ICF-S10MK2 Pocket AM/FM Radio, Silver

In this age of smartphones and MP3 players, I had almost entirely forgotten the simple pleasure of listening to a small, mono, transistor radio while enjoying some suds in the back yard or working on a small project on my garage workbench. Maybe I've just come to a point in my life when I can appreciate something less than surround-sound and high-fidelity. This, my friends, is simply a terrific - let me say that again - TERRIFIC little radio. Keeping in mind that this is a small, inexpensive, and very, very basic transistor radio with one small speaker: Reception: Has proven to be outstanding. Sensitivity is high and I can receive remote stations in a canyon setting that my car audio has trouble picking up. No digital here, folks, this baby is pure analog: With only an old-school linear display depicting the frequency, you've got to dial in the stations yourself with the tuning dial and judicious directional placement of the antenna. (or of the device itself, as FM comes in through the metal aerial but AM tunes through a directional ferrite metal rod inside the radio) Tuning in a weak signal, therefore, requires a good ear and certain finesse of the finger. For the size and power of the unit, however, reception is excellent. Sound: Is adequate for a device sporting two AA batteries and one small speaker. Well, let me say this: It is more than adequate in a small space like a garage, or when in close proximity as outside in the back yard, or even outside at a distance if you crank the volume and it doesn't have to compete with a lot of background noise. The speaker is small and low power, however, and this will never be able to compete with a lot of background noise. Passing jet planes, leaf blowers, or the cabinet saw in your garage will cancel this little guy out. But then, so would it also just about any other radio you might be listening to. Basically, the sound is well-matched to the device and I doubt anyone would find it unsatisfactory. Pricing: Totally reasonable at around 12 to 15 bucks, but a veritable steal if it sinks to single digits. Considering size, weight, portability, reliability, and downright enjoyment of this radio, the bang to buck ratio is huge. Huge. Battery life: Is incredible. So much so, that I have abandoned all my hand-crank emergency radios in favor of a couple of these. A single set of good quality AA batteries has lasted me months. Use has been occasional, but certainly for hours at a time and often for days at a time. And they are still going. So, why would I want a cheap hand-crank radio of dubious quality for emergencies when I could have an outstanding little transistor radio of excellent quality which could run for days and days on a single set of batteries? Right, I wouldn't. Besides, I can't be the only one out there envisioning that teeny, flimsy plastic crank snapping off just when you're trying to receive critical emergency info. High quality alkaline batteries are the ticket for this radio, but in my opinion the best way to go are these: Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries Once charged, they stay charged for a long time and they last a looooong time in small electronic devices like this. Charge up a half-dozen to keep on hand for emergencies and back up. Other thoughts: This radio does not come with a cord to plug into the wall, but then it doesn't need one. it does have a small jack for headphones (mini jack) if you are so inclined. Use is really, really easy: Pull up the antenna, turn the dial on the side for on/off function and volume, use the other dial for tuning, and adjust antenna and dials to suit your experience. The unit is small - No, not ipod small - about the size and weight of a man's moderately-stuffed wallet. You know, the kind that makes your back ache if you are sitting on it for an hour's commute. It's a handsome little unit, too: Just what one might imagine a small Sony transistor radio would look like. Simple. Clean. Sharp. Lastly, the experience. Yes, it's a great companion sitting on your workbench as you sharpen your tools or fix your child's toy. Certainly, it can be a lifesaver during an emergency when the power goes out and you really, truly need to know if you should get out of town. Absolutely, it is a great thing to have in your truck's console storage for whatever: desert camping; working that desolate jobsite on a weekend... But, the best - just positively the very, very best - place to have this radio is with you in the back yard. With a beer in your hand on a summer afternoon. Listening to a baseball game under a shade tree. Folks, if that doesn't transport you to another place then I don't know what will. One last thought. Do you really need this with all the internet and cable and ipods laying around? I've got all that, and more MP3 players than I care to count and I say unequivocally yes, you do need this radio. Because when every other device and situation around you isn't, you will appreciate something that is simple, uncomplicated, and reliable. Aside from all its other attributes, these qualities alone make it worthwhile. Five stars.

