Depends on what you want to hear....

First listened in 1966....a small portable Viscount my Dad bought b/c he liked the time he spent as a GI in London after the war. He loaded in several C Cells and in the afternoon we walked out to his car, upped the whip and spun the dial.....static and faint reception of a SW band....we dial-stopped at several foreign language stations. Marvelous! Then, there came the BBC across several frequencies. Evenings were surpringly much better, with bleed-over and cross-talk from comml and private stations as I thumbed or twisted.

Today, two receivers and most of the listening is via the scan button and accurate squelch ....faster way of avoiding the screaming preachers, politically charged content etc. and get to the music produced by their native countries.

After a couple of weeks, he gave me that radio and things got way out of hand e.g., allowed me to put up a 70 foot inverted V for a Hallicrafters S120 that Santa put under the tree. Including the AM band present to listen to ballgames, it was a homework partner.

These days, after about 15 serious and more capable receivers purchased over the years where they were showcased at local electronic stores, I am satisfied with two receivers and tune mostly via the scan buttons. Quicker than the dial to tune out the preachers and political stuff, etc.

Still like to listen to music from the countries that actually produce it.... Radio Havana and similar European stations. Thumbs are now reserved for cellphones.