Sangean DT-400W AM/FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket Radio

• Digital AM/FM tuner
• 19 random presets
• "My Favorite Station" select button
• Optional 90-minute auto shutoff
• Built-in speaker/clock

This is a fine radio with very nice improvements starting from its predecessor, the Sangean DT-200VX. It is a very light and small portable radio with very good battery life that can be taken almost everywhere for full as well as easy listening capabilities.

PROS:

1) It has quite good reception on all bands (AM/FM and Weatherband). Now it also has excellent and almost completely static-free reception on all 7 US frequency channels of the standard NOAA weather-band. In addition, this radio also has the official NOAA weather alert detection capability to signal the user of impending weather disasters as well as other problematic situations such as child abductions, flash floods, earthquakes, etc. However, this NOAA alert capability is NOT the latest S.A.M.E. technology (Specific Area Message Encoding) that is available on some other table top units that can give a county by county area warning to individual users. Like its predecessor, this radio also has a monaural/stereo switch (bandwidth control) for FM listening improvement, but there is no RF (radio frequency) DX gain switch on the DT-400W as there is on the new Sony SRF-37W for example, but see Con below.

2) It has a very big and easy to read display with a battery level indicator, a lock display indicator, a 90 minute shutoff capability (that can be disabled during each listening session if needed) with an on-screen indicator, etc. It also has a clock and a backlit display, but see Con below.

3) There is a very nice arrangement (called My Favorites) for as many as 19 presets for any band in any order with simple retrieval of all presets, but only in order from the first one designated to the 19th one in a logical progression (it won't go backwards to find the previous preset for example).

4) Its deep bass boost is a very nice feature.

5) Automatic scanning capability and seeking capability, but see Con below.

6) It also has a nice and easily removable belt clip for wearing the unit for jogging or walking.

CONS:

1) Backlight cannot be turned off even in daytime and even in bright sunshine conditions. It is apparently an LED (light emitting diode) with an extremely low power drain, but it seems very illogical to me that it can't be overridden when it isn't needed at all. Apparently, it is actually only on briefly while tuning the radio and then it shuts itself off after a short time, but to not be able to disable it entirely when it is not needed seems absolutely counterintuitive to me.

2) It is certainly well built with a fully attached battery compartment door (requiring two AA batteries), but it is not as rugged as the Sony SRF-37W for example (and the latter only requires 1 AAA battery). Of course the reception and acoustics are better overall on the DT-400W so get a good case (like the Sakar International HS-10, a small hard shell case which it fits like a glove).

3) A 90 day limited warranty from Sangean America is way too short given that even the Sony SRF-M37W has a 1 year limited warranty (see my review of the SRF-M37W and also its product manual for details).

4) During automatic scanning/seeking, the audio is muted so you can't hear any stations as they are detected. Only the strongest stations are picked up during the scanning/seeking process. Of course during manual scanning the individual stations are easily heard so that you can readily pick the station you want to listen to.

5) Sangean chose to put the speaker controls on the same slide switch along with the Stereo/Mono (bandwidth) changing capability. In my opinion the arrangement was better on the DT-200V with a simple and direct push button Stereo/Mono switch on the front of the radio and not on the side with one other commonly used function.

6) As also discussed by others, you must connect the short trailing wire (that is supplied by Sangean) or else connect a set of supplied earbuds (or a more comfortable set of headphonessee below) in order to receive any FM or Weather-band transmissions at allincluding the weather alert transmissions.

7) The supplied earbuds are very uncomfortable and could also be quite dangerous given the volume output that this unit is capable of with 2 AA batteries.

Buy Sangean DT-400W AM/FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket Radio Now

I wasn't happy with the FM on my tiny Sangean DT-180 and my Sony SFR-M37V provided similarly disappointing FM. But both were good on AM.

Wanting an upgrade, I bought the DT-400 on Amazon for $61 free shipping. You can choose the built-in speaker or go through the earbuds, which serve as the FM antenna. Without the earbuds or provided wire you will get zero FM reception. I replaced the stock buds with my V-MODAs and the FM was just as good.

The AM and FM of the DT0400 beat the reception of my aforementioned radios. The weather band is a plus as is the Deep Bass button. Also, with TV band obsolete in 2009, the DT-400, which replaces TV with weather, is an important update.

The sound is far better through the provided buds or my upgraded V-MODAs and I recommend using them over the built-in speaker.

Final verdict: Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Sangean DT-400W AM/FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket Radio Here

This is a decent AM/FM (stereo) weather alert radio with two exceptions you should be aware of.

Number 1: You will NOT be able to receive FM or Weather Radio without first attaching the supplied external antenna (a piece of wire that plugs into the earphone jack) or having the earphones plugged in. If you are counting on the radio as a weather alert radio and don't have the antenna with you or forget to plug it in, you won't get the warning.