First off, I wouldn't really call this a "pocket" radio. Yes, it will fit in your pocket, but barely. I would say it's more of a "hand-held" radio, although it's still very, very light and portable. If you want a true pocket radio, I would take a look at the Kaito KA200 pocket radio or the Sony SRF-59 (both of which I also own and will write a review soon). The KA200 is incredibly small compared to both Sonys. However, the sound and reception of both Sonys is superior. Now, let me explain why this Sony's slightly larger physique is really an advantage (compared to the smaller KA200). - 1. The speaker is larger than the KA200, which produces a much cleaner sound than the smaller speaker and gets quite a bit louder. - 2. The AM reception is quite a bit better. The larger the unit, the larger ferrite bar can fit inside (AM uses the internal ferrite bar, while the FM uses the external telescopic antennae). Reception on both bands is absolutely fantastic. - 3. Controls: The volume and tuning wheels are slightly larger on this radio, making them much easier to use. - 4. The Sony holds larger batteries. It takes two AA batteries. A lot of the smaller radios I've seen/used take the smaller AAA size. So, I figure you would get 2-3 times the run time compared to a similar unit that takes two AAA's. Battery life is exceptional. I can't really tell you how good because I haven't been able to run out the original batteries yet. I mainly use this radio to keep up with the pro Minnesota sports teams when I'm away from a TV (cleaning, doing dishes, chilling out on the patio, etc). It's great for this. The speaker provides great sound and gets reasonably loud. It also works great for casual music listening. *PROS* - Small: Not really pockets size, but definitely hand-held size. - Reception: No complaints here on either AM or FM. In fact, this is probably this radios biggest strength. It's better than any other pocket (hand-held) radio I own. The telescopic antennae is probably about 17-18" when fully extended. The FM antennae also tilts side to side and can be folded down along the left side of the speaker when not in use. The tuning wheel on the right side is also very easy to work with. - Sound: Small built-in speaker provides pretty good sound for the size. It's not going to blow your mind, buy you won't be disappointed either. Another thing I really enjoy about this radio that I haven't really seen any other reviews mention is that in the rear of the unit, there are speaker holes cut out of the plastic that gives the impression that there is an additional speaker in the back (although there is only one). This just gives the sound another avenue to escape and the effect is that it makes the sound go in all directions no matter which way the speaker is facing. This is incredibly awesome when using AM because you have you adjust the internal antennae by rotation the unit horizontally. So, even if you have to point the unit away from you to get a distant station to come in, you're not sacrificing sound. - Batteries: Takes two AAs. This is probably the most common battery and the easiest to keep on-hand, at least in my opinion. Battery life is ridiculously awesome too. I've had this radio for a month now and have been trying to wear out the original batteries I put in it. So far, I've used it every day and even left it on overnight a few times, and have not yet been able to kill the batteries. Awesome. - Tuning light helps you locate stations quickly. *CONS* - Can be tricky to listen to at really low volume. Under most normal listening scenarios, this is not an issue. Also, there is quite a jump between low volume and high volume. Be careful when you're turning it up while listening to earphones/headphones. Also, the volume wheel can be kind of scratchy at the very low end of the volume range. - Speaking of earphones/headphones, the jack is actually an "earphone" jack, not a "headphones" jack. This means that if are listening through a standard set of stereo headphones, the sound will only come out of the left side. You can buy a couple dollar adapter to make the sound come out of both sides, although it will still be mono sound coming out of each one. If you plan on listening primarily with headphones, this unit is probably not the best choice. I would recommend the previously mentioned Kaito KA200, or Sony SRF-59 (both of which have a stereo headphone jack). Overall, I have been extremely impressed with this unit, especially for the price. I believe it's the best radio you can get for around ten bucks! After having it a week, I actually bought two more as backups or in case Sony stops selling this model. This would also be a great radio to have around in case of emergencies because of its simplicity and the fact it uses AA batteries and has a long run time. Buy it now.

