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Eton E1XM AM-FM Shortwave XM-Ready Radio

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05th of December 2008





Eton's liked E1 movable shortwave radio now allows you to tune into XM signals in this new version! The E1XM is the world's 1st radio to add AM, FM, Shortwave, and XM Satellite Radio technology into one ultra high performance unit. The finest port a top in the world, the E1XM offers powerful reception through its digitally synthesized PLL tuner with synchronous detector, passband tuning, and selectable bandwidth filters. Offering rich sound, the new in radio technology, up to 1700 station presets, and memory scan function, the E1XM is intended without agreement, giving you direct access to news, sports, and music from around the globe. Dual Conversion Superheterodyne Circuit results in minimized interference through superior selectivity. High Dynamic Range allowing for detection of weak signals in the presence of strong signals. Superior Audio Quality via a linked type audio amplifier, high output power with battery operation Calibrated LCD signal strength meter Separate, uninterrupted bass and treble tone controls headset Jack Stereo Line Level Input lets listening to other devices like a CD or MP3 player through the E1XM Stereo Line Level Output to another device like a home stereo Dual Event Programmable ON/OFF Timers may be used for recording or alarm clock function Variable rate tuning handle, direct keypad frequency entry, up/down pushbuttons and auto tuning Power Source four D Batteries not included, AC Adapter included Unit Dimensions 13?W x 7 1/2?H x 2 1/2?D 333 x 188 x 66 mm, Weight four lb three oz. 1.9 Kg

Review:
If you are a shortwave radio fan, you have most likely heard of the E1XM from Etón. you have heard all the hype about how it is the 1st radio to add AM, FM, shortwave, and XM satellite radio reception into one device. you have heard it is a big step up from the Satellit , the E1XM's respectable, but behemoth predecessor. Well, it is all true. The ten years of development that went into producing this tabletop radio was worth it, for a radio this size, the E1XM now wears the crown when it comes to tuning accuracy, quality of reception, and features.

The numeric keypad lets for direct frequency entry, when a row of soft keys below the screen supply contextual controls based on radio mode. View bigger.

While subtle ghosting is present, the screen is bright, with a logical layout. View bigger.

A trapdoor conceals the reset button, screen light control, and battery compartment.

The all important manual tuning dial has a smooth, progressive feel. View bigger.

also to a considerably smaller cabinet than the Satellit , the E1XM's addition of XM radio compatibility, an efficient squelch control, direct digital synthesis tuning, and more make this a must have for the serious radio listener. In fact, the E1XM is so well intended that less experienced listeners will quickly understand and master many of the radio's remarkable potential.

Design and Controls
While the E1XM could not be called compact, it's perfectly movable. Dimensions of 13.1 x 7.1 x 2.3 inches and a weight of four pounds, three ounces make it perfect for taking along. The complete case is coated in a lasting, somewhat rubberized finish that offers good grip and scuff resistance. Indeed, there is nothing cheap or chintzy about the E1XM, construction is hard during.

The front of the radio is dominated by the speaker and the 5.7 inch LCD display. though it offers only mono sound which is all you need for shortwave and AM the four inch speaker offers rich, full sound, at high volume levels. luckily, there is a stereo line out jack for delivering audio to your home stereo or another amplified speaker system.

To the left of the speaker, you will find knobs for controlling squelch, bass and treble, and volume. In the meantime, a big tuning handle is placed on the reverse side of the radio, just above a smaller handle for controlling PBT passband tuning. All the knobs on the E1XM offer a smooth, progressive feel with just the right amount of resistance, which is particularly important for the tuning handle.

A nine digit keypad is placed below the LCD screen for direct frequency entry, also as menu selection. Other controls, as well as those for scan and seek tuning, up/down tuning, memory programming, and DX mode are arrayed to the right of the numeric keypad. The top of the radio features a big snooze button for sleepy hands, also as a control for the LCD's backlight. The E1XM's long telescoping antenna is housed in the top, too. it is worth noting here that the E1XM doesn't have an interior ferrite AM antenna, relying instead on the telescoping antenna.

Dials and connectivity alternatives on the left side of the device. View bigger.

