Sony Walkman SRF-H11 AM/FM Radio

I have had a bulky pair of FM_AM radio headphones for over 15 years and I think they are starting to fail because of the way they cut in and out at times or just switch off while in use. So, in anticipation of complete failure I realized that it was time to look for a replacement unit. I was surprised at how difficult it is to find a new pair although after thinking about the younger generations the reason is obvious.

New buyers are not interested in AM-FM radio and would prefer their iPods or other alternative listening devices. When walking or in the gym I like to be able to listen to news and talk shows and if I use them in the morning I always listen to The Bob and Tom Show (bobandtom.com). I finally located a set manufactured by Sony and purchased it through jr.com for the price of $39.95 plus S&H for $6.95. A bit pricy for a 4 oz radio WITHOUT preset buttons, but in anticipation of 10-15 years use I thought that the amortization approach would make it worth the cost. My error? I didn't search for any reviews although after the fact I did not find anything about bad reception.

The SRG-H11 is a nice looking little unit and it feels comfortable on my ears with the use of ear lobe "hooks". It only weighs 4oz (115g) and that includes the one AAA battery that powers it. This feature is nice because my antique ones weighed almost a pound including the two AA batteries. They were ear muff style headphones and after 15-20 minutes the pressure on the ears was irritating causing the user to shift the weight or reposition the ear pieces a bit. So, my first thought was that the Sony unit was a great improvement.

For the spec needy, I have these other tidbits:
Frequency range is 87.5-108MHz for FM and 530-1710 kHz for AM
"MegaBass" setting for dynamic bass sound system
DX/Local selector for better reception.
Power output is 6mW + 6 mW at 10% harmonic distortion
Dynamic headphone
Powered by 1.5V DC, one size AAA (R03) battery
Can be used with slight exposure to rain and snow but cannot be termed as water resistant and if their is accidental immersion it must be immediately taken out and dried including the battery compartment.
One year limited warranty with servicing by a Factory Sony Service Facility

There is also an informative paper that gives safety tips about its use, such as when driving or walking in traffic, and the heavy emphasis is on protecting your hearing. The mini-chart about decibel levels with comparative noise sources is helpful for the ignorant and youngsters who believe that they are invulnerable.

Overall, I thought I had found a gem as I sat in one place when first using it. Then I started to move around the house and that is when I found the deficiency. The internal antennae is inadequate. My old ones never faded out or distorted unless I was in the back of the basement. The Sony SRF will have nothing but static if I am on the first floor and just walk to the "wrong" spot. So, as I meander the music or talk show will continually cut in and out. I went outside and the reception was a better but there were still spots where I could not get reception and sometimes this would happen if I just turned my head 90 degrees. My old unit may have looked geeky with the antennae sticking up on the side of the head but I never had problems hearing everything.

The other deficiencies that I would have accepted if the reception was good was that you have to remove the unit from your head to change the radio station or switch from AM/FM or make other adjustments. The switches and dials are so tiny that you can't find them easily by touch (and I do not have pudgy fingers) and you start to change your settings unintentionally.

I wonder what I would have paid for a geeky looking earmuff headphones with newer technology even if it weighed heavier, but it received just as good reception as the old ones?