[jt4me1]

Originally Posted by Brian

You do not define the term "best reception" so hard to answer. Does it mean best sounding, best to pull in far off stations, dx'er, or other? Also, portable or not and with or without external AM antenna connection?

As you do mention modern so discussing things like good am radios from the golden tube days that are 1st class receivers or later units. You also mention radio so tuners are out.

I found one that is sensitive, sounds good, and pulls well. Also, has a good FM section and output for stereo through the headphone jack and has stereo line outputs. Also, has SW. It is portable and can use either D or AA cell batteries and the batteries last a long time. Tuning is easy as it is an analog tuner so not lots of buttons to deal with while it does have a digital readout so easy to dial into a specific frequency. There were originally in the $200 range but now can be bought in the $60 range.as they've been out a few years and early on had some QC issues. It is the Eton S350DL also marketed as the Grudig S350DL.

I work in an office that is on the interior of a steel and cement facility with 12 floors of computer company and next to me 2 server rooms. Talk about a tough test for AM. It is the only radio I've tried that can pull in any AM stations and it doe so rather well. No, not noiseless but, good enough for listening while the others I've and others have tried will not even pick up a hint of an AM station. A number of others in the facility have likewise picked them up for their offices.

The unit has a decent sized speaker and separate bass and treble controls that are effective.

I've now got 2 of them with the other a bedside radio sitting on my Hallicrafters SW tube radio.

I agree. I have A Grundig S350 in my work office. Good sound. Pulls in an astonishing amount of FM/AM stations. Easy to use (has knobs!)