I’ve been surfing the web looking for articles with this title, and they are disappointing, often listing radios that no one would seriously consider for shortwave listening. Many “top 10” sites prioritize SEO and clickbait over genuine quality and reliability. Some list radios that have been out of production for years. I mean, who knew the Sony ICF-SW7600GR was a 2025 radio? I hope I can do better than that.
When considering candidates for the list, I ask what’s new and what’s interesting. What adds value? What makes it a solid radio in its class and why someone would be pleased to own it?
So here’s my top 10 list. These radios are just presented alphabetically, as their relative value varies depending on the user’s needs and budget. I’ve only included models currently available for purchase new. The listed prices are for reference only. They are the price on Amazon on February 22, 2025. Radios often go on sale. Used deals can be found as well.
C Crane Skywave SSB 2
The alphabetically first C Crane Skywave SSB 2 entry is actually the last one selected. I was hesitant, but comments from people who have the radio are very positive. When I gave Microsoft Copilot my draft list of 9, this is the one it suggested that I add.
The C Crane Skywave SSB 2 brings together three special features: SSB, Air band and Weather alerts. All it lacks is a flashlight 😊. The “2” added to the end of the model indicates a new edition, reportedly with better SSB performance and full shortwave coverage from 1711 to 29999 kHz. Since the speaker isn’t all that great, earphones are often used. Reasons for putting it on the list:
- Air band
- Weather band + alerts
- SSB
- Compact
- Notable for selectivity and sensitivity
- Squelch on Air band
Negatives:
- No longwave
Price: $179.99.
Choyong LC90
This is a radio I don’t own; most of what I know about it comes from reviews by Gilles Letourneau on the OfficialSWLChannel on YouTube. It comes in a regular and a mini version. Here are my reasons for including it:
- Full shortwave coverage from 2300 kHz to 29999 kHz plus MW, LW and FM.
- SSB
- Good overall performance (not top notch, but good)
- Unique in its Internet streaming capability, including voice search with ChatGPT audio engine
- Well-supported by the manufacturer with significant over-the-air firmware updates
- Two 15W speakers with bass driver and tweeter for stereo
The LC90 mini version is smaller, lacks stereo speakers, external antenna jack and dedicated fine tuning knob. It also has a smaller, non-replaceable battery. It’s not on my top 10 list and only mentioned here for reference.
Price: $249.
Eton Elite Executive
I am forever grateful to whoever it was on the OfficialSWLChannel Facebook group who posted that Woot was blowing out Eton Elite Executives for $79.99 a couple of years ago. That was less than half the regular price. My list of reasons to recommend this radio are based on what I like about it, rather than simply checks from a feature check list. Here are my reasons for including it:
- High quality look feel
- Very readable display with varying illumination levels. Readable in any light.
- Efficient direct frequency entry
- Superior implementation of FM Radio Data System (RDS)
- SSB
- Good overall performance
- Top notch user manual
Negatives:
- Requires reference to the user manual for several functions
- ATS only works on FM band.
- Station preset memory awkward to work with
Price: $164.19 (currently on sale, regular price $199,99)
BlogOrDie! articles on the Eton Elite Executive.
Qodosen DX-286
Disclosure: Qodosen sent me this radio to review.
The Qodosen DX-286 has been the subject of several of my articles, and it is my “go to” radio for everything except SSB. It is reasonably priced and a top performer. I include it on the list because:
- Outstanding performance on FM and SW bands
- Phenomenal performance on LW with an external antenna
- Many options to customize its operation, notably change tuning step rates, ability to turn off antenna amplifier, add attenuation
- Very good FM RDS implementation
- Squelch
- Superior ATS scan accuracy with ample memory locations
- Displays both world time and local time
- Efficient direct entry of frequencies (like the Eton Elite Executive)
- Very compact (5.27 x 1.18 x 2.99 inches)
- External antenna usable on LW/MW
Negatives:
- No SSB
- Only covers up to 27000 kHz
- Above average battery consumption
BlogOrDie! articles on the Qodosen DX-286.
Price: $79.99 without batteries ($89.99 with 2 18650 batteries)
Sangean ATS909-X2
This again is a radio that I haven’t used. I did an unofficial poll over on the Official SWL Channel Facebook group between several radios I didn’t own, asking reader opinions. Almost everyone selected this one as the best to buy. I’ve noted over the years various complaints about the 909 series, and it appears everything significant has been worked out in the X2 model. Here are what I consider strong points:
- External antenna usable on LW/MW
- SSB
- Squelch
- Large Display
- No chuffing/muting
- Known for superior sensitivity and selectivity
- High build quality
Negatives:
- No tuning knob, only the wheel
- Large for a portable (8.15 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches)
Price: $311.86.
