Kaito KA321 Pocket-Size 10-Band AM/FM Shortwave Radio with DSP (Digital Signal Processing), Black

The Kaito KA321 is a new radio offering from Kaito USA it is a small pocket size radio with DSP . This radio is very small it is about the size of a cell phone with a 4" screen in a leather case . SW seems to be its strong point with good sensitivity and selectivity all across it SW bands . FM reception is good and works off the same antenna as the SW band . Using ear buds can make listening to the SW an FM bands a lot more enjoyable . AM sensitivity is very weak and this is not a radio for the AM dxer as it has a very small internal AM antenna . This radio has tuning steps of 5khz and does not tune like a regular analog radio So tuning around on the AM and SW bands has to be done with care . The FM bands have good selectivity also because of the digital signal processor . The only problem with this radio is the AM band's low sensitivity if Degen could improve on that , this would be a very good radio . Would I buy another one , yes I would . Update at 6:00am in the morning I was tuning across the lower end of the FM dial and heard a college station in Ft Myers Fl 150 miles in a straight line from me , I live in Homestead Fl . I was very surprised to hear this college station as most college station are low powered and they are not received very far . Also I received some other FM stations that only a very expensive receiver can snag . Taking it with you in your car to listen to shortwave broadcast this receiver is excellent it does not pick up electrical sounds from the motor that regular radios pick up . So with this radio you can tune in a shortwave station with no sounds to stop you from being able to hear and enjoy what ever station yo want to listen too on shortwave . The best part is a set of double AA alkaline battery's will last about 200 hours . I have just put this little receiver side by side against Radio Shack newly introduced $79.99 dollar version , catalog number 2000629 this is Radio Shack new version that has LW AM FM SW with Single Side Band . What I have found out is that the Kaito KA321 out does the Radio Shack version on FM and Shortwave bands better sensitivity and selectivity . The Radio Shack radio is way way better then the Kaito KA321 on AM . But as far as sound output being able to understand what people are saying the Kaito KA321 is a clear winner because of a more of a treble sound while the Radio Shack $79.99 dollar model has a deep base sound and it is very hard to hear anything but on local channels and powerful distant stations . The only reason I have bought the Radio Shack radio is for the AM band which it receives as good as the best car radio . Super Sensitive....This Kaito KA321 tuning processor works to change frequency through voltage changes through the band switch which has 1% resistors hooked to each band selection of a certain value and a tuning thumb wheel hooked to a potentiometer thumb wheel tuning control to adjust the tuning of each band . The only other IC is a audio amplifier for sound output . There is no tuning adjustment inside the radio RF or IF or Audio it is all done with the digital signal processor and different voltages applied to it no cans what so ever . The audio output is controlled by a standard potentiometer thumb wheel design like on older transistor radios of the past .

These days, a $20 bill usually doesn't get you very much, but in the case of the Kaito KA321, it gets you a decent pocket radio. Right out of the box, I was amazed at just how small this receiver is (no bigger than a pack of cigarettes). What's even more amazing is just what all you get for your $20. With the new Digital Signal Processing (DSP) receivers, tuning in stations take a bit more effort than the analog versions, but you will be rewarded with a rock-solid lock on the station that lasts until you turn the knob again. The KA321 has a thumbwheel tuning control that's a little stiff to turn, and I find once you get it in the "neighborhood" of the station you want, it's easier to use your fingernail to move the thumbwheel so I don't tune past the station. Tuning this radio takes some getting used to, but be patient and you'll get the hang of it. The dial itself if relatively easy to read, but as you would expect on a radio in this price range, the accuracy leaves a little to be desired. Some thoughtful features include a headphone jack (FM stereo, AM/SW mono), a pull-out antenna that swivels, a collapsible tabletop stand, a tuning indicator light, and carry strap. It even has a jack to plug in an AC adapter for power, but since two AA batteries last forever in this radio the jack is of little value to me. Performance wise, this is where the little Kaito really stands out. The FM band picks up stations the average radio leaves out, on AM it works better than many radios costing twice the price, and it also brings in the stronger shortwave broadcasts with ease. The tiny size of this radio means it was necessary to use a tiny speaker, so it's not going to have the deep tone and loudness of a larger radio, but it's quite nice for what it is. For those not familiar with shortwave broadcasting, don't be surprised if you find very little on the air during daylight hours. Shortwave is best after dark, and is much harder to tune in than an AM or FM station. Static and fading are common issues no matter what kind of radio you're using, and the number of foreign stations broadcasting in English to North America has dwindled in recent years. But there's still lots of stuff out there that the little KA321 brings in for me. RHC (Radio Habana Cuba) broadcasts every evening in English at 6.00 MHz, and comes in loud and clear on this radio, along with several other foreign broadcasters and stations here in the states. Is this radio a good choice for somebody wanting to get into some serious shortwave listening? Probably not, but it is great for anyone who wants to start exploring shortwave on a budget. The Kaito KA321 is an ideal choice for somebody who just wants a low cost, pocket-sized radio that really performs on the FM/AM bands. It's tiny size, light weight, and low cost make this the ultimate bargain in shirt pocket sized worldwide receivers. My bottom line: The Kaito KA 321 is the best low cost pocket radio you'll find anywhere near this price. I highly recommend it.

