Sangean HDR-16 AM FM Stereo HD Radio Review

The Sangean HDR-16 AM FM Stereo HD portable radio is a champ when it comes to on the go audio. The fidelity of the HD signal is very impressive with this receiver. FM reception is on par with the best radios from Sangean. Bass and Treble controls sculpt the audio the way you want, and with an amazing headphone experience, you have a Winner.
(paid links below) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you.
▶ The Sangean HDR-16 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/37PfEHf
▶ The Sangean HDR-16 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/3fAUijq
▶ Todd's Shop: www.amazon.com...
Features I like about this HD radio:
Amazing FM Reception.
Superb Selectivity on both Bands.
AM Reception is well above average during the Day and Evenings.
Two Line, Sixteen Character Dot Matrix LCD Display.
Stereo Speaker Audio is Excellent. HD modes push Fidelity to New Heights ;)
Built in Handle...oh how this is so nice to have.
Separate Bass/Treble controls with Twelve steps on Each.
Headphone Experience is one of the best I have experienced on a portable.
REC OUT, Line-Level Out.
Aux IN.
Emergency Alerts with Location Parameters with up to Ten stored Locations.
Two Smart Alarms, wake to radio/buzzer on Scheduled Events.
Twenty Presets per Band. Forty in Total.
Dedicated HD Seek Buttons.
RDS.
Auto Time Set.
Calendar.
Multiple AM and FM Regions that can be changed.
Sleep Timer.
FM Stereo can be Forced to Mono under Menu.
Included AC Adapter.
Features that could be added or improved on:
Matte Finish Please.
A dedicated FM Stereo Switch like the PR-D15 has.
A way to turn off auto HD seeking. Can be troublesome when the signal is just strong enough.
Design it to accommodate D Cells.
Overall, if you find this radio on sale for under $70, grab one quick. You will love it. I don't get a ton of HD stations, but the regular AM and FM performance are enough to justify its cost. The HD is an extra bonus and really makes this radio shine.
Come join the Todderbert Discussion Group over at Discord:
/ discord
* Todderbert's Rockin' Radio Shop *
www.radiowaves...
You can help support the channel now by just doing your normal shopping through my Amazon links.
You don't even need to buy the item you are linked to. Just remember to use the link when you decide to shop for something at the big online store :) Awesome!
▶ Amazon Item Donation: www.amazon.com...
▶ Patreon Forum: / todderbert
Special thanks go out to my Patreon Cornerstone Supporters:
Arnold Alt
Peter Atkinson
floredon
Jon B
Gary B
Don B
Paul B
Rita B
Eric C
Chuck E
Loretta J
Mac R
Raymond V

[@todderbert]

(paid links below) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The Sangean HDR-16 at Amazon USA: amzn.to/37PfEHf ▶ The Sangean HDR-16 at Amazon CA: amzn.to/3fAUijq

[@tvradio1972]

Wow! That radio is amazing, especially the selectivity on AM. The sound and FM seem impressive to me as well. Thank you for reviewing it.

[@todderbert]

It is one of my favorite Sangean models.

[@cejimene]

@@todderbert hi How do You compare this model with tha PR d15 and d19?

[@stilesmcgraw]

I just bought one of these. I wasn't sure if I was going to be happy with it or not. I had a big question about how it might work and this video answered ALL my questions and showed me that I made a great purchase. I was exceptionally happy hearing your sound quality! I can't wait til it comes in! I will be keeping this video. Who needs an owners manual when we have you! LOL!

[@MusicalHifi54]

I’ve had this radio now for several months and I love it. This past weekend I brought it with me to my in-laws to listen to as I was bbq’ing for my brother in-laws party as he’s home for a week (he is in the U.S. Navy) 🇺🇸 ⚓️ I ended up using this radio for the party 🎶 🎉 as their big Bluetooth speaker broke 😂 I just hooked up my Bluetooth transmitter to the auxiliary and placed the radio on a shelf near the patio/dance floor and partied into the wee hours of the night 🕺 💃 😂 This radio ended up being a lifesaver and has been beyond my expectation and am just glad and tickled at how well this radio has come through.

