What's the best-looking shortwave tabletop receiver?

[Rob-W4ZNG]

I would go for the Icom IC-R9000.

217539660.jpg

Incidentally, the NRD-535 has a vacuum florescent display, but the NRD-545 is a backlit LCD.

Oooh, that beautiful amber-on-black CRT look is easy on the eyes. So easy that I still use it for terminal windows on my Mac while doing my retro-Fortran thing.

Thanks for posting that one. Here's a quick look at some specs: https://www.cryptomuseum.com/df/icom/icr9000/index.htm

[dxace1]

In my humble opinion, it's the Japan Radio NRD-515. Functional, utilitarian, without looking cheap.



Cheers, Jock

I have to agree on the RF-4800/4900 -- this has the classic look of 1970's/1980's Japan-made Panasonics.
It should be in a museum.

[Jon•]

I was gifted a FRG-7700 which embodies the late 70's look very nicely, but I am quite partial to the look of the NRD-545. Nothing says eighties or nineties like a nice vacuum fluorescent display.

I agree that the FRG-7700 is a very nice looking receiver. I used to prefer the look of the FRG-8800 over the '7700, but now I think the '7700 is the best looking of the FRGs.

Best looking receiver overall, however, is a tough question. I'm probably partial to the JRC receivers, like many other respondents to this thread. Of the '5x5-series of receivers, I've always found the NRD-535/D to be the best looking. Of the JRC marine receivers, I'd have to go with the NRD-93...love the look and the straightforward ergonomics.

I'm a big fan of Drake receivers, but, in my opinion, they somewhat miss the mark on aesthetic appeal. I enjoy using the R7, but I find its appearance somewhat ungainly and its ergonomics a little awkward. I find the R8 series to have a better layout of the controls, but the spartan look of these receivers seems a mismatch with the really solid performance provided (and don't get me started on those rubber buttons...).

[Jon•]

I have to agree on the RF-4800/4900 -- this has the classic look of 1970's/1980's Japan-made Panasonics.
It should be in a museum.

...and Panasonic did some great looking portables during the same era. The '2200 is a classic with great looks to match its excellent performance. I also like the look of the RF-2600, which has its own unique style with the fluorescent frequency display inset in the circular window.

But portables are another story altogether...worthy of their own thread.

[Andrew (grayhat)]

What about the Siemens E311 ?

http://www.boatanchors.de/index.html?ge ... _e311.html

[Rob-W4ZNG]

What about the Siemens E311 ?

All business! I do appreciate its "everything on the front panel" interface. Not that they had deeply buried menus in the 60's, mind you.

[Andrew (grayhat)]

What about the Siemens E311 ?

All business! I do appreciate its "everything on the front panel" interface. Not that they had deeply buried menus in the 60's, mind you.

And then, seeing it in operation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JvQY_9bzq8

is quite nice

[vswl]

Saw a few mentions, and here's a pic of my JRC NRD-545 DSP Receiver

IMG_1723 copy2.jpg (123.37 KiB) Viewed 26082 times

[K4FBI]

Here are my favorites

IMG_2210.jpeg (57.45 KiB) Viewed 25763 times

IMG_2212.jpeg (28.51 KiB) Viewed 25763 times

Over the years I've been fortunate to have owned Yaesu FRG-8800, Sony ICF-2010, Icom IC-737a and others

[Andrew (grayhat)]

just found a nice and pretty "rare" receiver

https://wa3dsp.org/RME/RME6900/



according to the notes found at the above link, RME was a small company created by W9CI and W9RGH, after WW2 they merged with Electrovoice and later on, the Ten Tec company was founded by people from Electrovoice, but aside from that, I really like the look of that old boatanchor