0ur opinion:

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The newly released Kaito KA11 is mini-size AM/FM shortwave radio with wide frequency coverage and excellent reception in all bands. This radio is about the same size as a deck of cards and weighs a little less than half a pound, but it is packed with many nice features, such as 1000 permanently stored pre-set memories, alarm clock, thermometer and built-in battery charger. lt has 7 shortwave meter bands that covers from 5.8 to 18.1 MHz, unlike most of FM radios, this radio covers from 70MHz and up to 108MHz, good for listening to campus radio broadcasting and etc. There are 5 different tuning methods available, they are 6 direct frequency input, manual tuning, auto tuning, memory scan, random preset and ATS preset. With its outstanding sensitivity and selectivity and portability, this radio will make an ideal receiver for traveling and your daily listening. This radio operates on two AA batteries. Accessories include AC/DC Adaptor, User manual, Reel Antenna, Earphones, User manual and Warranty registration card

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Buyer's feedback: - * Cheap looks, \"pro\" performance ...
I bought this item because other reviewers with radio knowledge gave it favorable reviews. I just wanted an AM/FM receiver with digital tuning, at least 20 memory locations, and the ability to rope in distant AM stations. This unit has 1000 memo locations and, unlike the Sangean personal radios (as I've read here on Amazon), they are stable even when your power runs out. In my Mid-Michigan apartment, I can hear Chicago AM radio, but only slightly, but also without special effort (holding it by the window, going outside, etc.).

Some have mentioned its thin audio output as a point against it. It's true that you won't get full, rich sound from it, but I find that it cuts through kitchen noise better than the full-spectrum sound of my Sony 'sport' boombox (I listen while I wash dishes).

My PROs for this radio: small size; good at grabbing stations; *lots* of memory locations that are stable without power; easy to program; sleep mode (auto off after up to 99 minutes); small size.

My CONs: easy to hit the power button if you carry the radio in your pocket (my main beef); sleep mode is default!; cheap looks.

$40+ price tag made me think twice, but I'm tired of spending $10-$15 here and there for radios that don't deliver. I hope that this radio lasts, because while it does, I won't be thinking whether there is a better pocket radio out there.

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Buyer's feedback: - Small size , Big reception
This lilttle radio gives super reception, on the shortwave, I pick up many stations from Asia, Radio Beijing is the one I like best...
Thank you Kaito !

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Buyer's feedback: - * Great Kaito super-portable digital AM/FM/SW radio ...
PROS

1) The KA11 is a very small and highly portable PLL (Phase Locked Loop) Synthesized, fully capable digital AM(MW)/FM/SW radio receiver. The full digital tuning capability means that there is no need for frequency retuning once a station has been received with adequate strength, unlike the digital display readout for analog tuning on the very popular Grundig Mini300PE AM/FM/SW and many other digital display analog radios for example.

2) The KA11 is an excellent starter digital SW radio with numerous bells and whistles. It replaces the much simpler Single conversion PLL Kaito KA105 digital AM/FM/SW radio, yet is almost identical in its size and weight (see below). The KA105 is also a far less versatile unit since a smaller part of the FM and SW spectrum is available for reception compared to the KA11, etc.

3) FM selectivity: > 40dB

Noise limit sensitivity:

FM > 10 Microvolts

AM > 1 Millivolts/meter

SW > 20 Microvolts

4) On SALE now for $39.95 at Amazon with a small amount more for a Kaito 23 foot Reel antenna (which I also recommend), it is absolutely a terrific bargain.

5) It has a great signal strength meter (10 levels), 1000 nonvolatile storage memories, a travel lock button to prevent turning it on, a fine orange controllable back-light which is great for reading the display in the dark, clock and alarm functions, battery level and also a charging indicator and even the temperature around the unit. Some of the many buttons have multiple and very useful functions. It also has numerous ways to tune as well as store any received signals.

6) The sides have very simple controls too with a plug for an AC power source (also provided by KaitoUSA), one for an external antenna and one for a set of headphones (with a set of earbuds also provided with the system). It also has a very useful local/DX switch which increases the sensitivity when trying to receive weak SW and FM signals from distant stations (with DX standing for a distant station, D of unknown range and origin and with X, an unknown as in mathematics, yet to be explored).

7) The internally stored whip antenna works to bring in very distant and some weak SW and FM stations on this quite sensitive radio receiver. I like this system of storing the antenna within the radio very much and I have found if you are careful that it works quite well. Adding the Kaito external Reel antenna does not overload the unit as reported by some other reviewers (not on Amazon), but greatly enhanced the reception of weak and very distant signals.

8) It has a 90 day return period from KaitoUsa and a full 1 year warranty in North America. The unit seems exceptionally well built however and will probably last a long time if properly handled.

