Sony Walkman Digital Tuning Weather/FM/AM Stereo Radio (Black) Reviews

• Fine super-portable am/fm weatherband radio

  
  By APQQK1V695AUE on 2008-05-15
  Comments for prospective buyers:
  
  1) PLL (Phase locked loop) digitally synthesized radio with very low noise.
  
  2) This radio can only be manually tunned by pressing the + (forward/up) or - (back/down) frequency tuning button. It will even advance semi-automatically if you hold the button down and you will hear the stations as the radio sweeps through the frequencies so you know how/where to locate stations (unlike Sangean pocket radios which mute during automatic scan and seek functions). Thus, there is no fully automatic, press and scan or even a seek function, but I have found this manual tuning capability totally adequate because of the simplicity of the five preset tuning buttons for each band (with 2 sets of five presets on the fm band). It is quite silly that Sony didn't take the time right now to also add 5 more presets on a second set of am bands just as they did on fm on the SRF-M37V for example which has 25 presets available and not 20 presets as on this newest model. This is especially because the am reception on this radio is quite exceptional in addition to all of its other very nice features.
  
  3) It is as good as the Sangean pocket radios that I have recently tried as well (including the famous DT-200VX). It remains to be seen if the new (June 2008) Sangean DT-400W (with NOAA weather coverage and broadcast alerts) will compete with the Sony SFR-37W.
  
  4) It has a one year limited warranty and clearly not just 90 days as listed on numerous websites, including Amazon.com. This time limit is clearly listed on the instructions with the radio (the included Sony warranty certificate comes attached to the radio instructions).
  
  5) I get excellent reception here in the mountains of New Mexico for a super-portable am/fm/weatherband radio receiver with 20 presets (5 on am/10 on fm and 5 for weather) that lasts 30-54 hours on one AAA battery. Weatherband signals are weak by the nature of the short range, low power NOAA transmitters and you must turn up the volume to adequately hear them and then adjust it back down for most am/fm stations especially.
  
  6) All presets are very intuitive and extremely easy to use (a one button press system) as well as very easy to set. They are also easy to change as needed, especially if you travel a lot. Also, as long as you change the battery within 3 minutes of removing it, no presets will be lost (fortunately changing the battery is a snap).
  
  7) The SRF-M37W is as extremely durable and well made and should last a very long time. In fact, my son's SRF-37V (its immediate predecessor) was extensively chewed 3 years ago by his young puppy (whose name is his gal Friday since he first got her on a Friday) and it still works quite well! Also, the battery cover is normally hinged to the radio so that it can't be lost (unless excessive force is used when it is opened and in this case it is designed not to break, but instead to simply pop out, but can easily be reinstalled as shown in the Sony manual). It also comes with a belt clip that nicely and firmly attaches to the radio for convenience. It also has a lock switch to keep all settings unchanged (except for the volume control) with an LCD screen indicator for the locked position as well as a battery level indicator, etc.
  
  8) When using it inside a building go as close to the windows/doors as you can to get the very best reception. Radio waves do not penetrate very thick structures well so the best reception should generally be found outdoors for hiking, jogging, just plain walking, etc.
  
  9) As others have stated you probably will want a better set of earphones to fully enjoy listening on all bands, but the supplied pair is certainly adequate for most purposes. In addition, however, I have found that if you use a set of headphones with a longer cord (such as the ~1 m cord on the Sony MDR-Q22LP clip-on earphones), substantially improved fm reception results since the cord acts as the fm antenna on these radios.
  
  10) For those like me who will use this device near a computer, some degree of RF (radio frequency) interference (static on both the am and fm bands) can be expected. The RF interference is substantially reduced the further you move away from the computer or if you hold the radio in your hand or if you can extend the headphone cord fully.
  
  This Sony is my personal update for an old analog Sony radio (the SRF-19W am/fm stereo radio Walkman) from the late 1980's that is still working (also with no speaker and with a DX RF (radio frequency) gain switch even way back then)!
  
  

• Great little radio.

  
  By A1DJYOKICIJ0GS on 2008-06-11
  I bought this Walkman for mowing the lawn and have ended up using it all the time, riding my bike two miles to work, while putting around my shop,and mowing the yard. The reception is crisp and clear, and even here in "Radio Free Wyoming", I can pick up several F.M. stations and the weather band. It is like having a mini-stereo system.
  
  

• What I Was Looking For

  
  By A1EP2QVKIK555R on 2008-08-06
  First off I don't own the previous version of this radio. From what I can tell, the difference (besdides $20) is no tv. Which you will not be able to receive after February 2009 anyway. I have a Sony SRF-M85V S2 Sports Walkman Armband Radio that I use for running. I like it's timing features for running but the reception is lacking. I used it for 49ers games last year, and it left me looking for more (the radio and the team). I just got my new Sony Walkman Digital Tuning Weather/FM/AM Stereo Radio (Black) in the mail today. It is a step up in reception from the Sony SRF-M85V and has larger controls that will make it easier to adjust on my belt without looking. And still in a small package. Although it won't be game tested until next week, I think this is what I was looking for.
  