Overall The Sony ICF-S10MK2 is an excellent radio. For a small radio, the Sony fills many roles all in one package. The reception is very good for such a small radio, its compact size means it can go almost anywhere, and the price point makes it a great value. Reception The reception brings in both FM and AM stations from miles away. I have been able to pick up FM stations nearly 40 miles away, which is very good for a radio of this size. The good reception makes it great for camping or other outdoor activities, in which case there may not be cell phone reception or the nearest radio station may be far away. Tuning is a simple operation, as the indicator is bright in color and there is a tuning light to show when a station is tuned in. Size Small footprint and light weight make this radio great for traveling. It very easily fits into a carry-on bag or a purse without taking up space of other travel essentials. The compact size also makes it suitable for use around the house. The Sony is easy to carry and not bound by a cord, as it runs exclusively on batteries. This truly is a “pocket radio.” Battery Life Some may buy this radio exclusively for emergency scenarios, especially power outages. Battery life has exceeded my expectations, and you may not need to change the batteries for many months. Even after sitting for weeks, the batteries do not leak and the output remains at 100 percent. You may not like this radio if… There are some quirks that a potential purchaser would want to know about. Because it is lightweight and small, with the antenna fully extended, it tends to fall over if it is not on a level surface or if there is a breeze. Being such a small radio, the tuning and volume knob can be sensitive making it prone to lose a station if it falls on the ground or the knobs are otherwise disturbed while listening. Conclusion These days, simple but efficient devices often get overlooked and taken for granted. The Sony ICF-S10MK2 is a rugged, compact, and functional radio that makes a great companion whether at home or far away.

I've had it less than a week, but I can already tell this is a great little radio! I bought it to use as part of my bike camping kit and for odd occasions when I might want or need to listen to the radio but not have one easily accessible otherwise. I'm in the Kansas City area and my favorite radio shows come out of Lawrence on 91.5 FM. Reception can be finicky with my other radios but this little Sony pulls it in strong and clear. It also clearly pulls in two FM stations out of Topeka that none of my other radios, save a vintage Kenwood tuner, can get clearly. On the AM band, local stations come in loud and clear. During nighttime hours, I've so far pulled in 27 out-of-market stations, some clearly, some not so clearly, from Denver to Atlanta, San Antonio to Toronto (856 miles away!) I also get snippets from many others, but not clearly enough to identify them. All this while inside surrounded by interference producing electronic items. I suspect long distance reception will improve when used outside on clear nights or with an auxiliary antenna. I'll probably rarely actively listen to any of these stations, but it is fun to play with and a testament to just how good this little radio is. For a low-cost, portable, pleasant sounding, easy to use radio, this little Sony cannot be beat. I expect to get a lot of use and enjoyment out of this little marvel. Edit 03/16/15: I continue to be amazed by this little marvel. I've reached for it much more often than I anticipated I would when I bought it. With the return of warmer weather I have used it outside a few times on clear nights. Once outside and away from all sources of electronic interference, the results on the AM band have been stunning. I have to date logged 45 out-of-market stations. I can receive several distant stations at near the quality of local stations. These include 650 WSM, Nashville; 700 WLW, Cincinnati; 670 WSCR, 720 WGN, 780 WBBM, all from Chicago; 830 WCCO, Minneapolis; 840 WHAS, Louisville; 850 KOA, Denver; 870 WWL, New Orleans; 940 KIXZ, Amarillo. Amazingly, when conditions are optimal, I can receive 740 CFZM, Toronto (856 miles distant) with minor static, but still listenable. I had expected to use this radio sporadically, mainly for bike camping on nice weekends. I didn't expect to like it so much and to want to use it as much as I have. For simple, enjoyable, inexpensive entertainment, this little gem is a real winner.

