J-160 AM FM Radio Retro Bluetooth

Full disclosure: I work in broadcasting (former FM DJ and radio news anchor), so to say the least -- I'm a bit of an audio snob. But I'm also a pragmatist. I'm looking at this radio through the eyes of someone who remembers what radios used to cost, and how they used to sound. That said, let's dive in. I paid $23.00 for this little guy -- free shipping -- and it arrived within two days. Initial thoughts: -- It's cute as all hell. -- It's plastic (of course) but it has a solid feel to it. -- It arrived fully charged -- turned right on. -- Others have complained about the lack of smoothness in the volume knob; I had the same problem at first, but once you start using it, the knob smoothed itself out, allowing a nice variable volume control. -- Bluetooth pairing with my MacBook Air was instantaneous. -- The sound is awesome* (*FOR A UNIT THAT COULD ALMOST FIT IN YOUR POCKET, COSTING ONLY $23!!!) Doing a deeper dive: -- The two silver knobs (selector and volume) have a decently solid feel, but use them GENTLY, especially the selector knob; each of the 4 positions are quite close to each other, so a light touch is best. -- The radio dial. It lights up in a gorgeous period-authentic golden glow, and stays on even during bluetooth mode when you're not using the radio. It has a tight, solid, and precise feel to it, even if the dial markings are pretty far off (CBS-FM here in New York City -- 101.1 -- was between 102 and 103). Frankly, this is not a big deal for me; once you figure out the stations on the actual dial position -- very few analog dial radios (especially in this price range) have ever been exact. -- Use the antenna. Despite being non-directional, it helps tremendously with pulling in the stations. -- FM sounded great, but AM was actually the big surprise here. AM talk radio sounds so rich and full, you'd almost swear you were inside the station, listening to a studio monitor. -- This little guy also does a fair job of pulling in shortwave. BUT -- don't get too excited -- and don't buy this just for the shortwave. If you're really serious about shortwave, get an actual shortwave radio. Still -- it does a good job of pulling in overseas signals -- as long as you're patient, deliberate, and delicate with the dial. Review: Here's where my audio snobbishness is tempered by my pragmatism and experience. I remember how much "transistor" radios used to cost back in the day (1977): the equivalent of $70 in today's dollars, AM only, with an (at best) tinny-sounding little speaker. To get this kind of sound -- AM, FM, *and* shortwave (not to mention the unheard-of-in-1977 ability to plug in 2,000 hours of programming with a chip the size of your fingernail, PLUS the ability to connect to basically the entire WORLD via bluetooth) -- one would have had to spend upwards of $700 (of today's dollars) back in 1977. So -- for 20 bucks and change -- this little guy is a gem!! Final analysis: I'm planning on using this radio primarily for music and news in the kitchen (which is why I needed both AM and FM). This radio delivers a bigger punch, wider range, and richer sound than the "table radios" (with much bigger speakers) of the '60s-'80s. It's more than enough to fill my 1920 10x12 ("closed") kitchen with rich sound. *BONUS*!!! It takes a mini-SD card onto which I'm going to download my old-timey radio shows, and have on my bedside, as I drift off to sleep, back into the 1940s. FINALLY, A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT THE BATTERY: It's a sealed battery that can be charged only via USB. ***IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND NEVER PLUG THE USB INTO A CHARGER THAT PUMPS MORE THAN FIVE VOLTS OF DIRECT CURRENT INTO A MAXIMUM OF 1000 MILLIAMPS PER HOUR ("DC5V/1000MaH").*** Not all USBs are created equal. Some of the new wall adapters and power strips have built-in USB chargers that push out 5 volts of DC power into as much as 2,400 Milliamps per hour. That kind of power will ultimately fry the radio's battery; it's like trying to fill a shot glass with a fire hose. This little guy needs to sip power, not gulp it like your MacBook. Look carefully at the charger's output before you plug it in -- and when in doubt -- DON'T. FINAL THOUGHT: Given its tiny size (but big sound), this little guy is perfect for college dorm rooms ... on your desk at the office ... in the kitchen or (extremely well-ventilated) bathroom (use common sense and don't give it a steam bath or allow it to get wet). It's also a great gift idea for housewarmings, Secret Santa grab-bag-style gift exchanges, etc. Enjoy!!!

