Home > Consumer Reviews > Grundig G2000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio

In recent years, no other portable shortwave radio has rated quite as high on the "neato" scale as the Grundig G2000A. This Grundig's two best design features are its Porsche-designed cosmetics and its handy leather carrying "case." These things alone are cool enough to inspire almost any shortwave listener to want one and have fun using it.

The radio's performance isn't quite as great as its beauty, however. For its small size, it performs fine with an external antenna, but less well with the aerial. Its sensitivity is decent, and selectivity is passable. But don't expect a listening experience on par with rivals within its price class ($100-$150). Bottom line is, you're paying more for the looks than anything else. If performance is what you desire, keep looking.

I give it less than four stars for several reasons. First, it fails to cover the entire shortwave spectrum from 1600 khz to 30 mhz. That's a big drawback among today's digital radios. Second, the keypad is awkward to use, even though it looks fabulous. Third, the software provides a measly 10 memory positions for shortwave, which is okay if you only listen to the major broadcasters.

Nevertheless, the G2000A is an aesthetically nice radio that's fun to operate for casual listening. For a novice listener, I'd recommend something simpler. If you're a more serious, demanding listener, you probably already have something else. I enjoy using it because it reminds me of my dad's old Zenith Royal 500E, which has a great leather case. I like this Grundig, but I'm glad it isn't my only one.

A lot money was thrown away on a cheap, designer-label radio of transister-radio quality. I was looking for a nice, compact, quality radio which could also receive news from the various hotspots of the world. I researched numerous travel radios in all price ranges and various web sites: Grundig's G2000A was the winner. Not.

First, reception on any short-wave band is non-existent and the lo-fi FM sound was an even greater disappointment. To date, hubby, master of all bathroom radios, uses only one FM station and occasionally one AM station. Worse yet, he still travels with his Sharper Image radio, which cost half as much and has many more useful features as a radio and, of course, its quality sound and reception leave the G2000A biting the dust.

Finally, the G2000A's fine leather cover with its fancy logo interferes with operation of the radio, so it rests peacefully in a closet. Which Grundig design engineer fell asleep at the wheel of this feature?

I bought the Grundig G2000A radio to be a light weight travel companion radio that doubles as an alarm clock. Within those boundaries it's been great. The radio also has sporty looks with the Porsche design and nifty leather cover. It picks AM and FM fine and has adequate sensitivity. As a short wave radio, it only serves to pick up STRONG short wave offerings. If you want to do some serious short wave listening, this is not the radio for you. It has old style spectrum seperations of SW1 and SW2 that do not cover the entire short wave spectrum. Most annoying was needing to make short wave entries in wavelengths vice frequencies. Most annoying indeed!

I use it as a travel alarm clock/radio. It's looks are snazzy enough to make a fashion statement. It picks up any local station that I want. When I want serious short wave radio on the road, I bring my Yacht Boy 400. Shopping around can net you this radio at much less than the suggested prices.

The Grundig G2000A World Receiver is not a valid represenatative of Grundig quality or performance. For a much better value (at only [amount]additional)the Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE is the standard by which all other popular priced SW radios are judged. Excellent value, excellent performer. (...)

I now have my third G2000A, the first two having been returned under warranty. All three have (had)horrible AM sections which display considerable static on all but local a 50,000 watt station. Extremely disappointing and not worth purchasing.