Customer Reviews
Nice, durable pocket radio for the money 
2008-10-07
We purchased both Panasonic RF-P50 Pocket Radio as well as the Sony ICF-S10MK2 Pocket Radio. For a mere 10 dollar bill each one cannot go far wrong with either one, truthfully. Both seem quite durable in the months that we've owned as well as operated them. Both have nice speaker sound; both have solid-feeling basic controls (AM/FM switch, ON/VOLUME/OFF wheel, STATION TUNING wheel); both use a power-sipping 100 mA of max current & a good set of AA batteries will last for quite a long while; both will likely not break with moderate use.
For sheer aesthetics, though, we give the edge to the Panasonic. :-) It also feels a tad better in the hand/pocket & has an overall, simple-but-pleasing design to it. Though we live in the "boonies" of NW Nebraska, both radios will pick up a surprising number of radio stations, especially using FM. A minor annoyance is the fact that both radios have mono capability so far as an earphone is concerned, one ear only. Both have a rather nifty red LED light that illuminates whenever an AM or FM station is tuned in... nice.
For survival uses we'd recommend using 2 lithium batteries (such as Energizer photo cells), as they literally get slightly stronger in extreme cold weather that would drain alkaline & other common cells. Though lithium batteries require responsible disposing of after they are discharged, in a survival application they are worth considering & would last a very long time (they are also lighter too)... worth the extra bucks. For on-the-job/camping we use Sanyo eneloop NiMH hybrid batteries (they hold their charge much better & will not self-discharge fast like most NiMH cells will)... again, worth the extra investment of money.
We are so pleased with both radios that it is difficult to choose one over the other, but as already noted: the design of the Panasonic seems a bit more refined. It's a matter of personal tastes, actually. Either one you choose will put a smile on your faces for a long while... a good deal at twice the price in our opinion.
Very nice little AM-FM radio 
2008-09-06
America may never have developed the mythical "five-cent cigar," but in the Panasonic model RF-P50 pocket AM/FM radio, we have a darn nice little ten-buck radio. Nothing fancy, just an on-off wheel incorporating volume, another thumbwheel for tuning, a switch to go from AM to FM, and an earphone jack.
But this unit isn't some clone from the 1960s. It's much lighter and thinner than the brittle-shelled transistor radios of that era, and it tunes well. I was especially impressed by the fact that the little red tuning signal light below the speaker (indicating how well you've hit a station) works for the AM band as well as the FM. The sound was something of a revelation to me -- it must help that the speaker is practically the width of the radio itself!
Selectivity on FM seems very good, with the usual allowances for "ghosts" that allow extra-strong stations to come in at two or three different places. Reception is stronger and clearer than I had expected. Since this is not an all-digital unit, we are mercifully spared the "birdies" that sometimes trouble FM digital reception. I found AM clear and easily negotiable, too, especially using the red signal light mentioned above.
Naturally, this kind of very basic model can be distinguished by what it doesn't have -- NOAA bands, crank dynamo charger and the ability to accept stereo earphones among the missing. The unit will accept a mono earphone, which you must supply yourself. But really, what do you expect for this kind of money? Also, please note that the collapsible FM antenna swings out from the side of the unit, not up-and-down. I barely needed it for close-to-home stations, anyway.
Excellent transistor radio 2008-07-30
The transistor radio is of supereior quality. I had a nice radio which was also a pocket radio that didn't sound any where near as good this one. It sounds like a a tunebox that plugs into a wall soket at a price of no less than double the price of the radio I purchased. It is durable and it is obvious I will be listening to it for some time.
panasonic rfp50 2008-07-16
Bought this radio to have around in case of emergency, but I like it so much that I use it most everyday. Sound quality isn't too bad for a small transistor unit, but the thing I really love about it is the reception. I live about 50 miles from the radio station I like to listen to and my Bose Wave can't pick up the signal.My $10.00 Panasonic does though.Plus it reminds me of when I was a kid riding my bike, transistor radio hanging from the handlebar, with songs like Take It Easy, Smoke On The Water, and Stairway To Heaven blasting from the AM band. One of my current favorite activities is listening to my Phillies games on the Panasonic in the yard,hanging in my hammock, or grilling up some steaks. I really love this radio.Was shipped from a co. called Beach Audio and I got it in 2 days.BEST $10.00 I EVER SPENT!!!!!
This is better than SONY 2008-06-17
I have this and also the more expensive SONY Walkman. My mom and I were in a closed circuit translation of a lecture, so I let my mom use the SONY ( and I used the PANASONIC) because I thought the SONY was better, but it turns out it is not! My PANASONIC reception came in much better than the SONY! So I finally let my mom use the PANASONIC instead!
Excellent product, Panasonic Scores an "A" 2008-06-04
A sleek pocket AM/FM radio with slide-rule tuning dial for easy tuning Telescoping antenna 2 1/2 built-in speaker Headphone jack Powered by 2 AA batteries that are NOT included Color - Silver
Just what the nurse ordered-------- 2008-05-27
Very happy with my purchase, packaged well, and received quicker than I had expected. Just what I wanted, something small, easy to use, sounds good, exceptional price, too.
panasonic pocker radio 2008-05-05
Panasonic radio received. Other radio ordered has not been received
yet. Rosendo Casarez TEL: 575-622-1432
Perfect Portable Radio 2008-04-09
This portable radio was just what I was looking for. I bought it along with the comparable sony model ICF-S10MK2. I do a lot of construction and this is the perfect portable radio in that it is small, picks up tons of stations clearly, batteries last for a very long time, and it is loud for its size. I pretty much only listen to talk radio on AM stations and this picks them up great. I think the sound on the Panasonic is a little more clear compared to the sony model, but both are great, and for the price how could one really complain. I would highly recommend it if you want a small portable pocket radio.
panasonic portable radio 
2008-03-02
it is ok, but for your money, the sony for the same price is much better in how it pulls in the stations
