Sony ICF-38 AM FM Portable Radio Review

[@todderbert]

Quick Link: ▶ The Sony ICF-38 at Ebay: bit.ly/SonyICF38 (paid link) As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. There are no additional costs to you.

[@flyboy6258]

I have this radio and love it. I've been a radio hobbyist since I was a preteen. I used to lay in my bed at night DX the AM band back in the 1960's. The facination has never waned. Keep up the great reviews. I have to hide my radio purchases from the wife. She just doesn't understand.

[@todderbert]

My wife lets me slide a bit, she knows it is for "reviews" :)

[@pizzaface4079]

I also hide purchases from my wife 🙂

[@enielsenvideos]

I bought a Sony ICF-38 for $1.00 at a thrift store. Best radio I ever had.

[@totallyfrozen]

Wow! That’s an incredible deal!

[@ArndroidInc]

This is my daily driver. I listen to this radio in my bedroom, I have another in the bathroom and one at the office. I love the FM audio quality. I can listen to it at a very low volume in the office all day without bothering my co-workers. I love this radio. What a terrific video.

[@todderbert]

I can see why this radio is always popular on Ebay. Was happy to snag one at a decent price. This radio is really good.

[@midnightmover2329]

todderbert Hi,the earphone jack is Mono.Do you know of another with stereo?I would like to listen at night and not disturb everyone at home

[@MrScottcollier]

I still have one of these from many years back. It has been my fishing radio all that time. It's large enough to have excellent sound and heft but small enough to still fit in a medium size tackle box. Just a terrific little performer.

[@todderbert]

I was very surprised by its performance.

[@wmoore7621]

I just bought one of these used for $4.99 at a thrift store in Sacramento. Thanks for a great review.

[@mariojr377]

Dear Sir, Every single minute watching your reviews are a great pleasure. I love radio . Best regards from Brazil, Mario.

[@todderbert]

Thank you Mario.

[@TheDudeVT]

Just found one in like new condition at a local thrift shop for $5.99! Worked great and looks like the cord had never been used! Thanks for the great info on this and the other radios I keep finding.

[@pcat1000]

I'm not a Sony fan-boy ! I am a fan of the icf-38 though. I worked as an aircraft mechanic and bought one to use while working. My icf-38 has been dropped from workstands 4'-5' high at least 50 times over the past 9 years. everytime it hit the concrete floor and the batteries flew w/ the battery cover, I said to myself, ''well I guess it's time for a new radio''. I put the batteries back in and it still worked. The Sony radio has a broken battery cover that is held on w/ yellow duct tape and rubber bands, but it takes a licken and keeps on tikken very well, still sounds great and pulls in hard to get stations. Thanks for a superior product at a great price Sony !!!

[@DizJakeOG]

Got this radio for 2 bux on eBay. It was dirty but I cleaned it up and it works perfectly. LOVE this radio! The sound and functionality are perfect.

[@bryanbrenessanchez7861]

I have one and, for me it is the best portable radio I have ever owned. Great ICF-38.

[@jaimesk1688]

This is my favorite night AM radio. I use it often without the tuned loop. Very nice. Style-wise it's plain, but it's a 'sleeper' with hi performance.

[@Landrew0]

This was my third portable radio in a week. Then I found out the squeal wasn't a bad radio, it was my shaver's recharging circuit.

[@ENB2002]

I found one of these in a thrift store with the original box, but someone left batteries in it, which leaked, and the battery acid dried up and got into the radio, so when you moved it you heard it rattling around, and you could see it in the dial indicator as well. So I had to take it apart and clean it all out, and while doing so, I did confirm that the tuning is indeed geared. However, when reassembling the radio, I learned that you have to place the radio circuits back in the case absolutely perfectly, or the radio will make a clicking noise like it's rubbing against something when you're tuning it. Despite all of that, my radio works just fine, so it's all good in my book!

[@johnrecca7229]

I brought this radio refurbished at a Sony Outlet Store in Rehoboth, Delaware for $10.00 five years ago. It sounds great and takes a lick’en and keeps on thicken. Built like a Tank. Best Buy I ever had. JR

[@todderbert]

A solid radio. Tuning is a breeze.

[@mickeybrumfield764]

10 to 15 years ago you could walk into a Wal-Mart store and pick one of these up for 19.99 anytime you wanted. Solid radio no doubt always liked the tuning light was helpful in pulling in the stations.

