Admiral 111-07 Apr 2026

March 8, 2025

Given the build quality and the joy of that analog dial, I still think it is the best bargain in vintage radio.

Vintage Audio / Hi-Fi

But if you want —if you want to listen to a baseball game the way your grandfather did, or if you want to fall asleep to the gentle hum of static while tuning across the AM dial—the Admiral 111-07 is peerless. admiral 111-07

The Admiral 111-07: Why This Vintage Gem Refuses to Fade Away

admiral-111-07-review

Unlike later "pocket radios" that used tiny speakers producing tinny highs, the Admiral features a 4x6 inch oval speaker mounted in a sealed wooden back (not plastic!). Because of this wooden baffle, the 111-07 produces low-end response that should be impossible for a battery-powered unit. March 8, 2025 Given the build quality and

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Here is why this specific radio still matters 60 years later. Forget the flashy colors of Japanese imports. The Admiral 111-07 is all business. Usually found in a muted tweed or charcoal case with brushed silver trim, it looks like something a NASA engineer would have had on his desk during the Mercury missions.

It doesn’t try to be jewelry; it tries to be precision . The tactile feel of the dial—a long, horizontal ribbon tuner—is buttery smooth. When you slide your finger across it, you aren’t just changing stations; you are piloting a machine. Pop the back off a typical transistor radio, and you will find a messy bundle of wires and cheap capacitors. Pop the back off a 111-07, and you will find a thing of beauty. Because of this wooden baffle, the 111-07 produces

Admiral used a layout that is exceptionally clean for the era. The ceramic capacitors are color-coded like tiny candies, and the transistors are housed in those classic top-hat metal casings.

There are thousands of transistor radios out there. Most of them end up in landfill, forgotten, their plastic cases cracked and their tuning knobs frozen.

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Then there is the .

Most importantly, the tuning capacitor is massive for a portable radio. This oversized component is what gives the 111-07 its legendary selectivity. In a crowded city, this radio can pull a weak signal out from between two strong ones without bleeding. Vintage audio enthusiasts often argue about "transistor sound" versus "tube sound." The 111-07 is the bridge.