The Radio Shack Accessory Speaker is not as efficient and definitely does not have the wider frequency response of even a cheap stereo speaker. Therefore, it was efficient and focused its response in the speech part of the spectrum. The speaker shown in the photo came from a thrift store it was part of a cheap stereo with small amplifiers.

This means you have to attach a very efficient speaker. The audio amplifier built into the DX-160 does not have a lot of wattage. I really like this radio for background listening. I have one in my ham radio room for casual monitoring, one on my test bench for evaluating transmitters I am testing, and one upstairs to SWL. I discuss this on my 'high isolation' T/R switch page. You have to take careful measures to protect the DX-160 if you are going to use it this way. The DX-160 even has a standby switch for muting when using it with a transmitter. I have used this rig as part of a small CW station. You can add an audio filter to the speaker to sharpen things up for CW. This is a compliment, not a criticism! The filter is perfect for AM, OK for SSB, and way too wide for CW (unless you use an external audio filter), but nothing in this price range offers a choice of filters. The main tuning is too fast on the upper band switch positions. The ceramic IF filter is so sharp that on short wave you have to tune with the bandspread. The DX-160 is much better, plentiful, and roughly the same street price. Unless you are an expert in parsing the various revisions, it is hard to tell what you are looking at. The DX-150 in an early bipolar transistor version is one that I would recommend you avoid. The later DX-150s were upgraded by FETs, which greatly improved performance. The DX-150 is similar in appearance and features, but it uses much older bipolar transistors in its first revision. These run anywhere from $40 to $100 dollars at swapmeets, depending on condition. There is some drift, but it is not bad for the time these radios were manufactured.

It is a single conversion 455 KHz IF, which means that image frequencies will occur on the highest frequency of the band switch. I have received the BBC on Long Wave from upstate New York with a good antenna. Sensitivity is surprisingly good even on 10 meters. It has a ceramic filter in the IF, a BFO for SSB and CW reception with AVC and S meter function on all modes. Be sure to get the mating connector if you plan to use it that way. The DX-160 is a good performing solid state Long Wave, Broadcast Band, and up to 30 MHz short wave receiver. Radio Shack DX-160 General Coverage Short Wave Receiver

Digital receiver radio shack