C.Crane CC Radio-2E Portable Radio | Evening AM

[@todderbert]

(paid links below) As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs to you. ▶ The CC Radio-2E Black at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2FQ3DSN ▶ The CC Radio-2E Titanium at Amazon USA: amzn.to/2FZvsvx

[@davidbeal8054]

I own a small collection of good radios (I only keep the very good ones), and I have to agree with you (todderbert) that my C Crane 2E is one of my very best AM/FM receivers. It's range for DXing is extremely good, and you get the very solid C Crane construction. Viva the 2E!

[@hawkinscsa]

Picked up a 2e this week. I'm loving this radio.

[@raymondward4796]

I live in the burbs of Los Angeles and I picked up 880AM a station in Lewiston, Nebraska using the latest generation of this radio and an external twin coil ferrite antenna! A lot of mountains stand in the way between points!

[@alfredindy8058]

I would love to put that twin coil ferrite antenna on a rotor in my attic. Imagine the dxing fun you could have.

[@johnyoung4039]

My radio has the same problem with locking in the station. Sometimes I have to tune off the frequency and tune it back in to get a better signal. It's a very small detail considering how great this radio is. I love this radio!

[@skinnyblinddude]

Thank you Todd for showing off your CC2E. In my opinion, it's the best performing AM (MW) and FM portable still in production. Its warm and pleasant audio along with its highly sensitive and selective RF circuitry make it a must have! The best way to appreciate its RF performance on AM (MW) is to observe it as far away as possible from RFI (radio frequency interference) in the middle of the day when skywave is at an absolute minimum. It's amazing how this set will pull distant signals out of the ether that many other radios would be deaf to. As much as I like the CC2E, it has some frustrating shortcomings including the absence of direct frequency input buttons. I use the five preset buttons along its top as a crude Q-tune system. Preset 1 = 600, 2 = 900, 3 = 1200, etc. So then if I want to get to 1430 quickly, I press preset 4 (1500) and arrow down 7 steps to 1430. This radio should have been designed with a rotatable gyroscopic antenna for AM (MW) like the ones Panasonic included on a few of their portable in the 70s and 80s. Motorola even used gyro antennas on their portables back in the 50s. Of course the obvious advantage of these is that the main body of the radio can remain stationary while the directional AM (MW) ferrite rod antenna can be turned for best reception. I own two CC2E sets, a black model made in 2013 and a platinum one made in 2016. I acquire these sets preowned. I suspect the older black set may have been exposed to corrosive salty air or high humidity because the buttons occasionally misfire resulting in erroneous commands when pressed and static can be heard when the volume, bass, and treble potentiometers are rotated. I'm afraid to open it up, otherwise I'd spray some deoxit into those controls.

[@todderbert]

Your Welcome Wayne, I plan a daytime AM bandscan with this radio. I had my CCRadio SW out for a spin and the 2E was besting it on gain. It was cool to see that, because they share the same internal antenna.

[@skinnyblinddude]

todderbert I used to own a CCRadio SW. It has nowhere the sensitivity that the CC2E has on AM (MW). It is a fun radio with very good audio though. Florida’s harsh climate ate my CCRadio SW for lunch. You had a commenter suggest you get a Panasonic RF2200. Between it, your GE SuperRadio and your CC2E, you’ll have what are arguably the three best portables ever produced for AM (MW). Remember, middle of the day is ideal for testing AM (MW). Most any cheap radio will pull in distant signals at night and is not ideal for determining its raw sensitivity or comparing to other sets.

[@todderbert]

correct, daytime is a great benchmark. I am now working on providing daytime AM bandscan videos. The only reason I do night time AM bandscans is because of my schedule.

[@johnyoung4039]

I live in southern Georgia and around the time of dusk I picked up WRFD 880 out of Columbus Ohio.

[@alexdx4872]

Nice scan and radio! You received cuba, radio rebelde on 1620 khz , i received station too in greece with the grundig satellit 750 and an eton an 200 loop antenna and confirmed with the shortwave frequency which was pararell with 5025 khz.

[@michaelgoodwin2660]

I bought this radio.. combined with a smart phone..and the audio quality..and it has blue took..it would make the perfect Internet radio..hands down

[@jeffking4176]

Have the skywave ssb. My old C.C.SW still works.as does my C.C.SWPocket. (Both now over 10years old) This one is on my “want” list. They really work hard to bring the highest quality, best radios on the market. Great review 🙂❗️ 📻📻📻📻📻📻📻📻

[@todderbert]

Thank you Jeff. I own a CCRadio-SW but have not reviewed it. I got it as a parts radio for under $40, and it "acts up" now and again. Some type of glitch in the DSP/Bandwidth circuit. I do use it as a frequency checker on the AM band since it still works.