Very nice, color red is awesome! Truly looks like an antique retro with very good quality sound. Also it’s small to fit anywhere! :) Thinking of buying another one :)

Getting some things on amazon seems like it's been hit or miss, quality-wise, these days. But...color me impressed. I am your typical Amazon shopper who gets a couple packages a week because she has a shopping addiction, and never really rates/reviews when she is happy with a product, and is too lazy to rate when something is crappy. However, this little radio/Bluetooth speaker is...perfect! (For me, anyways!) It is so super friggin' compact and cute, with a very cool vintage feel to it. Found all my usual radio stations pretty easily, and I like that the tuner knob isn't so easily turned, if that makes sense. This way, you won't find yourself going back and forth, having over-/undershot the station you were aiming for, as you might with a tuner that's too sensitive. Love that the radio station numbers are backlit - I remember how annoying it would be to try and see the numbers in a dimly lit room back in the day - so that was a nice touch. The video attached to this review shows the different input options provided, along with the sound quality of some Spotify music via Bluetooth. I tried to move away and towards it to give you a better feel for the loudness. The Bluetooth itself connected effortlessly. The only con I have is that the volume when on Bluetooth mode didn't go as high as I would have liked. Might have just been the songs I picked, idk. But for my purposes, of just throwing some music on while I am wash the dishes (loudly due to my clumsiness lol), the speaker was loud enough to hear over the clanging of pots and pans and running water, regardless of if it was in radio or Bluetooth mode. Another thing to note is that the radio seemed to be able to get VERY loud in comparison, and VERY quickly...and in a way that *might* make you jump out of your skin and wake up the sleeping cat next to you, especially if you switch from Bluetooth to the radio without lowering the volume first...(Ask me how I know...lmao). Came with an aux cord and charging wire with a usb-a end to plug into an appropriate charger. Came with some charge so I haven't tried charging it yet. It was well packaged and also included a helpful instruction manual. Conclusion: I love it. It's classy, cute, and a perfect gift for the casual music lover in your life. (Aka not someone who scrutinizes and critiques bass/frequencies/pitch/etc for fun) For the average Joe, it's perfectly better than you'd acceptable from Amazon for this price point! I might gift some for bridesmaids' presents! :)

Great little device! Radio interference here on AM and SW is horrid so I can't speak on those. FM and BT are wonderful. BT is no hassle and the rig connects repeatedly with no issues. Plenty of volume and tuning is nice and close to where the stations say they are :-). Many radios I have had, the dial had quite a variation :-). Not a problem, just noting in passing for those who are used to digital dead-on-the frequency LED/LCD displays. If I MUST have a complaint about this rig, it would only be that it uses a rather older USB plug rather than USBC, but I think I have at least one of every USB connector ever made so no worries really :-). It comes with one anyway so not a problem...

This was a satisfying purchase. Easily fits the palm of your hand, if you're an NFL quarterback or play in the NBA. Otherwise, you won't be carrying it around, like a 1960s transistor that fits in your pocket. But who does that? This is a table top/counter top unit. It's about 5 inches wide. 3.5 high and 2.5 inches deep. The sound quality is good to above average. Has a Bluetooth option that is really nice. The audio quality won't match a $150 stand-alone speaker from Bose or other big brand in the sound industry, but for this price it's way more than adequate. I had an expensive Bluetooth speaker that quit working after 10 years. Had planned to replace it with a similar item, and probably still will, but this is fine in the interim. AM/FM dial is not digital, so if that matters to you, you should pass this by. The dial is lighted and easy to read. There are two small controls, one for the function - AM/FM/Speaker - and then the volume. The function dial doesn't have an arrow or good indication to tell which setting you are at. I took a black Sharpie and put a small dot at the place on the knob where an indicator should be. On/off button offers some resistance. Both controls are small. That's not a complaint, just full disclosure. I wouldn't avoid this product because of that. You can record to the smallest memory card, insert it and play. So, for example, if you have some type of mantra you practice daily that requires audio, there ya go. Start your own cult. I would say for the price it's a good unit, but it would be a good unit at a slightly higher price. Audio is fine. Rechargeable. Looks more expensive than it is. Nice little unit. People who see it will probably comment on it, and perhaps join your cult.