LCD Display
The E1XM's big LCD is where all the magic happens. The dot matrix display is able of showing info for whatever mode the radio happens to be in. A row of buttons now to the right of the display controls the radio's tuning mode. A specific tuning mode causes a row of contextual controls, or "soft keys," arranged at the bottom of the display. for example, when shortwave mode is selected on the right side of the display, a row of soft key alternatives seems, as well as an AGC automatic get control selector, and selectors for bandwidth, passband tuning, AM mode, and SSB single sideband mode. Users will find that this control scheme works well and limitations the total number of dials, buttons and switches that could otherwise be needed to control such versatile tuning alternatives. For the uninitiated, it also gives a simple and logical way to learn about the E1XM's potential.

The LCD also gives access to a menu system that controls alarm, timer, radio, XM, and audio settings. The menu system is deep and quite intricate, but a little practice will have you navigating them with ease. luckily, menus are set up much like the on screen menu of a TV or a DVD player familiar territory for most people.

We found the LCD's backlight to be useful in low light situations, and it intelligently shuts itself off after a short time, saving power if you are running off batteries. A contrast control is made available for the LCD but, curiously, it is hidden behind a door on the front of the unit that covers the E1XM's battery compartment. Our only issue with the LCD was that it had a tendency to display slight ghosting we'd expect something a little crisper from a radio this advanced and expensive.

Tuning Options
This is where things start to get interesting and a bit complex for newcomers to advanced shortwave radio operation. 1st, it is important be aware of that the E1XM features a digitally synthesized tuner, which enables the E1XM to reach new heights of tuning accuracy. When turning the tuning handle, you get the "analog feel" of stepping through frequencies in a exact, controlled manner.

also to XM satellite radio, the E1XM tunes a large array of signals, as well as FM, longwave, shortwave, medium wave also called AM, and single sideband SSB. Of course, the E1XM tunes FM and AM transmits with aplomb, but having a radio like the E1XM just to tune those frequencies could be akin to delivering the mail with space shuttle this unit is able of more.

Of course, our major interest was in testing out the E1XM's shortwave potential. If the idea of listening to far flung radio transmits intrigues you, this radio is the ticket to the best reception possible. Tuning is virtually effortless. After scanning the E1XM's manual, we were quickly able to choose the proper meter bands for the time of our listening session. 1st, we manually tuned recognized transmits from China and the United States. We were happy that the E1XM lets one to set the manual tuning handle to tune in ten Hz steps, which allows you to hone in on difficult to tune stations. 100 Hz and one kHz steps are selectable, too. Next up, we turned to the radio's seek function, which scans stations in five kHz steps. We soon made new discoveries, though our restricted language expertise made it hard to generally know exactly to whom or what we listened! Seek tuning is more improved by the useful squelch handle, which will negate reception unless the received signal achieves a predetermined quality. This way, you do not have to listen to a bunch of static and other oddities while searching for a good signal.

most of the accuracy and precision of the E1XM's tuning in shortwave and other modes is owed to the unit's superior electronics and high dynamic range, which permits the detection of weak signals in the presence of strong signals. Other improvements include a DX mode, which gives preamplification of remote or weak signals, a passband tuner and handle, which let the E1XM to selectively reject interference from close signals, and selectable auto get control AGC, which gives auto leveling of volume and distortion across a large range of signal types. Controlling these and other features of the E1XM fall into the advanced group, to make sure, but if you are a newcomer to shortwave and other types of reception, it is nice to know that this radio gives you with potential into which you may be able to grow.

XM Radio
Once you have plugged in an XM Connect and Play antenna and switched the E1XM into XM mode, you are prepared to go with satellite radio of course, you will also need an XM subscription. When in XM mode, the receiver becomes a conduit for really unbelievable, commercial free radio. The LCD acts as a complete XM digital readout, offering song and composer info, also as a scrollable station seletion menu.

Connections
With the exemption of the XM antenna, all of the E1XM's connections are made on the left side of the unit. A line in jack lets you to connect an external device and listen to it through the E1XM's speaker. As mentioned, a line out jack is made available, too. Most serious radio users will appreciate the inclusion of a KOK type external antenna port for connecting more advanced AM, FM, and shortwave antennae. In the meantime, also to a stereo headset jack, there is a jack for connecting an extra speaker to the E1XM.

Pros

• Incredible tuning accuracy
• Easy to use, just read the manual!
• Compact for a unit with the capabilities

Cons

• No XM reception right out of the box
• Slight LCD display ghosting

What's in the Box
E1XM radio, AC adapter, documentation CD, and user's manual.


