Do any of you have one and how do you like it? Our local Farm and Fleet is coming out with an ad next week with it on sale for $79.99. It looks like a nice unit for my shop, although I don't have any Milwaukee cordless tools to use to power it if I don't want to use 110 volts. Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks!
I had the idea for a "tradio" 20 years ago and never did anything about it: they all have too many features. Does the Milwaukee have any practical features that would make you buy it over just a regular boom box or shelf unit? I'd get one if it was small, am-fm, made out of thick, high impact plastic with maybe a replaceable dust filter for the speaker, sealed and shock resistant tuning and volume controls, in other words, a power tool. Don't know if anything like what I've described is on the market, but these are the features I'd look for.
I don't have any experience with the Milwaukee but have the DeWalt. It's built for abuse but the tuner sucks (analogue that fades in and out). I've seen others use cheap boom boxes which have much better reception and often much better sound. But if you plan on being abusive to the thing (often accidently) I'd say go for the Milwaukee.
Gary
My shop sound system is a $5 Sony receiver, a $5 pair of Wharfdale speakers, and a $5 Sony CD Walk man. The most expensive component was the $8.99 Radio Shack power supply for the CD Walkman. All but the power supply came from tag sales, and as an ex-touring sound technician, I'll guarantee it sounds better than ANY boombox!
If you're going to carry it around, the "jobsite" radios might make sense, but check the local garage sales for used stereo equipment for a stationary shop. Used stereo gear has almost zero resale value and seems to be everywhere!
Barry
I have had my DeWalt soundbox for many years. Works great even though covered in drywall mud, paint, and welding spatter. It's been dropped from scaffolding and dragged through mud and still works good. The sound quality isn't too great but it's loud. The DeWalt charges batteries for my cordless tools. The Milwaukee doesn't.
ds
The Milwaukee has two special features which few other radios have. First, it has a line-level input for cd-player, mp3-player, etc. Second, it has a built-in 12V, 1A cigarette lighter jack so you can plug in a car adapter for your cd player, mp3 player, etc.
These two features makes it ideal for running a satellite radio like an XM Roady or Skyfi.
If neither of these features appeals to you, your money may be better spent on a Sony, Panasonic, etc. which are considerably cheaper, but still durable and waterproof. They're also easily available used.
All that aside, the Milwaukee is well made and sounds good. The radio has digital tuning and has a flexible antenna (like those on early brick-shaped cell phones) which doesn't break like the telescopic kind. Unlike the Dewalt, it cannot charge the battery. Also, it is well made but is surprisingly heavy.
Made in China.
Pawn shops too, and don't forget to dicker. I got my last set of speakers (old Pioneer three-ways in huge cabinets, 10" woofers) for free with a guitar amp. They were ugly and dusty, but they sound quite good. (Note that I'm not an audiophile, so don't bother telling me how bad they are. I wouldn't understand what you were talking about anyway. :)
Heck, I've gotten some really sharp speakers at the local dump. Highlights include a pairs of Klipsch KG4 and original Heresys, plus a very large, newish set of Technics. I know the last one's cheap, but it was almost new when I got them.
GTO(John)
It's a nice radio. Decent sound and super rugged. Don't expect to pick up NOAA radio unless you have a transmitter very close.
If its going to stay stationary in a shop there are much more inexpensive alternatives....
You know, when I am working, I like to have an idea of what the weather is doing or going to do. So far, no one has commented on a working radio having a weather band on it. Do any of them? Many are the days when it "looks" like a storm coming but never does - or it does without any warning. That would be what I would want the most. A weather band or channel.
The weather band works just fine on my $20 Sony. I'm in the Chicago area.
My Subaru has weather band in the stereo. It works great!
Barry
I have one and I like it. I had on old radio in the shop with one blown speaker that needed replacement. I was looking for something that could be kicked banged, abused, hit with a 2x4, etc. ( all of which I have done to the old and new radio). Before I got around to buying one, I won the Milwaukee at a company picnic.
All that having been said, I am not sure I would have paid that much ($79.99) for a that radio, or for any radio.
-- Al Reid
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." --- Mark Twain
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