Customer reviews for HD Radio Portable Player
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HD Radio Portable Player
When you're on the go, listen to your favorite HD and FM radio stations using this portable player that features a belt clip for easy portability.
Overall rating:
3.8
/ 5
(325 reviews)
Rating breakdown 325 reviews
5 Stars
136
4 Stars
89
3 Stars
29
2 Stars
32
1 Star
39
73%of customers recommend this product.
(
238 out of
325)
Customer reviews for HD Radio Portable Player
Review 1 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: NoMoneyDown
This item is just what I wanted: a compact, portable HD radio to listen to the HD side-band of my favorite classical music station. With this radio, I can avoid the wasteland of contemporary FM radio broadcasting. The sound is good, the controls are intuitive and the reception with the antenna built into the earphone cord is really very, very good (with negligible signal drop-out).
Two characteristics I really like are (a) this item stays on-channel -- it does not revert to the analog FM signal of the station when the HD signal drops-out and (b) the fact that you really do not need a computer to recharge the battery. Quite often, FM radio stations broadcast entirely different program content on the main analog channel and the HD sub-channels, so staying on-channel even when there is a brief signal drop-out is a great feature -- no surprises blasting into your ears. Also, you can use a readily-available universal USB charger to recharge the battery -- as long as you can match the specs (5V DC, at least 500mAh current). I discovered that my cell phone charger is a perfect match for this radio!
What's great about it: Micro-sized but substantial construction; excellent performance.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
Durability
5
Review 2 for HD Radio Portable Player
Customer Rating
1
Ditto! Simply dies in 3 months
on March 15, 2012
Posted by: JTOH
from Ohio
Same complaint as MANY others. After 110 days, NO AUDIO! It appears to work fine, I reset to factory default, and any other trouble shooting I could think of but simply NO SOUND..not even static. Dead, dead dead.
C'mon Best Buy, this is s very, very clear problem and someone needs to stand behind this!
What's great about it: clear sound and reception.
What's not so great: Doesn't work!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Review 3 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Anonymous
from St,.Petersburg, FL
I just had the second unit fail, 91 days after the first unit failed. The 1st unit failed just under 90 days after purchase. Looking at the other reviews, I see this is a known problem/defect. Not good for Best Buy to continued to carry a product with a known life of 3 months.
Too bad because otherwise it's a nice product.
What's great about it: Audio quality
What's not so great: Audio output stops working after a few months.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
5
Durability
1
Review 4 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Muppy
from Alexandria, VA
I just returned my third radio and asked for a refund. Love the radio but they're just junk. Seeing how many reviewers have had the exact experience that I've had, I don't understand why Best Buy would keep these on the market without doing a fix. The radio works fine and then one day just dies. All three of mine stopped working in the same way. Turns on, all functions work but no sound. Please Best Buy - fix the problem!
What's great about it: First three months
What's not so great: Only lasts three months.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
3
Durability
1
Review 5 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: rchris
from Seattle
I owned 4 of these, the first was the original purchase, the last three were warrantee returns. Every time the unit would last about 3 or 4 months, then would mysteriously stop working. Each time I took it back, I would extend out the Best Buy service agreement, which would cost about $10, and leave with a new radio. The last unit that stopped working, I just returned it and got a full refund. This thing is fine while it lasts, but since it only lasts a few months, it's a piece of junk.
What's great about it: Low price for a portable HD FM unit
What's not so great: It only lasts a few months, then mysteriously dies.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Review 6 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Guyorange
from Pittsburgh, PA
I have purchased two of these and they both broke after the 90 day warranty and wthin one year; no lie. I'd never buy one again.
What's great about it: nothing
What's not so great: everything stinks about it
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
1
Durability
1
Review 7 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: DoctorO
from Baton Rouge, LA
The HD radio worked great for a year. Then I picked it up one day and could not get any volume. Everything else works but it doesn't matter if you can't hear the radio! I have heard about someone else having a problem with their HD radio. They had to throw it away since the warranty is only for 90 days. Very disappointing. I will probably have to do the same with mine.
I once had an Insignia TV that crapped out within the warranty period (actually within about 7 days). I was able to get a full refund from Best Buy. I will never buy another Insignia product.
What's not so great: If it can't last more than a year, it's not worth having.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
2
Durability
1
Review 8 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: mikedo
from michigan
In less than 5 months I went through 2 of these units. The first one the sound quit working after a little more than 2 months. Took unit back to store and exchanged for a new one. Once again about 2 months later the very same thing happen. Working fine one day and the next day no sound. I am out of the warrenty so I guess I just threw away $43 bucks. One of my co workers has the same radio and guess what, his did the very same thing. He is out of warrenty also but he paid full price for his ($50). I just threw the second one in the trash today. Also when the radio changes from normal FM and then to HD it is very annoying and it happens all day long. You can't just switch it normal FM. The sound was good when it was working. I would not buy untill they either fix this promblem or they extend the warrenty to a full year. Looks like I will now be buying a Sony Walkman and hope I have better luck. There goes another $40.
