Like many I have had my assortment of radios. Some have died just sitting around. I got into radio as a kid. Then onto amateur radio where I could be my own radio station !! 160 meters mostly. At least got DXCC #26 160 meters when it was kind of hard back then. Fewer countries and often severe power limits.
I going crazy watching you-tube videos I have been deluged by radio reviews often by idiots who know nothing. (no offense) (you-tube feeds things at me by their calculations) I was not aware there was something like Amazon Fire TV (and also Roku? Free nevertheless but you could pay Netflix and YouTube (videos and music..I pay $11 a year) I always thought TV was the opiate of he population !! Sit as a blob as your life goes by watching people with a better life than you !! Some spend hundreds a month to their cable company. (for almost nothing)(have to have a router/modem but that normal with an internet connection.
Anyway I try not to sink into a TV lazy brain.
The Chinese cheap portables. I recent tried a few. I'd swear this one I kinda like but only have had it for a few days.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804829231928.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.3449f19c62Fi7o&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=USNow the price seems to change by the hour. It was just $12. Snoop for v115 radio. Often with snooping aliexpress the same thing will show up as a bargain. I would beware of aliexpress as you have to be certain what you select is actually the radio and free shipping. I thought I could use a Baofeng Tri-Band 220 HT and I got something else and it was my problem they say.
The v115 is digital and seems to get FM fine but AM dead as normal. Sounds pretty good also. They must have some cheap FM chip 88-108 or Europe 76 + mhz. I have not tried the record function..if it works. The chinese radios seem to be built better now as to falling apart. Like if you just want to listen to local radio etc. (at least for AM)
BUT if one is familiar with radios nothing like a better radio !! As said they seem to go by price range. $100 and up nice. Close to that sometimes nice. Like the Sangean PR 4 is under $100. Sangean has a whole selection and other PR's might be equal but they used to promote them by a LARGE ferrite antenna.
I missed out on some better radios of years ago but did end up with a GE super-radio plus 'digital' and a Sony ICF-5W. (both kinda of scarce)
Today I'd buy an extra CCrane EP as they remind me of the super-radio. (if anything was split frequency the digital 10kz no good) I wish I had bought extras of some things years ago but--- I don't know when they did but I try to put electricity in them off and on. --
Then of coarse those that really listen to things demand a communications receiver. SWL stuff I think stinks on most portables. Just look at that recent QST review of the new Sangean $500 radio. often the comment...this is a portable radio !!! (as to being negative)
I have never claimed to be an expert and not always wrong !!!!
Good radio reviews. He seems to give honest reviews and was into broadcasting at one time.
https://radiojayallen.com/ ===============================================