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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from NY on 10/2/2008
Hard to believe such beautiful sound can come from a radio transmission HD radio is fantastic.
from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA on 9/12/2008
[...]this radio is extremely easy to use. There are buttons for volume, band, tuning up/down and presets. If you think this is hard, then ANY radio would be hard.I am impressed with the sound that comes from these small speakers. It sounds nice even in a relatively large living room. I liked it so much I bought a second one. Reception is really good.
from Charlotte, NC on 9/9/2008
It is an excellent product. It is Made in China. The defect rate is high. I had to return the first one and the 2nd one had a problem with the remote [...] I am still giving it 5 stars as it is easy to use, attractive build and very good sound quality for the money. A great value.
I was going to buy one of these radios for the bedside, but the controls were hard to use during the demonstration. And it was a poor example in the showroom to get people interested in HD radio. The demo changed my mind. I didn't get a chance to hear my favorite local FM HD radio broadcasters. Sorry, but HD radio is very complicated and it should not be. I might buy it anyways, but may end up taking it back to the store.
from Freehold, New Jersey on 9/2/2008
I thoroughly investigated the SONY HD tuner and Tabletop radios. They don't handle multi-cast and they "lock" onto HD, even when you might need analog because of distance from transmitting tower. The Accurian seemed like a safe bet given previous review and the modest investment.It works perfectly. I am 40-50 miles from the transmitters, so I did invest [$] in one of the Radio Shack passive antennas.I get the signals I want and the sound quality is amazing from this little box.The HD sound quality is what I heard its supposed to be... FM quality on AM, CD quality on FM.this radio is a bargain. Don't even think about it.. just buy it.
from St. Louis, MO on 8/27/2008
I am absolutely loving this radio! I was tired of listening to the same old radio stations all day long at work, so I thought I would look into HD Radio. [...] So far, I am picking up even more HD stations than I anticipated (or than were listed[@]. The sound quality is amazing for a radio of this size, and the informational display scrolling the song titles is fun. I'm very glad I made this purchase and so should you!The only drawback is the lack of an external output to hook it up to your home stereo system, but it does pump out enough sound to stand up on it's own even without that feature. I'm considering getting another one.
from MUNCIE, INDIANA on 8/20/2008
My friend has one and he wanted me to test and rate his unit. From websites this is a top HDR. Ihooked it to my sossus antenna for testing. My results were remarkable. As with any radio, a good antenna gives the best receiption. That said, the radio is compact & a cool design. The radio has good perfomance. Speakers sound is good. But put an fm transmitter to it. Its awsome thru bigger stereo systems. Controls are intuative and easy. I'm down to 4 brands before I buy one. This is one of the 4. Overall this radio rates above the fray in its performance.
I purchased another HD radio from another store, and it was terrible. I returned it and purchased this model, and I was quite pleased. I would recommend using TV rabbit ears for the FM antenna input. It seems to work much better than the supplied wire antenna. HD reception is a bit tricky, because it doesn't travel as far as the analog signals. However, there are many HD channels for me to choose from, and the sound on this small unit is outstanding.
Just barely outlived it's 90 day warranty and the power supply ceased to function. Store was no help at all. Their replacement cost nearly as much as the entire unit. Never again!
what a disappointment....easy to set up, but reception is horrible. Returning it today. Can not get hd stations with provided antenna. Not worth the money. Rather keep my old cheap radio
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
This unit REALLY surprised me and I really enjoy it!
I work in the radio industry and decided I needed to get my hands on a table-top unit
(I had worked with component receivers before).
WOW
This little guy has more bass than units I?ve worked with twice its size!
Lol, I actually walked into my local RadioShack looking for it and when the associates pointed me in its direction, I fell skeptical.
However after listening to it TWICE (went back a second time) I purchased the unit and have to say I am quite pleased!
The reason I don?t give a 5 star--
-HD signal strength indicator when scanning for HD would be nice
-An alarm feature
-Make it easier to navigate from FM1, FM2, AUX, AM1, and AM2 then scrolling through each individually.
Very minor details, other than that... I would HIGHLY recommend it!
