The Best Spy Radio in History? - Sony ICF 2001 D

In this video we explore the use of commercial radios as spy tools and how the cryptography, transmission and reception of those messages work, specially for agents who work undercover in foreign territory. We will focus on one particular receiver called Sony ICF-2001 D, a legendary and widely use commercially available shortwave radio that was also very much preferred by high profile spies across the world.
Music on the Video:
yu-utsu.bandcamp.com/album/-
mitchmurder.bandcamp.com/
Makoto Suzuki's KZbin Channel source of Japanese Commercials: / @makotosuzuki
Thanks for watching!
0:00 Intro
0:20 Espionage through history
1:08 An unbreakable encryption: OTP
2:17 An untraceable transmission: SW radio
3:28 Number Stations
4:07 How Spies used the OTP
5:08 New Era of Receivers
5:37 Release of Sony ICF 2001 D
6:16 Belgian Colonel Spy using the 2001 D
7:13 Pentagon Analyst spying for Cuba
8:40 Outro

[@captaincurd2681]

The background synthwave music is so good that I am having a hard time concentrating on the narration.

[@tokyojunkchannel]

I have a SONY ICF-2001D. I have many receivers, but this is my favorite.

[@user-yo7vj2bk7c]

watching this while my Sony ICF-2010 is on.

[@JetScreamer_YT]

Thanks! I just found one.

[@michaelriecke3265]

Best AM radio ever.

[@wanote26]

damn, your videos are so good! keep them coming!

[@soundelegy5987]

Thanks you 🙏🏻

[@randomvideos5864]

keep em coming

[@soundelegy5987]

Thanks mate!

[@DanielDanGRFRS]

great review for the legendary shortwave radio receiver i have icf sw 55 icf pro 70 icf 2001 and icf 2001d

[@soundelegy5987]

Solid collection! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏻

[@kishascape]

7600gr is better.

[@SlenderGamer56]

Love your videos :)

[@soundelegy5987]

Thank you :)

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Still using mine since 1994. The best of it's time. But suffers from intermittent (fragile) wiring and difficult to repair.

[@Richard_K1630]

I remember buying that Sony radio back in 1985or6. I sent it back because it was defective.

[@joshuagardner894]

Yep, have this radio, it is a fantastic little unit, it is only surpassed by the Eton E1XM (which I also have) in shortwave performance on shortwave, but the Eton E1XM suffers from hardware problems probably moreso than the Sony. The original (not rereleased model) of the Eton E1XM featured something no other shortwave portable offered; passband tuning, which virtually eliminates fading and makes shortwave so enjoyable and listenable, putting it in a class of its own, above any other portable ever released thus far. A very good and viable alternative to the 2001/2010d is the Grundig Satellit 700, which performs almost identically to the 2001/2010d but outperforms it on SSB and audio sound quality (much more full sound) but suffers from a bizarre rumble that can be heard when using sync (but can be nearly negated with bass and frequency offsets) and does have a very brief mute while tuning, but only very very brief - the length of the sound of a finger snap. "Almost" as good as the 2001/2010d is the Sony ICF-SW-77 and slightly under that unit is the Sony ICF-SW55 (also two units I have) but also have the mute while tuning similar to the Grundig Satellit 700 (about the length of a finger snap, very brief). In order of my favourites, the Eton E1XM (very hard to find these days and extremely expensive), Sony 2001/2010d, Grundig Satellit 700, Sony ICF-SW77, Sony ICF-SW55. If you don't want to take the risk of buying a used product that is no longer being made today, the Tecson H501 or the Tecsun PL-990 (the only major difference being a 30% price difference and the H501 being stereo on FM - a unique feature on shortwave radios vs mono on the PL-990) or the Sangean ATS-909X2. Two units I do not have but deserve an honorable mention are the Panasonic BF-865, it is claimed to be just as sensitive as the Sony 2001d/2010 but in a much smaller form factor and less features, but I think is worth mentioning, as well as the Sony ICF-SW100, a small little shortwave portable that is almost just as functional as the Sony ICF-SW77 without the fancy display and is the size of a pack of cigarettes. One other receiver I will mention, the Mallahit DSP2 clone, has more features and functionality than any radio I mentioned and at the same price point as all of the receivers I mentioned except the Eton E1XM. If you are interested in shortwave, the ten units I listed here are universally considered the best ever made, although opinion on the ranking varies somewhat. Eton E1XM, Sony ICF-SW2001/2010, Grundig Satellit 700, Sony ICF-SW77, Sony ICF-SW55, Tecson H501, Sangean ATS-909X2, Panasonic BF-865, Sony ICF-SW100, Mallahit DSP2 clone.

[@kishascape]

Wow I didn't know that it was made until 2002. That explains why I was able to find good condition ICF2010 still in box for sale before. Still the SW7600GR is pretty much the same but in better form factor and less inconvenient batteries. Easier to put in bag, set on wall while listening, etc.

[@soundelegy5987]

Finding one still in its box is surely a keeper. The new generation of SW radios had a much better form factor indeed but when the ICF2010 first came to market it was absolutely groundbreaking. Thanks for sharing!

[@kishascape]

@@soundelegy5987 Late serial number too from one of the last batches it seems now :3 That's a good point, I imagine the KGB and Cuban intelligence feeling they struck a goldmine when Sony made such a high performance shortwave readily available in public stores everywhere like that. Sony probably unwittingly bolstered the sleeper agent market lmao.

[@soundelegy5987]

Hahah for sure! Sounds like the perfect scenario for a conspiracy theory where Sony was actually working closely with the communist intelligence agencies :p You got a good unit, happy camper!

[@jimgordon1563]

Thank you for this. I have the 2001D and it still is one of the best shortwave radios out there. Unfortunately, these days, it has the same drawbacks that other old radios have: component failure due to age.

[@soundelegy5987]

Welcome 🙏🏻 And yes, I've read that certain iterations might suffer component failure. Usually the ones from 85'-89'. Mine works beautifully. I think it also depends where they have been stored, dust and humidity levels of the room, etc.

[@kishascape]

That happens to all electronics. If you wanna use old radios from the 80s you better learn how to recap them or find a local ham radio guy that will do it for you.

[@sunnylm2045]

Thanks for the info, i just bought one recently from Ebay, only issue with the error 3 battery issue after fixed it work perfect.

[@soundelegy5987]

Glad to hear that! 🤙🏻

[@yaroslavtkl5513]

yeah, not bad video.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Still using my old 83 Sony ICF 2001, I prefer it to later 2001D and find it less sensitive to signal over saturation when using external antennas.

[@soundelegy5987]

Legendary

[@agusboxir4566]

What Is the price of the radio now

[@soundelegy5987]

I've seen it in Germany for 15€ recently

[@martinryan5069]

Too fucking big sw 100