Considering the affordable cost of a few dollars and the value and quality that you get, I consider this a best buy and give it highest possible recommendation. I do not say this very often, but I think everyone should get one. I originally bought this as emergency equipment. In the end, its nostalgic value outweighed its practical value. You get much more value than you can reasonably expect from its status as a cheapo-plastic-made-in-China-junk consumer item. When there is a power outage, if you can find 2 penlite (AA) batteries somewhere in the house, you can still listen to the radio. During the Loma-Prieta Earthquake, all radio stations except 2 were knocked off the air (yeah, and both play elevator music). This thing will enable you to easily scan the dial to find stations that manage to get back on the air for emergency info. DIALS AND SWITCHES There is a volume/off dial, a tuning dial, and a AM/FM switch, just like the first pocket radio I got as a kid. Judging by the solid, smooth mechanical operation of these, I expect many years of reliable usage. There is also a telescoping antenna (which I never use, since I am in a major metropolitan area, SF/Bay Area), a carrying loop (which I have never seen the use of, even as a kid or adult), and a Tuning LED (which I never use, since I tune by ear, not by LED). SOUNDS GOOD The high quality from the teeny-tiny speaker was the most surprising quality of this rather remarkable pocket radio. It was at least as good as your typical clock-radio, not only for voice news but also jazz. As long as you are locked on to a strong signal, you can enjoy several hours of stuff without listening fatigue. MANY RADIO STATIONS Well, now: getting only a few radio stations is the Achilles Heel of most `pocket radios' you can buy these days. These use mainly a `AM/FM radio on an IC chip' sort of technology. This cheapie, generic chip has tuner sensitivity that is pretty crappy. When I was a kid, you had to remove the entire back panel to replace the battery. When you did this, you saw that most of the interior volume was taken up by one, huge printed circuit board chocked full of discrete, electronic parts: ceramic capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, carbon film resistors, diodes, and, hopefully, several transistors (you young `uns have no idea what a `transistor' is, do you? 2N103? Germanium PNP?). This type of tuner got many, many stations, no problem to get a specific one in your area that you wanted. Using the ICF-S10MK2, I was surprised to get the same number of stations as the old, discrete solid-state radios. Yes, I took off the back panel. Sadly, the PC board was face-down, otherwise I would give you the model number of the IC chip, since I was not in the mood to undo the circuit board mounting. BATTERIES This is the most important feature of this pocket radio. According to the instructions, a new set of alkaline 2 pieces of AA batteries, you get 40+ hours. I took a couple of penlites from the dead-battery-box, and got several hours of use, and they are still there, giving me use. It does not use the old, expensive, hard to find 9 volt batteries. This wonderful radio can even use those rechargeable AA NiMH batteries. EVERYONE CAN HEAR IT In this age of iPods and BlueTooth, it is easy to forget that others cannot hear your thingamajig, especially in an emergency. With the ICF-S10MK2, everyone within a few feet or in the same room can hear it. You are not constrained by sharing your earbuds with one pal.

The most important - and surprising thing you should know before you buy this radio is that it has a mono headphone jack. If you don't know what that is, it means that it will only work in one ear of the headphones. I was very surprised that anything is still made using that technology, as it was rare to find it in most products many years ago. I never would have thought to check that about it in product specifications or reviews. In some ways I find it unacceptable that such an antiquated technology was used. It seems as though this is a warehouse item that sat somewhere for 30 or so years. If it actually was commissioned and produced in this era, I can't imagine why they would have used mono. I confess that I thought the headphone jack was broken until I read other reviews saying that this is how it is meant to function. Aside from that, it is slightly too big to put in a pocket, even a fairly large pocket. The reception is very much like the reception of a handheld radio from the 1980's or 1990's. It works, but it's very particular about the direction it's in, and no matter what it will likely go in and out a little bit. It's much better if you wrap aluminum foil around the edge of the antenna, or use a wire coat hanger to extend the antenna's reach. These are things I did 15 or so years ago, and not since, but if you do these things it will work fine. The part that allows the antenna to swivel is very flimsy. I would suggest never moving the antenna from its base position as this is generally not necessary. You will improve reception better by wrapping the end of the antenna in foil than extending it - at least in my use. I use my radio in new york city, where most radio stations are fairly strong. The situation may be very different elsewhere. As an aside, you must turn the tuning and volume dials like you're disarming a bomb or performing brain surgery because a fraction of a millimeter is the difference between many bandwidths and many decibels. If you are very very careful though, you can go down to a low volume. I comment on this because another reviewer had said that it was impossible. It is not impossible in my hands, but challenging. This was a common engineering style in electronics when I was a kid. All of that taken into account, I really like the way it looks, even with foil around the edge of it. And I can listen to NPR on it on the way to and from work, which is why I bought it. It also comes with a warrantee which I think is extremely impressive. The sound quality is also not bad, especially not bad considering the price. Overall, if you desire to relive 1988, this is perfect. And I don't mean the sexy 1988 of revivalist culture, I mean real 1988. I am happy with it, but I believe that most people would not be at all happy with this product, or be patient enough to get it to function.

