Realistic DX-380 AM FM LW Shortwave Radio Review

[@todderbert]

▶ The Realistic DX-380 at eBay: bit.ly/RealisticDX380 (paid link) As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase. There are no additional costs to you.

[@CJDarkRose]

I love the look of these older Realistic DX-series radios.

[@MrSparks54]

I had the ATS-808 version of this radio which I bought in Singapore in 1991. Great radio, wish I still had it. Thanks Todderbert

[@tazcatsdad]

I’ve found yet another variation of this radio! Seems that Sangean also made one for Hitachi Ltd., which they sold as their KH-D800.

[@paulbainjr]

I had the DX 370 back in the day I liked that one too 😊

[@twohandsandaradio]

A personal favorite of the artist formerly known as Two Hands and a Radio.

[@davidlong1786]

According to Antique Radio Forums this is the Realistic badged version of the Sangean ATS-808

[@willowsloughdx]

This Radio Shack Realistic radio is a rebranded Sangean ATS-808 from Taiwan. If you want the current version of this radio (yes, that's 30+ years later) it is the Sangean ATS-909X2 which is a much more sophisticated radio including SSB for shortwave and VHF air band.

[@hdofu]

The ATS-909X2 I'd say had a different start point with The ATS-909 Realistic DX-398 as that was the unit that introduced memory banks and RDS along with Single Side Band Tuning.

[@willowsloughdx]

@@hdofu I agree with you. The ATS-909 appeared six years after the 808. Both were the most expensive models Sangean had to offer when introduced.

[@SangiTariq]

Lovely Radio 💕

[@stridermt2k]

Wow you have some classic hardware sir! Awesome stuff! Super cool! My first "real" RX rig was a DX-100 way back when they came out. Such great memories. I seem to have forgotten how drifty and almost impossible using SSB was in my DX-100, but hey rose-colored-glasses.

[@AdamEbelgccengineering]

This was my first LW-MW-SW-FM portable radio to get me started in the year 1992. I still have it, but it needs a 2SK152 J-FET, right now it has a MPF102 JFET in the receiver. I have to look for some of those. It really got me started in the year 1992-1993, and then I got a DX-390 for Christmas in the year 1994, and had it until 1997 then got the DX-398 and DX-392 in 1999 when it was in clearance at Radio Shack.

[@7775Kevin]

I have one of these. Still looks and works like new.

[@MrBrian8749]

It's a good receiver no matter which branding..Siemens 761, Sangean 808a or Realistic DX380. I have mine about a year and never noticed it didn't have SSB. Metal Rocks!

[@robinj.9329]

I believe I've still got my first Radio Shack multi-band receiver still. It is a DX-360 And it still works!

[@reggiewallace260]

I have one of these radios which I bought back around 1998. These were actually made by Sangean and sold around the world under a variety of brand names and model numbers including Sangean ATS-808A, Siemens RK-661 Roberts R-809. The Realistic, Siemans, Roberts and Sangean branded versions were basically identical. This radio first appeared in various markets around the world in 1991. The Radio Shack version, the Realistic DX-380, first appeared in Radio Shack stores 1992 but did not appear in Radio Shack retail catalogs until 1993. It was priced at $179.95. In 1994, Sangean released an updated model Sangean Model ATS-808A (the "A") which had 54 memories instead of 45. By late 1995, the EDX-280 disappeared from Radio Shack's Retail catalog in the USA and most Radio Shack stores started to clearance it. I stumbled on mine in a Central Florida Radio Shack on clearance for $75. I bought it mostly to take with me when I traveled-- which I did quite frequently. My main radio at the time was a Sangean 803A which was a fabulous radio. Despite being a nice radio overall, the DX380 was just never one of my favorites. I replaced the DX-380 with an almost identically sized Grundig Yacht Boy 400. It had much, much longer battery life, was a shortwave beast, tuned SSB and was just a better radio. In fact, I loved that little gem so much over the years that I wore the numbers off the tuning buttons. Thanks and good luck!

[@andysrandomness]

For a radio thats 30 years old it does well on MW meanwhile later this month I am ordering the CC Pocket and I am hoping since I will be in Ocean City MD around the 4th of July I am hoping to get a lot of stations at night

[@n1kkri]

I wonder how it compares to the PL-330? It would be an interesting comparison between 90's technology and today.

[@NTPTM]

Hej I agree with you it would be interesting to compare older shortwave radio devices with today's shortwave radio devices. Technology has really advanced in today's shortwave radio devices. Take for example the Tecsun PL-330 here you have an incredibly advanced radio for a very good price. Me also love old radios and love pure analog radios take care and have a nice day.

[@willowsloughdx]

Tecsun didn't make any radios until 15 years after this one was made.

[@n1kkri]

@@willowsloughdx My question was how would it compare (DX-380) to a radio of new technology (PL-330)

[@n1kkri]

I would also be interested how a cheap RTL-SDR stick compare to some of these radios. You could connect a RTL-SDR to a cell phone or iPad/Tablet and have a multimode receiver

[@willowsloughdx]

@@n1kkri The DX-380 will have better sound and is a larger radio. The 380 controls are easier to operate. Both radios mute while tuning. The PL-330 has SSB, the 380 doesn't. The 380 is a better radio for MW (AM broadcast band) than the 330. Technically, the major difference is the advanced Silicon Labs chip in the 330 and many current multiband portable radios. The 330 uses a flat, rechargeable cell phone battery and the 380 uses AAs.

[@NTPTM]

Hej Todderbert thanks for the video and nice bandscan cool radio. and Todderbert you should really consider buying the Tecsun PL-990X i've had my one week now and wow what a wonderful radio. Take care and have a nice weekend keep up the nice work you do

[@johnruschmeyer5769]

Rebadged Sangean ATS-808. It's kind of a baby DX-390 (ATS-818). I need to find a replacment tuning knob for mine.

[@johnfdavidson1572]

Is there a free download of the manual for the DX380? I have the radio but need or should have a manual for it.

[@hdofu]

Ahh I remember that rebranded Sangean ATS 808.

[@todamnbad]

Any link to an online manual?

[@franciscole3039]

What do you think the best analog radio is nowadays with ssb?

[@todderbert]

I like the Panasonic RF-2200 and RF-3100

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

The decline of Radio Shack was a real loss, worse than the implosion of Sears and Roebuck.

[@username-kg9st]

Can you review a Kaito Ka268?

[@horaciodelgado2017]

I think that.this radio si better thaan the Sony ICF-2001SW that is contenporary, greetins from Quilpué, Chile.

[@euclidesortiz7766]

I need of manual? Where I can store?

[@TheCashman007]

My one don't work anymore :(

[@FrancisLitanofficialJAPINOY]

Also buy TECSUN PL-368

[@NTPTM]

Hej yes i also gonna buy Tecsun PL-368 I never bought the Tecsun PL-365 because it did not have key buttons so not to be able to enter a frequency directly is not nice. I hear also that CountyComm GP-5 / SSB is gonna release a new upgraded model very interesting take care.

[@emailshafihusain]

It mutes on VFO tuning. That's really unacceptable to me.

[@willowsloughdx]

Which is typical of radios from this time.