Again, DON?T be fooled by the size of the unit!!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Milford, CT on 5/31/2008
I think one would be better off spending money on a tradition high-end high sentitivity radio. This radio is "ok" at the new < $100 price. HD signals are very weak, only very strong stations' HD signals will come in. You will best be served with an outdoor antenna to compensate for the weak sensitivity. BTW HD does not stand for High Definition I found out. It really does not sound much better than regular FM / AM.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from POYNETTE, WI on 5/23/2008
just recived this radio after returning a sony hd and cambridge soundworks 820hd. this unit has far superior reception on both fm and am, plus you can hear both bass and treble nicely (although RS should add seperate bass/treble controls-not just EQ). sony and the CS 820HD tend to want to drown you out with bass-and give you 0 treble, thus no highs. it's no bose wave, but for what i paid for it, it is INCREDIBLE. NICE BASS AND TREBLE-excellent sound for such small speakers. i don't like that when you unplug it-you have to reset the time/date. i wish it had a sleep timer-but it isn't a clock radio. also, it lacks analog song titles that others have. you only get title/artist on hd. hopefully they will fix that on the next model. while i would have been hard pressed to pay $200 for it-it was a great value at the [$] i paid for it with a discount and free shipping. i like that i can return it locally if i don't like it. i think RS could improve the cabinet by making it much less plastic like-but it looks really good in my kitchen. plus, i'm about 25-35 mi. from towers and get great analog and hd reception on both am and fm. it is definately a no-frills unit-but with the price being good and using it as a table radio-it far exceeds expectations. long term results are unknown-but i hope for the best-if not-i'm not out too much. RS should include a 1yr warranty like others. i never expected this to be the best of the 3 purchased-i am pleasantly surprised!!!!!
from Richfield, WI on 5/23/2008
I've been hearing commercials for HD radio and thought, "what's the difference." I recently changed jobs to one that allows me a office and the use of a radio on my desk, So I thought what the heck and got a HD radio. The Acurian HD Radio not only lets me hear my favorite stations in HD but looks very nice on top of a desk. Don't let the size of the radio fool you, the sound of the radio is very clear.
I would have to agree with other reviewers that the fact that the power supply is very bulky, but if you place the radio perfectly you can easily hide the power supply behind it so it doesn't look tacky.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Nashville, TN on 5/11/2008
This is a good radio overall. I bought this to replace my XM Radio service. In my market, there are about 20 HD stations and several of my local radio stations are multicasting with some great programming on the HD2 and HD3 channels, much of which is commercial free.
Setup was fairly straight-forward. The manual had simple and clear instructions on setup. There are 12 presets of each band and that is helpful because direct tuning can take a while.
Keep in mind that HD signals are digital and reception in HD can more difficult that you might imagine just as it is for digital TV. The antennas supplied with the unit were inadequate to receive good HD signals and several stations faded in and out even though I live about 10 miles from the transmitters. I ws able to use a set of rabbit ears and spent a little time getting it aimed correctly and it solved that issue. This is an issue with digital signals period and not a problem with this radio in particular. Potential buyers should know that this may present a challenge on the setup.
I would definitely recommend this radio. It has great sound for such a small unit. There are several equalizer presets to create different sound effects. Audio power is about what you would expect from a small tabletop radio. It will not wow you but it is clear and crisp. The unit also has an aux jack which will come in handy with using my mp3 player.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
As a classical music buff, I now have access to so many classical music stations on the internet, not simply through tinny computer speakers but through the auxiliary imput and quality speakers that rival Bose. Tahnk you Radio Shack and the previous reviewers.
HD reception is very good, but the clock display is too bright for a bedroom, no dimmer switch is available, and there is no bass/treble adjustment. I prefer less bass and have no option to adjust it. I'll wait for more options.
After playing with the antenna I was finally able to locate a good spot to get my favorite station, CD101.9 Jazz. That's the only reason I purchased an HD radio. When 101.9 changed formats to Rock we dearly missed the Smooth Jazz sounds of the old 101.9---and if you have a family member that works for Radio Shack you get 30% off !!! What a buy !
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Let's get something straight. When you are asked to review a product, please review the product based on its intended function and leave it at that.For example, one reviewer withheld a star because the unit did not have an alarm clock. An alarm clock is not a feature of this product, do not weigh its overall rating based on something it is not designed to do.Another rated it poorly because there were commercials on his HD radio channels. Hello? How is that the product's problem.A poor manual? Please. It gets the job done. If you want specs, you had the option to read them on the product page before you puchased it. What good does it do you after your purchase.No aux input? Wrong, it's there.No audio output? Wrong it's there.In summation, to you the potential buyer, if you see a poor rating, please read the entire review. Most likely, the reviewer's rating does not accurately reflect their satisfation in relation to the product and it intended function.To reviewers, if you cannot provide an accurate and applicable review, then don't. You're not doing anyone any good. Just wasting our time.Now, that said, this product has met all of my expectations for a [$]HD radio. I highly recommend this as an entry level unit. I doubt you will be disappointed, but hey, if you are, return it.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Massachusetts on 3/20/2008
This is a very basic HD Radio receiver for someone who just wants the HD Radio feature. I was a little disappointed that the two supplied FM antennas aren't all that adequate in my bad location; I had much better success with an old-fashioned pair of TV "rabbit ears" from RS. But all in all it gives me the music I want for a low price and I'm very pleased.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Wichita, KS on 3/13/2008
Connecting the output jack to amplifier makes super sound.
