Unlike my “Top Ten Portable Shortwave Radios for 2025,” these are not necessarily the best you can buy, but ones that I think bring something worthwhile to the table, and are good value. They’re ones that I personally use and enjoy.
These selections might fit in a few broad categories: Some of them have an active developer community with exciting changes in firmware with new capabilities and for the brave of heart the possibility of updating the circuitry. Some are entertainment focused, with good speakers, music play and Bluetooth speaker capability. Some are in the Swiss Army Knife category that have flashlights, device charging, SOS sirens, a compass and a thermometer. Some are bargains. Some are just great shortwave radios, sensitive, well-designed, pleasant to use and with the options needed for best reception.
For details on any entry, check out my manuals page.
Here is the list (in alphabetical order):
AMNVOLT Si4732 ATS Mini V3S
One of the fun things about the Si4732 ATS Mini is that it is more than a radio; it’s an entry into an enthusiast community, interested in use, but also development, both in hardware modifications and firmware. When I got my radio, it didn’t connect to my Wi-Fi and download program schedules from EiBiSpace, but it does today after a firmware update; it gets the time from an Internet server and displays on the screen the name of the station on at that time and frequency!
It covers LW/MW/FM/SW to 30 MHz. Heck, it even demodulates SSB! And it’s tiny. The display is colorful and it’s a decent radio and does it all with single knob. It has an internal rechargeable battery.
They’re available from sellers at AliExpress including antennas for under $40US. Great stocking stuffer.
Note that I’m recommending the V3S, not the V3 that has some serious issues. A new V4 is available, but I have no experience with it.
Blog or Die! posts featuring the ATS Mini
Eton Elite Executive
This is the culmination of a long line of quality radios in the Eton/Grundig line. It’s reputedly the same as the Grundig Executive Satellit except for the case. It’s a sophisticated, mature design with a display readable in all lighting conditions and having reliable controls — big items for my consideration. I include this model for the more sophisticated radio user.
It’s a comfortable size. The important controls are clearly labeled. It has a good manual that is definitely necessary to get the most out this radio. I really like the fact that one doesn’t have to prefix direct frequency entry with some key. Keying in “20000” and pressing “AM” will switch to the SW band and tune the frequency 20 MHz, or if already on the shortwave band, the user needn’t press “AM.”
It receives LW / MW / SW / FM and Air bands. FM has a very good implementation of RDS. The radio has both Line In and Line Out capability. It has good bandwidth options. It receives SSB, and supports SYNC tuning. It supports alphanumeric labeling of preset memory pages. Fans of AA batteries will feel right at home. Consult the manual for the button presses necessary to charge batteries in the radio.
Like all the radios in this list, it is digital signal processor (DSP) based, meaning that it chuffs between frequency steps. It also supports ATS only for FM.
I think this radio is out of production, but new ones are available online; I saw one on Amazon for $90. You might find a lower price on eBay. It comes in a nice package for Christmas.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the Elite Executive
HanRongDa HRD-757
The HanRongDa HRD-757 is also sold as the Raddy RF757 and the Zhiwhis ZWS-757, although I think only the HRD-757 is available with the green display, the others amber only.
It’s packed with features:
- MW/SW/FM/AIR
- Weather band with alerts
- VHF/UHF to 999 MHz
- Flashlight
- SOS Siren
- Thermometer
- Bluetooth
- MP3 Player (MicroSD)
- Audio Record
- App control
- Shows both date and time
- Audio equalization profiles
- ATS
- Backlighted keys
- 18650 battery
It doesn’t demodulate SSB, decode RDS or have longwave coverage, but otherwise it’s packed. The photo doesn’t show it, but it has a very nice tuning wheel on the back right. It’s compact and easily fits in a shirt pocket.
This is the first in the list with app control. Several of the HanRongDa radios (and alternate branded versions of them) support the Radio-C or Radio-CT phone app (Android and iPhone respectively), providing direct frequency entry, recording control, MP3 playback control including display of file names, one-click time setting and display of some information not necessarily on the radio screen. It also provides a uniform interface for a variety of radio formats.
The HRD-757 not perfect; it has birdies. It requires prefixing direct frequency with an extra key. It can overload from strong local broadcast signals (I don’t personally live in a strong signal area). The manual needs work, but I can forgive those in exchange for all the features.