[@todderbert]

That is the way the ICF-24 was also, but this 38 is so much better.

[@robertwhitby5192]

I've had three. I'm not doubting you, but I bought my first one 15 years for 39.99 at Kmart. Bought another at a yardsale after my first one disappeared. Don't know what happened to the second one either, but just bought another used one on mercari for 22.00 today.

[@mieludo]

I have one, it has been with me for many years, I also have a cc pocket radio. Good radios.

[@ianbutler1983]

Thanks. I have the 36 with the defunct TV band. Amazing radio.

[@ray_di_ohs739]

Nice portable would like to get my hands on one for a reasonable price and in good shape, another good review.

[@justincassidy4512]

Another cool video and radio from radio guy😀 yesterday a nice old lady on my street that I do errands for said I know you like radios and I found one in corner in my storage room and you can have it. Looked so junky but after I wipe it off it says Sony TFM 7300WA. Works even dial light only thing is turning it on and using volume is very crackly.

[@ray_di_ohs739]

Damn! kid you got your hands on a fantastic radio right there from all I have heard and read that radio is super sensitive, I would give you 100 bucks for it, the knobs likely just need cleaning stored away in a dusty environment.

[@rmccombs66]

I found one of these on ebay for $37 shipped it arrived today. It's like new.

[@rmccombs66]

I really have some noise AC on certain frequencies

[@Xmukherjee]

I modified this radio to run on 2 X 18650 batteries. Took out the transformer / cable and placed my 18650 batteries there. Capacitors are all rated at 10V so max. of 8.4 V will be just fine. And this radio runs for ever. I am surprised at the AM reception with 2.5" ferrite loop.

[@AMDXplusplus]

I think that's WEUP on 1700 from Huntsville.

[@johnsaeger4416]

Thanks for doing such a nice review of this radio! It helped me to decide to get an ICF-34 that I saw at a thrift store. I think the ICF-34 and ICF-36 are part of the same family of radios which changed a little bit over time. I'm pretty sure my '34 is from the early 90s. The '34 is bigger than the '38 and it has knobs instead of thumbwheels. It has a tone control and even though it's mono it plays through both ears of stereo headphones which is nice. But the main thing is how great the sound is. Sony sure knows how to make a radio sound nice. Thanks again!

[@todderbert]

Your welcome, I like that model 34 and am actively looking for one to review. They tend to sell for a premium. Probably because of the knobs.

[@johnsaeger4416]

Maybe so. I like the knobs. It sort of reminded me of a Hitachi KH-1080H I used to have as a kid. It had knobs too. I was sort of looking for one of those, but now I have the 34. So I'm not looking so hard any more. I think the Hitachi radios are pretty rare. I should never have gotten rid of it. Oh well...

[@clockworkbike]

Wow, you get a lot of AM stations. I don't get so many but I'm in the center of my city. Are you located away from the city?

[@todderbert]

Yes, I live about thirty five miles away from Chicago.

[@SegoYT]

Is this able to be connected with aux?

[@mitchceiling1506]

I just bought one of these from eBay and it’s my new daily driver. Can’t say enough good things about it. They don’t make them like they used to

[@danielsaround5720]

In what year was this first released?

[@totallyfrozen]

I bought one of these brand new on Amazon for around $25. Today, they want nearly $200. I bought a Panasonic RF-2400D and didn’t like it so I returned it to Amazon. Then, I found a Panasonic RF-2400 (the original, analog model. NOT the 2400D, DSP model). The RF-2400D gets rave reviews. I’m a Sony and Sangean fanboy, but I did have some complaints about this radio. Well…then I did a A/B comparison between this Sony and the Panasonic RF-2400 (both analog). This Sony won for selectivity and low noise floor. I was getting some RF noise on AM with the Panasonic, but it was near completely inaudible on the Sony ICF-38. So while the RF-2400D gets rave reviews, I think the Sony ICF-38 kills it. Also the Sony’s AC cord is attached and stows away. The Panasonic’s AC cord is detachable (so you can lose it).

[@w8lvradio]

Five Dollars at Ohio Thrift... Cleaned up the case with some "Krud Cutter". All of the radios that I "rescue and rehab" always seem to be all cigarette smoked up so this is always the first step and wow it's good to go! I like how Sony made enough room in the back of this radio to COMPLETELY fit the power cord inside of it so it's out of your way when you aren't using it. And the carrying handle is sturdy. Good radio for sure. 73 DE W8LV BILL

[@todderbert]

One of my favorite Analog Tuners for Every Day listening.

