Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio | Excellent on AM,FM and Shortwave

Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio | Exceptional sensitivity in an inexpensive digital PLL LW/AM/SW/FM radio and one that is fully SSB capable

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Kaito KA1103 World...

	Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio Kaito Kaito average customer review:based on 40 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The newly released Kaito KA1103 is an improved version of widely praised KA1102. This digital PLL dual conversion world band receiver will keep you connected to a very comprehensive frequency range including FM, AM, short wave and long wave stations with both a digital readout and a simulation of the old-fashioned analog dial. The KA 1103 has a very effective wide-narrow filter. It does a really good job of whacking back adjacent channel interference. Listeners will be impressed with both selectivity and sensitivity. With single side band (SSB) reception, the radio will transmit with a minimal amount of interference. To further enhance listening pleasure, the synchronous detection will reduce fadings and regular beats. There are four options when tuning your radio stations. With direct tuning, you input the desired frequency digits. Manual tuning allows you to change the frequency using the tuning knob. If you are unsure of what station you want, use the scan tuning option to have the radio stop at all hearable receptions. Finally, with preset tuning, you can recall a preset station with a single button press. You can store up to 256 preset stations using memory tuning feature, and there is a ten-key direct access tuning function, offering you quickly access to your top ten favorite stations. If you plan on traveling with a radio, the KA1103 is a very good choice. You can either listen to the KA1103 via the built-in 3" speaker or with the included earphones. Beyond the ability to tune into various radio bands, the KA1103 also features a built-in automatic battery charger, plugs it into any wall outlet with the included AC adpator when the battery indicator shows that battery is low. Frequency Coverage: FM:76.0-108.0MHz;MW:520-1710 MHz; SW:1.71-29.99 MHz;LW 100 - 519 kHz. Package includes Stereo earphones, AC adaptor, external antenna, carrying pouch, 3 pcs of AA rechargeable batterties and a copy of user manual.

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Excellent on AM,FM and Shortwave

I've used most of the great radios, such as the Sony 2010, and other portables, including the Sony 7600GR. The KA1103 truly surprised me, in that it's performance on all bands was excellent, and the audio easy to listen to via speaker or earphones. It's AM,FM,Shortwave sensitivity is very good, and if it had a synch detector, it would beat most all portables I've used. Others have mentioned 'usability' issues, and while these might take time to get used to, what you are getting with this radio is a super receiving platform, technically speaking. The human interface might be a tad different, but its worth it if you want a radio with great technical performance for a low price. I especially like that the dial light will come on if you touch any of the radio's buttons, including the tuning knob---makes for easy nightime tuning around. I cannot comment on its internal charger, since I use lithium batteries. Back when I was a ham radio hobbyist, we used to say about certain great receivers, 'if you tune it to a frequency and find no station, its becasue its not there,' and I can say the same of the 1103. For historians, this radio seems to me to be similar in case design as the Sony ICF 7700, a similarly sized portable made in the 90's, that used a digital display to simulate an analog tuning needle, with digital readout at the top of the screen.

I'd say: get this, you won't be disappointed in its performance once you figure out how to use it's controls.

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Exceptional sensitivity in an inexpensive digital PLL LW/AM/SW/FM radio and one that is fully SSB capable

Kaito/Degen/Tecsun has done it again! I needed a portable LW/AM/SW/FM radio that was SSB capable and have compared several receivers including the SONY ICF-SW7600GR, the Grundig G6 Aviator, the Sangean ATS-909, the Kaito KA1102 and KA1103, etc. I am still not done with all my evaluations, but I definitely think that the Kaito KA1103 is a great, inexpensive and yet a very excellent receiver! I am extremely impressed right out of the box with how well it performs even for quite weak signals and with the antenna on SW not even extended very much.

CAUTION and ALERT:
I advise you to be very cautious when first turning on a new KA1103 unit however. The factory default setting for the speaker volume is set to midrange and that is a very loud sound indeed. Read the manual first on how to quickly adjust the volume (two methods are available- see below!) so that you can protect both your ears and the fine speaker on this radio.

