Best Shortwave Radios with SSB in 2026

The PL-520 is where I would start for a new SSB listener. It tunes upper and lower sideband in 10 Hz fine steps, and its five SSB bandwidth choices are 0.5, 1.2, 2.2, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz. Narrow the filter when a nearby signal crowds a voice; open it when conditions allow better speech quality.

Direct frequency entry is helpful when a club, frequency list or another listener gives you a specific number. The FM/shortwave antenna jack leaves room for a small external antenna later. ETM+ is helpful for exploring broadcasts, though it is not a replacement for manually finding intermittent ham SSB conversations.

What changed from the PL-330?

The PL-520 has USB-C charging, a rear kickstand, a Favorites key and a somewhat easier control layout. The two radios already share the important SSB basics: sideband selection, 10 Hz fine tuning and five voice-filter widths. Check the exact PL-330 listing before using the charging connector as a deciding factor: current seller descriptions differ on whether a particular PL-330 package uses micro-USB or USB-C. The PL-520’s handling improvements make it nicer to buy and use; I would not promise a dramatic SSB reception upgrade over a healthy PL-330.

Both use a BL-5C rechargeable battery rather than ordinary AA cells. The PL-520’s charging socket is convenient, but a charging cable is not a substitute for a charged cell when there is no power source. Check the package and USB charger requirements for the version your seller supplies.

Best for: a first serious shortwave portable, casual ham-voice listening and travel when NOAA weather is not essential. Skip it if: you already own a working PL-330, or you know you will spend hours manually tuning SSB each week.

The PL-330 still has the fundamentals that make an inexpensive SSB radio genuinely useful: direct entry, separate USB and LSB modes, 10 Hz fine tuning, five SSB bandwidth settings, and a 3.5 mm external FM/shortwave antenna jack.

It also has synchronous detection for AM broadcasts and ETM+ scanning. Those are useful for general shortwave listening, but the purchasing decision here is much simpler: compare the actual seller and total price with the PL-520. If the PL-330 is roughly 20% less, I would normally save the money. If they are close, I would take the PL-520’s kickstand, Favorites key and updated ergonomics. Verify the charging connector on the actual PL-330 listing rather than relying on an older general comparison.

Neither model is a substitute for a bigger tuning control if your main activity is following many ham conversations for long sessions. And if you own a PL-330 already, first spend time on antenna placement and household noise before paying to replace it.

Best for: budget-minded listeners who still require real SSB controls. Skip it if: the PL-520 costs nearly the same from a reliable seller.

If SSB becomes the main thing you listen to, the PL-880’s separate coarse and fine tuning controls are the reason to move up. You can search around the band and then bring a voice into tune without repeatedly switching the function of one small control.

You also get a more comfortable speaker for long listening, an external shortwave antenna jack and a Local/Normal/DX antenna gain switch. The gain switch gives you a basic way to back off when a larger antenna or strong nearby signals make reception worse. It is less flexible than the S-2200x’s antenna and RF controls, but it is enough for many portable setups.

The PL-880 does not earn its place because the PL-520 somehow lacks SSB. It earns it because an hour of manual tuning feels different on larger dedicated controls. If you mostly type a known frequency and listen for a few minutes, the compact radio remains a better value.

Best for: regular amateur and utility voice monitoring with hands-on tuning. Skip it if: the receiver needs to be pocketable or you only occasionally try SSB.

Buy the S-2200x when the antenna system is the project. Tecsun provides a 50-ohm BNC shortwave input for a suitable feed line, separate high-impedance wire terminals, external antenna selection, variable RF gain and an input attenuator. These controls become useful when a larger outdoor antenna supplies too much strong-signal energy as well as the weak signals you want.

It also offers USB/LSB, 10 Hz SSB fine tuning, selectable filters and large tuning controls. The maker lists two 18650 cells or four D cells as power options. It covers more than HF, including the VHF aviation band, but its advantage in this comparison is control over the external shortwave antenna path.

That does not mean a larger box automatically receives an SSB signal that a PL-520 cannot. If your listening is mostly from a telescoping whip or a modest reel wire, you are paying for inputs and controls you may rarely use. The S-2200x is also over five pounds before batteries.

Best for: a fixed listening position with an intentionally planned outdoor receive antenna. Skip it if: your radio must travel, or you have not yet solved local electrical noise. Before checkout, confirm the listing is the S-2200x; some Amazon results use the similar “S-2200” name.

The Skywave SSB 2 makes sense when the same receiver must go in a travel bag and also provide more than shortwave. It adds NOAA Weather Radio with alert and VHF civilian aviation reception while weighing about six ounces without batteries. It takes two AA alkaline or NiMH cells, and C.Crane rates approximately 60 hours with the speaker or 70 with earbuds on alkaline batteries.

For SSB, you still get direct frequency entry, USB/LSB selection and 10 Hz fine tuning. The package includes a 23-foot shortwave reel antenna, wire-terminal adapter, earbuds and a case. C.Crane’s reel clips to the whip; the separate antenna jack and adapter are another connection path. Check which accessory you are using before trying to plug the reel into the jack.

Best for: a very small, replaceable-battery SSB radio when NOAA and airband also matter. Skip it if: you only need SSB shortwave and would rather spend less on the PL-520. See our emergency radio guide for its preparedness role.

The ATS-909X2 is the alternative when you want a larger portable with four ordinary AA cells, a bigger interface, shortwave SSB and airband. Sangean also includes direct tuning, external shortwave antenna support, RF gain control and extensive station memories. Its larger keys and display may be easier to use than a pocket radio.

I would not pay its premium for SSB reception alone; the PL-520 already decodes amateur voice. Buy it for the whole interface, AA power and extra bands. Sangean has also published documentation for revised ATS-909X2-family models, so verify the exact suffix and features of any listing before assuming that an X2, X2+ or X2SE is the same unit.

Best for: someone who wants serious portable listening and standardized AA power. Skip it if: you want only a compact HF SSB receiver or already prefer the PL-880’s independent tuning knobs.