I saw the Raddy RF757 version on sale for $63.99 at Amazon, which is an amazing price.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the HRD-757
HanRongDa HRD-908
I wanted to include at least one emergency radio on the list. This HRD-908 (also Zhiwhis ZWS-908) provides a range of emergency features:
- Weather Band and alerts
- Flashlight
- Reading light
- SOS siren
- Solar charging
- Crank charging
- Flexible power
By “flexible power” I mean that the radio can be powered by 2 x 18650 batteries, a 14500 battery or 3 AA batteries (AA batteries are not charged by the radio).
This isn’t a radio for serious DX listening — it only has 5 kHz step on SW and no SSB. But it has decent sensitivity on SW and exceptionally good sensitivity on FM. It’s more for entertainment and emergency use — a camping radio, for example.
It has other features:
- MW/FM/SW
- VHF (NFM) (30 – 200 MHz)
- 5W speaker with good sound
- Bluetooth play
- MP3 play (MicroSD)
- Audio record
- Music equalization profiles
- App control
- ATS
- Comes in green or gray
One negative is the lack of AIR band.
My wife, who regularly uses this radio to play MP3 files, switched to FM for Christmas music and came to me asking how to change the volume. I looked at it and didn’t see an obvious volume control. The knob changed frequencies. Of course, I could have told her to install the app, but she doesn’t like to have too many apps and so I got out the user manual. It turns out that the single knob serves both as a volume control and tuning knob. Pressing the knob inward switches between functions. I think that’s a rather elegant solution to having both functions on a knob in the restrictive format of a weather emergency radio.
Frankly, I think this is steal at the current Amazon coupon price of $36.61. Caution: don’t confuse this with a similar LiJiANi version that has fewer features. The good one has a double volume bar at the top of the display.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the HanRongDa HRD-908
Jazmm 213
The Jazmm 213 (also sold as the Meding MD-213) is another pocket gem, selected for features, compact size and sound quality.
Like several others on the list, this is an MP3 player (MicroSD) and a Bluetooth speaker with audio equalizer profiles. It also sports a weather band with alerts and a flashlight. The display is exceptionally easy to read, even though the button labels are not as bright as in the photo.
It can be turned up remarkably loud and I think the quality of the 5W speaker is quite good, especially for its price range. It has ATS.
I wanted to play a musical selection for a friend next time I saw them, and this is the radio I selected to use to play it from an MicroSD card. I can put a card with days worth of music on the radio and play it from the Jazmm 213 in my shirt pocket. It provides adequate volume for a work site group outdoors. I ran it all morning today and the battery stayed on 2 bars out of 3 throughout.
Like other radios of its size, MW performance is not worth mentioning. FM is middle range and shortwave is a bit of an afterthought. It’s more of an entertainment item and well worth the $21 occasional sale price on Amazon.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the Jazmm 213
Qodosen DX-286
The DX-286 is a special radio for me. When I test other radios, I keep a DX-286 by my side for reference. It uses the TEF-6866 DSP chip designed for automotive use allowing it to be exceptionally sensitive and selective.
The first huge advantage is ATS. It is not only sensitive (I keep it on the middle sensitivity setting), but it scans the entire SW broadcast spectrum in a minute and a half. I use it to tell me what’s on and what to look for with my other radios. Because it’s so sensitive, I know that if I’m going to get it on any radio, it will be on the DX-286. Some of the radios in this list have a high station memory preset count, but they’re poorly allocated; that’s not the case here. There are plenty of memories with counts suited for individual bands. (The Tecsun radios listed below also have well-allocated memory.)
Features include:
- Flexible bandwidth settings
- Flexible step settings
- Very good implementation of FM RDS
- 1000 ATS memories
- Tone control
- Can have clock and frequency on the display at the same time
- Supports external antennas for LW/MW with unequalled sensitivity
- Sensitive on FM and SW
- Understands Meter bands
- Many specialized settings
- Seconds display and clock visible when radio is off
- Very easy to read display
- Sensible mute (unmutes automatically when you do something like turn the radio).
Another thing I like is the simplified direct frequency entry shared with the Eton Elite Executive. It also has a very good user manual. It uses a button-top 18650 battery.
Limitations include no SSB demodulation, and SW coverage ends at 28 MHz. They’re currently available from Amazon for $84.99 including one 18650 battery.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the Qodosen DX-286
Raddy RF75A
The RF75A was my introduction to app-controlled radios, several of which appear on this list. The app is particularly important here because tuning is awkward without it, and the Radio-C / Radio-CT app is the only way to turn on the record function.
It’s also sold as the HanRongDa HRD-787 and the Retekess TR111.
