CD player with radio: which ones have AM as well as FM
Updated 2026-11-08 · Pick: GPX BC112B · Dealectric link: Panasonic SC-PM270, $139.99 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12), buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ9Q8332?tag=dealectric-20
Short answer. The best CD player with AM FM radio for most people is the GPX BC112B boombox ($26.49): CD plus AM and FM, on 6 C batteries or AC. Jensen's CD-560 adds Bluetooth. Panasonic's SC-PM270 is FM only, 87.5–108 MHz. For AM on the Sony CFD-S70 or Jensen CD-490, turn the whole unit: the AM antenna is inside the case.
Searched as: best CD player with AM FM radio Sony CFD S70 Jensen 2026
How this table was made: each figure comes from the maker's own US product page or manual, or from the reviewer named next to it, checked 2026-11-08. Dealectric does not test units itself. Rows with a Buy link are products Dealectric lists: the links are affiliate links, and their codes are re-tested in the brand's own cart every day (last check 2026-11-13).
| Model | Radio bands | Runs on | Bluetooth | Discs it plays | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPX BC112B | AM + FM; telescopic FM antenna (GPX manual) | AC cord (included) or 6 C cells (GPX manual) | None; 3.5 mm line-in only, no headphone jack (GPX manual, Target) | CD, CD-R/RW (Quill listing) | $26.49 (Target, 2026-11-08) | |
| Jensen CD-560 | AM + FM; telescopic antenna (Target) | 120 V AC or 8 C cells; about 50 h claimed by a brand rep (Target Q&A) | Receive only; won't send to headphones (Target Q&A) | Commercial CDs, self-burned CD-R/RW (Jensen manual) | $49.99, was $65.99 (Target, 2026-11-08) | |
| Sony CFD-S70 | AM 530–1,710 kHz + FM 87.5–108 MHz; AM via built-in ferrite bar (Sony manual) | 120 V AC or 6 C cells; about 10 h of CD play (Sony manual) | None; AUDIO IN mini jack (Sony manual) | CD, finalized MP3 CD-R/RW up to 413 files; also a cassette deck (Sony manual) | $159.99 refurbished (Porter Electronics, 2026-11-08) | |
| Jensen CD-490 | AM + FM; AM antenna built in, FM telescopic (Jensen manual) | 120 V AC or 8 C cells (Jensen manual) | None listed (Target) | Audio CDs and audio CD-R/RW; no computer CDs (Jensen manual) | $62.99, third-party seller (Target, 2026-11-08) | |
| Panasonic SC-PM270 | FM only, 87.5–108 MHz, 30 presets; no AM (Panasonic) | 120 V AC only; no battery option (Panasonic) | Yes (Panasonic) | CD, CD-R/RW, CD-DA and MP3 (Panasonic) | $139.99 on Amazon (checked 2026-11-12) | Buy on Amazon |
| Philips TAZ4300 | FM only, 30 presets (Target) | AC adapter or 4 C cells (Target description) | 5.3, about 30 ft (Target) | CD, CD-R/RW, MP3; USB up to 128 GB (Target) | $69.99, was $79.99 (Target, 2026-11-08) |
What the differences mean
- Bluetooth costs $23.50 more: $49.99 (Jensen CD-560) − $26.49 (GPX BC112B) = $23.50. The CD-560's Bluetooth only receives, so it plays your phone but can't send sound to headphones.
- Batteries: a Target up&up 8-pack of C cells is $12.99, or $1.62 a cell. The GPX takes 6 (6 × $12.99 ÷ 8 ≈ $9.74 a set) and the Jensen CD-560 and CD-490 take 8 ($12.99 a set).
- Sony's battery cost per hour: Sony rates the CFD-S70 at about 10 h of CD play on 6 C cells, so $9.74 ÷ 10 h ≈ $0.97 per hour.
- Sony's price: the only US offer we could open was a refurbished unit at $159.99. $159.99 ÷ $26.49 ≈ 6× the price of the GPX.
