Tecsun PL 330 VS Sihuadon D 808

Which one of these lightweight portables is best? Join me for a look at these popular radios and lets go over the good and bad points of each.

[@martinabowm1786]

Good comparison. Well done. Here a few additions: you can say that the xhdata/sihuadon is the ideal travelling compagnion if you are not a ssb/sw fan, for those who like to have quite a capable sw/ssb in their pocket the 303 is the one. The 303 also incorporates a surprisingly good SYNC function which can help reduce the fading/drifting effect. This SYNC is funny enough only working well on the 330 and the Tecsun 660/680. The same function on all other Tecsuns is just not useable. In addition, there are functions in the 303 that are targeted more at the SW-enthusiast like variable bandwith. Here it also is important to say, that the Tecsun 303 has incredible "strong signal" capabilities on a long wire antenna and is more sensitive on higher sw-frequencies. Again, more for the enthusiast an important point. I myself use the D-808 on "lazy" holidays or outings where I am not chasing frequencies but like to have a capable allrounder - with a good sound as is possible in these tiny radios. The 808 has a better sound quality compared to the 330. More voluminous, warm. The 808 does allow to even listen to classical music without suffering a fit! And of course the RDS is very handy on travels. One problem with the D808 is - Battery! It eats batteries! If you keep the radio in your travelling bag for a few days without charging, it will deplete the battery completely ( internal clock is a drag on the battery) The Tecsun is a bit better, but not by much! Both batteries can be ordered on Amazon. Minimum 1 reserve battery is no luxury! I find both radios excellent, buy the one that fullfills your priorities! The quality of both is excellent! If you have big hands/fingers - get the D-808! If you also need a quite accurate temperature measurement - the D808 has this function integrated and shows the room temperature on it's display! That's my two cent to two very capable and surprising radios.

[@abbeyroadstudios4999]

The Tecsun PL-330 is a very underestimated radio. I have one along with a D808, PL-660, and a PL-880, I find it to be a very good radio even on an external antenna.

[@chandrapiyaseeli5453]

With built in FM antenna, which has better reception on FM? Tecsun pl-330 or Sihuadon D808 ?

[@Эдуард-л5э5ф]

808

[@DonzLockz]

I ordered the PL330 as it has good sync on sideband, good sensitivity and selectivity with good increments to change bandwidth. I will use an external wire for long wave and maybe AM depending if I need it. My local emergency channel is ABC 666kHz and I wouldn't use FM much as this is mainly ly for shortwave and AM and for emergency use. For relaxing FM, I'd buy a bigger and better sounding radio with RDS and DAB that may also double up on being used as a Bluetooth speaker. Different uses I guess. I often wear headphones for listening on my phone so the PL330 will be used on headphones as its alot clearer and doesn't bother others. I do prefer the 18650 batteries though but I just bought a few extra Nokia style batteries. Thanks for comparing, I think you are pretty much bang on.🍺👍🤓

[@DonzLockz]

@serialkillahertz do you have both?

[@Bryt25]

Thanks Kevin, just the comparison I needed! The Tecsun suits me better in UK,

[@KevinOReillyswl]

Glad to help!

[@alternative3d87]

I have both these radios, as well as the Tecsun PL880. Out of all these radios the D808 is what I use the most. I am not very big fan of Tecsun radios.

[@DavidEaton-xw3ry]

I find that the supplied plug-in antenna with the Sihuadon D-808 does NOT work with the PL-330/Pl-660.When it is plugged into their external jacks, the signal drops off almost completely!

[@sandokan66]

Major disappointment with the XHDATA 808 i bought a couple of days ago (from Amazon). Reason: the very bad build quality (or call it lack of end-control). Misalignment of the tune knob (also wobbles), scratches on the back and antenna, burned into the case fingerprint (or it looks like) and some thick line on the left side of the keypad.

[@PeterStilwell]

Is there a portable radio that you would recommend for LW?

[@KevinOReillyswl]

The Tecsun S 8800 is fairly good on LW but not that portable. If you can get hold of a decent used Sony 7600 that works well on LW.

[@BrianG61UK]

Why would you prefer AA to 18650? In my experience the 18650 is way better in every way compared to any AA of any kind.

