Retekess V115 Shortwave Radio, Digital Radio AM FM, Shortwave Receiver with 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery, Presets, TF/AUX Playback and Recording, Bass Speaker, for Camping

This is probably the best radio I've found under $25. It is packed with features including AM mw/sw and FM reception, mp3 and wav player, mp3 recorder that can record from the built-in mic, the radio or the line-in jack, and it also can be used as a USB sound box and MicroSD card reader in both a computer and a compatible phone.First of all, the speaker in this thing gets surprisingly loud, and although not booming, the bass response is quite good for its size. It really is impressive for something so small it can fit into a pocket. Distortion can of course occur when the volume is set too high, but it does get pretty loud before that happens.Radio reception is surprisingly good for such a small and inexpensive device. I couldn't figure out a way to tune the radio manually up or down a step, but being able to enter the frequency by number far outweighs that minor inconvenience, and the lack of stepping is only really an inconvenience for the rather large shortwave band. It also doesn't receive any shortwave signals below 4.75MHz or above 21.85MHz, but that range covers most broadcast stations that can be received in the States, with the exception of the stuff that can sometimes be heard in the 3MHz to 4MHz range and the lower frequency ham radio band, which is mostly unreceivable from a radio such as this, as it doesn't receive single side band signals. I do have a rather long wire reel antenna that came with an old radio that I no longer have, and I find that plugging this into the aux/line-in jack can greatly improve shortwave reception, and even can affect FM reception to a point as well.The mp3 player is equally impressive, allowing dialing up the song I want to hear, which although this involves memorizing the numbers, still allows for faster playback of exactly what I want to hear than navigating a large folder with only back and forward buttons, although this type of navigation is also possible. I like even better that my music is separated from any recordings I make, and I can toggle between my music and my recordings by holding in the 0 button for about a second.The recorder has 3 quality settings, 64Kb/s 22.05KHz, 96Kb/s 44.1KHz and 128Kb/s 44.1KHz, all mp3 format. Recording from radio and aux is fairly good quality. Mic recording also sounds fairly good, except that the audomatic level control is a bit too quick, so it is rather audible. I successfully recorded a phone call on my computer using only this record function, a headphone cable with inline mic and loopback software to send my voice through the line to the recorder. In this mode, the level control isn't as audible. That said, the mic recording is really quite good when the background noise level is high. It actually sounds better in a moderately noisy setting than it does in a quiet environment. Still, this is another impressive feature given the price of the unit overall.I am pleasantly surprised by the sound card functionality in this little thing. I first plugged it into the USB port on my computer, then I tried it in my phone using a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Although the radio does not record when plugged into USB, the computer and phone can use its mic and speaker to record and playback just like a sound card. Both recording and playback rival many built-in laptop mics and speakers, with the only exception being that it doesn't have stereo speakers. Still, I enjoy having this functionality available, especially within this price range and with all the other features packed into this little bitty box.Battery life is very good for a small and loud system like this. It's not using the usual AA or AAA batteries, but instead uses a rechargeable BL-5C lithium battery, the kind some Nokia phones used about 15 years back. This battery is quite easy to find, and I opted to purchase a 1500mAH replacement to use instead of the 1000mAH battery that ships with the radio. I seem to get about 8 to 10 hours continuous sound out of the original battery, and nearly 15 hours from the replacement I purchased. I also use an external charger most of the time, although I don't have any problems using the included USB cable; the external charger just charges the battery in about half the time, although there is an advantage to charging via the USB cable while playing either the radio or the mp3 player. It will also charge while connected to my computer, which is another benefit of using the cable.Probably the biggest problen I've had with this is the headphone jack. First, others have mentioned the sound quality using headphones, and yes, it definitely does leave a lot to be desired. Somehow I don't notice the sound quality issue when I connect it to a bluetooth transmitter and use my high-end bluetooth headphones with it, but for a direct connection, it doesn't sound that great. I'm not sure what makes the bluetooth transmitter work better; I only mention it because it is the one way I found to work around the rather poor sound from the headphone jack. Also, I don't know if maybe I have a slightly defective unit, but on mine, the left and right channels are swapped in the headphone jack, so sounds that should play on the left side are heard on the right side, and sounds that should play on the right side are heard on the left side. For some people this may not be so noticeable, but I tend to notice things like this, and they bug me for some reason. Recordings from the radio do seem to come out with the channels correct, so this is not at all a deal breaker, since it could just be a defect in the specific unit I have, and since I mostly use the internal speaker, it doesn't stop me from enjoying my tunes or my casual shortwave listening.One of the best things about this radio is the fact that the buttons are very solid and stable. It's not easy to bump something and cause undesired effects, and a lock is also available just in case. These click buttons cause one drawback in recording, since they make a clicking sound when pausing or stopping a mic recording, but this is definitely tolerable when considering that buttons like these will not break down easily over time. I had another radio that I purchased at a lower price and had less features, and I thought the knob it had for step tuning was pretty nice, right up until the time it broke off inside of the thing. Fortunately, these buttons don't look like they're going anywhere, and the lack of a knob like this is actually more of a pro than a con.Did I mention this thing is a beast? I have had this for nearly two years, and I take it out and about quite a bit. It has some battle scars from run-ins with pavement a time or two, but it still works, maybe better now even than it did when I purchased it two years ago.Overall, I highly recommend this radio/recorder/mp3 player/USB and line-in speaker. Nothing in this price range can touch it. Maybe it's not for the radio enthusiast, and it does have some issues, but it's quite good and feature-packed for anyone who is as price/value-conscious as myself. Definitely still a 5 out of 5 despite its little bugs.

