Inexpensive and functional

This is a recent addition to my collection of pocket radios. I have owned the Coby CX-9 for 3 years. I picked this up because it is analog (the CX-9 is digital) and I was looking for something with control wheels/switches that could be easily identified and with more control over the volume.

This radio is basically a cheaper more stripped down version of the CX-9. It's only AM/FM. MONO only. No clock.

**UPDATE: After using this radio daily for the last few weeks and comparing it to a $60 Sangean DT300VW, I have modified my opinion on this radio.

As with all these little COBY pocket radios, it has poor shielding. Seems COBY puts little money or thought/effort into their shielding. So, typical of these little COBYs this radio tends to get alot of interference. At times, it will pull in more than one station at a time. A more powerful station will bleed over on the station I'm tuned in to. I don't live in a huge metro so we only have about 6 AM stations to choose from anyway...even so, I pulled in 700AM right on top of 750AM and had to move the radio to filter out one and listen to the other. This is a common problem with many AM radios. This is not a major issue and can be controlled by careful attention to tuning and radio placement. While the radio does work, there were times when I wasn't able to remove ALL the unwanted noise/hiss no matter how I moved the radio. Overall, tuning is better on AM than FM. FM is MONO only. However, this radio does have DBBS (bass boost) which makes music listening on FM better.

The tuning dial is black w/white letters and it's NOT back lit so you cannot read the tuner in the dark. It would have been a nice touch if COBY would have positioned the red LED power indicator so that it would light the dial for low light reading. The tuner's frequency spacing is very tight so the slightest adjustment of the wheel will change the station. That's not really a major problem and it is to be expected on an analog small pocket radio. The numbers are close and not entirely accurate to the frequency. Again, the tuner is tight...the frequencies are not spaced out on the dial much (probably designed with a large metro city in mind--one with LOTS of stations). This wouldn't be a problem if the shielding was better. Still, interference can be controlled if you're patient.

Volume control is GOOD. Much better than with the digital CX-9! The CX-7's volume is controlled with a dial (thumb wheel) that allows you to more smoothly fade up/down the volume levels. Still, these little COBYs are not really great at volume control. The volume still gets very loud while still very low on the volume control dial. Both COBYs that I own (the CX-7 & CX-9) do this. I don't understand the lack of quality in this area because COBY must assume that these pocket radios will be used with headphones or ear buds. There really isn't a need for loud volume. The radio has no built-in speaker.

The radio's body is made of plastic. I think that dropping or stepping on this radio would break it. It DOES come in a variety of colors (black, silver, gold, blue, red, yellow, and pink--perhaps more). Mine only costs $7 at the local grocery store.

The belt clip is cheap plastic which is disappointing. The belt clip, while not in the way of the battery compartment, does get in the way of my fingers when I insert/remove batteries. The belt clip on the CX-9 is metal. The neck strap is easier to remove on the CX-7 than on the CX-9 but both neck straps are not very comfortable.

There are some pocket radios out there with alot more features and bands. This one only cost me $7. My Sangean DT300VW cost $60. I think the tuning and AM reception on the COBY CX-7 is fair but not better than on the high-priced Sangean. Still, I recommend you shop around first...the interference on the CX-7 can be very strong depending on where you are and what you are trying to tune in.

UPDATE: I have used this radio EVERYDAY for roughly 6+ hours a day (at work) 5 days per week--at low volume. A set of batteries lasted me a month! I consider that to be good battery life.
The red power indicator dims as the batteries die giving you a primitive battery level indicator or sorts. As usual, the volume diminishes as the batteries die as well.

Overall, I would RECOMMEND this radio because it is inexpensive and simple to use. It's not stereo and it is susceptible to interference, but otherwise, it's a good pocket radio. I don't regret buying it. I have given several away as gifts.