Number 2: If you have the earphones plugged in and you are listening with the speaker turned off (there's a switch on the side to change from headphone to speaker listening), you'll have an antenna but the speaker will be off and you won't hear the warning unless you are wearing the headphones.

Also, don't pack this radio away in your emergency kit with batteries installed. The radio has a clock feature which continuously uses battery power so just when you need it, it may be DOA.

Want Sangean DT-400W AM/FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket Radio Discount?

I feel strongly compelled to add to this discussion and the comparison between the Sangean DT-210V and the newer model Sangean DT-400W pocket size radio.

First off... I have both in my possession as we speak. So I am a reliable source for what I am about to share.

Now I have owned the DT-210V for at least four years. I have loved this radio! Reception, sound, performance... is second to none in pocket size radios. I have purchased at least 4 of these over that span of time... telling friends of this great gem and they have loved it as I have! The earlier purchases came with a great set of ear plugs that rival named brands at $30 to $50 a hit. More recently, Sangean no longer ships these earplugs but a lesser quality replacement with purchase of the DT-210V (similar to one in picture above). That's a shame... but I have kept my originals and still use them regularly.

Ok... just recently, I purchased the DT-400W... and hear is what I can tell you definitively for comparison of each model:

1) Reception: No difference. Don't get caught up in the lame claims that AM is better or worse for either model. There is no difference for either AM or FM reception. The KEY is the sound that fills the ears... and the more "tinny" it sounds... the more pronounced the hiss or static becomes (i.e. I took note of a claim that the DT-210V was superior in AM reception over DT-400W by a post from Amazon). Which brings me to my next very important point.

2) Quality of sound: Hands down, slam dunk... the DT-210V wins by a mile. I Could not believe the difference in overall quality of sound. I have always been impressed with the DT-210V's ability to sound like a concert hall in my ears... coming from a such a small device. Now... mind you, I am comparing these two pocket size radios using the SAME set of quality earplugs that came with my original DT-210V purchase (How nice if one is lucky to find these earplugs with a future purchase of the DT-210V. However, if not... you can always go and purchase better earplugs seperately but one has to understand... it will only sound as good as the unit that is pushing it out. Which brings me to the DT-400W). There is no debate regarding the nice additonal features of the DT-400W model, with its enhanced updated memory presets (easier to use after setting), the updated weather band, the LCD light, etc. But... the SOUND of this radio is a BIG disappointment when comparing with the DT-210V. It sounds flat and un-impessive to the ears. Easily... inferior in quality of sound to the DT-210V. I guess something has to be sacrificed when a company adds features. I can do without... if it means sacrificing the most important thing.

Now, if all you are looking for... is a good weather band and AM talk and sports, then by all means... the DT-400W is a very nice purchase. But... if your priority is FM sound and reception from a pocket size device, then I HIGHLY recommend the DT-210V. It blows away the DT-400W for overall sound quality (via earplugs or external speaker which both have).

Of course, the DT-210V's nice feature for TV sound will become obselete very soon. I haven't used it enough to care. I thought the weather band would be nice to have, but I can live without it... if it means sacrificing overall quality of sound to the ears.

For me... when you're plugging something into your head... it better sound real good! The DT-210V is far and away better than the DT-400W in comparison for this category. Reception is no different... regardless of what you might hear. I tested with same earplugs in use for both.

In summary, I was excited over the purchase of the DT-400W (with its additional features), until I did the comparison of the two radios. It's not even close to me.

I am taking the DT-400W back. Not because of its quality of reception that is Sangean's trademark. Simply because I already have a pocket size radio (DT-210V) that provides the same quality of reception... but quality of sound that is easily superior.

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There is little I can say or add that previous fine reviewers have not covered other than this little wonder just accompanied me and my family through hurricane Ike and it performed spectacularly.

Normally I wouldn't be anxious to hand over $60 for a "pocket radio," but this ain't your father's pocket radio. I'm into my sixth decade on this planet and have seen any number of "pocket radio" variations in that time, none of them as complete a package as this. I'm currently also a talk radio buff and hail the return of AM radio for that format. I also love old analog radio dials but you can't beat a digital with pre-sets for quick tuning accuracy, especially on a radio this size. Because of its size the speaker sound is on the sharp side but for someone my age with a degree of high-end hearing loss it's great.

I cannot find a single fault with this little jewel. It is frugal on batteries even though a small LED illuminates the display for about 7 seconds whenever a function button is pressed while the radio is on, which is especially helpful when you're in the dark without power.

Read the features list everything on it is real and works as advertised. I couldn't be more satisfied.