Sihuadon R-108
I tend to overlook this radio, but it is a solid performer, and one I would consider a bargain (on sale). My reasons for including it in my top 10 list:
- Low price option (depending on sales and specials).
- Air band
- Ample preset memories for SW (300)
- Very good performance on MW with internal antenna
- Good performance overall
Negatives:
- No SSB or FM RDS
BlogOrDie! articles on the Sihuadon R-108.
Price: $59.90 (I was offered a 10% off coupon I think in addition)
Tecsun PL-330
The Tecsun PL-330 is one I bought in 2022 to replace my PL-380 to stretch coverage out to 29999 kHz and to add SSB. It is my travel radio. It’s compact, light weight and energy efficient. My reasons to include it on this list:
- Compact, light weight and energy efficient
- Best ATS and memory system of any radio
- SSB
- Good bandwidth options
- Good performance overall
- Antenna jack can be used for LW/MW
- Synchronous tuning mode
Negatives:
- No FM RDS
- Buttons are small and somewhat recessed
- No separate fine tuning knob
Those who would prefer a vertical format might look into the very similar PL-368.
BlogOrDie articles on the Tecsun PL-330.
Price: $79.98.
Tecsun PL-990
This is a premium radio. I’ve had mine for a year and a half, bought used from Kaito USA on eBay for much less than the new price even though it looked new and had all the original package contents. Here are reasons for it to be on the list:
- Excellent built quality
- Excellent audio quality
- SSB
- Separate fine tuning control
- Plays audio files and can be used as a Bluetooth speaker
- Best FM receiver I know of
- No muting/chuffing. Triple conversion superhet with DSP for decoding and bandwidth
- Supports external antenna on LW/MW
- Generous memory system
Negatives
- Expensive
BlogOrDie! articles on the PL-990.
Price: $269.
My comments about the PL-990 in large apply to the smaller PL-880; however, it does not support an external antenna on MW/LW and no music play or Bluetooth. It’s considerably less expensive.
XHDATA D-808
I’ve had mine a couple of years. It’s a solid radio with good reception. There are just little things that I personally don’t like, but objectively it is a reasonable radio to own. I kept putting it on the list and taking it off. If you’re reading this, it stayed on. I never use it because I have several better radios. Here’s why it’s on the list:
- Solid performance on shortwave
- SSB
- Air band
- Above average MW performance (MW enthusiasts alter this radio for even better performance)
- Very good manual (after revisions)
Negatives
- Clumsy direct frequency entry
- Poor ATS and memory layout
- Volume control on the wrong (left) side
BlogOrDie! articles on the XHDATA D-808.
Zhiwhis ZWS-2415
The Zhiwhis ZWS-2415 is somewhat of an outlier for the list, but I thought something in the emergency radio class should be included. It’s not the best that can be purchased but it’s a solid performer at a reasonable price. It’s also the only VHF radio on the list. Here are what I see as important:
- 10000 mAh emergency power
- Can run Weather alerts for a week on the internal battery
- Very sensitive on weather band
- Phenomenal sensitivity on FM
- All the basic emergency features: solar, crank, flashlight, siren, device charging, reading light
- IPX4 weather resistant
- ATS with 99 presets for each band
- VHF coverage: 30.00-199.975 MHz
- Music play from Bluetooth, flash drive and aux inputs
Negatives:
- No thermometer
BlogOrDie! articles on the Zhiwhis ZWS-2415.
Price: $42.77.
What’s missing?
One thing I notice is that none on the list have a recording capability. For that, there are a number of options, such as the Tecsun Q3, HanRongDa HRD-757, Raddy RF75A, Zhiwhis ZWS-603, Kaito KA29, and LiJiANi Rd239. There is no scanner radio in the list either.
Omissions
Several radios didn’t make my somewhat arbitrary list. There are some that I would have loved to include but they aren’t available new anymore. Others that didn’t make the cut include:
ATS25 max-Decoder
The ATS25 series are interesting radios and they are certainly transportable, but I don’t consider them on the portable list, not a radio one would normally hold while using. They’re more for tinkering and experimentation rather than radio listening, where others are more capable.
Malahit DSP2
Way too expensive.
Tecsun H-501
This is a very nice radio, but awfully expensive, and pushing the size limits for a portable.
XHDATA D-109 and D-109WB
These are two solid entries, well designed, with pleasing sound and convenient operation. The budget-conscious SWL listener might well consider one; however, they overload badly when in the vicinity of strong broadcast stations.