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| Reviews Summary for Sony World Band Receiver ICF-SW7600GR |
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Reviews: 61
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Average rating: 4.3/5
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MSRP: $$180
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Description: Portable shortwave receiver.
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More info: http://
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write your own review of the Sony World Band Receiver ICF-SW7600GR.
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W4PDZ
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 13, 2009 10:34
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Bad Controls
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my 7600 for about two years. While I like the radio very much, I have had one continous problem. Unstable fine tuning and scratchy volume controls. I have installled a
second set of these controls with same results. The only time I get a couple of weeks of good results is when I take the case apart and spray these controls with tuner cleaner. Anyone else have the same problem? Otherwise, outstanding receiver.
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SPIDER89119
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 7, 2009 10:38
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a superb portable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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For the price, and considering that it is a portable, this is one awesome little radio. I am constantly amazed at how well it performs with just the whip antenna. It gets even better with a 50 foot outdoor longwire clipped to the antenna, and the front end handles it just fine. I mainly use it for trips, and when I want to sit outside, or in other rooms of the house while I tune and listen. I have compared it to my Palstar R30A, an excellent performing tabletop receiver which is very highly regarded. Using the same 50 foot outdoor longwire for both, there is very little, if anything, that I can receive with the Palstar that I cannot also receive with the Sony. It even receives the vast majority of the signals with just the whip. The Sony's audio can't come anywhere close to the Palstar's, of course, but the Sony is a little portable, so that's to be expected. If you can't deal with the sound from the speaker, try a pair of quality noise blocking earbuds. It sounds great.
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WDX3HTF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 21, 2009 20:25
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Bang for the Buck
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have been using the SW7600 GR as my take along radio on camping trips and it has been great.
Easy to use and really pulls in the stations.
July 19, 2009 listening to 40 meters SSB had 5 and 9 copy on a Ham from Ireland EI6S in QSO with many stations in the US and Canada and had no trouble hearing him work through the pile up he had going as stations called to make contact.
This was using the roll up antenna supplied strung out along the porch in front of our camp.
SWLing the international bands is a pleasure using the 7600.
Great product, maybe better then my Grundig 800 in some respects.
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AC7CW
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 10, 2009 10:59
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Hard to use in the dark
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Time owned: months
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I got this radio for it's synchronous AM detection, I had trouble with MW stations fading at night. For that it's fine but it's too hard to tune at night when in use as a bedside radio. I like my little Grundig G1000A far better at night, I can tune across a whole shortwave band in a few seconds whereas with the button-and-scan system on the ICF-SW7600GR it's a real headache what with the light not staying on and the scan thing doing it's thing and the need to adjust the RF pad so it won't stop on every noise source. If I could get a radio that tuned like a G1000A with synchronous I'd do it tomorrow.
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9V1AE
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 10, 2009 00:21
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Great for outdoor use
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The radio is very good for outdoor use. I should have got an active antenna to receive the DX signals from inside my home, without going out. But I do not know where to get the active antenna in Singapore.
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W1FG
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 24, 2008 12:37
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Very Good Portable
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Very pleased with this Sony. Very selective and sensitive for price class, and I love the Sync Detector for SWL. SSB also works fine. Audio is acceptable for the size, but certainly not great. Controls are reasonably intuitive, and the manual is very good. Works very well with the Sony active loop AN-LP1, I use batteries only to avoid power supply hum. I did have one QC problem upon receipt - the ferrite rod MW antenna was rattling in the case - inadequately glued and easily fixed. Satisfied and would recommend to a friend.
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KU4UV
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 16, 2008 16:06
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Probably the best SW receiver in it's price class
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased my 7600GR about a year ago, and I have really enjoyed using it in that time. I think this is one of the best, if not THE best portable shortwave receiver on the market that is in it's price class. The receiver seems to be very sensitive, and I also like the AM SYNC feature. I use rechargeable NIMH batteries for my 7600GR, and the radio runs for quite a while on a full charge of the batteries. I have never tried the power adapter, as I have heard there are problems with the stock Sony adapter. I understand that Universal Radio makes an adapter for the 7600GR that doesn't have the hum noise problem associated with it. I give the 7600GR a "4" rating mainly for a couple of reasons. For one, I wish it had a tuning knob on the side of the receiver. It kind of gets old having to tune in stations by holding down the buttons, plus this can also lead to the numbers and lettering rubbing off of the buttons eventually after a lot of use. I guess Sony figured that most of the people who purchase the 7600GR will already have a set number of SW stations that they regularly listen to, and that they would simply enter these into the radio's memory instead of using a tuning knob. Secondly, as others have mentioned, the radio's audio from the front speaker leaves a lot to be desired. The radio is so small and light-weight though, I guess something had to be compromised, so the speaker got the bill. Overall, I really like the 7600GR. The 7600GR has been on the market for around 7 or 8 years now. I am hoping that Sony will produce an updated model of the 7600 series receiver soon, and fix some of the minor shortcomings of the 7600GR that I have mentioned. I would recommend this receiver to anyone.
