Sangean SG-108 AM FM HD Portable Radio Review

[@todderbert]

(paid links below) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The Sangean SG-108 at Amazon: amzn.to/3lU8dYi ▶ The Sangean HDR-14 at Amazon: amzn.to/37xV3HR

[@st.louisdxer9616]

On the original HDR-14 it only displays the clock and date when plugged into an AC adapter. This is both a blessing and a curse; saves batteries, but less convenient. Overall, the SG-108 looks good, but since it’s virtually the same internally, that doesn’t warrant me to buy it, I’ll stick with my HDR-14 and my other multiple HD equipped radios. Thanks Todd! Also the LOOP lives on WKQX HD2!

[@NTPTM]

Hej Todderbert Sangean SG-108 interesting it was a while since I bought a Sangean radio but I like the brand a lot. And like how you reference this radio white wedding nice song with Billy Idol love it. Take care and have a nice radio week and be safe out there.

[@Tykoon]

Great video. I wish CCrane would release an HD Radio. I need an HD Radio with NOAA, SW, Air Band. Now that Eton is releasing the New Eton Elite Executive HD, CCrane will have to jump on the HD Wagon.

[@DizJakeOG]

Love that low, thick tone.

[@focus2004able]

The DAB= system is used for digital radio here in Australia, and is broadcast using the VHF Band III TV channels, I live in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, and just about all the AM & FM stations are on DAB, Sangean released one of these radios for DAB+/FM reception, can't recall the model, but it looks very similar to this one, had a play with one in one of the electrical stored one time, and was quite impressed with the audio quality from the speaker, it's a great little radio.

[@raymondmartin6737]

I just ordered one on Amazon with a Gift card credit and Amazon Reward Points to help reduce the price. I have a couple of Insignia radios with HD, but only FM. I look forward to HD AM and like the white color too, plus the FM and other features.

[@bennolanswaggerdiaperteenbaby]

I love my hdr 14

[@benpickford9024]

I have a much older radio with the same design as this, it is a roberts R9947 which is a rebadged sangean DT-22/L. It has built in retractable earphones on the back and under the volume control is a switch for speaker or earphones, you can see where this would be on your SG-108 and HRD-14.

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

Both SANGEAN and SPARC HD RADIOS support International tuning support.

[@khursheedahmed793]

Nice Radio

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

Similar to HDR-14? How about AM FM Region settings? I set to Region A on AM in 9 kHz step with expanded band, and for FM, I set to Region D (Japanese FM band)..

[@todderbert]

Its four minutes into the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4iklYlnod6Norc

[@ToddHa]

I have (3) of the HDR-14s (1 new, 2 renewed). Also have the older SPARC hd radio. Great radios & great review. Here in St Louis, alot of HD Radio stations, even one on AM band. As Todderbert indicated, I too highly recommend to turn OFF the (EAS) Emergency Alert feature while using the batteries. The Emrg Alert feature taxes the batteries way too heavily. Batteries for the SG-108, two rechargeable battery recommendations: 1-Try Ikea's LADDA 'AA' 2450mAh batteries (cheaper to buy them directly from the Ikea store or the Website ; Ikea's LADDA batteries are made in Japan). Ikea has made some minor cosmetic changes to their LADDA batteries. The other battery recommendation would be the Panasonic Eneloop 'AA' batteries. The white color of either battery type should more closely match the white of the SG-108.

[@ToddHa]

@madmex89 The price was right. It was below $50 at that time for the renewed units. I couldn't resist the price. I wanted to get a spare one for my basement & one for suitcase when I travel. Hopefully the prices will once again drop.

[@chriscourson2824]

Have you ever reviewed a Polaroid radio? I have a small am/fm one

[@hdofu]

I really have some questions for Sangean as to why they didn't just release this as the HDR-14, that said as someone with the HDR-14, 15, 16 and 18 wish the 15 had been black instead of white instead of that odd number they chose for it's black variant .

[@steveweinberg462]

The HD performance appears much better than the HDR-16 too. But I don't think you had the clip on antenna when you did that review? I do wonder how an apples to applies comparison would do?

[@mickeybrumfield764]

It appears to be difficult to make an assessment of the sensitivity of these HD radios.

[@todderbert]

Location to the transmitters is key.

[@pendulousphallus]

I'd love to play with an HD Radio but I think the platform is already kaput. The format had been around for a while and nobody I know is even aware of it. Only a couple of the broadcasters around me are taking advantage of substations.

[@hdofu]

its most popular in certain parts of the country mostly for cars, a lot of fm stations will have a rotation of sub stations on the 2nd and 3rd station and in some cases 4th.

[@DriveInFreak]

Not to be Mr Negative, but I will tell you what other broadcasters will not HD radio was an act of desperation. The iPod, Napster, and CD burning scared the hell out of broadcasters, and rightfully so. Listenership was already way down to to deregulation and lackluster content. Add to that the then new ability for listeners to listen to a piratically endless supply of almost anything they'd like to listen to without them having to haul around a large and expensive stash of CDs or tapes or getting hit with advertising. That had us on the ropes. The big boy's answer to the problem? HD radio. Unfortunately it's a arguably better sounding from of something that a lot of people simply didn't want any more, and more of what they didn't want anymore It was a band-aide on a terminal patient. Don't get me wrong as we are still hanging in there. It's not all doom and gloom. In fact, I'm having a blast. It's just not what it used to be.

[@panispuche6051]

Con un saludo, recomiendo una revisión Sangean PR-D17

[@satamototo]

Nice review. About the radio - poor battery management(can't charge rechargeables), lacks SW and it have a price of a good general receiver like XHDATA D-808... It sounds and looks line 3-40$ ish radio, but only in US. Have no DAB(+) for the rest of the world.

[@martz1191]

What is with the re-naming of these sangean models?

[@todderbert]

no clue, just to confuse us :)

[@jdg5468]

Do you still like it?

[@todderbert]

Yes, if I didn't it would be sold :)

[@DriveInFreak]

That one will do MA3 mode (i.e "all-digital AM") ...pr as I like to call it "AM suicide". IBOC/HS AM is pratically dead. Is there an AM stereo (CQUAM) station your aria, and of so, will that radio decode it? A lot of HD radios will decode AM stereo despite it not being mentioned in the paperwork, ect. Why? The original plan for IBOC AM was to run IBOC/HD in the daytime, and AM Stereo at night. IBOC rakes up the two adjacent frequencies, thus would turn the band into a mash filled mess at night

[@todderbert]

It seems I used to have that on 780 WBBM, but it is now turned off. Why it was stereo, with no stereo music. It is a news/traffic/weather station 24/7...except for OTR on the Weeknights.