Note: The following is offering a product, which I think would make an awesome last-minute Christmas gift for employees or advertisers that can be shipped in time for Christmas. Do not read further if you don’t wish to learn about a cool new radio. I don't want you to feel tricked into reading a commercial message.
Yes, I’m a junkie and have been for over four decades. I’m not addicted to some dark-alley drug. Instead, I inject it through my ears (along with millions of other Americans). My vice is radio and as a result my other vice is collecting radios … all kinds of radios.
In my office you’d find shelves full of antique radios and other cool radios in all shapes and designs. To me there is nothing quite as nice as a well-designed radio. Radio is my heroin. I know it's a sickness but I’m not willing to live without it.
My oldest radio is an old breadbox home brew that I picked up in a farmer’s estate sale in Indiana. My most unique is called a Tesla, which is a beautiful art deco streamline design produced in Europe in the 1930s. My most collectable is an original Walt Disney Steamboat Willy Emerson pressboard radio from the 1930s. I have loads of colorful radios made of Catlin, an early pre-plastic material, and I have a warehouse full of old floor models. Oh, and I have a collection of radio memorabilia and old microphones.
As you can see, I’m addicted.
The Quest for a Better Radio
I buy lots of radios. If I see a cool design, I buy it. If I hear of a great product I buy it. I’m always on the hunt for a better radio. And though I don’t have the time I used to have, it’s not unusual for me to sit up late to “DX” distant AM signals. I even have a radio which has a super-antenna designed to reduce the whistle and increase the reception of distant stations.
A few weeks ago I got a call from Bob Crane, who has a company called C.Crane, a direct marketing catalogue full of radios and a big radio advertiser. He told me he was coming out with a new radio and wanted to know if I’d be willing to give him my feedback. I liked it so much I decided you might like it too. Its called a CCGozo.
Unexpected Size
When saw the box for the CCGozo I assumed it was about the size of any other tabletop unit, but when I opened the package I found it to be unusually small. My first reaction was that it was kinda cute. It’s not much bigger than a box of mac and cheese.
Unexpected Sound
My next reaction was that, being so small, it can’t possibly sound very good. I was too lazy to put batteries in it (frankly, I did not want to waste a set of batteries on it because I was convinced it would sound tiny and tinny) so I plugged it in and tuned around the dial.
The audio was amazingly clear. Then I realized I was on the AM dial and in the house with all the electrical noise yet there was none of the typical AM interference. Then I switched it to FM and I was absolutely floored that the radio could sound that clear and that good while being so small.
The Comforting Sound of Tubes
Most people are not old enough to remember when radios had tubes. The sound of radio changed with the invention of solid state electronics, which no longer required tubes. Tube radios had a sound, which was rich, warm and had a unique presence. This little radio has the rich sound of an old tube radio without the whistle and interference.
Feel Good Audio
Of course I’m a radio junkie and I love radios. But if I were giving a radio to an advertiser or an employee for Christmas I would want it to sound awesome, have great reception and have a nice design. The fact that it’s kinda little is an extra benefit because it takes up very little space. I fell in love with it right away yet its sound is crisp, clear and has that old tube sound, which is unbeatable.
If you can ever fall in love with a little table top radio, I think this is the one.
Finally a Great AM/FM Radio
For each of the last couple of years I’ve told you about radios, which make great gifts for employees and advertisers. Though I have to admit the AM broadcasters were upset that the last two did not have AM radio. This one does and it sounds terrific.
But don’t take my word for it. I’m confident enough that you’ll feel the same way and you can hardly go wrong for the price. But if you hate it, send it back and get a refund. Bob Crane will stand behind it.
You won't pay the price on the website for this product or any of the products listed below. Bob has agreed to sell CCGozo for $99.95 each if you buy 2 or more if you use our links. If you need a last minute gift for advertisers or employees you can still get it in time for Christmas if you order today.
You can learn more here.
Eric Rhoads
Radio Junkie Since 1969
PS: 10 Christmas Goodies for Radio Junkies:
What advertiser in America sells radios on national radio and has for decades? C. Crane and Company. They believe in radio, they love radio and they spend a fortune on radio. Bob won’t tell me how much but I know it's a fortune …. And it must be working because he is there year after year. Frankly a nice way to thank him for his passion and love for radio would be to take a shot at this little gem.
I love C.Crane radios because Bob is a radio junkie and is driven to invent radios with better sound and reception. He also makes some other cool products. I’ve listed my favorite other products in case you’re looking to add something to your wish list. I personally own each of these products and would not write about them if I did not love them.
My top 10 Favorite CCrane Products for Radio Junkies like me (all which are discounted for you with the links provided if you buy two or more).
1. AM/FM/Shortwave Pocket Radio: Though I don’t smoke, this is just a little bigger than a pack of cigarettes and it’s the radio that goes in my travel bag. I can listen to the world.
2. CC Witness: This is an MP3 recorder and player which has built in AM and FM so you can record broadcasts and listen and turn them into an MP3 file to email your friends. I bought one for a radio consultant friend when they first came out and he tells me it's the single most valuable tool he has as a programmer so he can listen on it and them save the broadcast so he can go over airchecks with his air talent.
3. CC Radio- EP: This sits at my desk. It's a great basic radio with killer reception. The reception of CC radio is always the finest for pulling in distant signals.
4. CC Wifi: Also at my desk I can listen to internet radio around the world. It’s wireless. I’ve owned it for a couple years and I use it a lot. Lets me hear what stations are doing in far away places plus towns across America. If something is going on in some city I’ll tune in to see the radio perspective.
5. FM Transmitter 2: This is so cool. Plug any source into it and you can listen to that on any radio in the house. I like to plug my ipod into it and then let it play so I can tune in when I want it.
6. CC Solar Observer: I use this when camping with my boys. Its one of those wind up power radios AND is solar powered. It’s also great knowing I have it if the power goes out. If you lived in Connecticut when the snow hit a couple weeks ago you probably ran out of batteries. This would have been awesome.
7. Super USB WiFi Antenna 3: I have a cabin on my property that cannot get access to the wifi in the house… until I plug this antenna into my PC. Suddenly I getting the signal and I can get up to one mile away if I’m line of sight.
8. CC Radio SW (Shortwave): I love to listen to the world and though I love my pocket Shortwave this one has exceptional reception and more features. I sometimes put it by the bed at night and listen to the world with the headphones. It’s really a great reception radio.
9. CC Radio 2: Exceptional AM reception. This thing pulls in from long distances. CC makes my favorite reception devices. The audio tuned for talk radio so I love its rich sound. I also love that it has the HAM radio band so I can listen to local Hams and it has NOAA Weather alerts.
10. CCGozo: Though I talked about it above I wanted to list it here too because it truly is one of my top 10 favorites.
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