli S-120 or S-85, or a NC-88 or NC-183... what would you pick?

 

[oldradioguy2010]

1966, I got my mom's and dad's old general electric clock radio with only AM broadcast band.
Tube type with a wire out the back for the antenna.
No shortwave bands. Listened from calif. all across the US.
So if you can, just try a simple AM band only and listen in the evening.

Most of all have fun.

DW
So. Cal.

 

[prcguy]

Since its only for AM broadcast reception have you considered something like a 1960s vintage Zenith or GE or Arvin, etc, tube table radio? Some have nice big speakers and good design but will obviously need some caps replaced and a tuneup.

 

[RufusDawes]

Since its only for AM broadcast reception have you considered something like a 1960s vintage Zenith or GE or Arvin, etc, tube table radio? Some have nice big speakers and good design but will obviously need some caps replaced and a tuneup.

hmmmmm, I guess I didn't think of those, I'm one of those peeps who thinks real radios receive beyond 1.8 KHz.

I plan to restore the radio, so caps/res align etc doesn't bother me.... would want something that didn't need much cosmetic restoration.

Do you know of any models that have killer audio? The radio would be connected to a 100 ft random wire with a 9:1 balun.

 

[kc2asb]

My Hammarlund HQ-129X with the original speaker sounds good to my ears and is *hot* on AM BCB. I used only a 45 foot random wire fed directly to the receiver with no balun.

 

[oldradioguy2010]

Hey Rufus. What is your location? I would be sure to face east west ¹
Unless you are in Northern or Southern states.
Antenna agment is fairly important for this band.
I would like to hear how it is working out for you.
Still love BCB monitoring.

DW
So. Cal.

 

[RufusDawes]

My Hammarlund HQ-129X with the original speaker sounds good to my ears and is *hot* on AM BCB. I used only a 45 foot random wire fed directly to the receiver with no balun.

Are you using the 100 or 200 speaker?

 

[RufusDawes]

Hey Rufus. What is your location? I would be sure to face east west ¹
Unless you are in Northern or Southern states.
Antenna agment is fairly important for this band.
I would like to hear how it is working out for you.
Still love BCB monitoring.

DW
So. Cal.

Maybe I'll post a vid one day showing my setup.
I have three antennas I use all wired into the living room which is my shack for now, they are attached to a 3 way switch so I can play around with them and see which one is picking up the current signal of interest:
-1M Wellbrook atached to a rotator
-200ft Delta Horizontal Sky Loop, which I will soon expand to become a 250ft Rectangle
-100ft random wire sloper, slope from 13ft to 20ft
All three have their strengths, but the best overall in terms of signal to noise is the horizontal loop. The Wellbrook can be very quiet to null out competing noise or RF but it doesn't pull in the strongest signal.

 

[oldradioguy2010]

Using a radio shack dx360 here.
A simple longwire about 20 feet.
(CCR restrictions). Wrapped around my second story balcony post.
Roughly east/west facing.
But for AM bcb I am using a built in ferrite ant.
Works ok I enjoy the 50,000w night time power houses.

DW
So. Cal.

 

[K0WWX]

If you can find one that has been restored, a good choice would be a Hallicrafters SX-42. A beautiful radio from the late 40s that not only has AM and all of the shortwave bands, but also FM --

RigPix Database - Hallicrafters - SX-42

 

[RufusDawes]

If you can find one that has been restored, a good choice would be a Hallicrafters SX-42. A beautiful radio from the late 40s that not only has AM and all of the shortwave bands, but also FM --

RigPix Database - Hallicrafters - SX-42

That one is on my bucket list to restore one day... I will get one and do a complete restore inside and out. It is supposed to have the push pull tubes that creates a great sounding radio. Thanks for that!

 

[pjxii]

The Hallicrafters SX-62 has always been highly regarded for it's excellent audio but would require a separate speaker. I have not owned one but have read of its praise often.

Hallicrafters SX-62

 

[prcguy]

hmmmmm, I guess I didn't think of those, I'm one of those peeps who thinks real radios receive beyond 1.8 KHz.

I plan to restore the radio, so caps/res align etc doesn't bother me.... would want something that didn't need much cosmetic restoration.

Do you know of any models that have killer audio? The radio would be connected to a 100 ft random wire with a 9:1 balun.

About 10yrs ago I had a 1960s Bakelite cased Zenith that sounded great, typical 5 tube radio with a 50C5 audio tube and about 7" speaker. As a kid in the 60s we had a tube type GE table top with AM/FM and dual speakers that sounded great. I wish I could find a picture of it.