The tuner seems unusually vulnerable to interference. When used side-by-side with my “old standby” this radio had both hits where it found signals the older radio could not find, and misses where there was no audible trace of otherwise solid signals. I’m still working on figuring out the quirks, but it has good sound and it feels like it will be a “keeper” for everyday use

EDIT: I bought the radio in September 2013, and almost 2 years later it still works great, and I still use it. A great pocket radio - great price and it seems made to last! I am thinking of buying another even, as having another one of these around the house will be nice in case I lose this one (perish the thought). I didn't expect very much when I ordered this product because, while the reviews were generally positive, I didn't think a pocket radio with FM/AM and shortwave could be all that great at such a cheap price. I'm happy to say my doubts were wiped away as soon as I had the radio in my hands using it the first time! I have had the radio for a few weeks and it has worked without issue during this time. I use it almost every day, mostly for FM but I like to also scan the shortwave band to see what I can pick up. The shortwave doesn't work as well inside of the house but it can be surprisingly quite clear when I tune it outside. I have listened to shortwave programming from China, Australia, etc. It is not my first shortwave radio, actually my second, but the price is about 1/5th the other one I purchased. That radio had digital tuning while this radio has only an analog interface. If you're new to shortwave listening, remember to start with the upper frequencies for daytime reception scanning and near the bottom for nighttime reception. Just a general rule that should save time when you just want to see what's currently broadcasting. Tuning is at times difficult because you can move past the best tuning spot with just a tiny move of the dial. After you get it just right, the station sounds very clear over the built-in speaker and never drifts or fades! Selectivity is superb, the FM channel you're listening to never sounds mixed with another. I never hear the station drop out in reception unless I'm moving it around the room, and even then it performs well. Shortwave is unpredictable by nature and with only the included whip antenna, you can't expect it to be very stable, so you may need to clamp a long wire to it which I haven't tried yet. The sound with headphones is a very pleasing stereo, not mono, which was something I was looking for in the radio before I ordered it. Sound is great either way, so no worries in this regard. On headphones, a slight amount of static may be heard in the background. This doesn't bother me as I barely notice it though it's something you should consider. Finally, I can't say enough about the battery life. If you're like me, you've long since started using rechargeable batteries because it's so much more convenient for many devices which seem to suck batteries dry in no time. This radio has been using the same regular AA batteries I put in it when I got it, and I haven't had to change them yet. I am very pleased that the radio seems to last a long time between battery changes, and I'm sure you will be, too. Although there is no low battery indicator like some radios, the little red LED that shows a station is tuned in is likely to dim at some point before the batteries are about to die, so I am watching to see if I can use that as a warning indicator. In summary, the interface is simple and meant for a low budget but it is not a low quality radio for the money. I think you're getting quite the deal with this product, so I highly recommend it - even if you have a much more expensive radio with big speakers sitting around, you should just buy one of these to have as a convenient, portable radio. Best pocket FM radio I've ever owned so far.

I have been going back and forth about this radio. Yes, it is $20. FM is very good, it seems to pull in stations well. Shortwave is ok--but why are we even listening to shortwave anymore? It is sort of cooler to listen to say, Alex Jones on a fading shortwave signal, than it is to just check him out online. Casual shortwave listening is inherently frustrating, the religious garbage comes in easily, the hard to tune in, more interesting stuff leads you to wonder how much better it could be if you had a better receiver, antenna, SSB, etc. AM is adequate, but no more. A passive AM antenna works wonders. The dial is weird and sticky feeling due to the digital tuning of the KA321. If you try to move the dial slightly, it will actually snap back like it is attached to a rubber band. Sometimes this is almost a good thing, on FM it almost feels like you "snap into" a frequency, but on weaker signals I have to chase the station around, tuning back and forth until it finally comes in. The speaker is tinny, but not the worst I've heard. On headphones, there is not a lot of bass, I am not going to completely blame the headphones, if I use the same pair on my old Sony SRF-49, the sound is "richer"..maybe is is a DSP thing. This radio is kind of like cheap beer, it will get you drunk, but at some point you may think, "Maybe I could have paid a little more and got something a lot better." The DSP is stable, and sort of amazing for a radio at this price point, but again, for not much more, a digital display would be welcome. No surprise, the analog dial is never quite exact. 104.1 FM, for example, looks 105 FM. Maybe that is why this radio exists--you get a taste at how good a DSP radio could be but are left wondering how much better a step or two up would be (PL-380...) I thought about returning it, but it is so pocket-able, cheap and "good enough" to be a travel radio. If this radio broke, I do not think I would get another.