Radio is better than I expected it to be.
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Chicago on 12/29/2007
A great table radio with excellent sound that has a built-in clock but no way to set an alarm. I got one for Christmas but am exchanging it for the Boston Acoustics radio, which has an alarm feature.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Marlton, NJ on 12/20/2007
This radio is easy to use and sounds great. We've had it for a year now and listen to it all the time.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Southern New Jersey on 12/7/2007
I just love this radio. I have over 125 radios from 1926 to present. This radio is the finest sounding AM radio I have ever heard. Get one and get ready to enjoy AM you'll swear is FM Stereo. Unbelievable.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Very pleasant sound, but controls face up
unit can't be high or need to use remote.
Instead of remote for a simple table radio
why not hide power supply inside instead
of the ugly industrial cord and hook-up.
Antennas are yet more ugly wires, internal
antennas in addition to external connections.
Manual has skimpy info, not even tech specs,
there's more on web site than in the manual.
Pretty radio and good sound, too bad the
rest of it wasn't better thought out.
I give it a cautious recommend.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
I purchased this radio today and a local station is all christmas music and the sound is excellent. All the other stations I played were also excellent. The only thing that's missing is an alarm to use in the bedroom. The sound quality is very good high at high or low volume.
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Hoboken, NJ on 11/20/2007
I live in the NY metro area and this unit is just fantastic. Excellent quality of sound and handsome unit.
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Palmyra, NJ on 10/16/2007
Very good radio, although I had to replace the included antenna with a separately-purchased active one to get the best reception. I can't say enough about the secondary HD stations, as well as the sound quality on the primary signals. I got the radio on sale last year and paid about half what it would have cost for other HD radios which were available at that time; however, the regular price is more in line with what competitors are charging. Still, the styling, remote and sound quality are great.
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Awsome Unit I Love It And Sounds Great Only Thing As It Doesn't Pick Up Alot Of AM HD Stations But That Doesn't Really Matter Since I Barely Listen To AM Stations
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Texas on 8/22/2007
FACT # 1 - The Accurian EQ settings can not compensate for the extra Bass boost that most FM-HD stations load into their signals.
FACT # 2 - AM HD does not sound as good as Analog AM for News/Talk/Sports Radio. The ONLY exception is AM HD Music Stations, where the HD signal make the presentation better. So, for this reason, WE NEED AN HD "OFF" OPTION !!
It would be nice if the Signal Strength Display showed for non-HD Stations. Also, I would like the Station Preset Location to display at all times. It is always helpful when a Date Display can show the day of the week.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
When FM came out, the bugs also had to come out before we were all sold on the product. The same, in my opinion, applies to HD radio and this particular radio. The reception is good in certain areas in my house and not so in others. I must say, after playing with the antenna and "locking" in a couple of stations, I was impressed with the sound. The bass is rich and well defined, similar to the Bose Wave system. I'd say optimal sound will be heard in a small to medium sized room ranging from 9' x 9' to 17' x 17. When it comes to technology, like anything new, the price is high.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
This unit has great sound! I love the design, but it was a little hard to tune in some rooms. You really need an outside antenna, but thats the case with a lot of electronics. Its just always better that way but anyways 4 stars for me!
from San Francisco on 8/7/2007
The radio sounds good with surprisingly good bass considering the size of the speakers. I like the HD sound and the ability to get FM subchannels is good too. (I understand that AM stations don't have this technology available yet). The AM HD signals were very impressive. When the unit is first turned on, I hear the analog signal and then a huge improvement when the HD signal comes on. I think that analog AM-Stereo should be included when there's no HD signal around.
As for the controls, it's easy enough to get used to as far as setting memory is concerned but an easier design would help. It would be nice to have an alarm with this radio and a dimmer switch for the display would help keep it from lighting up the whole room at night.
I like the headphone jack so I can connect it to a receiver and get great sound that way and the aux input is a welcome addition as well.
It does lack a mono switch for noisy signals.
Overall it sounds good and the HD makes signals sound a lot better but I would recommend anyone's next purchase be a receiver maybe 3 generations down the road to give manufacturers a chance to work out any design concerns.
from Shrewsbury, PA on 7/31/2007
This receiver has great sound and is easy to setup and use which makes it perfect for the home or office. It has better FM reception than radios costing much, much more. AM reception just depends on where locate your AM antenna. It may take some trial and error to position your antenna to tune that favorite AM HD station but the reward is worth the effort. As any talk radio listener can attest!
