Just got mine in for just over a week now. I didn’t stop playing with it, so good it really is. I agree on the sync detector that is just not useable. It is not stable, the sound often is garbled and lacks any fidelity. The selectable filters are very useful though the filters are wider than what is specified. Not a problem really altough some users seem to criticise this. The extra antenna jacks are great features, on medium wave the small optional AN100/200 tunable loop brings in far away and/or weak stations that otherwise are to weak for pleasant listening. But even on its internal antenna reception is quite exceptional. In short, this radio only has one flaw, and yes, a major one: the unusuable sync detector. But I forgive Tecsun for this, the radio is so good that normal reception is far better than most comparable portable radios can offer. At a very reasonal price. The first comparable portable short wave radio that is capable to challenge the, now ancient, Sony ICF-2010/2001D. With the exeption of the sync detector that is. The sync on the Sony is one of a kind and apparently no manufacturer is able to design an equivalent.
I just got my H501X in under two business days from Hong Kong, China. Thanks to Gilles for your reviews of this receiver and the Sangean ATS909X2 which is why I bought both of them. This channel and Gilles’ channel are extremely important to me even though I’ve been SWBCDXer since 1976.
I can’t rationalize spending this much money on a radio but it sure is nice. I’m sure the sound quality is amazing and if Gilles endorses it that’s enough for me. Tecsun has some terrific products across the board.
Wonderful radio BUT, as a SWL who is closing in on 70 years of age I really wish they had included a lite keypad! Small criticism but, well, in my case, an important one!
Agree that radios should have LIGHTED KEYPADS. Would also prefer USB-C connector. When will someone build in a Bluetooth TRANSMITTER to send sound TO Bluetooth speakers? And built in real time speech to speech and speech to text translation feature, all digital formats? We can dream. What format(s) will the SD card reader handle? Mp3? What about Ogg? FLAC? 73 DE W8LV (and W8LV/VE3 pre pandemic) BILL
It was still impressive for the time it came out in. The D 808 has completely synthesized tuning so the signal is completely solid. A favourite old example of that is the Realistic DX 160. It was a neat radio but the SSB had to be retuned every so often because of the drift factor of the electronics of the day. Just saying, we weren’t spoiled back then. If you want SSB you have to be patient. 😊
Thanks for the review, guys. As a point of clarification, the other, kit version of the radio with a hard plastic case is priced at the same level but does not include the feaux leather carrying case. It also does not list an MP3 recorder with the kit (Gilles may have confused this model with the kit form of PL-990X).
Regarding the Tecsun radio going down below 76 MHz on the FM coverage, Glenn Hauser tells us that the so-called OIRT FM band goes down to 66 MHz, still a few? stations in Russia as in WRTH
I bought the Chinese version of this radio (H501)some time back. I don't know if mine has some kind of fault or not, but I find the audio quality when listening to music on AM and FM to be very poor, it just seems to warble and sounds very rough! Playing music from an SD card sounds very pleasant and bluetooth is OK, but the radio!!
Very great review of the Tecsun H-501X. But I have 2 remarks. At the beginning you are talking about the FM band and why it begins at 66 MHz. According to the "FM broadcast band" wikipedia page, some areas in the world use the FM band below 88 MHz : Japan (76 Mhz to 95 MHz) and Eastern Europe (Russia , Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Lithuania and Turkmenistan) use 65.9 MHz to 74 MHz. Later, you are talking about the difference between the H-501 and H-501X. It is not only about the manual in Chinese, there is a difference in the frequency range according to the Tecsun H-501X page on the Anon-Co website you showed.
I'm sorry, but this shouldn't be called "FULL review" with out even a single piece of sound, or spin of the knobs... it's a slides presentation while reading the specs...
A REVIEW is talking about a radio you tested before. You are talking about receiver test. this is a REVIEW, you want tests, czcams.com/users/officialswlchannel
Just got mine in for just over a week now. I didn’t stop playing with it, so good it really is. I agree on the sync detector that is just not useable. It is not stable, the sound often is garbled and lacks any fidelity. The selectable filters are very useful though the filters are wider than what is specified. Not a problem really altough some users seem to criticise this. The extra antenna jacks are great features, on medium wave the small optional AN100/200 tunable loop brings in far away and/or weak stations that otherwise are to weak for pleasant listening. But even on its internal antenna reception is quite exceptional. In short, this radio only has one flaw, and yes, a major one: the unusuable sync detector. But I forgive Tecsun for this, the radio is so good that normal reception is far better than most comparable portable radios can offer. At a very reasonal price. The first comparable portable short wave radio that is capable to challenge the, now ancient, Sony ICF-2010/2001D. With the exeption of the sync detector that is. The sync on the Sony is one of a kind and apparently no manufacturer is able to design an equivalent.