This little radio is a great, small, hand-held radio. I am very impressed with the signal pick-up strength. I live outside of Denver, CO, in Aurora. I travel all over the city on busses. This little radio does a great job with FM signals and antenna is a boost to clarity when needed. I rarely ever need the antenna extended. The antenna is NOT used for the AM stations, as expected. I find that AM doesn't come in a well as FM when I am on the bus. And, of course again, the AM stations sound best when radio as a whole is rotated to a certain position. I use a suction cup on busses to hang radio on window, when I want to listen to AM stations. FM comes in great on the bus. The headphone port works as expected, with nice stereo output and PLENTY of volume. The mono speaker quality is what one might expect from a small speaker (no deep bass, but decent enough for general listening.) I listen to talk radio (850 KOA) when I water the flowers and the grass from my deck. The sound coming out of this Kaito is crystal clear and my wife laughs because the radio is so small, yet decent sound. It is a little bigger than a deck of cards, but not as thick. Oh, I enjoy the little piece on the back side that flips outward to make a prop for the radio. It looks kinda cool sitting on the handrail of my porch. I have found a couple shortwave radio conversations and that was fun, but mostly I listen to AM and FM. The red light is hard to see unless you look orthogonal to the face of the light. This is a slight drawback as the light greatly assists in finding the best tuning spot on the analog dial. I guess another drawback for me, personally, is when this radio hangs from my wheelchair's under-the-seat hook, the opposite side of the radio rests on my sandals; often times the tuning dial or the volume dial rub on my sandals and the results are quite unexpected when this happens. I tried shortening the string (which is a fine length for general purposes), but the dials still manage to rub somewhere. So, I wish the the handy tie strap attached to the opposite corner of the radio. :) Not a big deal. I highly recommend this little Kaito radio. (Oh, and after 20 hours of listening, the batteries are still strong.) I don't know the battery life, as of yet.

I use a small radio when I'm carrying my mail route. I have went through 14 other small radios in the past ten years, mostly they get beat up. The last two (Sony) would no longer stay on the station after daily use, five hours a day six days a week in all types of weather. I ordered this radio based on other reviews and what was said concerning the DSP in it. I can say, what was said is true. I have a station that I like to listen to that plays classic country, the station is over 60 miles away. I can only receive the station on the car radio so I was shocked and happy when I found I could get the station on this little inexpensive pocket radio. No other small transistor radio I have used would bring in this far off station. It doesn't just receive it but its crystal clear, no static or fading in and out this thing locks on to the station and for the next five hours I never loose my music. The tuner nob on this radio is somewhat clunky makes it seem much cheaper, but for me I set it and forget it. If you like to constantly tune through the stations you won't be happy with the radio. I do like the separate on off switch, it's separate from the volume nob. The real test for this will come over the next year. I have never had a radio last me more then a year, most last much less. When I take a radio out with me on the mail route they get dropped, smashed, wet and hot and just generally knocked around. To sum it up, your safe buying this radio it works very well, like a much more expensive radio. The tuner knob cheapens it somewhat but if you don't change stations a lot it's ok. This is the first radio I have bought that has DSP and it works magic. I will give it the Timex test over the next six to twelve months and update this review. As for now I will buy this radio again and again even if it does last any longer the the others and for as long as Kaito keeps making them. If for no other reason then it picks up my favorite far off country radio station.

Most, if not all radios at this size/price point are single conversion superhets. They're by and large marginal performers, prone to drift, images, and hand capacitance issues. This radio however, is a true DSP receiver, using the Silicon Labs Si4835-B31 (YES, a product of the USA) chip. There is NO drift, and NO hand capacitance issues, and NO images. It is a true digital radio, with an analog dial. FM reception blew me away. It is absolutely superb. AM reception is a little less stellar, and a bit "quirky". The same holds true of the SW bands. This is not to say that listening is unacceptable, just don't expect a "DX powerhouse". The built-in (and non-switchable) muting can be a bit of a pain at times. What happens is when a signal drops below a pre-set level, it disappears, and then reappears when the level again rises. This is most noticeable when listening to distant AM stations and shortwave stations, that are subject to fading. Again, something to get used to. All things considered however, this is an amazing little radio, and I highly recommend it to the casual listener, especially if your main interest is FM, local AM and occaisional shortwave listening. The sound quality is very good for it's size, and battery life is very good.