Customer reviews from sony.com
Sony - Portable AM/FM Radio - Black
Average customer rating
4.6
(27 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 27 reviews
5 Stars
22
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
2
1 Star
1
83%of customers recommend this product.
(
15 out of
18)
Customer Reviews for Sony - Portable AM/FM Radio - Black
Customer Rating
5
Solid radio!
on January 14, 2013
Posted by: RadioNerd
What a great radio! This thing is really clear and selective on FM (don't use much) and on AM, it has a surprisingly hot receiver. It picks up almost as many stations as my CC Radio EP. Sure, it doesn't have all the fine-tuning gizmos as the EP or nearly as big an AM antenna, but I can routinely listen to stations from: Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Denver, Nashville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Dallas etc... on the ICF-38. (I live in IL.)
I love the feel of the radio, too. The tuning dial has a really high-quality feel (no backlash at all). There is no part of this radio that feels cheap. This was proven when my wife accidentally knocked off a 51/2 foot tall shelf onto our hardwood floor yesterday. I heard the radio hit the floor in from the basement and assumed it was a goner. Amazingly, the radio won the battle with the floor! Works fine - not a scratch! (I can't say the same for the floor...)
Audio quality is wonderful for a relatively low-tech radio of this size. And the tone control switch really helps when listening to distant AM stations.
Great emergency radio, too. I can fit an extra set of 4 AA batteries in the back compartment with the cord.
DEFINITELY my favorite radio for the price. The unit is the definition of the phrase, "bang-for-the-buck"!
I love the feel of the radio, too. The tuning dial has a really high-quality feel (no backlash at all). There is no part of this radio that feels cheap. This was proven when my wife accidentally knocked off a 51/2 foot tall shelf onto our hardwood floor yesterday. I heard the radio hit the floor in from the basement and assumed it was a goner. Amazingly, the radio won the battle with the floor! Works fine - not a scratch! (I can't say the same for the floor...)
Audio quality is wonderful for a relatively low-tech radio of this size. And the tone control switch really helps when listening to distant AM stations.
Great emergency radio, too. I can fit an extra set of 4 AA batteries in the back compartment with the cord.
DEFINITELY my favorite radio for the price. The unit is the definition of the phrase, "bang-for-the-buck"!
What's great about it: reception, build quality, audio quality, ease of use, battery life, tone control
What's not so great: None. Seriously, there aren't any!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
SONY PORTABLE BRILLIANCE
on April 1, 2011
Posted by: Computerhobbyist
The Sony ICF-38 portable radio outputs marvelous sound and offers outstanding FM/AM reception for such a small portable. You will be shocked at how large, clear, and powerful the sound is coming from this diminutive radio. The analog tuning dial is extremely sensitive, selective, and accurate in its reception of adjacent frequencies along the crowded FM/AM dial in the radio market that I live in. This portable receives every FM/AM station that I care for perfectly with static-free sound. The AM DX reception during the nighttime hours is outstanding. The music sounds magnificent on the FM band. This Sony radio features an analog tuner, illuminated LED tuning indicator for easy station selection day or night, FM/AM dual band tuner, telescopic antenna for FM reception, built-in AM antenna, a wide range monaural speaker, two position tone control , volume control, tuning knob, band selection switch, earphone jack, carry handle, and power button. This Sony ICF-38 radio offers class leading audio performance in its product category. This radio is perfect for listening to your favorite news, sports, talk, weather, and music programs just about anywhere at any time. The Sony portable radio is powered by four AA cell batteries that rarely seem to get exhausted. A built-in AC power cord is included as an alternate power source for the radio. The design, features, and sound emanating from this radio are brilliant. Enjoy.
What's great about it: Terrific FM/AM Reception, Great Sound, Small Size
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
Basic and brilliant
on December 8, 2011
Posted by: Bonker
This is as simple as it gets, a compact radio with great reception no bells and whistles and it does what it's meant to do. If you want a basic radio for use in select rooms for discreet personal use, this is the one. I am only an FM listener so cannot speak to the AM reception. It picks up signal in places where more expensive, clunky, multi-purpose radio/cd/aux. systems do not. If you're looking for an "old fashioned" simple radio, you can't go wrong.
What's great about it: Reception quality, simplicity of controls, sound quality
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
A Must For Power Outages
on September 11, 2011
Posted by: SweetTea12
Hurricane Irene left us with no power or water for 8 days, and w/o a battery powered radio (impossible to find in the stores around my area) it would have been horrendous. I went to my mothers during the hurricane and she still has her small Sony transistor radio from the early 1960's (older than me) which works PERFECTLY! Without this type of radio we would have been completely cut off from valuable info. This radio is the first thing I bought when the power came back on. It is critical that every household needs an item like this.
What's great about it: everything
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
SONY ICF38
on May 21, 2011
Posted by: jadeobie1
SOUND AND RECEPTION ARE VERY GOOD.
POWER OPTIONS GREAT.
DIALS WELL THOUGHT OUT POSITION WISE.
WELL BALANCED SOUND AT LO TONE SETTING.
DESIGN IS EXCELLENT COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.
POWER OPTIONS GREAT.
DIALS WELL THOUGHT OUT POSITION WISE.
WELL BALANCED SOUND AT LO TONE SETTING.
DESIGN IS EXCELLENT COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.
VOLUME RANGE IS EXCELLENT.
TUNING LIGHT IS A WELCOME FEATURE.
VERY PRECISE AM FM TUNING WITH DRIFT FREE FM
RECEPTION.
TUNING LIGHT IS A WELCOME FEATURE.
VERY PRECISE AM FM TUNING WITH DRIFT FREE FM
RECEPTION.
SONY PRODUCED AN EXCELLENT UNIT AT A LOW COST TO THE CONSUMER!
What's great about it: Well balanced sound. Unit appears to be well made<dials, battery compartment, etc.>
What's not so great: NONE
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
A must have for every household
on July 1, 2012
Posted by: NycFH
My husband takes this from room to room, perfect for the games, weather, news. THis is perfect for someone who doesnt want something too complicated to use. Nice simple dial tuner, plug and play, no complicated digital tunning. This is a must for weather emergencies as well.
What's great about it: Good reception
What's not so great: Anthena became loose, and doesnt stand up.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
Awesome Radio
on June 18, 2011
Posted by: taylorborder
excellent! I could not tune am in my new house until I got this radio also sound in fm is excellent for size of radio...design is well thought out.
What's great about it: tuning, features, tuning indicator, old school dial (not digital)
What's not so great: cord a little long to store inside radio when not using
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Radio
on May 8, 2012
Posted by: RCraig
This is an outstanding radio for the price. Reception and sound quality is good, no station drift. I would recommend to anyone looking for a basic radio.
What's great about it: Great price, excellent sound quality
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com