Kaito KA105 Portable radio

• Kaito AM/FM/SW shortwave radio with high quality and stylish design
• 3 tuning optional: Scan/Key in/Memory, up to 30 memory stations
• LCD display with back light, Alarm clock and sleep timer
• Aluminum alloy front cover, full angle rotation antenna and hinged battery cover
• 90 days money back guarantee and one year limited warranty

This is a tiny digital radio, including presets, at the 50-dollar price point. The size of a small bar of soap, the KA105 delivers crisp sound; it locks on stations; its AM reception is equal to its big brothers the Kaito 1101, 1102, and 1103.

But don't get this radio for shortwave. And don't get this radio for music. The speaker is too small to separate musical instrumentation. Talk radio is fine and that's what I'd limit this radio to. For a little more, you might be happier with the Kaito 1101. The latter sits with good stability on its stand whereas the 105 sits on a wobbly plastic slat that has a tendency to fall off.

I've had mine in the bathroom for over a year now and it pulls in the distant NPR Pasadena 89.3 with ease. For its limited use, it's quite effective. But I wouldn't buy it as an "everyday" radio.

If you need a little travel radio and you listen to talk, the KA 105 will be fine. But if you want musical fidelity, I suggest you upgrade to a Tivoli Audio Songbook, also a digital radio, for 160 dollars. If you want fidelity and don't mind analog tuning (with digital readout), you might look at the 99-dollar Grundig S350.

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Very few pocket radios come with a clock and alarm anymore. While it is a little spendy, it does the trick and actually pulls in some distant stations. The audio is not great for music, but what do you expect for a speaker that small. Anyway, it is fine overall.

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I bought this radio as a travel radio alarm clock. I have used it for two weeks. It does a very poor job of getting FM or AM stations when you are not in a large city. I was using it in small cities. Second, the antenna is very hard to use. You need real force to get it out of the radio, and it seems to be breaking. This is after two weeks of daily use. The plus side is that the radio is light. But if I had to make the purchase again I would definitely buy a radio that weighed about 16 ounces, and might do a better job away from major cities and had higher quality control.

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I like shortwave portables, but currently it seems that no manufacturer makes one that is delivered without problems. The Kaito's AM band selectivity is not just annoying, but appears to be at least five (ten?) channels wide, making it worse than useless on that band. I've seen crystal radios with far better selectivity. The other bands/features work well, but as usual, there is one glaring problem.