  

• Good 'ol AM radio

  
  By AI3QQX3RVLUMV on 2008-06-27
  OK, I'm at that age where the music has died. I just don't get it, I need something to listen to. Talk radio? That's it! I looked around for a "modern" personal music player and discovered they just don't "do" AM radio. What to do? I had a 20 year old Sony Walkman with analog tuning, VERY small thumb wheel and very difficult to tune your favorite station while walking. This modern Walkman offers digital tuning with simple push button memory selection and believe it or not, large buttons. Out sweat'n with the oldies? Just push the memory button and switch from Bortz to Rhodes!
  Great radio, great price, and best of all, very easy to operate..
  
  

• Does what I want

  
  By A34W1FX7MGUBG6 on 2008-08-16
  I've used this radio almost daily for 2+ months while outdoor walking and indoor gym use. Reception is good. Battery life is below the radar (infrequent replacements - I use recharables).
  
  The headphones shipped with this radio are much better than average.
  
  I'm a happy camper.
  
  
• Sound Quality Compared with Sangean
  By A2M5TLVJRTR964 on 2008-08-27
  I'm a talk radio buff so AM reception is primary. Most of the things I could say about this radio have been covered already in the reviews here: strong, clear AM reception (but not inside steel frame buildings and under fluorescent lights, of course), very good FM reception, rugged build, good ergonomics and intuitive presets and tuning. Ann E. Revelle's review is particularly detailed and helpful.
  
  Less discussed is the sound quality of the SRF-M37W, a primary consideration (along with reception) when I'm buying a radio. Here's my take: compared with two other pocket radios I have owned--the Sangean DT-110 AM/FM Digital Pocket Radio and the Sangean DT-180V AM/FM/TV Digital Pocket Radio--I would have to say the sound quality is a little less bright and immediate. It is not, however, as one reviewer opined, muffled or lacking in range or dynamics. There is a well-balanced, clear, precise sound quality, but it sounds as though Sony has filtered it a bit, perhaps to lessen high-frequency static and hiss. I think most buyers will find the sound pleasing.
  
  I like the brighter Sangean sound more, but I did not like the fact that the headphone jacks on both of my Sangeans went bad long before the end of their overall life (the little DT-180V only lasted about a year), particularly since they cost a lot more than the Sony. I ended up with two speakerless radios that are unusable. Hence I decided on a brand change this time and bought the SRF-M37W. I paired it with some Creative EP-630 In-Ear Headphones, which are reasonably priced and have a nice, bright sound.
  
  So far I'm pleased. We'll see how it holds up.
  
  
  
• Perfect size for running
  By A174PYKYGOZUYA on 2008-08-13
  This is my second of these radios, as they are perfect for clipping onto running shorts or slipping into the pocket of RaceReady shorts (you mean not everyone runs to NPR?). I miss the TV band that used to be part of this radio, but it's a minor inconvenience.
  
  
  
• Works well, but doesn't have TV
  By A3FEUFSKCBIZO3 on 2008-08-21
  The radio works fine and has great battery life, but I was kind of bummed when I realized that I ordered the wrong one. For the same price, there is another version of this radio that also picks up local TV audio.
  
  
• Makes for an ok AM radio, but that's it. Live and learn.
  By AC7I9L0E9RZ3B on 2008-10-18
  The good parts:
  
  I like the compact size, it fits in my hand as I walk, letting my thumb roll the volume control. Smart to have a lock switch which disables all the buttons except the volume wheel. That way, the radio doesn't accidentally turn on if bumped while carried in my tote bag, or change stations if I accidentally touch a button while holding the radio as I walk. There is a detachable belt clip that I haven't yet used. The battery compartment has a hinged cover which doesn't detach easily, so no worries about losing it. I'm not sure why they had to have a clock display on this radio, all it does is use battery power even when you are not using the radio and other people have already stated how this radio uses up batteries. I cannot attest to that because I use this radio only for going to and from work. Still, for as thoughtful as the designers seem to have been on design, they might have included an option to turn off the clock display.
  
  The headphones seem to be good quality. It's smart that they made the actual headphone jack an L-shape, presumably to avoid stress to the wire where it meets the jack. My last radio had headphones with a thin but sturdy metal headband so when this one came with a wider plastic one, I felt disappointed. Can't say it has really mattered, though.
  
  The bad part:
  
  This radio picks up more than one FM station at a time! I constantly have to move the radio around in the air as I walk, just to stop the interference! This is why I hold it in my hand instead of leaving it in my pocket or on the belt clip. What a cheap quality receiver it must have! It is my fault, too, because I should have realized that a one-battery radio would be cheap cheap cheap. I mean, if I had a boom box on my shoulder, it would have great reception but at the cost of much battery power. Conversely, a one-battery radio would be weak. This one is truly weak, using one AAA battery. My previous headset radio was a GE brand, a little larger in size than this Sony and used three AAA batteries, But, I tell you, walking through downtown Seattle amongst the tall buildings, I rarely had station interference with that radio, and the FM music came in strong and clear. In contrast, the Sony is an annoying cross-interference machine. That is why I didn't rate the Sony headphones with any more certainty except that they faithfully deliver the garbage that this radio picks up.
  