PROS:

1) Comes with a slip case, a set of earbuds, 4 rechargeable batteries, a long length of antenna wire with a standard plug on one end and a clip on the other end, an AC/DC adaptor and a very readable manual.
2) Extremely excellent signal reception on ALL bands (LW/AM/SW/FM) with all standard frequencies continuously available. It really performs very well! Both the sensitivity (ability to detect very weak signals) and the selectivity (ability to separate competing signals on adjacent frequencies) are quite excellent. Part of the latter capability is due to a very well designed narrow/wide band filter setting.
3) It has a tone switch (Music/news) as well as a two position Local/DX switch (RF gain attenuator), an earphone jack, a charger/adaptor jack, etc.
4) Lock push button and with an orange backlighting system for the screen and for the keys (and it can be turned off completely by a separate slide switch on the right hand side at the bottom of the unit).
6) Numerous tuning methods are available including a fine tuning knob that extends slightly outside the main body of the radio. The knob is separately also a control device for one way of changing the volume level, etc.
7) Very high quality and very readable display with numerous icons for battery life and a signal strength meter that works extremely well, It also has Mono/stereo settings, sleep settings, an external antenna jack, a DC input jack, a SSB (single sideband) key on the front of the unit and a separate BFO (beat frequency oscillator) fine tuning knob on the side of the radio), etc.
8) Long battery life using 4 ordinary or rechargeable AA batteries
9) 268 memory preset locations that are very easy to both set as well as scan (only 100 of them are easy to set however, but that is equal to all that are available in total on the Sony for example)
10) It has a nice and easy to use reset button.
11) Very nice size speaker with excellent sound quality and little distortion. It is much better than the speaker on the Sony in my opinion.
12) Very good quality and very easy to maneuver FM/SW antenna that also swivels very nicely and that also is very easy to quickly extend.
13) It recharges the batteries automatically internal to the radio just like the KA1102, the Degen DE1105, the Grundig G5, etc.
13) Overall this is just one very fine radio and I would happily purchase it again!

CONS:

1) The volume level can only be set in one of two ways, but both involve either two key pushes or one key push and then the tuning knob to achieve their goal. This is awkward if a sudden loud sound is encountered when changing bands especially if using the earbuds, but it is not a show stopper by any means. However, this problem is easily overcome using an inexpensive ($7.95 + shipping) in-line volume control earphone cable with one available online from Ccrane which also works with many other portable sw radios (such as the CCSWP for example).
2) Band scanning is not continuous over all frequencies/wavelengths, but can only be done one band at a time with a key push needed to switch to the next band.

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Radio was good; Amazon service wasn't

I bought this radio on April 29th. It shipped on May 5th, and I received it on May 9th. That's not too bad. However, the radio was scratched and dented and looks used. The packaging looked "new" but the radio did not. Functionally it seemed OK, though as I don't have another of this radio to compare to I can't judge whether it was otherwise defective.

Amazon cannot accept an exchange because "Kaito Electronics, Inc. inventory is constantly changing, we can't replace any items sold by Kaito Electronics, Inc. that are Fulfilled by Amazon." If that actually makes any sense to anyone, please let me know, because I don't know what kind of inventory isn't changing.

In short, I'm returning the radio and ordering another one from somewhere else. Buyer beware.

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Good Receiver

I ourchased this from Amazon. Although the unit I received was clearly second hand (used, pre-owned, etc.), it worked well most of the time. Twice, it completely locked up and wouldn't even turn off. I had to remove the batteries for a few seconds to reuse the device. Apparently, it had been returned for this intermittent problem and resold. I returned the unit to Amazon and got the Sony ICF-SW7600GR receiver instead.

I gave this receiver three stars because it is rather good (if you have a working model). It receives signals very well. The sound is excellent. Takes some patience to tune with the analog knob.

If you are just wanting a simple (non Single Side Band) receiver, then get the Grundig Mini 300 AM/FM/SW Pocket Radio for a fraction of the cost. It picks up all the signals this Kaito picked up. It's just more tedious to tune. I own the Grundig and tested it against this Kaito. Just got the Sony and so far, I have more pleased with it's ease of use. It picks up stations similar to the Kaito, maybe a tad better.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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