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Reviews For: SONY CRF-1

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : SONY CRF-1
Reviews: 3MSRP: CHF 2990
Description:
Made In Japan 1981-1986
Voltages: 100/120/220/240 VAC
Coverage: 10-30000 kHz Readout: Digital LED 0.1
Modes: AM/LSB/USB/CW Selectivity: 10/4.4/2 kHz
Circuit: Double Conversion Physical: 10x4x13.2" 15 Lbs.
Features: ΒΌ" Head. Jack, S/Battery-Meter, Record Jack, Preselector, NB, Dial Lamp, Dial Lamp Switch, Carry Handle, Muting, RF Gain.
Accessories: DCC-9 Car Battery Cord
New Price: $1350-1795
Comments: Also operates from 12 VDC or eight D and two AA cells. This early digital portable utilized 21 Integrated circuits, 21 FETs, 68 transistors and 99 diodes.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0034
VE6VQ Rating: 2012-08-05
Hot Receiver in it's time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned one of these fine portable receivers for quite a few years in the 80's. I was quite happy at the performance of it compared to various other quite competent receivers I owned around that time (Drake R7, Icom R-70, Yaesu FRG-7700). One thing I remember about it was how sensitive it was (MDS was measured at < 0.1 uV on 20 M) but then again it was sold as a portable intended to work with a short (inefficient) whip antenna. Selectivity was quite good, but there was no way to improve it much. The workmanship was phenomenal. The internal chassis was cast aluminum with separate compartments for each module/PCB and shielded cabling going between compartments: A technique normally seen only in much larger receivers.
It suffers from the same fate as many discontinued radios: A lack of spare parts and service expertise. I never had a problem with mine, and I dragged it all over the place, but sooner or later something would go wrong and then what? I eventually sold mine to finance the purchase of $LATEST_TOY and not because there was anything in particular wrong with it.
GFEDCBA Rating: 2009-11-03
The best portable ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been used this rx for more than 15 years now without any problems.

The CRF-1 runs always together with my AOR7030Plus and it performs well - all what you can hear in the AOR7030 you also can listen in the CRF-1 (of course without the quality of the AOR as you have no PBT or smaller filters).

I never would sell this perfect styled radio. A nice piece of radio history of the late 70s.
WB9YCJ Rating: 2009-10-18
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Approach with caution.

Ive owned two of these.... Stationed in Japan, I saw the intro of this receiver in the 1981 WRTH. This model was introduced in appx the same timeframe as the ICF-2001 and BEFORE the ICF-2010. I soon got to operate one of these impressive looking receivers live and in person on a display shelf in Akihabara 1982 (sitting next to an ICF-2001). Eventually acquired a pair of these five to ten years ago. Couldnt find a good practical or functional reason to hang on to either one of them.

The Sony ICF-2010 and Eton E-1 both run rings around it in performance and portability. I also consider the Panasonic RF-B65 and Degen 1103 better in many areas.

The good:
Performance O.K.
Handsome, and very impressive looking.
Professional looking. Perhaps something the CIA would have thrown money at "back then" but so few were made, I doubt it.

The bad:
Plastic top (poor shielding).
Every 100 khz you had to pull the knob out to slide over to the next 100 khz segment (then push it back in). Dynamic range mediocre. Very noisey synthesizer. Pre-selector had to be constantly tuned and peaked, and was pretty sharp. Had a preselector bypass switch, but did not work well when switched out of line. 4 dial lamps burned out quickly.

The Ugly:
WARNING : Synthesizer failure can be very common with the CRF-1 and most of the CRF-1 parts can no longer be had.

Conclusion:
Seems these are of buyer interest in Japan today likely for nastalga reasons only.
May wind up as an expensive conversation piece on your coffee table.

I may have hurt someones feelings - so let the sugar coating begin.....