I wanted this radio for one reason: AM talk radio on speaker. This baby is perfect for that, and is $10 very well spent. If that is what you're looking for, quit reading and hit the "Add to Cart" button. It receives a clear AM signal (15 miles away) from all angles, sideways, upside down, backwards, inside out. I tied a neck lanyard to the wrist strap, to avoid slipping out of my shirt pocket when I bend forward, but otherwise it's a perfect basic no-frills radio. Buyers should know that this is NOT a stereo radio, it is indeed MONAURAL, just like the good old days. Us greybeards don't find this that unusual, and used to listen with single earplugs, but modern consumers may find it odd. Just know that you'll only hear through one (left) earphone, not both. I understand there are adapters available to split the signal to both ears, but it will still be mono. I often like to listen with only one ear anyway while doing lawn work, so it happens to be fine with me, YMMV. The volume control works fine, though there is speaker distortion at the very high end (too loud to listen to from the pocket anyway). This radio indeed feels just like those made 6 decades ago, so go ahead and feel the joy. If you start hearing 50 year old radio broadcasts, though, check and make sure you haven't slipped into The Twilight Zone. Just walk backwards, exactly the way you came in, and you'll be fine. FM reception seems fine. The antenna seems okay, but I didn't test either of these extensively since I was only interested in AM. In most radios with this design (tuning with a side wheel) it's a little too easy to bump the station off center, and you'll have to remember the volume wheel is on the left. Do I wish it had digital tuning, station presets, and a lock button? Sure, but I didn't expect to find these in a ten buck radio, so no disappointment there. So again, this radio is perfect for AM talk radio on speaker. It might be a good choice to fill out a $25 free shipping order, if you already have a light mine (Striker OO105 Magnetic LED Light-Mine). I'm thinking of buying a second one for a backup against the day I inevitably send this one through the washing machine, or maybe the SRF-59 or maybe its evil twin, the Panasonic RF-P50 (though that's $4 more).

Okay. For $13 bucks, this little radio is great! It is a Sony, and Sony products are pretty good. Yes, it is made of plastic. What isn't these days? Have you looked at your car's bumper lately?? lol Plastic!! This radio is light and small. So, for those of you who long for the 70s and 80s and want to lug a 75 pound, full size stereo around on your shoulder, this isn't for you. But, if you want a compact, light, AM/FM radio to stick in your pocket... Yeah baby!!! (white buck teeth glistening in the light) Yeah!!!! The antenna is attached via a flimsy metal tab, which will bend easily if you are not careful. But, if you do bend it, the flimsy metal tab it is attached to will bend easily back into place. Ah, hah, hah, hah, hah, ha!! Well, what did you expect from cheap Japanese steel?? Try this! Go out in your drive way where your Nissan, Toyota, Honda... is parked. Place your thumb in the center of one of the doors. Now press. Boing, boing, boing!!! Hah, hah, hah, hah!! Cheap Japanese steel!!! Moving on... The antenna works well. Also, I was impressed with the volume. For a small, lightweight, pocket radio, it can put out some volume. Last but not least, the tuning is ANALOG!!! But that is great!!! For all of you Digital freaks out there, I'll tell you why. FM stations drift. An analog tuner can compensate. Most digital tuners can't. Ever have your FM tuned to, say, 104.7, but the channel sounds like it isn't quite on the Freq.? You try to compensate by going to 104.6 and 104.8, but guess what? If you are lucky, you get something that sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher!!! Whamp, a wah, wah, wah, wah, wamp, wah. If you have an analog tuner, you just nudge the tuning dial a bit and, bam!, crystal clear sound. And to help you do that, there is a little, red, tuner LED!! When you have dialed in the strongest signal, it lights up bright red and says, "STOP!!! You are on the channel!!" 'Nuff said. Play, out!