[@jeffking4176]

todderbert No Radio company is perfect. But overall they do their best--Most of their Radios are made by Sangean , but to C.Crane specs. C.Crane also has patents on some of their technologies.

[@rodbruton9723]

I really enjoy your videos and reviews Mr. Todderbert👍 Great job ! When you turn the radio (as a viewer) we are without directional or location data. It would help me (at least) if you placed a large map of N. America on your benchtop (with north at top) with the radio over your QTH so when you turn the radio to peak the reception, one can see from what geographical direction the signals can be received from. Also a map might be a better radio related backdrop than the red cloth. Just saying

[@todderbert]

Im thinking a simple directional marker will work.

[@wayofthinkin]

Thank you for posting this great review !! Love AM radio the most. I just ordered this radio on Amazon. Have not received it yet, but it should be here in a couple days. Please contact me, as i have many AM listening memories to share. Thanks again, Dean

[@todderbert]

It's an amazing radio, which I have handy. Next to my GE SR. Interesting thing is my little portables get the most use.

[@Buglet720]

940's probably WFAW Ft. Atkinson, WI. They put a good signal in your area at night.

[@todderbert]

I may have that station logged on my tablet now that I'm thinking of it. Thanks for the heads up..need to add that to the master list.

[@galaxy-stranger]

Hi, thank you for the review. I've just bought the Sangean PR-D3, great reciever and it looks like 2E from the review. Any idea why? Is Sangean a copy from CC?

[@todderbert]

Sangean collaborates with C.Crane and Produces Radios based on what C.Crane Desires.

[@3lityoob]

Hi todderbert, I have a question. I found that car radio tuners are strong in AM reception comaparing to the best portable radio, why is that??!

[@todderbert]

I remember reading articles about this. Something to do with the quality of the radio, antenna type used with amplification, and proper shielding from the engine bay. Plus as most people point out, is the automobile is better placed because your outside.

[@3lityoob]

todderbert Thank u so much, u r making nice videos.

[@todderbert]

Your welcome. Always having fun!

[@gklinger]

Okay, you've got a CCRadio 2E and a GESR so now you need a Panasonic RF-2200 so you can declare a champion of the medium wave radios.

[@todderbert]

yes I need that panny....man that is one nice set for sure. if i could find one for $65 like the 2E I would have been struck by lightening twice :)

[@raymondward4796]

Here, here!

[@AMDXplusplus]

I heard a Cuban station on 1180

[@matthewspaltro7142]

900 AM were I am comes in well most of the time. I am in western PA.

[@Buglet720]

The 640 with the English-accented woman could be WOI in Aimes, IA.

[@todderbert]

Another great station ID, thank you! Are we having fun yet ? :)

[@Buglet720]

todderbert Got that right.

[@class8garage308]

why do you keep turning the radio antenna??

[@todderbert]

On an AM bandscan, the signals are received on the internal 200mm ferrite antenna. It is directional. Pointing the horizontal edge of the ferrite bar towards the broadcasting station improves reception. This also acts as a "null" so you can move it 90 degrees to search for other stations on the same frequency.

[@class8garage308]

why cant you just use the telescoping antenna

[@starpowermike2846]

@@class8garage308 that antenna is for FM

[@alfredindy8058]

My dream: take the C Crane 2E up into that 360-observation deck in the John Hancock building with a set of headphones, so I don't disturb anyone. It would be great to experiment up there.

[@todderbert]

I've been up there, awesome view.

[@alfredindy8058]

@@todderbert I know! I would love to take a radio up there with earphones, so I don't disturb anyone. I would be up higher than most AM antennas.

[@RockyMTHirvi]

Why don't you set up the camera oriented 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that we don't need to keep seeing you turn the radio 1K times?

[@ik4mtc771]

A question: Can I use c. crane 2e in Europe where the channeling of AM is 9khz by turning the tuning knob that has distance of 1 khz? Example: from 1040 khz to 1036khz.?

[@todderbert]

Sure thing! would just take you longer to go through the band, as that tuning wheel is always 1Khz stepping on AM.