What's great about it: not much
What's not so great: the warrenty
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
3
Durability
1
Review 9 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Mikester
from Eagan, MN
I purchased this product about a year ago and it worked well for about 6 months. I use it almost every day and it still holds a charge well. At about 8 months one of the ear buds was inoperative. I tried using new earbuds, no good. Recently the PS-, PS+ and the on-off button have become hard to use and sometimes unresponsive. I was very happy with the unit until the one earbud stopped working. Now I am looking to replace it. For $50 I would look for something a bit more reliable.
What's great about it: Size - small size is nice it fits in any pocket
What's not so great: reliability - very unreliable
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
4
Durability
1
Review 10 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Dano29
from California
Mine broke after 5 weeks. The guy at the Best Buy store "Customer Service" department sent me away because it was outside of 30 days. I had to read the warranty on line then go back a 2nd time to have it replaced. Be careful of Best Buy's warranty policy.
What's great about it: HD
What's not so great: Reliability
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
5
Durability
1
Review 11 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: REYO
from Rutherford, NJ
Maybe I just got a bad one, I don't know. But I sit here right now and hear NOTHING. Wait - now there's MUSIC - except I had sports talk on.
Bought it for the AM talk, less for the FM music stations. Was initially quite impressed. But now - 2 weeks or so later - the HD-2 and 3 stations do not remain connected. They just blip out - somethimes to come back on but oft times they check back to HD-1 (in my case this being hip hop/pop rather than the expected sports talk. This happens even when in HOLD position.
Thus.................have to then click it back to HD-3 from 1, hope it sticks.
Sound? No static, but still not crystal.
Also - you have to use the headphones that come with the unit, as the antenna is built into the phones.
I may just keep it....may exchange........at 39 bucks (sale) a real good deal if the negs were not there.
HD radio's a cool idea...........skipped the 200 buck Zune for now........getting something from this unit, but it's quite imperfect, yes.
Will review-back if I trade in for another unit and it is BETTER. Otherwise this stands as a warning if you want something awesome for your not so awesome expenditure
Cheers
Reyo
What's great about it: Sleek, compact design, earbuds that stay in, AM talk with great clarity (when it works)
What's not so great: Too often doesnt hold in HD-2 and 3. Not compatible with other headphones
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
2
Durability
2
Read Comments (2)
Comments (2)
SilverEagle
Indiantown, Fl
Additional information about SilverEagle could not be loaded.
About the antenna, AM, and in-car operation
October 12, 2010
REYO wrote, "Also - you have to use the headphones that come with the unit, as the antenna is built into the phones."
Incorrect. Very simple electronic wizardry allows the wires in the headphone to double as an antenna. ANY headphone will do the job, but the length of the wires should be the same, or nearly the same, as the original headphone's length. The antenna's length is dictated by the wavelength of the frequencies being received by the radio.
Note: This radio is FM ONLY! It does not have an AM tuner.
A review on CrunchGear points out that, to for the radio to work properly inside a car, the audio cable should be long, because the cable serves as the antenna. I would suggest a three-foot (one meter) cable. Lay the radio, and as much of the cable as possible, on the dashboard, near the window, to improve reception.
0points
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ArgMeMatey
Milwaukee, WI, USA
Additional information about ArgMeMatey could not be loaded.
No, you don't have to use the included headphones
September 15, 2010
1. How are you using this for AM? Page 36 of the User Guide specifies a frequency range of 87.5 - 107.9 MHz in 200 KHz steps. Not AM.
2. I am using this with a 6 inch miniplug to miniplug patch cord between the unit and the auxiliary input of my computer speaker system. So no, you do not need the headphones. I receive all known local stations within about 30 miles.
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0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Review 12 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: gquinta5
from Washington Twp, MI
While a rechargeable battery sounds like a good idea, its not. Its a very bad idea because when it goes dead, your out of luck. No changing batteries and going back to work. It wouldnt be too bad if the radio was designed and engineered better. You need to hit the buttons twice to wake it up s you dont accidentaly hit a button. However the Power button only needs to be pushed once. This causes big problems because there are no lights or indicaters to let you know its on, even without headphones plugged in. So if you store it anywhere where it might get touched, it will turn on and run out the batteries which cannot be changed,only charged.
What's great about it: Nothing is great about it.
What's not so great: Battery life, useless buttons, no changing batteries
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
2
Durability
2
Review 13 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: TBM512
from Indiana
I bought this when it first came out. i had been waiting for a personal HD radio to come out for a while. but i was very disappointed after i used it for a few days. the biggest disappointment was the poor reception. if i walked away from a window in my house it would loose the station i was listening to. i would have to be by window to listen to this radio. when the battery is at full charge the battery run down in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I returned the radio. They let me replace it with a new one, but it was the same as the first one. So I took it back, and they gave me my money back. If manufacture would fix the reception problem, and the short battery life, and add AM (Because AM has HD radio stations too) then this would be a really good HD radio.