[@rkmklz7562]

I dxed WBBM TV 2 (cbs Chicago Illinois)... doing the summer via E Skip....also KRTV Montana cbs on channel 3 (Great Falls)..KCNC Colorado NBC Denver on channel 4...that is very Cool 😎. When I was still in Los Angeles California...

[@enkidux88]

almost identical fo my ICF-390, great review.

[@todderbert]

Thank you.

[@Roscoesadie]

This is my go to radio for listening to coast 2 coast AM

[@vahanyazarian3705]

why is this listed on Amazon for$209.99?

[@satyaward5452]

OMG what a sound! And it comes with AC I can plugged in whole time. But may not be sold in my country. Thx a lot for the review anyway

[@todderbert]

Your Welcome Satya. Maybe you can find one someone brought into your country and is selling.

[@elizabeth3217]

Help me decide: Sony ICF-38 AM/FM Radio or Panasonic RF-2400 AM/FM Radio. For Christmas, I'm trying to get a radio for my spouse who works in aerospace hangar, they get terrible reception plus it's really loud in the hangar with noise from machines and drills, etc. Or do you suggest something else? I'm trying to get him durable radio, with outstanding reception, great volume, overall an EXCELLENT radio. Please advise and thank you ahead of time.

[@todderbert]

I missed this, I hope you got something cool! My first recommendation would be one of the tough boxes from Sangean. Also if the reception was bad you could place a FM transmitter with a smaller receiver near a window and have it transmit into the building for other radios to pick it up.

[@souvikmukherjeemukherjee3313]

How much price in us $?

[@rkmklz7562]

I just got this radio from my friend 😊....i hope it has good DX reception?....that is why I would want a Sony...i know in the past I had the one with TV 1 and 2....i had it on i got California on 1070khz (KNX news radio 97.1) from L A...it is dusk right now..i will get up in the middle of the night...i hope i can get Canada on 1010khz!!!

[@Jordan-yx5gb]

Amazon or eBay this model is over 100$$??!! I actually have this model and have had it for 6+ years. It smells kind of funky like electrical even when it’s off but it’s worth the money. I’m a sangean fan myself but this sony sure is a great dependable workhorse radio.

[@rkmklz7562]

KOA 850 Denver Colorado...i dxed that station in California...!!!....WWL 860 New Orleans La too

[@RustBucketYT]

Why is my Sony ICF 38 not working when not plugged in? I have the right batteries for it. Any help would be much appreciated the radio was my dads.

[@todderbert]

put fresh batteries in, and don't use the AC to see if it works. if it doesn't work when plugged in as well, it could be a blown capacitor.

[@rmccombs66]

Wow now these are selling new for $195 on amazon.

[@Y0nda]

but why? I see ones on ebay for like way less than that

[@rmccombs66]

@@Y0nda That's a good question. I don't how many are actually selling at that price, and I haven't checked recently.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

I only have one problem with this radio....the headphone jack is on the right side, as is the volume and tuning knob...so when trying to dx with headphones on they get in the way of tuning. The headphone jack should have been on the left side.

[@Rajnishkumar-ym9xm]

Why sony radio is not available in india proparly😭😭

[@ashwanirohtak]

how i can purchase it in india

[@primereporters6912]

You can try on ebay or on Amazon

[@fhqwgads2]

As good as the ICF-38 is (I own three for a reason XD) - imagine a smaller, MW-only, waterproof, double conversion superhet version that runs on two "D" batteries. That's the Sony ICR-S71. It was a Japan-only maritime emergency radio (the Japanese marine weather bands are around 1700kHz AM) made around 2000-2015. It reminds me of the ICF-38's solid build (the ICR-S71 is built like a small cinderblock) and MW sensitivity. But the ICR-S71's MW selectivity is way better - as good as a CC Radio or any late Tecsun DSP portable. If you can find one, jump on it!

[@brentsaylor1725]

fhqwgads2 and it’s 400 dollars. Little bit of a difference in price.

[@barathwaj6146]

Love from INDIA

[@todderbert]

Thanks Barath. This Sony performs very well.

[@blueee100]

Look now for this....if you find a new one on Amazon or Ebay it's $300 or more! For $25, $30 you have to get a used one but good condition. Sony still has this on their USA site as current still, so what a rip off in price.

[@Nitesh.Rangari]

मुझे यह रेडियो भारत में कहां पर मिलेगा