[@Yesterday5656]

PURCHASE UPDATE: This radio is currently unavailable on Amazon until further notice. It continues to be available on the Walmart website I purchased this radio on November 4th 2022 from Amazon for $107. I have owned a lot of radios and I have to say this is among the very best. I live in the Los Angeles area about 30 to 50 miles from most FM stations yet I am getting all local HD programming with very few reception problems. The audio quality on FM is amazing! AM band audio quality tends to be a bit muffled even after turning down the bass level. But AM reception beats a lot of smaller portables using only the built in ferrite antenna. Overall I am VERY happy with my purchase.

[@MusicalHifi54]

I purchased this radio last night and am looking forward to it! I have also recently purchased the Sony ICF-19 and have been using it for a couple weeks now and I must say I absolutely love it! It does so well here in Houston. Cheers 🍺 love your videos. I’m going to have to purchase some of your merch soon. ✌🏼 & ❤️…

[@MrSparks54]

I can get behind that bad boy. Well actually I did! Now I can listen to WRN World Radio Network again. I've found some interesting HD programming in my area, love it! Thanks Todd

[@SteveMoser]

I ordered one of these after seeing good reviews on it; thanks for this detailed review.

[@MusicalHifi54]

*Update if you will. We’ve moved out to a semi-rural area about 6 months ago and the news station that I listen to all the time and only comes in clear on this radio 🙌🏼 very much appreciating this radio to get my daily news and sports report everyday as I’m getting ready for work.

[@st.louisdxer9616]

I love the bass/treble, the easy preset and the look of this one. The FM reception seems to be on par with the Elite Field

[@todderbert]

This radio is one of my favorites.

[@eddiedowning2571]

I ordered mine yesterday on Amazon. For 99.99 and I will be getting it tomorrow Tuesday not bad fast shipping can't wait to use here in Connecticut

[@hdofu]

The stereo speakers are a great feature of this radio.

[@dxsphere]

Nice review!

[@LTHanlon]

I've been reluctant to pull the trigger on this radio because I often tune in 1 kHz when DXing on the AM band, but the HDR-16 really rocks here!

[@bobwigg761]

This is a nice radio and I am a Sangean fan. I’d also like to see D Batteries utilized and Bluetooth to use with Smartphones. HD has always been sketchy, especially an issue when trying to listen in a moving vehicle. The gradual volume increase for the alarms is another great feature; I have this on an older Panasonic Clock Radio. It is called “Tender Wake”.

[@shyguy882]

Pretty impressive DX ongoing here in the Chicago area the past few days - this HDR-16 has been my go-to

[@NTPTM]

Hej Todderbert nice radio some very nice news the reverse tuning bug on the Tecsun PL 330 is fixed on the export version. I only have three Sangean radios i have two Sr 35 wow great sound on the sr 35 and the i have Sangean WFR -29C internet radio. And have had my latest radio Retekess TR 13 a few days now Wow very happy with it so far. The fm reception is so nice and the sound love it take care have a nice weekend.

[@maninacan.6285]

Great radio, too bad sangean didn't put weather built in, ( important to me) other than that I might pick one up. Still waiting for ccrane radio3 to come out on Amazon. I'll definitely pick that one up too. Thanks for the video you do a great job explaining , and enjoyed as always

[@zackschindler8334]

I have one and it is a n amazing radio. If they added WX radio to it that would make it exceptional.

[@justingalasso1850]

This is a great radio. I have this radio in black and orange and the sound and reception is great especially compared to other older cd boomboxes and things I own. I live in a pretty fringe area and other than car stereos most radios can only pick up maybe 4 or 5 local stations in the area while this and I have another similar radio that's like a predecessor to this one which is basically the same thing without the HD can pick up distant stations with ease that are completely non existent on the average radios. I actually got both of these radios side by side and compared them and the reception seemed about even with them too. Great radios though.