What's great about it: It has great sound. it looks cool. it tells you whats playing
What's not so great: It has very poor reception. It doesn't have AM. It doesn't work in Buildings. The battery runs down to fast
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
5
Durability
4
Review 14 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: angstf0rn0w
from Nashville,TN
I have no other portable HD radios to compare this product to since this is my first into HD radio listening. What I can compare it to is a standard MP3 player with a radio tuner that I've been listening to.
For a device that's relatively cheap, and is really just another radio picking up the local stations in the Nashville area, I can say that the sound quality is a great improvement over the regular tuner I was using.
Simple comparison is the digital TV over- the- air change if you've gotten a digital anntena recently. Just a great improvement.
Not every single station will be listenable, but a lot are, and when they are they're clear and static free, no jinking around with the ear plug wires trying to eliminate the static.
I was hesitant to take the step, but am glad to have went ahead and tried it. Absolutely better, no doubt. The device is simple, presets and all. The nice part as well is the option of displaying the station and song title or artist on the display depending on the type of signal broadcast.
Simple comparison is the digital TV over- the- air change if you've gotten a digital anntena recently. Just a great improvement.
Not every single station will be listenable, but a lot are, and when they are they're clear and static free, no jinking around with the ear plug wires trying to eliminate the static.
I was hesitant to take the step, but am glad to have went ahead and tried it. Absolutely better, no doubt. The device is simple, presets and all. The nice part as well is the option of displaying the station and song title or artist on the display depending on the type of signal broadcast.
What's great about it: Small, sturdier feel than I thought from previous reviews.
What's not so great: Arm band. Rather have a belt clip. Not a biggie.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Review 15 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: Dennis0227
from Charlottesville, VA
Check the reviews and see that many have had theirs die shortly after the 90 day warranty. I bought two units 18 months ago. One still working. Other shows that HD station is being received but no audio. Tried other earphones, reset, factory defaults, ran battery down to zero & recharged - retpeated resets - no joy in mudville. There is clearly a design or manufacturing fault in the audio output circuit. My Sony Walkman FM radio has been working forever. (BSEE, MSEE)
What's great about it: Quality HD reception.
What's not so great: Premature death.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
5
Durability
1
Review 16 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: RevDavid
from Oxford, MS
I liked my first one of these so much I bought a second as a backup. As a backup I've used it very little. Last week this backup radio just stopped working - fully charged, good signal but NO SOUND.
In reading some other reviews I see this is a common problem. I think Best Buy should agree to replace any radio like this that has no sound. There is clearly a design flaw. Too many people with the same problem to be anything else.
What's great about it: HD Quality when it first worked
What's not so great: No Sound
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Review 17 for HD Radio Portable Player
Customer Rating
1
Earphone jack failed after only 8 months
on July 26, 2012
Posted by: CHConservative
from Camp Hill, PA
I had this radio at work and it did the job nicely for me for the first 7 months. I unplugged the earphones and replaced them from time to time, but not more than once a day on average. This morning, I put the earphone in and got nothing. Through the process of elimination, after testing the earphone on other devices, etc. I have concluded the jack contacts have failed.
What's great about it: I like the HD Radio technology
What's not so great: Earphone jack failed in less than a year.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
4
Durability
1
Review 18 for HD Radio Portable Player
Customer Rating
4
Good product for the money while it lasted
on September 5, 2011
Posted by: DavidWbeaumontca
from Los Angeles, CA
This was a good product while it lasted. I bought it in April 2010 and have used it at least 3 times a week without failure. Battery life is excellent. However, this week the antena seems to have given out. I can only hear from one earbud. It seems like the connection is lose; if I fiddle with it for a second, the sound comes thru fine but as soon as I release the wire, sound is maintained only thru one side. I guess it is time to move up to MP3 now. If I could raplace the antena, I belive the unit itself is still good, but I cannot find the wire with an antena imbeded. Overall, a decent value for under $50 and a 1.5 year of service.
What's great about it: Decent reception and easy to use
What's not so great: No replacement for imbded antenas.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
Durability
3
Review 19 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: owlglass
from st louis mo
I bought this hd radio to access the local npr affiliate classical music channel. It works well at home, but is not useful in the car, as it very frequently has to search to recapture the hd signal. Also, the battery begins to lose charge after 3-4 hours of use. I bought an accessory charging kit which allows you to use the radio while it is charging. Of the two chargers in the kit, the 110 ac works fine, but the car charger causes the radio to lose the hd signal. So, an adequate device, but not fully useful to replace terrestrial fm reception.
What's great about it: good sound quality
What's not so great: not effective for mobile use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5
Durability
3
Review 20 for HD Radio Portable Player
Posted by: NeuroSheath
from Twin Cities, MN
Reception at home is very good with strong signals on all but a few local HD stations. However can receive only a few signals at work. The armband carrying case is not convient.
What's great about it: Small and compact
What's not so great: Buttons are still working; but do not have the feel like they are durable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
Durability
3