Fantastic little pocket radio! Amazing sound for such a small size. I am using it on AM to hear my beloved RedSox since NESN doesn't want to broadcast thier games apparently. FM is pretty good too for local music stations and news. I haven't really tried the shortwave much as we are in a pretty closeknit mobile home park with lots of AC interference.

This is revised review on 2025-05-29, after spending a couple of weeks using the Retekess V115. At this price, for folks in the USA who mainly want to listen to AM or FM, this little Retekess V115 radio is great for that audience. It can do SW, too, but with fewer good possibilities than most locations overseas. With a relatively small speaker, one cannot expect it to sound like high quality home entertainment systems costing in the thousands with a special receiver and multiple high quality speakers. However, the radio has several GOOD features for its size and price.(1) It has good battery life from a BL-5C battery; before my purchase I understood that the BL-5C was "swap-able/replaceable", but I had wondered if the radio's internal memory would retain all the pre-programed station selections I'd arranged after a battery change; IT DOES! So if you're camping away from a power source for charging the battery in it, you can swap batteries, and all your favorite stations stay put.[NOTE: It comes with a BL-5C that is only 1000mWh capacity, but several manufacturers are now making BL-5C replacements that are double or triple that capacity. Shop around and you can improve its run time even more. Charge several batteries before you leave home; they're small, light, and relatively inexpensive.]When listening to news from near the speaker, a volume level around 5 is plenty. When listening to music—esp. classical or jazz—I usually tweak it a bit higher. When listening with buds (NOT supplied with it), a volume of only 2 or 3 is sufficient. That lower volume level also boosts its run time.HOWEVER, beware that the Retekess V115 does NOT provide stereo listening via its headphone jack, even from stations broadcasting in stereo. [Radios that cost several times more (like the Tecsun PL-330) make stereo FM broadcasts available when listening by headphones or buds.] One disappointment I have with the Retekess in this area is that not only does it fail to provide stereo listening via headphones or buds, but its manual makes it clear that the V115 will not work *at all* with buds or headphones that have a possible mic connection. It requires buds that are simply stereo, with no mic connection. My JBL headphones have a triple connection (left-right-mic), and even if the mic stem is not even connected, those headphones will not work with the Retekess V115 (though they work fine with the Tecson PL-330). Retekess should cover this problem by following the example of Tecson, which supplies a pair of stereo buds with the PL-330. The same type of relatively inexpensive buds that Tecson supplies would provide Retekess users with a necessary component for private listening, since more and more buds now feature a mic connection which the V115 does not support.(2) The menu system of the Retekess is much easier to use than some other radios that cost more. After the radio is powered up the menu system—accessible from its clearly marked MENU button—has clear choices for settings that are easily navigated by the up-down function of the rocker volume switch and the left and right buttons located on either side of the Play/Pause button. In fact, the buttons of the Retekess are easy to operate and stay where they are put. This makes moving the Retekess from place to place much easier that the Tecsun PL-330 (which has sensitive dials that are easily bumped by accident, either changing the volume or the station.(3) The Retekess comes with a plastic tab on its lanyard that fits into a slot on the rear just under the antenna that acts as a stand. (The Tecsun PL-330 lacks any such accessory to provide a better listening angle for the speaker.)From this short review of a few features there are good points to both the Retekess and the Tecsun radios mentioned here, and the features of each radio provide different conveniences and disappointments. The Tecson has many more technical features, which patience and a careful reading of its User Manual can provide.

Bought it for my son so he'd quit messing with my more expensive radios.He really likes it. It pulls in about like I'd expect a $20 radio to. No frills, very basic. I wouldn't buy one for myself, but it's a great option for kids. I do like the fact that it's rechargeable, don't have to buy batteries.