Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Allied Radio SX-190

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Allied Radio SX-190
Reviews: 2MSRP: $249.00 in 1971
Description:
Eleven band general coverage receiver.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0025
VK5GI Rating: 2013-09-27
one of the nGreat Receivers of all time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sure, this receiver looks the part, substantial, big, professional. The thing is - it is all these things and much more. In my humble opinion, this radio is really and truly one of the Hall of Fame greats. OK, you really have to read the book to use it to its full advantage but, wow, the noise floor is very low, the sensitivity is superb, the selectivity will bring in any station that is out there. I'm a ham but a lot of my time is listening around the bands and I do it with the SX-190. I don't care that it is a few years old (well, about 30 actually!), it is several orders of magnitude above the receivers of the 21 century. Trust me, I've had mine for years, won't part with it. if you are looking for a SERIOUS receiver, then this is for you.
KA8DLL Rating: 2010-02-01
Very nice ham and shortwave receiver. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a fun radio with lots of value in it. The high points would be: preselector tuning, heavy duty precision tuning dial, peak and rejection tuning with a Q multiplier, crystal calibator(25KZ or 100KZ), no drift operation, above average construction quality, beautiful front chrome panel with three perfectly centered lights for the preselector, main tuning, S meter, and widely spaced man sized knobs for comfortable tuning.
This radio requires a skill level that has all been but forgotten since the modern digital receiver came on the scene.
Operation consists of peaking the preselector for the correct band and frequency. The main tuning dial has to be adjusted for the station. The Q multiplier must be adjusted for peak or notch as needed. Start the tune mode at 12:00. This becomes automatic and fast to do. Next, the preselector has to be rocked back and forth for the lowest noise level and best selectivity. Again, very easy and natural. For me this is enjoyable and makes me feel like a real radio operator.
This is a daily crusing radio and not really a contest radio. It has only one bandwidth (4KZ), with the Q multipiler supplying the extra selectivity needed.
In spite of only the one bandwidth the actual selectivity with the Q multipiler it is better than my Kenwood R-2000 receiver, with much less constant static and hiss sound.The CW signals really pop out and can mostly be separated with the Q multiplier.
Since this radio is performing at a level much higher than the price tag I'm giving it a 5 rating for getting every drop of performance for the dollars spent.
My very nice SX-190 came from ebay for a little over $100.00, which I consider a very good price.
The SX-190 was made by Allied Radio and Radio Shack(Radio Shack bought Allied Radio in the early 70's.)
The radio has three ham bands and six shortwave bands plus two extra crystal positions for general coverage above 3MHZ.
This all solid state radio was produced from 1971-1973, and can be thought of as a reduced cost Drake SPR-4 general coverage receiver. Each band is 500KZ wide. Selling for approximately 65% of the SPR-4 receiver($249.00 versus $390.00),this must have seemed like a pretty good deal in 1971.
In some ways the SX-190 out did the Drake SPR-4. It has a much more rugged front panel. If it is possible for a radio to be small but massive this radio fills the bill. The commerical size machine aluminum knobs look heavy and expensive. Indeed, the main tuning knob has a diameter of 2 1/4 inches and with the skirt has a diameter of 3 inches making it the largest tuning knob I have ever seen on a ham receiver. This weighted knob makes tuning a breeze. It has a built in 25KHZ or 100KHZ crystal calibrator for excellent accuracy.
The design team must have looked at several radios from this time period. Such as, National's HRO-500, Drake's SPR-4, and Collins 75S-3. Taking bits and pieces from each one. In fact, you could tell me the SX-190 was really a baby HRO-500 and I would believe you.Good job Allied Radio for setting the standard for a low cost, well made ham receiver.