China made SW radios review - 2, Kaide KK-2005 New model

I introduced Kaido KK-2005A in the previous post "China made SW radios review". As I recently found this model with the new technology  - poptentiometer tuning I would like to compare the new model with the old  model.


Kaide KK-2005A  - Old and New

The old and mew models are exactly the same in outlook and even the model name KK-2005A. The basic functions are also the same FM/AM/SW(7 bands). The retail prices are also the same about US$15.

What are the differences ?

Slight but noticeable difference are weight and sound. Big differences are inside.

1) Insides

We can find revolutionary changes between the old and new inside. Please see below.


a) Old model


One side

You can find that the PCB name is KK-2005 and one PVC (Poly Vari Con), four IFTs, 3-4 Ceramic Filters, several Air Coils and many Ceramic Disc Caps for tuning.  Two major ICs - Radio IC CD2003GP and Audio OP Amp D2822A. These are all through hole parts.


the  other side

 b) New model

One side

You can find the PCB name is KK-2005KT.

This side has almost none on it except one potentiometer at center and two Al. Electrolytic Capacitors. No PVC (Poly Vari Con), no IFTs, no Ceramic Filters, no Air Coils, no Ceramic Disc Capacitors, nothing of these parts crowdedly placed previously. All of them gone away.

the other side

Three major ICs are found.

Radio IC KT0936M (18 pins)
Audio Amp IC  LPA8003S
LDO Regiator IC AMS1117-3.3V

Plus many chip resistors. All SMT parts.

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Old Model

7 SW bands: 5.67-6.43MHz, 6.96-7.87MHz, 9.28-10.36MHz, 11.15-12.28MHz, 13.15-14.00MHz, 14.90-15.80MHz, 17.06-17.90MHz

New Model
7 SW bands: 5.95-6.20MHz, 7.10-7.30MHz, 9.50-9.90MHz, 11.65-12.05MHz, 13.60-13.80MHz, 15.10-15.60MHz, 17.50-17.90MHz

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The reproduced sounds are noticeably different.

Old Model (1W 8 ohm Speaker) - so called 'analog sound' - soft, round and somewhat deep to my ears.

New Model (1W 8 ohm Speaker) - so called 'digital sound' - hard, edged and somewhat shallow to my ears but not uncomfortable.

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Weight

The new model is lighter than the old model due to much less component count.



sptt