This shirt pocked model is even smaller than the Jazmm 213. It covers MW / FM / SW / Weather / VHF including weather alerts. It also has a flashlight and SOS siren. It serves as a Bluetooth Speaker, and an MP3 Player / recorder from a MicroSD card. It has an internal rechargeable battery. The display back light color changes depending on which band or function is selected.
The Raddy version comes with a clip on external antenna. But even with the 13″ internal antenna the RF75A is a decent radio, as seen in my video that also demonstrates the speaker quality. Also, check out this video comparing the RF-75A to the Tecsun PL-330 in an afternoon band scan with an external antenna.
I took my RF75A on a trip and lost it. I thought enough of the model to buy a replacement.
It’s on Black Friday sale for under $32 US on Amazon ($45.99 regular price). The HanRongDa version is more expensive.
Blog or Die! posts featuring the Raddy RF75A
Raddy RF760
The Raddy RF760 is also sold under the Retekess TR-110 and HanRongDa HRD-747 labels. I held off buying one until the price came down. It’s packed with features, but in this instance they are radio features, not flashlights and MP3 players.
This is another shirt-pocket entry with extensive band coverage:
- LW/MW/FM/SW
- Weather with Alerts
- CB
- VHF and UHF bands
- SSB
- User-defined band
Sometime between launch and May of 2024, the radio was upgraded to add a bandwidth setting in SSB mode. They claimed audio improvements too. There are some mode icons on the screen that have no corresponding description in the manual, and my guess is that they’re not implemented.
Features include:
- External antenna jack
- Rechargeable BL-5C battery (included).
- ATS
- Flexible bandwidth settings
Negatives:
- Tiny display icons
- Mediocre speaker
- Poorly written and translated manual
For serious shortwave use, one would probably get a bigger radio with better performance and features, but for travel this might make sense given all the frequencies it covers.
In 2022, the RF760 was listed for $119.99; it’s currently $63 on Amazon.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the RF760
Sparkelec/Deepelec DP-666
Like the ATS Mini, the DP-666 is a tinkerer and enthusiast’s radio, but it’s also a serious tool for the shortwave listener, one that may well improve over time with firmware updates. The Sparkelec version I have is oriented vertically; the Deepelec version is horizontally oriented. It’s a bit over shirt pocket size and a little over an inch thick.
It can be operated two ways, either with the two knobs on the top and keypad, or using the touch screen (depending on firmware). Either way is effective. With the knob, the user can pick which digit to increment or just tune d0wn the band. Tapping the frequency on screen brings up a keypad:
I found the model sturdily built. It uses the same TEF 6866 chip as the DX-286, although it’s not quite as refined in performance — but it’s still very good. The DP-666 speaker is desirable. Like the DX-286, it does not demodulate SSB and SW coverage tops at at 28 MHz.
I found the buttons worked reliably and comfortably. If you don’t mind the form factor, this radio is perfectly good for extended serious use. It doesn’t have a kickstand, but you could get a custom one. The antenna is connected via an SMA connector.
The radio has ATS, but it works so poorly that I wouldn’t count it as a feature — maybe with a firmware update one day. There are multiple firmware variants available. I personally prefer the 2.00.15 version with the Megatron v16 mods and Patch V102.
They have gone up in price some and I see them at AliExpress now just under $80 including antennas.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the DP-666
Tecsun PL-330
The Tecsun PL-330 has to be on just about everybody’s list. It’s a rock-solid performer supporting LW/MW/FM/SW with SSB demodulation and SYNC tuning.
Unlike some memory preset systems that seem to be actively fighting the user, the PL-330’s ETM+ (Enhanced Tuning Mode) is special. It stores stations by hour of the day. That means you can scan and store stations based on propagation patterns. Your early morning presets are independent of your afternoon, late afternoon, or early evening ones. The sticker that comes on the radio gives some number of memories, but there are really thousands more. It also has more conventional ATS memories not by time of day.
Another sophisticated feature is calibration. The radio can be calibrated for accurate frequency tuning, sufficient to directly tune an SSB station often without having to clarify the signal afterwards.
Calibration is one of those hidden features, of which there are several. Another is support for an external antenna on LW/MW. As with the DX-286, external antenna support can give phenomenal results (and use a ground wire for best reception).
It uses a BL-5C rechargeable battery.
My main gripe about this radio is that the buttons (at least on mine) are very erratic, often missing my presses (it’s a big deal). It also does not support FM RDS and doesn’t have a kickstand.
