RadioShack / Realistic DX-394 reviews

The only value it has is either as a bedside stand radio, or an inexpensive backup HF receiver when your main rig is sent out for repair. Yes, its pretty sensitive and hence has a small legion of loyal fans, but its audio is the absolute worst I've ever heard on any radio (sideband is so muddy its literally unintelligible), and, its filters are ridiculously wide. The only thing to recommend it, aside for sensitivity, is that it does have a decent amount of user features (fine tune, RF gain, noise blanker and keypad) in case you do want to Dx the shortwaves with it. But I wouldn't recommend it as a first line receiver for that. In fact I'd advise against it. You'd be far better off spending the extra $50-$100 for a Yaesu FRG-7700 or a Kenwood R-1000.

I used a borrowed DX-394 for a month and found it to be an okay receiver but I guess it's difficult to compare the 394 to a Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu or Alinco HF system.

I have an Icom R75 receiver and it's wonderful. But putting the DX-394 on the very same antenna it becomes easy to detect the differences i these two. But you can't compare a Radio Shack DX-394 to an Icom R75 receiver because they were not made to be in competition to the bigger names.

I believe what you do get for the money is a reasonably good HF receiver, and the company that actually makes this receiver (GRE) is an excellent manufacturer of good quality scanners. They have an excellent reputation, which is why I can say for the money it's not a bad receiver. However, if you're expecting the performance to be that of a more expensive Icom R75 receiver then you will be disappointed.

Over all this is an okay receiver though.