  They say downtown Seattle is the worst for radio reception, but my old GE radio worked very well. The Sony is an annoyance when downtown. Closer to home, I still hear interference, I think I discovered that the first station on FM band 1 pics up the first station in FM band 2 as well. Plus, I never got rid of the frequent background ocean roar. This was on FM, not AM! By the way, AM sounded much better, clearer. No complaints with AM.
  
  Can I return this to Amazon without paying shipping? That would be worth it. Otherwise, I can gift this smartly designed noise box to a niece as a Barbie accessory and buy myself a new three-battery radio with some oomph to it.
  
  
  
  
  
• New Walkman
  By A3C6L7S0AFKX98 on 2008-10-22
  This is a good product for my needs. I do walk every noontime and like to listen to sports talk radio on an AM station. I do not want or need tape or CD capability or the weight that goes with that. For years I used an old yellow "weatherproof" Walkman Sport and it was great. After trying half a dozen differant replacements; this digital walkman is best in AM reception. The weather channels should be a bonus; but don't come in well at all and I'm directly on the coast!
  
  
• Fine little radio.
  By A3D296RVX0JVKB on 2008-07-29
  I bought this mainly for the weather channel feature. Works great at a decent price.
  
  
• Good purchase
  By A3K9ZY7RAIX290 on 2008-08-15
  This is a very good radio so far. I have used it for about 40 hours outside in the hot weather with dirt and sweat and it has done well. The reception is very good and I really like the digital readout and push button controls. The only downside to this product is that it does use batteries somewhat quicker than other radios I have used. But, what the heck, batteries are cheap. I'm very pleased. Definitely worth the money.
  
  
• AM/FM Walkman
  By A10AMJOUSMKK5I on 2008-08-27
  Works great when out for a walk. Like the digital tuning and the clip to pants.
  
  
• Good little Radio
  By A3MSUFQECMBE43 on 2008-08-31
  I like the small size and lightweight, excellent reception, even in high mountains. Good sound, especially considering the small size. It is easy on batteries too.
  
  
• Very good Sony radio. Works as advertised.
  By A1TTCAZVUQ9I3J on 2008-09-01
  This radio works pretty well inside the gym where I work out. It has a lockout button on top which saves your station and also keeps it from turning on accidentally inside your gym bag. This is a necessary feature.
  
  
• Works like an AM/FM charm
  By A2OIM8GR2QIHLY on 2008-09-12
  This little radio works as advertised. I listen to baseball games when I'm out and about. The included headset is okay for when you need to be able to hear the outside world, but I use mine with a set of in-ear phones, which block out most outside noise - perfect for listening while mowing the lawn, for instance. Reception has been excellent, though I've only used the AM band. It seems to go through batteries fairly quickly.
  
  
• Sony walkman
  By AE9HHMIEV77F2 on 2008-09-15
  I needed something that I could use at the YMCA when working out. I was able to set the five TV's that have an FM signal using the 5 preset keys. This makes it easy to switch between shows when I am there.
  
  
  
• Reception still not good but better than atrac player
  By A17CKW75D09A3M on 2008-09-16
  I just bought this radio today because of the poor reception of my previous radio. AM Radio works excellent; FM Radio not the best but better. I used it for the first time today, and had to constantly keep switching it between local and dx which i think is better than what my last radio was. Going to use for a couple of more days and may return this device. I don't plan on buying anything from sony again. If next radio doesn't work, I'll just stick to an IPOD or XM/Sirius
  
  
• Sony Walkman AM/FM/WeatherBand SRF-M37W
  By A1WEL1U005YUO1 on 2008-09-20
  Outstanding product. Best Walkman I've ever owned! Very high sensitivity on AM and FM. Weatherband is fine, too. I bought it to listen to AM Talk Radio while I jog. FM is great also. I can jog with it secured to my pants even though I do not wear a belt and it remains snug with the belt clip. No fear of it flying off. The headphones are fine but I prefer my other Sony phones that I share with my Sandisk Sansa e280.
  
  Ira
  
  
• Very Good Product
  By A220X2WE41JMG3 on 2008-09-30
  This product replaces an aging Sony Walkman (SRF-M73). It is MUCH smaller and lighter. Also it has weather and TV bands, though I seldom use those. When buying, I considered digital tuning an essential feature.
  
  PROS: Astonishing battery life. The first battery installed was partially-used (A single AAA), and the Walkman is on about 1.5 hours per day while I walk the dogs. After four weeks, the original battery is still good! Battery life indicator is a very useful feature to keep you from getting to the park only to find a dead battery. Using the same headset as the older Walkman, the sound is the same. The unit seems to be pretty sturdy, since I already dropped it once. Small size makes it much more comfortable as a belt clipon.
  
  CONS: Only complaint: FM sensitivity is not quite as good as that of the older Walkman (though AM sensitivity is about the same.) While the radio is on, pressing the CLOCK button does not display the time - have to switch the radio off to get the time to display.
  
  

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