[@mcloud2021]

Ok, I've been convinced. I will order this radio.

[@zackschindler8334]

One thing I hate about the radio is that the alarm does not work unless the radio is on AC power. I bought the radio intending to use it to wake me up everyday but it does not do this when using batteries. Ended up getting a Sangean HDR-14 to work as my alarm.

[@jamesrevell6475]

I wish CCRANE would make something like this. I have a few CCRANE radios but I need something with dual speakers for stereo.

[@Minusroot8]

Would you say this is the best combination of FM and AM on a recent radio? I’m torn between this and the PR-D12. Both seem great at picking up both FM and AM. Thanks again Todderbert for great reviews!

[@todderbert]

This before D12 unless you need NOAA weather broadcasts.

[@Minusroot8]

Thanks! Now just waiting for a better price and I’ll have my first “good” radio!

[@Minusroot8]

I just want to get every AM and FM station I can. Watching you searching for AM stations sparked an interest and my family loves FM.

[@Yesterday5656]

AVAILABILITY UPDATE… I have checked Sangean, Walmart EBay none for sale at the present time December 9,2022 as I type this

[@AMDXplusplus]

that 920 is CKNX from Wingham, Ontario.

[@todderbert]

Sometimes it is WOKY, Milwaukee WI. 50 Miles from me.

[@baneverything5580]

todderbert ... Do you know of a good deal on 18650 batteries that actually have accurate mAh ratings? I keep getting ripped off on Amazon. Thanks.

[@todderbert]

www.18650batterystore.com/

[@renaissancegamer2329]

Thank you very much, sir. I’ve been waiting for this review. This is currently at about $109 on Amazon; should I wait for it to go on sale or is that a fair price?

[@todderbert]

It seems to hover around the $99 mark. Pre-Pandemic it would go on sale once in awhile. After the Pandemic subsides we should see more in the marketplace and the prices may go down. If you are into Refurb units, watch for them as well for a good deal.

[@fairyball3929]

I'm surprised you were able to pickup 670 The Score's HD radio signal on yhe AM band. I don't have a Sangean radio, I just use a laptop, an RTL-SDR reciever, and either NRSC5 or NRSC5-gui, but I haven't been able to find any HD Radio broadcasts on the AM band in Skokie, IL.

[@alexk8640]

Does this radio have the same AM antenna as the PRD-15? I can't find the specs anywhere. Thank you and I love your reviews!

[@todderbert]

It has a shorter four inch antenna, but it still pulls the stations in like the big brother's 200mm antenna.

[@elcues]

I just got one of these radios. I am needing some earphones for it. What do you recommend ? I prefer the corded type. I have never used cordless ones anyway. Very nice review. I believe it is safe to say by all that watched, ThankYou

[@CommercialThyme]

I have the original version of this model purchased 4 years ago. My only issue with it was the backlight would constantly stay on when using AC power. Did they fix that problem with this revised version?

[@The06201980]

Looks cool, but I’ll wait for another sale, it’s at $110 now

[@RETROTV1394]

Just ordered one today. A few years after it's initial release..haha. but atleast it's better late than never. A little disappointed with the Eton Elite Executive. I think the Eaton is a great radio, however I had a horrible time acquiring AM frequencies. I wasn't able to isolate any stations coming in ,,perhaps it was something faulty on my end. However The Eton was excellent on the FM band. As good as my C.Crain 2 .

[@raulgongora2077]

Nice radio and superpower.

[@cduby1424]

Hey the a.m. has got some strength to it.

[@SolarizeYourLife]

I wish these manufacturers would add Bluetooth for multiple reasons...bt remote control, bt earphones, and and bt music player to the radio speakers...

[@ab935]

My Sony xdr just died after 13 years.....almost to the day. Thinking about getting one of these. Do you still like it?