[@KevinOReillyswl]

AA Batteries are pretty much available anywhere if you need them in a hurry.

[@BrianG61UK]

@@KevinOReillyswl But the D808 comes with a 18650 and that's it, you'll never need another 18650 because you keep recharging the original one.

[@johnmknox]

​@@BrianG61UK You can't recharge batteries forever they eventually run out and need to be replaced. The 18650 is more difficult to get than AA batteries. So in a SHTF situation, you really don't want to have a radio with a 18650 or BL-5C battery that you might not be able to source easily. Even lithium-ion batteries in smartphones are only good for 5 years give or take before they fail and need to be replaced.

[@BrianG61UK]

@@johnmknox So you haven't discovered eBay yet?

[@JP-ll6ro]

SIHUADON D808=XHDATA D808=Digitech AR1780=DESHIBO AD1780 , they are all the same product. from the same Chinese company and the same factory. XHDATA D808 and digitech AR1780 only been sold in overseas. SIHUADON and DESHIBO normally only can be found in China.

[@abbeyroadstudios4999]

Correction, the SIHUADON D-808 is an updated version of the XHDATA D-808

[@DonzLockz]

@@abbeyroadstudios4999 Is there any difference?

[@nine7295]

The newer D-808 has amber backlight, the older one has blue backlight

[@Cubasenet33]

@@abbeyroadstudios4999 In 2022 both ere EXACTLY the same, also the screen color. Only difference is the external color of the plastic.

[@robmccarthy1018]

The newer SIHUADON D-808 doesn't have the 5 input HF Bandpass filters like the older XDATA-808 which may help reduce FM breakthrough on HF.

[@abbeyroadstudios4999]

I have not seen a portable, yet, that is any good on airband. It's okay if you live very near an airport, but other than that, airband on portables is rubbish.

[@DonzLockz]

Airband would really need an external antenna I would guess... unless you live next to an airport. Lol

[@nine7295]

A typical VHF receiver like a scanner with an air band will have a faster scan and better sensitivity usually. I live near an airport and it works well here with the stock whip. But I haven't really compared it with other radios directly.

[@maddog57ful]

The 808 is very good on Airband 118-136.

[@markharwood7573]

It's amazing what you get for your money now, compared to 10 or 15 years ago. My Sony ICF-SW7600GR was a good radio but it died, so I've ordered the PL330, which will probably turn out to be at least as good a radio for very little outlay.

[@debtanudutta5721]

The Tecsun PL330 has ETM+ with the ability to scan and store the shortwave bands for each hour of day and more importantly VF/VM tuning which allows to scroll through presets in VM mode with the tuning wheel. These 2 are very big usability improvements over the D808 where you need to go through pages and keypad entries for preset number - good luck doing that in darkness!! Next the volume control on the PL330 is digital encoder and on headphones it will always be either louder or quieter than needed as that encoder has 30 steps. D808 has analog volume control which can be precisely set to preferred volume. This will only be an issue with headphone listening though.

[@ditto1958]

The Tecsun has some excellent features. I actually bought an XHData D-109 instead, but only after giving it considerable thought. The PL-330 has a lot going for it.

[@L1RW]

I agree. RDS is useful on FM. However, you mentioned that you would use these radios when travelling etc. The main issue is that most countries are now using DAB/+, not FM. So it is not really useful for travelling anymore. Unless you travel to the USA or similar. I am guessing that Tecsun omits RDS, because it may not be something that is used in China, when listening to FM. I could be wrong and it could be that the issue is cost/rights, therefore they chose to omit RDS. Both great radios, but I prefer the PL-330 out of the two.

[@KevinOReillyswl]

I have holidayed pre pandemic in both Cyprus and the Greek Islands. DAB there is non existent but the FM band is crowded so I think there is still plenty of life in FM and RDS.

[@Bryt25]

I use FM over DAB/+ when possible as it is more battery-hungry of course.