I just got my H501X in under two business days from Hong Kong, China. Thanks to Gilles for your reviews of this receiver and the Sangean ATS909X2 which is why I bought both of them. This channel and Gilles’ channel are extremely important to me even though I’ve been SWBCDXer since 1976.
I can’t rationalize spending this much money on a radio but it sure is nice. I’m sure the sound quality is amazing and if Gilles endorses it that’s enough for me. Tecsun has some terrific products across the board.
Wonderful radio BUT, as a SWL who is closing in on 70 years of age I really wish they had included a lite keypad! Small criticism but, well, in my case, an important one!
Thank You for the complete review of this radio. A lot of very helpful information that is MUCH appreciated!
This video explained details i was not aware of previously . Thank you very much .
Agree that radios should have LIGHTED KEYPADS. Would also prefer USB-C connector. When will someone build in a Bluetooth TRANSMITTER to send sound TO Bluetooth speakers? And built in real time speech to speech and speech to text translation feature, all digital formats? We can dream. What format(s) will the SD card reader handle? Mp3? What about Ogg? FLAC? 73 DE W8LV (and W8LV/VE3 pre pandemic) BILL
It was still impressive for the time it came out in. The D 808 has completely synthesized tuning so the signal is completely solid. A favourite old example of that is the Realistic DX 160. It was a neat radio but the SSB had to be retuned every so often because of the drift factor of the electronics of the day. Just saying, we weren’t spoiled back then. If you want SSB you have to be patient. 😊
808 is not a good radio over all, it's a cheap make. R- 108, and D 109 are better radios.
Thanks for the review, guys. As a point of clarification, the other, kit version of the radio with a hard plastic case is priced at the same level but does not include the feaux leather carrying case. It also does not list an MP3 recorder with the kit (Gilles may have confused this model with the kit form of PL-990X).
This review is making me want one. 📻
i love mine works extremely well when out mobile and parked up in the car and external antennas 😬😬😬😬 73s from Bushmills northern Ireland ...
Thanks for the review.
Regarding the Tecsun radio going down below 76 MHz on the FM coverage, Glenn Hauser tells us that the so-called OIRT FM band goes down to 66 MHz, still a few? stations in Russia as in WRTH
I just checked the World Radio TV Handbook. There are several FM stations below 76 MHz.
So happy I was online when this was announced on Facebook.
Bob, VE9EE. Thank you for this report. This looks like a great receiver.
I bought the Chinese version of this radio (H501)some time back. I don't know if mine has some kind of fault or not, but I find the audio quality when listening to music on AM and FM to be very
poor, it just seems to warble and sounds very rough! Playing music from an SD card sounds very pleasant and bluetooth is OK, but the radio!!
Sounds like a good preppers radio for when the power goes down.
Gilles your Tecsun H,50, 1x recvier is cool
no "soft muting" on tuning great- very happy with my H-501X VK3DET.
Very great review of the Tecsun H-501X.
But I have 2 remarks. At the beginning you are talking about the FM band and why it begins at 66 MHz. According to the "FM broadcast band" wikipedia page, some areas in the world use the FM band below 88 MHz : Japan (76 Mhz to 95 MHz) and Eastern Europe (Russia , Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Lithuania and Turkmenistan) use 65.9 MHz to 74 MHz. Later, you are talking about the difference between the H-501 and H-501X. It is not only about the manual in Chinese, there is a difference in the frequency range according to the Tecsun H-501X page on the Anon-Co website you showed.
I am thinking about Tecsun H 50,1x recvier gilles
My PL-990X also has the problem of SSB sounding funny on higher frequencies. I don't get it.
I'm sorry, but this shouldn't be called "FULL review" with out even a single piece of sound, or spin of the knobs... it's a slides presentation while reading the specs...
A REVIEW is talking about a radio you tested before. You are talking about receiver test. this is a REVIEW, you want tests, czcams.com/users/officialswlchannel
Is it me, or do all Tecsun radios sort of look alike?
Yes they do have a very similar look and feel
They pretty much have one display on most radios including the table top so it's getting tiresome.
No air no sale
My favourite radio Pakistan in like
This may not mean anything to some people and may mean a lot to others but Tecsun is a Chinese company and all of their products are Made in China.