This radio is the famed CRF-320 manufactured by Sony from the years 1976-1980. As is the case with many Sony products, especially at that time, this was a high end "portable" radio that represented the best that Sony could put together in one unit. This Cadillac Sony unit was analog with a digital readout on shortwave and thus was one of the first radios to offer the user such frequency accuracy generally unavailable in a portables prior to this time. Most American consumer grade radios did not offer any where near the accuracy of tuning available on this radio. This Sony was a double conversion superhetrodyne fully solid state radio that is built like a tank and weighs like one too...at a full 27 lbs without any batteries installed.
These CRF-320's are coveted by collectors that enjoy the classic good looks, the outstanding capabilities, and the Sony brand that was stellar in the late 70s and early 80s. However, 30 years later, these 320's typically have several issues that need attention and it requires some resourcefulness to deal with these issues. You many find these 320's available for less money...even considerably less money....but they will likely require attention and unless you are qualified to do the restoration, you may spend a lot of money to bring the 320 back to full capabilities.
The selling price on this CRF-320 takes into consideration relative scarcity, condition, the cost to acquire, and collectability. We have sold a number of these restored 320's and this particular one is in good cosmetic condition overall looking above average in appearance, but is used and so and has a couple of very minor marks. Operational and cosmetic details are given below and we ask for you to study the HD pictures which we have supplied for you to see specific cosmetic details.
Over time, these CRF-320s can develop problems due to use, abuse, and even neglect. Any of the 320's that come into our hands go through a series of checks, and if necessary, things are repaired or replaced. Let us now list some of the common issues and what has been attended to with this CRF-320 radio:
1. The nylon tuning gears shrink over time and crack, exacerbated by time and heat. There are 3 tuning gears in this 320. The shortwave, FM, and LW/MW gears were inspected and tested and AM and shortwave gears required replacement.
2. The antennas are often broken, or if complete, the spring that extends the top of the antenna allowing it to be grasped for extension is non-functional. The left antenna on this radio extends and retracts without issue, but does have a slight crimp in the antenna as can be seen in our pictures shown above.
3. The s-meter is often non-functional with the needle pointer frozen in position. This s-meter in this radio was in that condition and was repaired so now works perfectly.
4. The audio is sometimes weak or non-functional as Sony used some poor audio caps that were discovered only years later. The audio in this 320 worked fine on all bands.
5. Sensitivity of the bands can be weak. This 320 had weas sensitivity on AM and shortwave and was tweaked to insure best reception on these bands. We did not have a method of testing the longwave band since there are only ship beacons on longwave here in North America.
6. Some of the control pots can be noisy due to oxidation. The pots and controls have been tested and were free of static noise found with dirty controls.
7. Dial lamps can be burned out. This 320 did not have an issue with any burned out lamps. Please note that some of the panel lamps do not illuminate until the specific band (FM, mediumwave, or shortwave) is selected so you may see some lamps out, but that is only due to the chosen mode operation of the radio. The lamps are not as easy to see in a well lit room and only illuminate the dial to see it's markings in the dark.
8. Digital frequency counter may not work properly or at all. Many of the digital readouts on these receivers can have issues that can be seen with 3 dots instead of a frequency being registered and this can be a serious repair. The frequency counter on this radio works perfectly.
9. Battery and storage covers are sometimes missing and the clips that secure them to the back can be weak or broken. Both covers were present on this radio and the clips were strong.
10. The quartz clock is sometimes non-functional, but on this 320, the clock works just fine keeping accurate time. You can see the clock D cell battery in the rear compartment when viewing our pictures.
11. The front protective cover is often missing, but is present on this 320. When operating the radio, the cover is typically removed and set aside. This act causes the cover to sometimes be separated from some of these 320's that have survived and are being sold. If missing, the opportunity to locate and secure one of these front covers is nearly impossible.
12. Sensitivity can be off due to age of the radio. We tested this radio and found the sensitivity to be very good on all bands. Someone with the skill may want to tweak the sensitivity further, but this did not seem necessary to us during testing.
13. The small sliding cover over the timer wheel is missing, but this is common and we do not know the reason. Performance in not affected.
There are no known operational issues / problems with this CRF-320. Anything that normally requires attention worked perfectly and this Sony looks and performs like a champ. All the dials turn completely across the bands and all the bands receive with good sensitivity. On shortwave, the operator needs to rotate the knob to select the proper MHz band and then dial in the frequency using the tuning knob. Once the band is selected, then the antenna trimmer is adjusted for best sensitivity and then tweaked again once you arrive at a station.
This CRF-320 operates off of a AC power cord that is included or the operator may use 8 D cells for "portable" use (not included). The quartz clock requires it's own D battery for operation and you can see this small holder inside the larger upper compartment on the back. We placed a battery in the clock and it held accurate time for several days prior to our listing this radio. There is a connection on the front of the receiver to allow the user to attach to a 12 volt external source...like a car, RV or boat.Cosmetically, the 320 is in very nice condition for these radios. We have sold about 40 of these CRF-320s and this particular radio is a very nice unit overall. The front panel is very nice with minimal marking. We did notice a couple of spots front cover and elsewhere on this radio. The 320 has been fully detail cleaned by us. We try to detail everything we sell and we encourage you to look closely at our pictures for specific cosmetic detail and email if you have any questions.
