Coby CX-CB12 Radio Review

A compact analog multiband radio, the Coby CX-CB12 covers AM, FM, longwave and shortwave bands. It features a stereo earphone jack, a folding stand, a tuning indicator light, a miniature world time zone map and a built-in telescopic antenna. The Coby CX-CB12 runs on power supplied by a three-volt DC adapter or two "AA" batteries.

This radio provides fair FM and shortwave reception, with mediocre AM. One night it received Chinese and Vietnamese stations in English plus American religious stations and various foreign language broadcasts. Another night it picked up American, Cuban and Chinese stations. The small built-in speaker produces sound of fair quality.

A stand on the back of the Coby CX-CB12 folds out to conveniently prop it up at an angle. This also provides better stability than standing the radio up on its base, which seems prone to tipping. The six-section telescopic antenna rotates 360 degrees but "creaks" loudly when turned. It's moderately long, measuring 22 inches (55.9 cm).

Although not the most "solid" feeling radio, the Coby CX-CB12 seems fairly well-made. It doesn't have any pieces of plastic rattling around inside it and all of the parts work as they're supposed to. The instructions provide some helpful information, though their translation could use some improvement.

The switches and knobs move smoothly, for the most part. Coby installed the volume knob separately from the power switch, so the listener doesn't need to readjust the volume every time he or she powers on the radio. It's somewhat difficult to insert "AA" batteries in the CX-CB12 (they fit in the battery compartment rather tightly).

General performance exceeds that of the Bell & Howell 9-Band or Coby CX-CB91, two other low-end shortwave portables. Compared to the Borg Johnson HS-912R radio, the Coby CX-CB12 provides slightly better shortwave, significantly inferior FM and roughly equivalent AM reception. The CX-CB12 receives longwave, unlike the others.

Overall, this Coby product offers a good choice for a low-cost travel or beginner's shortwave receiver, although a used radio will provide better reception and sound quality at equivalent cost.