9) It is a great receiver for young and old listeners alike. It doesn't bother me at all that many of these stations are also now available on the internet. The thrill of receiving distant stations with a small portable receiver started for me as a kid with analog devices of much less capability. Believe me when I say that this almost new miniature portable and digital radio (first available in October 2006) is a technological revolution when you appreciate the Heathkits available when I was young!

10) I also suggest buying the Passport to Worldband Radio paperback book (with the 2008 edition now available). It is a yearly publication with monthly updates available on the internet and also available for purchase on Amazon. It has many useful reviews of all available digital SW receivers and advertising from the major radio producing companies. It also lists radio stations available globally (for listening in North America) as well as their transmitting frequencies, power and the time of their broadcasts, etc.

CONS

1) Very brief manual (which as noted by other reviewers is a very poor English translation), but all functions can be figured out with a little patience and rereading of the brief manual.

2) No batteries are provided (it takes 2 AA batteries that last a very long time even with the back-light and the batteries can readily be recharged within the unit if desired). Also no carrying pouch is supplied with the unit, but the AC adapter (110 V) is provided by KaitoUSA as noted earlier.

3) AM(MW) reception doesn't seem quite as good during the day as it is on FM or on SW, probably due to the very small and highly directional internal ferrite AM antenna and probably with a small amount due to display synthesizer noise as noted by other reviewers. At night however very fine AM reception has been found here in the mountains of New Mexico.

4) The volume control knob is analog and a bit sensitive, but with care it is still very usable. The noise level for listening to a good signal is quite different between the three band select options so I frequently have to lower the volume level quite a bit when going from SW back to FM or AM stations (for ear protection). Also, there is no bass control for listening to music as there is on the fancier Kaito units, but the KA11 still sounds quite acceptable on its small internal speaker. On earbuds or headphones it sounds excellent however and uses much less power to boot and also it won't disturb anyone around you in a work or in a commuting environment.

5) Only part of the full SW spectrum is provided, namely the 49 m to 16 m bands (Others have mentioned the unavailability of the 60 m band on the KA11 for example). So far I have received so many SW stations that I haven't even noticed the lack of availability of the really long wave bands (up to 120 m, but with very few stations broadcasting at these wavelengths). Usually the most distant stations are also available on multiple sets of frequencies so that the unit seems to fully cover everything you might want to try to listen too except perhaps for SSB (Single-side band used by ham radio operators) which is available on the more expensive and highly rated Kaito 1102 and Kaito 1103 (which has recently been redesigned as the Eton E5 or the Grundig G5) SW receivers.

6) Check the LCD screen out very carefully. On my radio, if looked at from angles off perpendicular, numerous small folds in the display material were clearly evident. They in no way affected actually using the radio, but it certainly made me question the quality control procedures used for evaluating an individual LCD display unit.

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Buyer's feedback: - Excellent little radio
This radio is a clone of the Sony ICFSW1 which I also have, but which alas died after about 15 years operation. It's size, antenna, volume control location is identical and it even fits the Sony case. The Sony however sold for close to $300.00 and even now sells in the $200 region second hand.

When I first turned the KA11 on in a difficult reception area, I was immediately struck by the good FM reception. It reception seems comparable to the Sony in all bands using the pull-out or internal antenna. It may be slightly less sensitive in MW and slightly better in SW. The extra long wire antenna can be used to give a boost.
The Kaito has more features than the Sony, eg. 1000 vs 10 presets. I found it quite difficult to figure how to use these at first, because I kept trying to use the Sony method. Once I figured it out however it is very simple to use. As others note you need to send some time with the manual.

The speaker sound was better than I would have thought from some other reviews. It is slightly higher pitched than the Sony but slightly clearer too.

In short a fun radio with pretensions of being a serious SW radio.

After having this radio for a number of months now and travelling with it, I remain convinced that that it's FM and SW capabilities are as good as or better than the famed Sony ICFSW1.

I am still unclear about the AM reception. I am now sitting in Las Vegas listening to a Los Angeles news station coimg in loud and clear. Now I know that AM can skip off the ionosphere, which is the primary basis for SW reception. However closer to LA the signal is worse, which is I assume the direct wave coming in, but still this seems pretty impresive AM.

My major quibble is the poorly written manual. This radio has some complicated, but neat features and there are places where the instructions are very unclear, missing key points, or even wrong.

Still this is a great radio and with the drop in price a great buy.

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Buyer's feedback: - * small size ...
Everything about this radio is small, even performance. I am very disappointed with this thing. I live in northwest Ohio and use 700WLW in Cincinnati as a test of AM reception. This thing barely hears this station, my best portables pick it up very well indeed. I don't even use it anymore because my others work so much better. Spend a little more on a Kaito if you are set on this brand and get something much better. I am 56 years old and have been playing around with radios since I was a kid ,and this is one of the worst except for super cheapy basically toy transistor radios.