[@todderbert]

Love this radio. One of my favorites.

[@alexlawler9515]

Great review. Is this radio a better option for FM dx than the D4W? The D4W has 40 KHz FM selectivity. Can this radio match this narrow selectivity and give good sensitivity. Infact can any radio you've reviewed match the D4Ws selectivity and offer dx sensitivity. I live in the UK and our stations are 100 kHz apart.

[@seamuscat1018]

I’ve done my research, I’m pretty set on buying this radio, just curious about the backlight. The only ones I can find seem to be orange. I’ve seen pictures of them in green as this one appears to be which I like much better. Wondering where I can find one like that. thanks

[@todderbert]

Order from Amazon, It is the latest version. amzn.to/3gu2Yvg It shows old pictures, but it is the new one. Along with extra presets!

[@christophercruz8359]

I stream music. Would I be able to plug my phone into this radio's auxiliary outlet?

[@isaacschaff8076]

How can you turn the backlight off while listening?

[@eddiedowning2571]

On Am at Night I got WSM 650am Nashville Tennessee and also a station in Atlanta Georgia on am no wire or anything and I'm in Connecticut

[@donbest5024]

I have older version, paid 50 cent did not work,battery compartment had Leakey batteries,all corroded up,went to chinamart and got a wallwort adapter for 7.5 volts for12 dollars,took it home cleaned all the corroded parts up,works like new now.After watching this im going outside tonight to do a channel scan on am to see if I can get some hd on the am band,no hd fm here live in South East Ala.I did get a Philadelphia am channel in hd a few months back.

[@cduby1424]

I know you like the pdr 19 for e skip, but I was noticing the analog f.m. to be really good on the sangean hdr 16 , I'm torn between which one to purchase, do you have an opinion on this.

[@todderbert]

HDR-16 all the way. If the price is right.

[@cduby1424]

@@todderbert Thank you sir, I believe that's what I'm gonna do.

[@michaelmelling9333]

Thanks for the great Review! I just ordered a refurbished one off Amazon for around $67 and I also got a 3-year extended warranty for it for around ten bucks. (Maybe not the smartest way to go ... but I'm looking forward to getting it just the same.🙂) I was really pleased to hear you say that the headphone listening experience is excellent! (Any suggestion for a particular set of headphones that would be well-suited for it would be much appreciated!) Now I just need to see about getting those rechargeable batteries for it. Again, thanks much!👍 P.S. I relistened to what you said about those batteries but wasn't able to hear exactly what brand/model they are. Sooo could you please let me know? Thanks!!

[@todderbert]

I use EBLs NiMH.

[@michaelmelling9333]

@@todderbert thanks!!💥

[@bennolanswaggerdiaperteenbaby]

So cool and swag

[@jimutley754]

Cost aside, which is the better radio, the HDR-16 or the PR-D15?

[@todderbert]

If you love MW during the day, PR-D15. Otherwise the HDR-16 is fantastic. Having the extra HD channels is nice, and it does great on MW during the Day, and Night.

[@matthewunglesbee3449]

How can I get radio stations 100 miles away here in Quincy IL I got the HDR 18 one

[@todderbert]

You could try C.Cranes Dipole FM antenna.

[@matthewunglesbee3449]

@@todderbert where do I get one

[@joesmith4222]

Hey, I'm in NorCal with the same radio on AM. Best skip tonight, picking up in clarity, Seattle Komo, KSL Utah 1160, L.A. 1070, and KFMB San Diego. Are you experiencing the same where you are?

[@todderbert]

It is a solid evening for listening on MW.

[@hyretech]

Is there a website that lists the HD Radio Emergency Alert station in my area?