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
This radio sounds Great in FM, But if you want to hear AM Radio, Go get yourself any AM Radio.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
I like this radio and will probably buy another some day when they come down in price. FM HD is pretty good, and I am very pleased with AM HD. It is too bad the AM stations don't do something to promote it.
This is the best radio I've ever owned. We have only one HD station in our near area, but it's my favorite station. They will be offering HD2 programming by the end of June. With an exterior antenna, I have been able to receive other HD stations. The antenna is the key.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Recieved as a Christmas present. It lasted just short of five months. Two months past warranty.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from RPV, CA on 5/19/2007
Considering the size of the speakers, I was impressed with the sound quality as a table radio. Much better than I expected. When connected to a separate receiver, the sound really shines. Reception is excellent in my area. I receive every HD signal that broadcasts out of Los Angeles, including AM stations, and I am about 30 miles from downtown LA. My only complaint is that the radio will lock up and stutter if I try to receive an AM HD station before I receive an FM HD station when I first turn it on. Doesn't happen all the time, but often enough to notice. A second model did the same thing.
I live midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. With a good rabbit ears antenna, I have no trouble getting FM stations from both cities. With the Accurian, the normal FM was fine. But, it was impossible to get any FM-2 or HD-2 stations or the few that could be received were very weak. And, surprisingly, I could get no AM stations at all, even with the AM antenna. Any normal AM/FM radio is a better value better than the Accurian. HD radio may be good if you live right in a city. If you don't, skip it.
I'm just ok with it. Sounds good but I am in Indy and I guess not many HD channels yet. Not got the AM working yet...Hmmm.. Nice radio though. Def. worth having if more HD channels come out. They are coming right?
The Accurian HD Radio has a huge sound that you'd swear was coming from a much larger sound system. I bought the radio in Erie and had to tell the salesperson that while Erie didn't have any HD stations, I live in an area where I can pull a few HD stations in. With the use of an outdoor antenna, I pulled in a few HD stations from Youngstown & one from Pittsburgh. One station in Youngstown has a great blues channel on it's HD2 service. It was definitely a great purchase.
Excellent sound for a table radio. High def. FM is very nice; high def. AM is amazing! Tuner is sensitive - I can receive high def. FM from over 45 miles with outdoor antenna! Quite a nice table radio for the money.
Was surprised not to have been more impressed by the sound quality, a bit hollow, too heavy bass. tonal choices all sound muted, only the pop one was crisp. Tuning easy with 12 FM presets. Like the little remote (and its storage slot on the unit), although the mode button should also be on the unit. Great to have a mute button to eliminate the commercials. Can get only a few AM stations, but don't really care. Like the unit anyway, although there are not yet many HD stations in the DC area that I would preset.
(Revised Review) This unit produces great sound, and it is beautiful to look at. Tuning is a bit awkward with no dial or rapid-tuning button. Also, the user's guide is too sketchy.
This unit has fantastic sound and is beautiful to look at. However, it is a nightmare to tune, and the user's guide is of little help. Still, I would buy it again because it sounds just GREAT!
U need to have a aux input and HD Antenna, but other then that this version is really good.. I wish they make a smaller portable type for traveling, etc..
Very satisfied with this HD radio. Sounds great. Best if used in metropolitan areas with strong signal strength.
Nice radio. Needs an aux output. Also a signal strength meter would be nice while adjusting antenna for best reception.
A really nice sounding receiver. Compared to more expensive ones, it's a bargain. Only negative is there is no aux input.
I wish that the salesperson had told me that I need an outside antenna here in order to reliably receive HD signals. Most of the time I can't; I have the dipole in a window; it still doesn't work reliably. I'm not permitted an outside antenna here. When I can get the HD signal the radio is great.
I really wish it was a clock radio... It is otherwise a really good table radio. Demos HD radio nicely... I would have had the HD Radio light only on when HD signals are received... Sounds great with enough signal... I live about 35 to 40 miles from nearest HD stations and I need the dipole way up in my vaulted ceiling to get hd reception. Also a bummer that the FCC makes the AM side turn off HD after nightfall... hope that changes eventually.... I plan to hook up to roof antenna later should be even better. Needs a strong signal to get HD features... but when you do they sound that much better.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Good Radio to try the technology. Sounds great for the size. Forget the wire FM antennas the come with the set. You need a good attic/outdoor antenna if you want all stations in your area.