This little radio is one of my favorite possessions now. I really can't believe how good the sound quality is. The radio reception is very good too. There's little static, even on the AM band. It's so cute! I loaded an old 4gig micro SD card with a few hours of anime songs rendered in music box style so I can use it as a little lullaby machine while I sleep. It worked on the first try. Easy and adorable! It seems to last a long time on a charge too. I haven't run it dead yet. Soda for scale. :) This would make a great gift. Especially if you put a personalized playlist on your own micro sd/TF card and insert it before gift-wrapping.

I bought 2 Prunus radios; this model and the larger vintage style. I needed a bluetooth speaker in my shop to listen to music, after I managed to bounce my current speaker a couple of times on the concrete floor. It gives me the advantage of just playing the radio if I wish. The red color is candy apple red. I definitely wanted a light up dial. I love the vintage look and function, paired with modern functionality. It paired right up to my phone.

Let's start by clearing up some confusion about the radio. It's unfortunate that parts of the product description say that the radio is "corded," which in normal usage means an AC power cord that plugs directly into a wall outlet. That is not the case here. This radio runs on an internal 18650 lithium ion battery that is charged in the radio through a supplied USB cable. You will either have to plug the cable into a computer's USB-A socket or get a USB charging adapter to plug into the wall, which most people already have to charge their phones and other electronics. Many power strips these days add USB sockets and even some wall outlets now have them. Many USB chargers generate significant radio interference, so this is the limitation to using this radio while charging; however, not all such adapters have this problem. When I tried the radio with my charger on FM, I didn't notice any interference. It's unfortunate that a radio like this doesn't add filtering on the charging input, since the rechargeable battery is the only power option. One workaround is to charge the radio from a portable battery USB power source if it runs out of charge while you still want to use it; these are great to have around anyway to charge your phone during a power outage. You can also purchase ferrite core filters inexpensively to wrap around a charging cable to reduce radio frequency interference; I have some older cables with these built in. The product is described as having an 1800 mAh battery, but the seller repeatedly replied to questions describing it as a 1200 mAh battery. This is because the product has been upgraded with a greater capacity battery and some product answers are just out of date. Some purchasers have expressed concerns that the radio is supposed to charge at 1A, but chargers are often 2A. The current instructions that come with the radio say 2A, but in any case, this is not an issue. The radio takes just what it needs. There is also concern about overcharging. When the radio finishes charging, the charging shuts off, as indicated by the red charging light going out. You cannot overcharge the radio, and leaving it on the charger does not cause a risk of fire; however, lithium ion batteries do degrade over time if they are charged to 100% and left that way. If you leave the battery on the charger, it will always be at 100%, shortening the life of the battery. This is why Prunus tells customers not to leave the radio on the charger for more than 24 hours. The manufacturer says that the radio can operate for 3 hours at full volume and 8-10 hours at a lower volume with the supplied 1800 mAh battery. One big concern is what happens when the "nonreplaceable" battery degrades to the point that it doesn't power the radio long enough. The battery should be good for at least a year or more (depending on how much it's used and how many times it's charged). After that the warranty runs out, and then you can then feel free to peel back the corners of the big label covering the back of the radio exposing 4 screws that can be removed to open the radio, where a degraded 18650 battery can be replaced, even replaced with a higher capacity battery. Beware fake high-capacity 18650 batteries; anything over 3600 mAh is fake. Now as to the question of whether you should buy this radio. The Prunus J-160 has one glaring omission: it has no earphone jack. If you want to listen with earphones, you will have to void the warranty and modify the radio to add a jack, or get a different radio. The AUX jack is for input, not output. Bluetooth is for audio in, not out. No earphones, period. Many reviewers have expressed concern about the volume control, that it goes from 0-40% at the slightest turn. I didn't encounter this problem on my unit. It might be a little sensitive, but it's a small knob. Perhaps the radio has been upgraded, the