This CRF-320 comes with a full array of support documents and it's AC power cord. In fact, this is the most complete set of user and service documents that we believe has ever been made available for this consumer shortwave radio. Along with the radio, you will receive:
1. A color copy of the CRF-320 Operating Manual. While much of the operation of the radio is intuitive, this manual includes information on properly using this radio, setting the clock and timer, and how to maximize your knowledge of the capabilities of this radio.
2. A copy of the CRF-320 Service Manual in color with 63 pages that has schematics, dis-assembly instructions, parts lists, dial cord stringing, etc.
3. A copy of the CRF-320 Circuit Description of 23 pages. This manual is the same as the 330K Circuit Description manual since both radios were identical with the exception of the tape deck.
4. A copy of the CRF-320 Troubleshooting Guidebook of 36 pages. Again, this is virtually identical to the 330 Guidebook since both units use the same radio circuitry.
5. A copy of the CRF-320/330K Troubleshooting Guide Supplement of 22 pages.
6. Several service updates that are 1 or 2 pages of corrections or of supplemental information.
7. A copy of the Sony sale brochure for the CRF-320 that identifies the features and gives operational specs.
8. A copy of the Sony advertisement for the CRF-320 radio from the 1970's.
9. A CD that contains the above documents in PDF format.
What makes this receiver so special beyond the accuracy of the frequency readout ....well, the construction for one. Sony made comprehensive use of die-cast aluminum and chrome at a time when manufacturers regularly used plastic, cardboard, and vinyl to cheapen their products. There were no short cuts taken on construction as even the metal knobs have a rubber gripping surface and the speaker grill is metal to protect the speaker beneath. There are rack handles on the sides that extend to the front in order to give the unit a semi-military appearance, to offer additional grab surfaces, and to protect the array of front dials and knobs from damage should the unit tip over or during replacement of batteries. As with the knobs, Sony spared no expense in making these rack handles out of chrome and covering them with rubber trim for design sharpness and for gripping.
Fred Osterman in his book "Shortwave Receivers Past & Present" lists this radio as extremely scarce. The suggested retail price was $1500 at the time of sale in 1976.....yes, for a portable radio in the 1970's! Using the consumer price index, the cost for this same radio in 2017 dollars would be $6,400 if purchased today....over 4 times the original cost!
http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
The CRF-320 is a general coverage receiver and covers the Longwave, AM, Shortwave, and FM bands. Basically, the unit begins at 150 KHz and runs up to 30 MHz plus FM. There are two separate telescopic antennas...one for FM and the other for Shortwave and then a separate internal ferrite antenna for AM and Longwave. The telescopic antennas are unique in that they completely retract flat into the cabinet. Then with a slight push, the top of the whip antennas spring up about an inch for you to grab and extend. The right shortwave antenna extends vertical and the left FM antenna extends to allow a swivel from upright so that it can catch the FM signal more readily.
This Sony radio is a gadget person's delight having lots of buttons and knobs to add visual and operational interest. Other features on this CRF-320 include:
The separate tuning dials on this unit allow for the user to move from AM to FM to Shortwave and back again and not have to re-tune the dials for each band...a very convenient feature. If you look at the frequency readout and the analog scale in the pictures, you will see that they are close. There is a knob to calibrate the analog scale to the digital readout to get the dial scale "spot on" for shortwave tuning. There is a choice of narrow or wide IF filters for maximizing fidelity and minimizing side-channel interference and the choice of upper and lower sideband to hear marine, aircraft, or amateur radio traffic.
Here is some concise info on Rigpix:
http://www.rigpix.com/sony/sony_crf320.htm
There is not much info online about this radio and thus this indirectly helps to establish the scarcity of the CRF-320!
We are happy to answer any questions about this radio that you may have.
The cost to purchase packing materials for the CRF-320 for safe shipping will cost $25 regardless of where the radio is shipped. This charge will not cover all our packing material and insurance costs, but should allow us to pack this 320 properly for transport to your location and has been included in the Ebay calculator cost.
Overseas buyers are warned that shipping overseas will be expensive. We have shipped several of these CRF-320's overseas and the cost was not cheap any time this was done due to the weight and size. The Ebay calculator is set for UPS delivery, but it is very likely that USPS Express Guaranteed mail will be less expensive. Unfortunately, this is not an option to select for the Ebay calculator. If you would like us to verify and see if shipping can be lower using Express Guaranteed, please email your city and postal code. Also, please keep in mind that the shipping cost does not include any customs, duty, import or VAT fees. If you are unsure whether you will be responsible for additional costs to receive this radio, please check with your local post office and custom's office prior to purchase. Thank you!
The buyer is to pay via Paypal within 3 days of purchase. Ebay does not permit us to list other accepted forms of payment so we will refrain from doing so to prevent them from removing my listing as is the Ebay policy. Please email if you have any questions.
Penna residents are reminded that they are responsible for the 6% state sales tax.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at our Ebay items!
Info About Sony
Sony is a postwar (WW2) success story. The Sony Corp. was first established in May of 1946 in Japan and given the name from combining "Sonus", the original Latin word for "Sonic", meaning sound, and Sonny denoting small size. Over the years, Sony has been an industry and worldwide leader in high end and in minature consumer electronics. It has become one of the larger electronics firms worldwide and the Sony name if often attributed to high quality products. The company history is long and very extensive, detailing many of the company's innovations and achievements. I sometimes include coporate history in my Ebay sales, but will not do that in this sale as that would require someone to read an enormous amount of information. Instead, if interested, you may read about the fascinating history of Sony here:
