TESTING KCHIBO RADIOS

This article has been made with the following things on mind

2. To test these so low priced radios and access results

ON the other side the recent time I have made a survey on the local market.
I found that KCHIBO has a broad range of radios. Except the very low cost AM FM radios
there were also a broad line of radios having also SW capability.
Here is the list of KCHIBO radios with SW and their approximate prices:
KK1099
KK999D
KK634
KK979
C 300

10
18
8
20
60

All the above models have been tested and inspected as you will see on the next pages
Also a BOLONG model has been tested here and is found on 7th page

Notice: I totally have no connection with the company neither I advertise them. This is just a
review of several models I tested

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

1. The radio can be as low priced as possible and have SW band capability. You can consider
students on the university for example or people having no nancial background. This is I
could say the very poor mans radio

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

KK634

This is the cheapest of all the models tested. ( About 8)

The radio has MW , FM and 8 subparts of the SW band. It has a LO DX switch and a electronically controlled AM
FM switch. This AM switch then is separated by a 9-pole switch for the appropriate band
Freuencies stated in the panel: ( with the results as found)
- MW:
SW1 :
SW2:
SW3:
SW4:
SW5:
SW6:
SW7:
SW8:
FM:

530- 1600
5.5- 6.74
6.57-7.86
8.36-9.57
11.1 12.2
13-13.84
14.47- 15.5
17.15- 18.28
20.97-21.97
88-108

(actually 521-1660. I have heard one station on 1660 )

(actually 900 kHZ more! Same occurs for all other SW bands )

(here the fres are separated by abt 300 kHz

(about 87-109. I heard out of band stations on both parts )

Here are the results of testing it for several hours

Reception / sensitiviy
MW : poor reception
SW: fair reception,., There are two very strong
radio stations on FM/VHF II causing overmod
on the upper SW bands of this radio. When
telescopic antenna is fully unfolded. Did not
tried for over-moding
FM : good reception . Nearly all radio stations
were listenable
AMP switch. Amplies all bands .On the model I
used (S/N C9700666) the switch has bad contacts.
Another unit I tested did not have this problem
Using it , it produces higher audio levels and extorts
the noise level too. I dont think that it helps in
getting lower signals
Tuning : Totally analog tuning with a low uality
tuning knob as well as tuning capacitor. Its shaft is
not correctly contacting the capacitor thus having
gaps while tuning

Inside: Opening the rear side I seen something crazy . the

letter stamp over the IC s surface has been rubbed , so no
chip ID!!
Audio: Highly trebled audio on all bands. In FM and non
condensed bands is OK but in highly condensed bands
especially in SW adjacent channel RM ( up to 10 Khz far)
can cause uite annoying hets
Switch on by audio resistor.
Earphone socket: And something nice. The plug is stereo
plug compatible.
DC 3 V socket : Is also included
Using your hands on the rear side the tuning capacitor is
tuned out.

KK999D

Digital readout even if it is not a100% digital operation .

Frequency counter to 10 kHz . The frequency remains also after setting it off
Time and alarm setting built in
Standing rack in the rear panel
Case and Headphones
Instructions for use
And everything in a price of only 15!!
Here is what I found while using it. ( at right what noticed in the specs sheet and then the sensitivity as listed )
FM :
86.5- 109.2 !!
87-108
20 V , 100 kHz steps
MW
527-1661!!
526-1605
4mV/m 1 kHz steps
SW1
SW2
SW3
SW4
SW5
SW6
SW7

5.90 6.99
7.00 - 8.13
9.30 10.33
11.58 12.52
13.3-13.95
14.85-16.15
17.50- 18.27

5.95-6.2
7.1-7.3
9.5-9.9
11.65-12.05
13.6-13.8
15.1-15.6
17.5-17.9

100 V

And here are the results after testing it:

Sensitivity:
MW: relatively poor reception , but better than 634
SW: Seems to have high sensitivity but contradictions when using external wire. For example I could listen
to a station on 12172 with signal S3-4 as shown on R75 . But It could not receive AIR 10330 ( a S3 level on
R75)
FM: good also reception. Nice that still some radios can receive out of band stations!
In practice , the radio has a relatively lower sensitivity over Yupiteru in SW Could not nd the selectivity on FM

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

Its main features. This is possible the smallest quasi digital radio

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

KK1099

Front paenl buttons

This is the rst model I bought before testing for use by my wife . Middle cost model ( 13) is the nicest model
from all .
Unfortunately the model shown very modest specication on Shortwaves. For example a strong station could be
tuned in a very broad range up to 100 kHz from its main frequency.
For this reason I will make some comments here :
It is supposed to listen to VHF audio. I could not nd the audio channel from MTV. IN contrast the band seems
to start from the 87.5MHz
Tuning: hard to tune ( very stiff knob)
Audio quality: Somehow better than other models. IN the SW bands a Turkish station had very good HiFi audio
quality
AM band starts after switching on ( via the volume resistor) IN 636 Fm starts
DX switch worked properly
3 VDC socket included
Earphone socket: stereo compatible

KK979
979 has been checked with C300 a, Yupiteru 7100D and partially with R75 with telescopic antenna

Measured freqs :
FM :
MW
SW 1
SW2
SW3
SW4
SW5
SW6
SW7
SW8

63.5- 109.4 !!
517 1657

64-108

20 V

(again also outbanders)

54.72- 6.42
6.84-7.64
9.37-10.28
11.41-12.52
13.03-14.16
14.99-16.06
17.24-18.30
21.27-21.95
cable can also act as antenna

Reception / sensitiviy
q
MW poor to good reception ( not as C300)
Step is 1 kHz
q
SW: fair to good reception . Possibly slightly
better than 999D(could not crosscheck
) a little better than Yupi 7100and nearly
the same with R75/tel antenna with 10 db
preamp. Two bands show noise from splatter
from the local FM radio stations .Apparent
heterodynes in parts of the band either from
the lower side or even from the upper side.
Step is 10 kHz
q
FM : fair to good reception but surely high
sensitivity or low dynamic range . The radio
seems to overload from the two local signals
( abt S9+40) . When using headphones , the

LCD is nice with big numbers. When radio is

turned off the radio shows the time. Tuning is abt
5kHz higher than the displayed.
Tuning: It is now better than 999D , not so ne
tuning .
Selectivity: Low level Seems to be same as 999D
(Spectrum analysis as sown in separate page
shows abt 15 kHz or more)
Audio: very nice audio with very clear sounds
Earphone socket: stereo compatible
DC in : 3 VDC with positive on shield
Using headphones enhances drastically the
listening eliminating the oscuilators noise

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

This is one of the little higher cost. Its price is 20 and its resulted specications seem to be a derivative of
the 999D . S/N is 1841000.
As advertised it includes also TV Ch 4 band
Digital display again to 10 kHz on SW using a better tuning mechanism than 999D *( ie not so ne
tuning)
Clock and alarm are also included .
Case and instructions in Chinglish Also handling bracket.

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

KK C300

Possibly the biggest model of this series costing 60 contrary to its cassette size dimensions (7 x 11x2.5) . Included with it
are :
-

Very small metallic colored buttons ( just only thin ngers should use it!)
Real PLL synthesis . Step/Scan up and down and 30 memories . 5 kHz steps are used in SW 0.1 MHz in FM band
2 timers , including alarm sleep function ( steps of 10 minutes with max 90 mins )
Light function lighting for 15 secs as standard
Lock key locks all buttons on the front panel
Hi - low tone switch on the left
Case showing world receiver and headphones ( earbuds)
Antenna wire
Handling bracket built in
Instruction for use in Chinglish

Fore this time the freqs found are identical with what specied :
FM :
87,5 -108
20 V , 100 kHz steps and stereo when using headphones
MW:
521-1620
SW:
5950-15600
continuous in 5 KHz steps
A button is provided for selection between these SW band starting points :
7.1- 9.5 - 11.65 13.6 15.1 MHz
-

Another button is provided for changing between

these three bands in carousel ( MW, SW and FM)

This radio has been checked for long time with the
SONY ICF7600 D as reference and shown contradictory
results ( as in some cases the Sony model outperformed
the Kchibo and on other cases Kchibo outperformed
Sony)
Results from my measurements
-