This is a great Radio pulls in HD perfectly.Opens a whole new line of great commercial free music also good for am dx at night.
from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA on 12/29/2006
I really like the sound of this radio, when hooked to a stereo receiver. (It is fine but not as impressive with the small built-in speakers). Good enough to make me a believer in HD radio. My one problem is intermittent lockups as the radio transitions to HD on the AM band. It begins to go HD, then it locks and stutters. Not all the time, and it works fine once you get it reset. I am wondering if I have a real problem or if it is early HD jitters.
When my local NPR station added HD I wanted a radio to receive the additional broadcasts, but I didn't want to pay a lot for it. The Accurian is a very nice product and meets my needs very well. With a simple wire antenna (provided in the box, in addition to the dipole), I haven't had any problem receiving local HD signals. The audio quality is just fine for casual listening. I have my satellite radio receiver plugged into the Aux input, so I can listen to satellite through the receiver as well. It's an excellent value and I recommend the product to anyone who wants to hear what's on HD radio.
I work with Local Musicians. Our local Country Station helps to promote our locals on their HD-2 Station. I have a unit in my car, but wanted somethig for home. This radio is Fantastic. I actually purchased TWO, and am likely coming back for a third if the price should roll back to the Thanksgiving Weekend Price. I love the quality, It is remarkable. I am MORE than pleased with my purchases. One of the radios I plan to give away in a website contest in December... Bravo Radio Shack.
I have had experience with the Boston Acoustics Receptor and a Kenwood HD car radio. This new unit from "The Shack" is a good bargain for those who have been curious about HD Radio. By way of full disclosure, I work in broadcasting and my station has had HD on the air for a year and a half. Plus we run 2 multicast channels. The Accurian is a good way for listeners to become among the first to discover HD.
I work in the techie side of radio and have work with HD Radio from the start. This product has over come issues I have seen with others. Great Sound for a small foot print. Good DSP selections...which include a normal setting. Excellent analog as well as digital. The included FM T antenna and AM loop get most signals. The external FM F connector is easy to get to ,hook up an external FM antenna WOW..Great. The connection for AM loop is also easy to access, add a Radio Shack tunable am loop for super reception and the radio really rocks on AM or the terk am/fm amplified 30Db table top antenna and this set really pulls staions in. Out of the box this set has what most non techincal users need to get started in HD Radio listening. Add a inside FM amplified or outside AM/FM antennas for an extreme HD Radio reception experience bring the old AM and FM free radio to life with many selections of music stations as well as news. Radio Shack has really done it's home work on this product. GOOD JOB GOOD PRICE
On the plus side: Very nice styling, ease of use, easy to read dial and graphics. Negative: Weak reception on AM and FM, with only a local FM providing a strong HD signal. No audio outputs, tone controls provide minimum range, 2" speakers provided low fidelity, slightly better fidelity on HD vs. Analog. You will need an outside antenna to "pull in" most HD stations, but with such low fidelity, why bother? Not a bad first effort, but not a great one either.
As a manager of RadioShack, this product is a great marketing tool for the upcoming radio era. Puts enjoyment back into listening
worse radio ever--terrible reception area and plenty of staitc--hd???
from Centreville, VA on 10/31/2006
An alarm would have been nice to have. Also, depending on your area, reception may be an issue.
This radio has excellent sound quality for its size -- on both analog and digital signals. FM sensitivity, selectivity and rejection of "blanketing" by strong stations is excellent. The radio receives a digital signal on local stations and stations that are somewhat distant. On stations with less than a "local" signal quality, getting a digital signal may require careful adjustment of the dipole antenna. The radio picks up a usable signal on some FM stations that are extremely weak on most radios. On these stations, it does not receive a digital signal. It comes with an AM "loop" antenna, but AM reception is only slightly better than average. I had no problem getting a digital signal on the two local stations that broadcast digitally. At present, AM stations are only allowed by the FCC to broadcast digitally during the daylight hours. The radio's only shortcoming is in ease of use. It is possible to preset 12 AM and 12 FM stations and access them using the remote control, but it uses four "mode" settings (6 stations in each mode) and changing modes is somewhat cumbersome. The presets cannot be accessed from the radio itself, so if the remote control is misplaced, tuning is a nuisance. There is a display that identifies the station, the song titles and the artists. The lettering on titles and artists is somewhat small. (Not all stations that broadcast digitally identify the titles and artists.) The radio is a very good buy for the price.
I am receiving commercial-free music on some of the auxillary channels!
The sound quality is great very close to cd quality when receiving a HD siginal
Too bad that there isn't a high quality analog output. There also is no digital output for future 5.1 audio.