Sony SRF-59 AM/FM Radio

I bought the Sony Walkman SRF-59 AM/FM Radio because I was looking for both a walking companion on our treadmill or recumbent bicycle as well as the ability to catch up on news during the day at the office.  I honestly didn't do any research before selecting this model and the choices were quite slim at the retail location where I purchased the radio.  Based on the trusted Sony name brand and the reasonable price tag, I decided to give it a shot despite the lack of shopping.

The Sony SRF-59 came in a clear plastic clam-shell package along with a pair of headphones as well as a detachable belt clip.  One of the first things I noticed when I removed it from the package was that it's a very light weight radio.  At approximately 3 oz. with the battery included, you can barely notice you have something clipped on.  The radio's relatively small size is also a plus if you intend to use this while walking or exercising.  With the belt clip included, the entire device is only about 2-5/8"x3-3/4"x1-1/4".

Sony designed this model to be powered by a single 1.5V AA battery.   I was quite surprised that this Walkman didn't take at least two 1.5V batteries when I opened the package and read the instructions.  After several months of use. I'm equally surprised at the minimal drain of power and extended battery life.  Sony rates this model with an output power of 3.6 mW at 10% harmonic distortion using the supplied headphones with a 32 ohm impedance.

The radio controls are not much different than those I might have found on the old transistor radio I owned in the late 60's.  Both the tuner and volume controls are simple analog turn dials.  Both dials stay firmly in place exactly where you set them even when you're moving - keeping the station tuned correctly and the volume steady.

Sony has also included a DX/LOCAL switch to improve reception and limit radio wave interference.  The DX setting is designed for stereo programming.  I do like to listen to talk radio on occasion and have noticed AM channels do tend to experience more interference than our local FM channels.  The LOCAL switch has done little from my experience to eliminate issues when they do arise.

While I understand this radio was designed for an on-the-go experience, I would have preferred the radio had a built in speaker for use without the headphones.  There are times where I would prefer to use the radio without the use of headphones.  That being said, the included headphones are very comfortable to wear and succeed in delivering plenty of sound for a device under $15.00.  They are nearly distortion free at volume levels suited for safe use.  If I had to register one additional complaint, I also found it would also be helpful on a number of occasions if the dial scale window would light up.  Lack of a lighted window means there are occasions where you have to thumb the tuner dial nearly blind in searching for my desired station.

I picked up the Sony Walkman SRF-59 AM/FM Radio for $14.97 at a local Meijer store with the understanding I was purchasing a very basic AM/FM radio. The price seemed pretty reasonable when I considered I was purchasing a radio from one of the most trusted brands in electronics.  After four months of use, I have to light up four Epinions stars and an unquestionable buy recommendation.