Very long time for changing between freqs : 1.1

sec. Step button operates also as scanning function
Using most by thumb of the buttons produces high
local oscillator noise coming into radio
Frequency indications are now exact.
And relatively good AGC operation.( he only with
some AGC??) IN case of cross-interferenced
signals however there is a very high ripple
Headphone cable affects as antenna
FM sensitivity higher regarding to 979 without the
mess of overloading.
FM Selectivity Better than 979 but not as of 7100 .
Relatively better than Sony

-FM stereo audio ( via ear buds) is very good . Level as

of a medium class stereo system
SW/AM Sensitivity: Better than 979 . Nearly same
with R75 with telescopic antenna unfolded and full
preamplication( 20 db) . And relatively same level with
ICF 7600 D though in some cases 7600 was better Also
it is found that using wires more than 3 m overload the
radio.
Earbuds: Seem typical quality stereo earbuds. About
2db than my Philips open ear buds with atter audio
response
AM/SW selectivity: About 6-7 Hz . Much better than the
979 ( abt 15kHz ??) but less than 7600D ( it seems les
than 4.7 kHz) . More on this in the pictures on the end
. However as in result it produces pleasant audio . ON
parallel listening with Sony model earbud to earbud for
a given freq. range audio was in the middle .
3 VDC : Unkown problem with 3VDC from non stabilized
adaptor showed locked all radio operations .
Listening with its own speaker: I found that in vacant
freqs the inner oscillator circuit is heard

BOLONG HS902
This is a radio I received after a radio swap from a Chinese guy. I list it too because I found several interesting

!
!
!

Analog tuning
FM stereo using headphones . Stereo switch included
Button lock

What I have noticed with the radio (roughly by optical ways) :

Bands :
MW
520 1620
Freqs are correct with what displayed!
FM
87-108
SW1
5.95-6.5
SW2
6.9-7.45
SW3
9.4-10.1
SW4
11.5-12.2
SW5
15-15.8
SW6
17.53-18.1
SW7
21.3-22.
Other interesting things I found:
High quality audio in all bands
About 10 kHz bandwidth is apparent with low contiguous signals
Single conversion , many utes can be found inside the band qDoes not overload with long wires
Moderate sensitivity , ie 15095 (heard with C300) could not be heard
NO 3V DC socket.
Freqs listed in the panel are the freqs used . Quite accurate adjustment
Two very small screws to unscrew in the rear panel
Generally more rugged and reliable than the Kchibo models
Testing with 634 and C300
Bolong : had better audio oion FM over 634 and same as C300
Bolong has better sensitivity over 634 on MW but lower on SW ,For FM was unmeasurable
Bolong has more superhet products than 634
Also Bolong has better audio level on headphones but the lowest corresponding speaker audio level using
same headphone level. Anyway it has very low maximum audio level

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

Stereo - key lock - AM - FM

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

SOME MEASUREMENTS
Below you will find a series of pictures showing freq responses of several radios

Audio response on Low and high tone level in the

C300 on SW bands The higher carriers are still
audible even woth low tone

Here is tha audio curve in noisy background

Audio response on KK979 on same freq . Notice

that te signal was not audible

ie highly trebled audio!!

Here with the ICF 7600 D

The narowest curve of all !

The sensitivity and selectivity winner

ICF 7600 D

A resume
1. Most of these radios seem to have fair to good sensitivity. The C300 excels from
all of them having a very high sensitivity nearly same to SONY models
2. Nearly all of these radios have a low level of selectivity about 15kHZ for 3 db
or posibly no IF lter at all . Again C300 shows a highest level of selectivity
though still not so high as SONY (prematurely self tuned enhancing its selectivity . It happened after a drop )
3. For me all these models exceed their expectations in reference to their price
4. Bolong stil goes farther with stereo FM that happens only on the most costlier
C300
As in result the two of the 3 radios presented here can surely cover the very basic
needs for the totally non experienced user as well as the person wo canot afford
to buy a more expensive radio.

KCHIBO RADIO TEST

From the 6 radios tested I have found several interesting points