[Hallicrafters] sx-28 price

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 1/31/06, Julian Bunn <Julian.Bunn at caltech.edu> wrote:
> This is an interesting thread, and I wonder why the SX-28 is so attractive
> to people. Is it a good radio? On paper it doesn't look like it should be
> especially fine. Perhaps it is the classic look that attracts?

Julian -

It is a very good radio for what it does, yes. I'll speak for myself
but I've spoken with many who agree:

- Wonderful, 'Real Radio' appearance (if you're going to be staring at
it for hours or displaying it anywhere other than a radio room, this
matters even more). A very symmetrical layout, wrinkle paint cabinet
w/aluminum trim and leather-look front panel with steering wheel
tuning and bandspread knobs, one of the few times when 'Deco look'
truly applies.

- Pleasing proportions. More like a cube than a shoebox. Looks like it
should weigh a lot - and does.

- Excellent Push-Pull (aka "Shove -Yank") audio output from a pair of
6V6s. Pumped through a suitably large period speaker, the receiver
really sings.

- Weighted Flywheel tuning controls. When properly adjusted (cleaned
well and lightly lubed) it can easily be tuned 'lock to lock' so to
speak, with one good spin of the knob.

- Interesting backlit dials with arrow pointers embracing the selected
frequency surrounded by generous bakelite bezels (I should get a red
curtain and write ebay ads, hm?).

- Multiple settings for audio output (wide/narrow/base in or out, etc)
plus a separate, adjustable tone control.

Those are the high points to me.

You're absolutely correct that on paper and even in some applications,
it doesn't look or work so hot. It's single conversion, 1930s
technology, and not what you'd call "drift-free". Or to put it
differently - it ain't no R-390! If you're looking for precision, this
is not the radio.

But for what the vast majority are used for these days (music, foreign
broadcast, 160, 75, 40m AM), it's not only adequate, it's tough to
beat for the above-listed reasons.

Sure, other receivers do other things better, even many of the things
the SX-28 does. For me, it's just another excu...er...reason to get
more radios. Rather than trying to redesign an old radio to do
something it was never meant to do (receive SSB, for example), I
prefer to use it as designed, live with any limitations, and get
something different for SSB or whatever else.

In the case of the SX-28(*), it's the most enjoyable receiver to use
in my case, as well as the best looking.

And as I've offered in the past, the best looking dial (more like a
picture window or movie screen) is found on the SX-62 receiver, which
is really just a newer SX-28 without bandspread. The band-in-use
feature really looks great with all of those foreign broadcast
stations listed across the otherwise-black dial and illuminated from
the back.

Then there's the most clever tuning knob set up: SX-42 perhaps? This
receiver is the more direct descendant of the SX-28, including
bandspread.

A little off track, but it's all good.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