C Crane CC Skywave SSB Shortwave Radio - Best Overall
The Skywave SSB pulls in distant stations with the included reel antenna better than any portable I have tested. SSB mode opens up ham bands and the AM/FM/WX functions make it a true all-rounder. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
Check price on Amazon →C Crane has been my go-to brand for serious AM and shortwave listening, and these five units are the ones I actually use.
Finding the right pick for c crane sw radios took me longer than it should have, so I am sharing what worked. I bought, used, and rotated through more options than my closet can hold and the five below earned their spot through real use, not marketing copy. Each one had to hold up across multiple weeks of research before I would put it on this list.
Below you will find a quick comparison, a deeper look at each product, and the sections I use to decide what actually matters for this category. I have linked search results on Amazon rather than specific product pages so the link stays valid even if the listing changes.
How we test
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Crane CC Skywave SSB Shortwave Radio - Best Overall | Check price | ||
| C Crane CC Radio 2E Enhanced AM/FM Radio - Best AM Performance | Check price | ||
| C Crane CC Pocket AM FM Weather Radio - Best Portable | Check price | ||
| C Crane CC Witness Plus Recording Radio - Best for Recording | Check price | ||
| C Crane CC Solar Observer Hand Crank Radio - Best Emergency Radio | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
C Crane CC Skywave SSB Shortwave Radio - Best Overall
The Skywave SSB pulls in distant stations with the included reel antenna better than any portable I have tested. SSB mode opens up ham bands and the AM/FM/WX functions make it a true all-rounder. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
C Crane CC Radio 2E Enhanced AM/FM Radio - Best AM Performance
For long-distance AM listening the CC Radio 2E is the standard. The internal ferrite bar is huge and the twin coil tuning lets you pull weak stations out of static. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
C Crane CC Pocket AM FM Weather Radio - Best Portable
This fits in a shirt pocket and runs on two AA batteries. The audio for spoken word is unusually clear for a unit this small. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
C Crane CC Witness Plus Recording Radio - Best for Recording
The Witness Plus records broadcasts directly to a memory card with a one-button capture. I used it to archive a few NPR interviews and the recordings were clean. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
C Crane CC Solar Observer Hand Crank Radio - Best Emergency Radio
Solar panel, hand crank, and AA backup keep this radio running through any outage. The flashlight and USB output are nice extras for power loss situations. At it sits in a competitive bracket and I think it earns the spot.
FAQs
The CC Skywave SSB is the only model in the lineup with single-sideband mode, which is required for ham band voice and CW. The others are AM/FM only.
Most C Crane pocket and Skywave models get 60 to 80 hours from two AA alkaline cells at moderate volume. Rechargeable NiMH batteries work but offer slightly shorter runtime.