It can be had from Amazon on sale around $70.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the PL-330
Tecsun PL-990/PL-990X
This is my luxury selection.
It has a wonderful feel to it. The knobs are so very smooth and the buttons are positive. The speaker is very high quality and a pleasure to listen to.
There are explicit controls for important functions, not hidden under menus. A good example is the obvious switch to change between internal and external antenna, or to set the dial light to stay on.
Performance is excellent on FM in particular, but solid on shortwave as well, where it supports SSB and synchronous tuning. It is reported to warble on SSB at higher frequencies.
Unlike all the other radios in this list, the PL-990 is a hybrid analog/DSP radio. Tuning is analog with a triple conversion phase locked loop, but detection is all digital. The advantage is that the radio appears to tune continuously with no chuffing or muting between channels, while at the same time providing DSP capability such as flexible bandwidth setting. There are no detents on the tuning knob, furthering the analog experience.
In addition the PL-990 adds an MP3 MicroSD player and a barely hidden Bluetooth speaker feature. The MP3 selection operation is advanced, allowing the user to navigate within folders to some extent. Unfortunately, it can’t record.
In addition to the PL-990, there is a PL-990X, described as the export version. There is little difference, but longwave on the 990X begins at 50 kHz, rather than 100 kHz on the PL-990.
The price for the PL-990 is about $290 on Amazon and it comes in a nice package for a gift with an accessory reel antenna, 18650 battery, AC charger an earphones. I bought a refurbished one for a good deal less from Kaito USA on eBay. Mine included a nice leatherette zipper case, also mentioned by Amazon reviewers, but the current product description doesn’t include them.
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the PL-990
XHDATA D-109
The D-109 comes in two versions, the one pictured above and the D-109WB with weather band. I have both. I’ve not had good luck with XHDATA weather alert radios (false alarms), so I’m not recommending it here, but rather the D-109 at a lower price.
Again we have a LW/MW/FM/SW radio combined with an MP3 player (MicroSD) and Bluetooth speaker. It adds the ability to answer a phone call from a paired phone and operate hands free.
Because of the many buttons, functions aren’t hidden and operation is straightforward. It appears to me that the D-109 copied a few things from the Tecsun PL-330 like the SW- / SW+ buttons that like on the PL-330 step through the SW meter bands when pressed and scan the bands when long pressed. It also has VF and VM buttons.
I found the radio reasonably good on MW, average on FM and reasonably good on SW. The caveat here is that users report that it overloads in strong broadcast signal areas. I don’t live near strong broadcast stations, so this isn’t an issue for me. It may also overload with an external antenna, but it’s sensitive with the telescopic. It doesn’t record.
Some features include:
- ATS (400 memories, 100 per band)
- 18650 battery
- Bandwidth settings
- 1 kHz step on SW and full band coverage, 1711 to 29999 kHz
- Hands free phone operation
One thing that endears me to a radio is the speaker, and this one is well above average. This is a radio one might consider as a gift for someone just curious about the hobby.
I got one of the very first examples of this radio shipped, that had a flaw in the firmware related to direct entry of certain shortwave frequencies. Even before it arrived XHDATA contacted me and said they were sending me another one with the firmware fixed, so I have two. I found another bug causing it to be unable to read certain 32GB MicroSD cards. 16GB and 64 GB cards are OK. I don’t know if this is fixed now or not. It is fixed in the D-109WB.
One thing I don’t like about this radio is the variable speed tuning. If you turn the knob fast the frequency advances in coarser steps than when you tune it slowly. The result is that you’re likely to overshoot the desired frequency and then have to creep back. It’s particularly annoying on MW and FM.
It appears on Amazon for $35 on sale. (The D-109WB is $5 more.)
Blog or Die! Posts featuring the D-109
For more suggestions, check out the Official SWL Channel on YouTube.
Footnotes
Notably missing from the list is any software-defined radio hardware. I have an RTL-SDR V4 dongle that I like, but I don’t consider myself knowledgeable enough to give advice.
I also omitted the Tecsun R-9700DX, a nicely priced ($64.99) double-conversion superhet radio. I didn’t include it because of the lack of a digital readout.
Someone might also consider the SHIUADON/XHDATA R-108. It’s good on MW and features Air band. It’s in the $50 range.
I’ve had no issues with erratic button behaviour on my PL-330, but the tuning dials could be better, as their small size can make them fussy at times.
Good to know. Thanks.