[@StratmanII]

The reason Tecsun doesn't offer RDS information for its radios is pretty simple. In order to display RDS, the LCD display must be the kind that can form alphanumeric characters. The D-808, Sangean ATS-909X and Eton radios have LCDs that can display alphanumeric characters, so they offer RDS information. The small R-108, which is made by the same Chinese manufacturer that produces the D-808, doesn't have RDS because its small LCD panel can't show alphanumeric. Sony's iconic ICF-SW7600GR, which was produced until 2018 doesn't have RDS for the simple fact that its LCD also doesn't support alphanumeric characters. Sony's car stereo receivers on the other hand, use dot matrix LCD panels so they can show RDS information. The question is whether Tecsun will switch to dot matrix LCDs in the future.

[@EastAngliaUK]

I have gone with the Sihuadon D 808 cause the RDS better DX for me. I had A PL660 but the radio broke.

[@KevinOReillyswl]

RDS is useful if you want to DX on FM.

[@joistein]

LW is not used in Europe anymore and MW is not used in Scandinavia, we use FM and DAB+ now.

[@danmotu3645]

Lw its used in Europe, for example 153 khz-Antena satelor Romania , 225 khz polsky radio.

[@gerardschannel4461]

Lots of French stations still on LW

[@robmccarthy1018]

I have an XHDATA-808 (basically same as the Sihuadon D 808) as I live near a couple of airports with lots of traffic and in Sth Australia we have plenty of FM stations so SDR is great. I was considering the Tecsun 330 but the reasons i mentioned lead me to the 808. Great little receiver. Terrific for AM Dxing too as we have so many stations spread out all over Australia. Interesting you mention DAB. We have lots of DAB+ stations but only in major cities. Due to this and long distances AM and FM are still very popular. DAB+ doesn't seem to have caught on much. We're only starting to see some new cars with it fitted.

[@chandrapiyaseeli5453]

How's the FM reception?

[@KevinOReillyswl]

Its pretty good on both the PL330 and the D808

[@robmccarthy1018]

@@chandrapiyaseeli5453 Fm reception is excellent on the 808 with bonus of RDS. Pity Tecsun don't include it their excellent receivers.

[@anulearntech]

There's also the DMR radio I've heard is catching up a bit.

[@tonymagnier9846]

Yea the D-808 is the one to bring when travelling. I have the Xhdata version since 2018 and I always bring it with me, not only is great for IDing FM stations with its great selectivity, but I found it heard lots of nighttime North American (on daytime power)/Latin American MW stations "barefoot" when I spent some time in the Canary Islands. It does have internally generated noises but there's hardly a radio that doesn't have some. I agree about the batteries, pity they are non-standard, and running these radios from mains is not an option with loud buzzing sounds.

[@KevinOReillyswl]

I agree that the D808 is probably the best travel radio. Performance is pretty much on a par with the PL330 but the FM RDS is a useful addition.

[@gartnl]

You can run them from mains when you use an analog adapter, not a switching type.

[@BrianG61UK]

One problem I have with the D-808 for travelling is that it switches on when anything presses against it.

[@tonymagnier9846]

@@BrianG61UK thats what the Key icon button is for....

[@dheeraj9521]

Hello Sir, I am interested in Shortwaves radios so Which one is best among Tecsun pl 330 & Xhdata D 808 ?? .............Thank You🙂🙂🙂

[@johnmknox]

If you are in a big city with lots of interference the Tecsun PL-330 would be a good choice.

[@dheeraj9521]

@@crankshaftlover Thank You , Did you buy the latest or older model of D-808 ???

[@ffs1914]

@@johnmknoxboa noite amigo. Qual o motivo do pl330 ser melhor mas cidade grandes? Muito obrigado pela atenção ?

[@madmax2069]

The D808 reminds me of the Eton Elite Executive due to it's button layout

[@abbeyroadstudios4999]

The D-808 looks nothing like the Grundig Elite Executive.

[@madmax2069]

@@abbeyroadstudios4999 ok, look at the button layout, look at where the knob is located, I said it reminds me of the EEE, not that it looks exactly like it.

[@submeitsfreebruh]

which has better FM reception ?

[@KevinOReillyswl]

Not much difference but the D808 had the advantage of having RDS decode which would make it my choice for FM

[@submeitsfreebruh]

@@KevinOReillyswl thanks for your reply. That RDS comes in handy while traveling, but im mostly trying to find a good reception FM radio since my house is situated between two mountains. So i get very bad FM signal at home.