[@kurtisgump1104]

Good radio

[@ZardEAS]

I like it

[@russbott4062]

decent unit does it have a headphone jack ? would also like to run the 3.5mm to rca and use it for a tuner on my stereo as well I see we live in the same location

[@todderbert]

Has a Stereo Headphone jack and a Line-Out jack: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGSmnax_oc93q6s

[@ivanjuca3593]

Lindo Rádio!🔝

[@stereomann83]

i noticed my radio does not have the page button

[@todderbert]

could be an older model, not sure when they added more presets.

[@stereomann83]

@@todderbert oh ok thanks for letting me know. it's not a bad radio its nice for taking to the beach which is what I'm using it for now.

[@Sandaesa]

Does it recharge NiMh batteries 🔋?

[@elcues]

The directions say. Whenever the adapter is used, the batteries are automatically disconnected. I would take that as it does not charge the batteries. It also notes the AC adapter should be disconnected from the AC outlet when not in use.

[@stereomann83]

i think the radio could have a little more bass.

[@rentedduckliing]

How’s the battery life

[@michaelmelling9333]

Hello, it's me again!🙂 Can you tell me if when this HDR - 16 is plugged in to either turn the LED back light off or at least dim it? (It's VERY bright ... and I also wonder if it'll burn out eventually due to being on so much?) Thanks much for your time!🙂🗯

[@todderbert]

Not that I know of.

[@michaelmelling9333]

@@todderbert thanks!!👍

[@Dave-if5qj]

So unfortunate that hd radio Never cought on

[@Sluuurp]

W życiu bym tego nie kupił. Są identyczne z kolorowym wyświetlaczem modułem internetowym i DAB. Mam dwie szare sztuki.

[@calebs.8778]

Have you done the HDR-18?

[@antemilisa1165]

Would this radio receive FM stations in Europe?

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

HD RADIO IN PARTS EUROPE MOSTLY IN ROMANIA, FRANCE, BULGARIA, etc.. IT HAS INTERNATIONAL TUNING SUPPORT. 522 - 1710 kHz at 9 kHz step. 87.5 - 108.0 MHz at 0.1 MHz step.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

MENU SELECT FOR INTERNATIONAL TUNING SUPPRORT. REGION A also for use in parts of Europe, Philippines, Guam, Mariana Islands, Romania. Region B are for North America and Brazil use (520 - 1710 kHz in 10 kHz step, 87.5 - 107.9 MHz in 0.2 MHz step) Region C for use in Southeast Asia (87.50 - 108.00 MHz in 0.05 MHz steps, 522 - 1620 kHz in 9 kHz steps) REGION D for use in Japan and Brazil (FM only) (76.0 - 108.0 MHz in 0.1 MHz steps, 522 - 1629 kHz in 9 kHz steps).

[@alexlawler9515]

What's better for FM dx selectivity and sensitivity this or the cc crane 2e?

[@todderbert]

This radio is better on FM. The 2E is great on MW.

[@alexlawler9515]

@@todderbert Thanks you've just saved me 67 dollars. I was about to get the 2e instead.

[@ddbtdd]

Is it capable of additional speakers or use as a tuner?

[@todderbert]

Record Out should be Line Level. So it could be incorporated into a HiFi System.

[@wvmountaineer69]

Does it come with a cord to plug into a wall outlet? Thank you!

[@elcues]

It comes with an AC adapter.

[@elcues]

Comes with an AC Adapter.

[@dxerindonesia]

what is the length of the ferrite antenna?

[@todderbert]

I believe around four inches, it does not have the 200mm one it in. Though the sensitivity on the AM band is great.

[@dxerindonesia]

@@todderbert which one better hrd 16 or prd 19?

[@franciscojimenez9978]

Have AM Stereo

[@hdofu]

If you mean HD AM (which offers stereo) yes it does, if you mean one of the older AM Stereo methods, no it doesn’t

[@libertycabbagemusic]

Did you skip over the conservative talk stations because you're a leftist?

[@todderbert]

No, there are mostly all right wing stations on the band. I think there is one Left Wing station on the band near me. I just tune away from whining..can't stand it.

[@ernestalcala4369]

Most people do