73,
KU4UV
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KT3L
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 16, 2008 10:00
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Great value and performance
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I've been SWLing for a long time, and I must tell you the SW7600GR is as good as it gets for a portable receiver.
I purchased mine new in March of 2008 after reading many good reviews online, including eham.net. Also, I'd had real good experience with a previous Sony (ICF2010). Since the '2010 was very popular, I'll compare the '7600 against that radio.
At first I missed the tuning knob but not after a little use. You can bandscan to your heart's delight anyway by holding down the +/-1 (inner rocker) tuning button, with no synthesizer chuff at all, though you do hear the 1 kHz "steps" when you pass a heterodyne. The programmed 5 kHz-step scan (pause then resume) is better than the '2010 which resumes too quickly.
Battery life is superb. I'm on only my second set of four AA's since March and I listen at least an hour a day through earbuds. In my opinion, don't bother with an AC adapter that can introduce hum and provide another path for RF noise. I know that's not a "green" recommendation but practicality must also play a role! Changing the batteries does not zero out the clock or memories, so long as you get the new ones in within sixty seconds.
At home I clip an inverted-L long wire to the whip, and the continuous attenuator control is very effective in reducing front-end overload--another advantage over the '2010 whose slider-type RF gain control on the side is awful.
Sensitivity on a random selection of weaker stations is on a par with or better than my '2010 (whose sensitivity may have deteriorated slightly over lo these many years). What I really miss is a meaningful S-meter...LED's or otherwise.
Listening to hams, aviation, or AFRTS on SSB is a pleasure. I don't notice the "warble" that other reviewers have observed; AFRTS has complex audio that sounds fine over USB. For shortwave, the single bandwidth is an effective compromise and selectable synchronous detection works as it should to block out the offending neighbor five kHz away. The slide switches for AM/Sync/SSB and LSB/USB are quite stiff until you break them in. In this regard the '2010's buttons are much better.
Using the memory page system takes a little getting used to but otherwise works effectively. You can use the ten pages any way you like of course, but I use page 0 for stations at 0000 UTC, page 1 for 0100, and so on. Although I can't cover all 24 hours that gives me enough for the times I listen the most.
Direct frequency entry requires one more keypress than the '2010 (you have to press direct first, then the digits, then EXE). The buttons have a better, more positive feel to them. Actually, you can say that about the '7600 in general: it feels solid and substantial, as other reviewers have noted.
The audio through a pair of good earpieces is excellent; through the speaker, "not so much". Considering the speaker's size that's not surprising. The audio emphasizes the midrange and treble, making it great for listening to voice. If I were listening to music I'd probably use the '2010 for more bass. There's an ineffective tone switch that I leave on "music" (more treble). Sure wish Sony would use separate bass and treble controls like the Grundig/Eton radios, but I guess we should be glad Sony is still making receivers at all...
I don't do much MW DXing but when I have, I found the built-in ferrite loop antenna to be very sharp. Rotate the radio slowly to null out interference or peak your desired signal. FM stereo sounds fine, maybe a bit trebly but again, I got this radio for short wave.
Overall I have been having a blast with my '7600, logging new stations like crazy (with my limited Spanish augmenting my English listening). It's a pleasure to use and listen to.
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RADIOLOVE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 30, 2008 23:37
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Best Portable SW and Made in Japan Quality
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I'm very impressed with this Sony portable. Superior made in Japan quality unlike all that other made in china junk on the market today. Unit is sensitive and pulls in SW and SSB signals in quite well for a portable receiver. Great on trips around the world, I take it everywhere. Solid and reliable. I love this radio so much I bought a spare in case anything ever happened to it or Sony decides to pull the plug on another great SW receiver.
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G0RRL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 17, 2008 12:04
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best SW portable available at this time
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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i may have commented previously about a 7600D. well ive just spent some cash & bought the newer 7600GR. its still the same as the 20yr old 7600D in my opinion .. but with some subtle changes. if anyone has a 7600D & its the same as mine they will notice FAR BETTER ssb performance with the GR version as far as selectivity. on a good aerial it is comparable to my HF transceiver.
FM is better but not ultra narrow. the 100 memories is better than ten. one other thing .. someone commented that it can be accidentally switched on in its carry case ... then try the "lock" button. my one wont turn on with the lock on. the audio on mine sounds crystal clear.why do people expect hi-fi?
i still think a lot could be done with this radio .. especially the naff tuning .. but compare it to other makes & u will soon prefer the Sony. not the ultimate but a good portable size & value.
Sony dont discontinue this SW portable completely.
bring out the mk9!
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