i have an ats505. its a digital radio while the s350 is analog with a
digital read-out. i would expect the digital to win for over all
performance but analog has its useful qualities. this is like asking
whats better, apples or oranges. it depends on you and what you are
listening to. the digital ats505 will give precise frequency accuracy,
direct entry access to widely separated frequencies and quartz locked
stability. sw is one band from top to bottom without switching
sub-bands.it has single side band. its a good radio. its NOT a dx
machine. the s350 has analog tuning which CAN be an advantage
(sometimes) with weak distant signals. the digital display will generate
noise (like the one in the 505 does) and that will probably negate any
advantage that analog gets anyway. the s350 will drift off frequency
slightly over several minutes to an hour. frequencies must first be band
switched to the proper sub-band, ran up or down band to the frequency
and then fine tuned for best signal. all this sounds terrible but to us
old guys its like a breath of fresh air. analog has a personality that
needs to be learned. its performance is not bad, its different. the
grundig also has wide and narrow filters and D-cell batteries that
should last 6 months. it seems like a good (analog) radio too. it wont
be a dx machine either

Night Owl,if you can find a Watkins-Johnson Radio and if you can afford
it,don't even think about any other radios.Watkins-Johnson Radios are
the best Radios on Earth.
cuhulin

the grundig is a fair radio. the sangean is a little better. the sony
will come closer to what you want for performance and is really in a
class above the other two. dont forget that the sony doesnt have a
rotary knob like the other two radios have. for a serious listening
post you should get a table top receiver. that will be expensive,
requires some skills and knowledge and is tied to one place permanently.
because of the radios that you considered first my guess is that you
arent ready to invest that heavily in sw just yet. it would be
unfortunate to spend a lot of cash and then find out that you arent
having as much fun as you thought you would have. i would get that sony
7600gr now so that you can listen anywhere, at any time. its an above
average portable that wont break the bank. you should work your way up
over time. you will reach a level where you are comfortable without
overdoing it. many of us own several radios that reflect our changing
needs. you have your whole life to drop several thousand on a high end
radio. spend under two hundred and have fun now!

a yb400 for $100 is a great buy! its slightly better than that sangean
505 but it doesnt have synch detector like the sony. crap.....i need
another radio like i need a hole in my head....... it wont hurt to just
look will it?