If you are prepared for the final in movable radio technology, the E1XM from Etón delivers. Part of Etón's Elite series of digital world radios, it is the 1st radio ever to add AM, FM, shortwave, and XM Satellite Radio technology into one ultra high performance unit. A digitally synthesized PLL tuner with synchronous detector, passband tuning, and selectable bandwidth filters add to offer peerless tuning accuracy and reception. If you are into exploring sports, news, music, weather and more from around the globe, the E1XM makes it simple, thanks to 1700 station presets, and a memory scan function that assists you find your favorites fast. The sound is great, too, thanks to a big, full range speaker.

Design and Controls
Weighing in at just a hair over four pounds, the E1XM's sleek, modern cabinet is 13 inches across and just 2.5 inches deep. A fitted antenna on the top of the device handles AM, FM and shortwave reception. The front of the unit is dominated by a big 240 x 320 pixel, dot matrix display that measures 5.7 inches across, and obviously shows all the radio's modes and selected functions. An evenly lit backlight enables display looking at under all lighting conditions, and the LCD's calibrated signal meter gives you a clear view of signal strength. A keypad below the screen lets illustrious shortwave listeners to directly enter their shortwave band of choice, allowing instant access to recognized transmits. In the meantime, a selectable auto get control AGC offers fast and slow modes.

Tuning alternatives abound, you may be able to decide from a variable rate tuning handle, the aforementioned direct keypad frequency entry technique, up/down buttons, or auto seek tuning. And when you have your station locked in, you may be able to tweak the sound quality with separate, uninterrupted bass and treble tone controls. A linked type audio amplifier gives high output power, when the radio is operating on battery.

Tuning and Bands
The E1XM is intended to get a broad range of signals in the 100 30,000 KHz range, which will include shortwave, medium wave AM broadcast band and longwave. FM reception is robust, with tuning available in the 76 90, also as the 87 108 MHz ranges. The unit may be set in one of four reception modes: AM, FM stereo, single sideband selectable USB/LSB and CW. While you make your broadcast discoveries, you may be able to add them to the E1XM's programmable memory, which features 500 frequency entries, also as 1200 user definable country memories. A memory scan function allows you to quickly browse your programmed entries.

exact tuning resolution and drift free frequency stability is one of the E1XM's key benefits, thanks to technologies like digital phase lock loop PLL synthesized tuning with direct digital synthesis DDS. Tuning is more improved by a dual conversion superheterodyne circuit that results in minimized interference and superior selectivity when tuning tightly spaced frequencies. In fact, the unit offers selectable bandwidths 7.0, 4.0, and 2.5 kHz for excellent selectivity. And to top it all off, the E1XM's high dynamic range tuner lets for detection of weak signals in the presence of strong signals.

For those who enjoy tuning into far flung AM stations, the E1XM features a single sideband synchronous AM detector. The unit also offers the capability to choose USB/LSB or double sideband, which minimizes bordering frequency interference and fading distortion of AM signals.

XM Ready
And let us not forget that the E1XM is prepared, right out of the box, to accept an optional XM Connect and Play antenna for satellite radio reception. By connecting the XM antenna and activating an XM Satellite Radio subscription both sold separately, the receiver becomes a conduit for really unbelievable, commercial free radio. Featuring a full array of programming from talk shows, comedy programs, and live big League Baseball transmits to just about every musical genre from bluegrass to jazz XM Radio is the fastest growing satellite radio network in the world. All XM metadata is displayed on the E1XM's front panel display, as well as full song title and artist name.

Connections and Power
The E1XM is filled with connectivity alternatives, as well as a stereo line level input that enables you to listen to other devices like a CD player through the E1XM. A stereo line level output is made available for recording or connecting the unit to a home stereo. there is also a headset jack for private listening.

For the really dedicated, the E1XM offers important external antenna connections. Take your pick professionally engineered shortwave antennas, long wire shortwave antennas, specific AM broadcast band antennas, and FM broadcast band antennas can all be connected. The unit may be powered with the included AC adapter, or via four "D" batteries.

Extras
Etón thought of everything, so they have included dual programmable clocks that can auto set themselves using the WWV time broadcast. You also get a dual event programmable timer that may be used for timing a recording or as an alarm clock.

What's in the Box
E1XM radio, AC adapter, and user's manual.




Eton E1XM AM-FM