A quick update. As found in an earlier entry of this thread I purchased a Gundig 400 at REI a few months back. I have used many times in and out of my house and one a few bike rides of 3-4 hours in areas where I do not have cell phone reception to stream radio apps through my iPhone. (using Oo Tunes)
Use in residential areas and locations close to suburbia but otherwise cannot get cell streaming (specifically the Bush Hwy near Saguaro lake) the reception is good. I would say great if the digital dial did not drift off channel a few digits causing loss of reception. Even with the Hold in place, it still drifts.
The sound production is as good as expected for these areas.
I took the radio to Canyon Lake deep in the Tonto National Park, my usual training grounds with zero cell service for any carrier for at least ten miles. In the past I have used larger boom boxes out here with decent reception and of course car radio reception is decent. The Grundig was terrible at reception and I turned it off after attempting several large stations.
I am a bit disappointed. I expected the reception to be as decent as a a boom box or car. Maybe more a failure in my expectations with limited experience rather than a failure of the radio.
Thus, I recommend the Grundig for the intended purpose I believe I mentioned in my earlier posting. A portable am/fm radio with external speaker for emergency and recreational purposes in a urban or bug in situation. Based on my albeit limited sampling, I do not recommend this unit for any travel outside of large urban areas or spotty reception.
I may purchase the 'transitor' radio in the link above as a comparative. The quest continues?