other ones were defective or some users are more picky than I am. The red retro style is cute, but old-time radios are big, and this is too small to carry off retro styling. The gold tuning dial screams cheap plated plastic. The warm dial backlight is nice, though. The radio is rather small (don't be confused by the product photos), just over 5 inches wide, but it's thick, making it awkward to carry in a suitcase or backpack, plus it's rather heavy. It has no handle, carrying strap or lanyard. Many other radios have a better format for portability. The thickness, however, makes it almost impossible to tip over making it useful on a desk or counter. So in the end, we're confronted with the two eternal questions: how does the speaker sound, and how good is it as a radio. Most small portable radios excel at FM and this Prunus is no exception. The sound quality of FM is not exceptional, but OK. It seems to me to lack bass. Most budget portables suck at AM (MW) and this is no exception. Most are mediocre at shortwave and that's the case here. That works for most people who are mostly going to listen to FM. If you want to listen to AM, there are passive loop amplifier products that sit next to the radio and usually make AM reception markedly better. Unless you live in a signal area, you'll only get AM at night. While the J-160 receives shortwave, it is not very sensitive. Shortwave can be enhanced with a length of wire clamped on the antenna with an alligator clip (or buy one of the clip on reel antennas for around $15 on Amazon). When two stations are close together, they overlap and are both heard. I also think strong stations appear at multiple places on the dial (I didn't test this closely). Tuning the radio is a bit odd. If you quickly turn the tuning knob from one end of the shortwave band to the other, you will near pure silence. This is not an analog tuned radio; it has a digital signal processor, so when you turn the dial you move between discrete channels (5 kHz wide probably) and it takes a fraction of a second for the radio to tune it. If you pass the frequencies faster than the tuning delay, you don't hear anything. Tuning slowly on shortwave you'll hear the "chuff, chuff, chuff" sound as it advances from one frequency to the next. It takes some getting used to. If you want to get serious with shortwave, this is absolutely not the radio to get you there, and this is not the price range to get you there either. You can receive shortwave, but you can't get the exact frequency to identify stations, band coverage is limited, tuning is ticklish and it can't deal with SSB and CW transmissions used by amateur radio operators. I think the speaker sounds OK. Don't expect hi-fi quality sound from a 20-something-dollar radio. It can be turned up loud enough to be uncomfortable. If you just want an MP3 player, this is not the product for you because it totally lacks the ability to let you select a particular music file from a directory. All you can do is next, next, next, next, .... There are other products far more capable of playing MP3s for less money. I also found the speaker to be noticeably weak in the midrange when playing MP3 with accentuated high frequencies that made it sound a bit tinny and rather unpleasant on classical music. When plugged into a computer with the supplied USB cable, the radio does not act as a USB speaker, nor does it allow the computer access to the files on the TF card (many competing products do). So in summary: the radio is red, it is OK as a Bluetooth speaker for some content, it won't fall over, and FM performance is credible. On the negative side, MP3 sound is tinny, MP3 controls are limited, AM and Shortwave radio are problematic, and the non-replaceable battery is a concern. Would I buy it again? No. It's nothing special.

What a cute and compact radio. The volume is very loud which is great coming from a little radio. Not too big to sit on kitchen window sill. Works well with wifi. Would recommend.

Solo el color me gustó , no lo esperaba tan pequeño mide como 12 cm súper pequeño y las estaciones de radio no se escuchan bien . Demasiado caro para el producto que ofrecen

Este radio está padrísimo y hermoso!! Es de tamaño compacto pero tiene una mega potencia de volumen sin distorcionarse el sonido, que muchas bocinas quisieran tener!! El color es rojo oscuro brillante y el detalle de la luz al prender el radio está genial porque realmente parece de época! Sintoniza muy bien las estaciones FM/AM y viene con su antena, con entrada para tarjeta de memoria, para USB y auriculares. Se lo regalé a mi mamá y está encantadísima! Mi mamá lo tiene prendido como 3 o 4 hrs. diarias y la pila le dura 1 semana!! Definitivamente lo recomiendo mucho y lo volvería a comprar!

Funciona, lo chequé y todo bien, es pequeño pero con una bocina tremenda, y buena resepción de señal.

great little radio. Looks good sounds good and very easy to use. Enjoy it every day......