- Volume: Panasonic rates the SC-PM270 at 10 W + 10 W (6 Ω, 10% THD) and Sony rates the CFD-S70 at 1.7 W + 1.7 W (4 Ω, 10% THD). 20 ÷ 3.4 ≈ 5.9× the rated power, but the Panasonic must stay plugged in.
| Use | Fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain CD + AM/FM, on batteries or AC, lowest price | GPX BC112B | Both bands and 6 C cells |
| Also stream from a phone | Jensen CD-560 | AM/FM plus Bluetooth input |
| Burned MP3 CDs, radio presets, tapes | Sony CFD-S70 | Plays finalized MP3 CD-R/RW and has a cassette deck; sold refurbished |
| Plugged-in shelf system, FM is enough | Panasonic SC-PM270 | 20 W rated; no AM, no batteries |
AM or FM: which antenna does the work
On these boomboxes the telescopic aerial is for FM. AM comes in through an antenna built into the case. Sony's CFD-S70 manual lists 'AM: Built-in ferrite bar antenna' and says to 'reorient the unit itself for optimum reception'. Jensen's CD-490 manual tells you to extend and rotate the telescopic antenna for FM, and for AM to hold the unit upright and move it around. GPX's BC112 manual labels its rod 'Telescopic FM Antenna'. So if AM stations are faint, turn the whole radio rather than pulling out the rod. Sony's manual also names mobile phones near the unit as a source of noise.
One Target reviewer of the Jensen CD-560 wrote that it 'doesn't pick many AM stations that my tiny portable radio can do just fine'. If you mostly listen to AM talk or sports, place it near a window and turn it for the clearest signal.
Some CD radios have no AM band at all. Panasonic's own North American spec for the SC-PM270 lists only FM (87.5–108 MHz, 30 presets) and 120 V AC power. Target's listing for the Philips TAZ4300 describes FM with 30 presets and doesn't mention AM. Philips' TAZ6000/10 leaflet lists DAB+/FM radio. If you want AM, buy one of the GPX, Jensen or Sony models. If FM at home is all you need, the buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZ9Q8332?tag=dealectric-20 has the highest rated output we found (20 W against 3.4 W for the Sony).
Not recommended
Jensen CD-490 at today's Target price. At $62.99 from a third-party seller it costs $62.99 − $49.99 = $13.00 more than the Jensen CD-560. It takes the same 8 C cells, Target lists no Bluetooth, and Jensen's manual rules out computer CDs, so burned MP3 discs won't play.
Sources
- GPX BC112B: AM/FM, 6 C cells or AC, telescopic FM antenna, 3.5 mm line-in (read 2026-11-08) — www.manualslib.com
- GPX BC112B: $26.49 at Target, no Bluetooth or headphone jack (read 2026-11-08) — www.target.com
- GPX BC112B: plays CD and CD-R/RW (read 2026-11-08) — www.quill.com
- Jensen CD-560: $49.99, AM/FM, 8 C cells, receive-only Bluetooth, telescopic antenna, 50 h Q&A claim, AM reviewer quote (read 2026-11-08) — www.target.com
- Jensen CD-560: plays commercial CDs and self-burned CD-R/RW (read 2026-11-08) — www.manualslib.com
- Jensen CD-490: 8 C cells, built-in AM antenna, telescopic FM antenna (read 2026-11-08) — www.manualslib.com
- Jensen CD-490: plays audio CDs and CD-R/RW, no computer CDs (read 2026-11-08) — www.manualslib.com
- Jensen CD-490: $62.99 from a third-party seller at Target (read 2026-11-08) — www.target.com
- Sony CFD-S70: AM 530–1,710 kHz ferrite bar, FM 87.5–108 MHz, 6 C cells, about 10 h of CD play, MP3 disc limits, 1.7 W + 1.7 W, AUDIO IN (read 2026-11-08) — www.manualslib.com
- Sony CFD-S70: $159.99 refurbished, 30 presets (read 2026-11-08) — porterelectronics.com
- Panasonic SC-PM270: FM only, 30 presets, 120 V AC only, 10 W + 10 W, CD-DA/MP3 (read 2026-11-08) — help.na.panasonic.com
- Panasonic SC-PM270: sold out at Panasonic's US store (read 2026-11-08) — shop.panasonic.com
- Philips TAZ4300: FM only with 30 presets, Bluetooth 5.3, CD/MP3, USB, $69.99 at Target (read 2026-11-08) — www.target.com
- Philips TAZ6000/10: DAB+/FM radio (read 2026-11-08) — www.documents.philips.com
- C cells: $12.99 for an up&up 8-pack at Target (read 2026-11-08) — www.target.com
Published 2026-11-08; updated 2026-11-08. The buy links are affiliate links; see the disclosure. Corrections welcome at [email protected] or /feedback.